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

Find your vocal range

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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 span roughly the same number of notes.

  • Soprano – the highest-pitched range, usually female.
  • Mezzo-soprano – many women sing in this range.
  • Alto – somewhat lower than soprano. Altos can’t usually hit the higher soprano range; conversely, sopranos have trouble with the middle to low alto range. Usually female, but some men can sing a low alto part.
  • Tenor – the highest men’s range. Few men are true high tenors.
  • Baritone – overlaps the bass and tenor ranges. This is the commonest men’s range.
  • Bass – the lowest common men’s range. Few men are true low basses.

Want to find your range? There’s a handy tool at https://playback.fm/vocal-range that can get you started. Or just ask your accompanist before practice one day.

Your change

Your voice has a distinct point at which it changes from one tone to another, often towards the top of your range. As you sing a rising scale, you’ll feel the change; you make your sound in a slightly different way. Singing across your change takes practice and work, so many singers opt to sing either down or up an octave to avoid it. That can push you out of your range, though, with unpleasant consequences for the sound of the song. The best bet is to practise singing over your change, until you can sing above, below and through it with ease. Try some of the Warmup tips like the Arpeggios, Solfège Ladders or Sirens.

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