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10 Pre-Singing Tips

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Whether you are a beginning vocal student or a seasoned professional, these 10 pre-singing tips apply to all. If you want to be a singer, you have to think like a singer. Take these 10 little tips to heart and you will be more successful than half the people that are out there singing today.

1. Drink a glass of water –

Do not sing with a dry throat. Why, because you sing with your vocal chords and if they are dry, they can be damaged. By drinking at least 8 ounces of water you will properly lubricate your vocal chords and avoid the damage. Also keep a glass of water handy while singing to keep your vocal chords moist.

2. Get plenty of rest –

When you sing, your throat and muscles should be loose. When you’re tired you tend to tense your body. So do not sing if you are overly tired.

3. Wear comfortable clothing –

If you wear tight fitting clothing then you will not be able to breathe properly, and singing is 70% about breathing.

4. Wear comfortable shoes –

As you will see from the next steps, your feet placement is critical to proper singing and it is best to learn to sing with your feet fairly level. High heals will tend to put you in the wrong singing position.

5. Stand up straight –

Singing utilizes your whole body, but most importantly your diaphragm. If you are slouching, you do not have full control over your diaphragm.

6. Shoulders should be down and your chest should be raised –

Imagine that a long cord hanging from the ceiling is connected to your upper chest area. This may feel a little funny at first, but it will give you the correct posture for singing.

7. Position your feet under your shoulders –

Your feet should be a foot or so apart. This gives you more control over your body and will allow you to express yourself with slight body movements while singing.

8. One foot should be 6 to 8 inches in front of the other –

It doesn’t matter which foot. The general rule of thumb is if you are right-handed then your right foot will be in front. This also allows for greater body control.

9. Slightly bend your knees –

It should not be an obvious amount. This is to prevent you from locking your knees while you sing. Locking your knees will cause you to put your weight on your back foot and this is wrong. You want your weight over your body but with a slight emphasis on your front foot.

10. Do not have anything in your mouth when singing –

This sounds strange to have to say, but I have seen many people try to sing with gum in their mouths. You can’t sing properly if you are trying to keep a piece of gum from falling out of your mouth. So get rid of it before you start.

Every professional vocal instructor will tell you that these 10 little tips are the physical and mental preparation needed to begin any voice lesson and certainly every vocal performance. Remember that singing is a physical activity and you must be physically ready to play. With these 10 pre-singing tips and you will go far.

 

Susan Grubbs has been studying voice for 30 years and has been teaching beginning voice students for 15 years. She is a degreed professional singer as well, having studied under many types of vocal coaches over her career. Here are some vocal products [http://socialsinging.com] that she recommends.

 

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Public Speaking – Professional Tips to Improve Your Speaking

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Today, to be successful, a person must have a good command of language. They must be able to express themselves clearly and fluently in ordinary business conversation, across the meeting room table or from the speaker’s platform. The rules that apply to success in public speaking also apply to the person who wants to move up the organisation.

In most situations, public speaking is private conversation raised to a larger audience. Effective communication in ordinary business conversation or public speaking is mostly about the effective transmission of ideas rather than the art of performance.

By applying the following tips you will become a more successful speaker who effectively conveys ideas either in public speaking or in private conversation.

Observe other Successful Speakers

Study what they do and how they do it. Also observe how the audience reacts to them. Emulate the speaker’s good points in your next speech but do not imitate the speaker.

Analyze Your Own Delivery

After you have spoken ask yourself – What went well? And, what will you do better next time? If possible record yourself for later review. When analyzing your performance you are looking for ways to improve. The objective is to find ways to enhance your delivery not to condemn it.

Seek Feedback

Ask other successful speakers and friends to comment on your speech. But be careful. You are looking for people who will want to help you succeed not to tear you down.

Keep the Audience in Mind

Ask yourself the following questions when preparing your speech – Why have I been asked to speak? What is their viewpoint? What type of organisation do they belong to? Is it a professional organisation etc? What age group?

Keep It Simple

Unless you are explaining a technical subject to other technical people, use plain everyday language. If the listener does not understand what you are saying they can become listless and bored. If you have chosen to read your speech or are delivering a memorised speech ensure that you are using spoken language rather than written language. Just because it reads well does not mean it sounds great when spoken.

