• Take responsibility for every area of your life.
    Ask for a raise when you feel you've earned it.
    Keep secrets.
    Say "please" a lot.
    Plant flowers every spring.
    Never underestimate the power of love.
    Count your blessings.
    Feed a stranger's expired parking meter.
    Say "thank-you" a lot.
    Call your mother.
    Avoid negative people.
    Buy whatever kids are selling on card tables in their front yards.
    Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
    Have a dog.
    Strive for excellence, not for perfection.
    Don't expect life to be fair.
    Marry only for love.
    Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation.
    Commit yourself to constant improvement.
    Over tip breakfast waitresses.
    be there when people need you.
    Compliment even small improvements.
    Wave at kids on school buses.
    Leave the toilet seat in the down position.
    Be the first to say hello.
    Have a firm handshake.
    Send lots of Valentines Day cards and sign them "Someone who thinks you're terrific."
    Wear polished shoes.
    Return all things you borrow.
    Rekindle old friendships.
    Sing in a choir.
    Plant a tree on your birthday.
    Don't be afraid to say "I made a mistake."
    Leave everything a little better than you found it.
    Watch a sunrise at least once a year.
    Use the good silver.
    Don't be afraid to say "I don't know."
    Carry jumper cables in your trunk.
    Floss your teeth.
    Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures.
    Return borrowed vehicles with the gas tank filled.
    Remember other people's birthdays.
    Be forgiving of yourself and others.
    Keep it simple.
    Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.
    Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
    Keep your promises (no matter what).
    Make new friends but cherish the old ones.
    Dance like no-one is watching. Sing like no-one is listening. Love like you've never been hurt.
    Compliment three people everyday.
    Never refuse homemade brownies.
    Sing in the shower.
    Drink champagne for no reason at all.
    Stop blaming others.
    Look people in the eye.
    Always accept an outstretched hand.
    Learn three clean jokes.

Vowels

Vowels Warming up by singing through your vowels is a great way to focus your tone and energy before you start singing through your repertoire. Sometimes when we are tired or distracted, our tone can close up without us recognizing it, so taking a few moments to consciously focus your…

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Consonants Matter!

  This is a perennial choir issue. Clear enunciation makes sure the audience can hear the words and follow the story the song is telling. Remember: Vowels carry the sound. Consonants carry the words. Consonants at the beginning of line must happen together – by everyone! Otherwise the song sounds…

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Listen Across the Choir

Many singers only listen to themselves. Blend with your fellow singers.. Match your vowels. Match your consonants – especially at line endings. Match volume. Don’t drown out your fellow singers; keep the balance. Listen for melody and accompaniment.

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Exercise and Fitness

Keep up an appropriate level of exercise and fitness. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions about a suitable regime. We’ll just point out that the better you feel, the better you’ll sing. Get adequate rest. Just how much you need varies from person to person; just make…

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Health and Singing

Don’t worry, we’re not out to convert you into vegan marathon runners and gym junkies! How you maintain your health is entirely up to you. We will point out a few things, though. You can’t sing well when you’re tired or sick. Your concentration and your energy level suffer. Not…

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Smile when you sing!

Smiling changes your whole sound. It relaxes your face and changes the whole shape of your vocal tract. It helps pull your voice up to the front of your mouth. That makes your voice brighter and more distinct so your sound is clearer. Smiling also has a very positive effect…

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Find your vocal range

Your range Your range is the highest and lowest notes you can sing comfortably. Most of us have a feel for where we can sing best but may not know what the range is called. Vocal ranges overlap a lot, as you can see by the chart, yet all ranges…

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Learn some terminology

Terminology is simply language designed for a particular purpose. Over the years, music has acquired a vast amount of specialised terms. You don’t need to learn them all like our poor singer above, but knowing a handful of the basics makes it easier for your director to, well, direct, and…

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About Mood

The mood of a song is how it tells its story. Your role as a singer is to put a voice to that story, to lift it off the paper and give it life. You are the one who gives that song a place in your audience’s heart. Listen to…

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