Be Sincere

A part time speaker with something worthwhile to share, believes in what they are saying and enthusiastically delivers can outperform the professional speaker in the audience’s viewpoint.

Be Brief

Your talk should be long enough to cover the essentials fully but like good literature it should leave the listener wanting a little more.

Thorough Preparation

Preparation is of key importance to effective speaking. Being thoroughly prepared is key to building your self confidence.

Identify the principle reason for your speech. Research your idea fully so that you have mastered your subject. Logically set out your ideas so that your speech will convey your ideas effectively. And finally practice, practice, practice.

Success in business today is about effectively communicating ideas. By applying the above basic techniques you can quickly become adept at conveying your ideas. Being fully prepared, sincere in your delivery, to the point in your speech and considering the listener’s viewpoint you will soon improve your effectiveness.

 

Edward Hope is the editor and publisher of the recently published e-book “The Art of Great Conversation“. To claim your free preview at http://www.SelfConfidentSpeaking.com

 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Edward_Hope

 

Making A Child Famous: What’s The Meaning Of Prosperity Through Music?

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Dear bloggers & Face Book users: please help us grow our little music school by sharing and reblogging this post – thank you – S

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Will my child become the next big star?

As a parent, you have high hopes and expectations for you child. That’s perfectly natural. You want your kid to do better and to achieve more than you did. Basically, you want what’s best for them.

I talk a lot about how music education can bring prosperity to your child’s future. I would like to clarify what I mean by prosperity.

What I mean by prosperity is that music education will develop the skills necessary to succeed in life, regardless of what career your child chooses.

I don’t want anyone to be confused here. What I don’t want people to think is that music education will bring your child prosperity in the form of becoming a famous singer or musical artist. This is not the goal of music education. For me, prosperity is not becoming a celebrity.

The Meaning Of Prosperity Through Music

Prosperity is an advantageous situation where your child will get the most out of his/her education, and enter the working world with the skills that will be required in the future global economy.

It has been scientifically proven that music education increase test scores in Math, Science, and Reading. But besides test scores and grades, your child would actually develop an understanding of those subjects that noticeably surpasses their non-musical peers. I can tell one thing with the utmost certainty: there will be jobs for people that have skills in those areas.

Beyond those three subjects, music education develops social and emotional intelligences, which are highly important in the working world. We all know what it’s like in the work place. It can be a tough social environment. It’s tough to get along with co-workers from time to time. It’s tough to convince your boss that you deserve a raise. It’s tough to convince your manager of your ideas and how they can benefit the company. There are a million scenarios where social skills will really be useful in achieving your goals. Developing these skills give a person an advantage to succeed in the work place, not to mention building relationships and friendships.

What Kind Of Mind Will Be Valuable In The Future Economy?

Another huge bi-product of music education is developing the creative side of the brain. Creative minds are needed in today’s technology-driven, globally-connected economy, and they will surely be needed in the future. One of the biggest drivers of an advancing economy is innovation. Without creativity and new ideas, an economy would completely stagnate. That means less jobs for everyone. Those who can create will have a place in the future economy.

Your Child Will Succeed In Life

The most important idea that I want you to walk away with from this article is that music education will develop a portfolio of skills necessary for your child to prosper and succeed in life. The goal of music education is not to become a big star or famous musical artist, or even a singer. That’s not the prosperity I’m talking about. The skills that music education teaches can be used in any profession that your children chooses when they grow up.

Economic prosperity in the future will be for the people with the most skill sets. Take action in getting your child started in learning a musical instrument. Your child’s education will be enriched and he/she will be on a path towards that end goal of economic prosperity that begins with developing a bright mind.

Tony Margiotta is the founder of The Musiconomy, a publishing company advocates musical training as an essential focus in childhood education and development. Sign up for the Free monthly newsletter and special report here:

http://www.themusiconomy.com/newsletter.html

Tony is the author of “A Parent’s Guide: How To Get Your Child Started In Music,” a step-by-step approach that takes you through the process of inspiring musical interest in your child, to making the correct instrument and book purchases, and finding the right teacher. Full of tips, checklists, and more. [http://www.tonysmusicbooks.com/Parents-Guide-Deluxe-Version-Ebook-MP3-201101.htm]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_Margiotta