So You Want to Sing?

Here's a list of the 10 Secrets you need to know:

1. Find a place to practice without distractions.
2. Set a time of 30 minutes to an hour each day for rehearsal. I recommend one hour per day at the least; and try to get in a practice 5 or 6 days a week.
3. Being comfortable and relaxed in your rehearsal environment is very important. I suggest wearing workout attire or loose fitting clothing.
4. Try to clear your mind of anything non-singing related. Singing has been known to be a form of meditating and with a little focus, it can be very soothing and healing.
5. When choosing your music, your best choice as a beginner is something not too complicated, usually performed by a “GOOD VOCALIST”. The best way to learn is by watching and listening to those who sing correctly.  I personally like the great opera singers however there are many great singers to choose from in every genre (type) of music.
6. Use backing / karaoke tracks, or sing along with your favourite artists / cds. I suggest both methods.  Backing tracks will allow you to hear what your own voice sounds like, helping you to develop your tone and pitch. While singing along with the artist will help train your ear to the correct notes and various styles of singing.
7. Use a recording device; whether it be a web cam with sound, karaoke on-line, or something as simple as a tape recorder. You will need to do this fairly regular in the beginning to learn when you are in your “correct voice” and when you are not. 
8. Get comfortable with your own voice and the practice area. What I mean is, find a place where you are able to make as much noise or hit as many bad notes as needed, without feeling embarrassed, shy or uneasy in anyway.
9. Take at least 10 minutes to warm-up before you begin singing. During this 10 minutes, notice any tense areas in your body and begin relaxing them. For example, think about your jaw, tongue, neck, shoulders, arms, back, and chest, while you relax these areas. You can learn more about how to relax these areas before a performance or rehearsal in an upcoming article.
10. Devote some time every day to breathing exercises, since it is the fundamental key in singing better and protecting your instrument; your voice. Whether your goal is to sing in a choir, for friends and family, at the campfire, or to become the next big singing star, at the very foundation of all great singing is learning how to control your breath using your diaphragm.

Remember, the basic fundamental factor of singing is breathing properly which is something that should be practiced several times daily.

Proper breathing technique can be done:

• discretely while waiting in line getting your morning coffee or while sitting in class,
• on your commute to work or school, or
• as a means to relax the body through meditation. 

How to Breathe Properly

Basically, proper breathing technique can be done just about anywhere you are.  The basic rule in beginning to breath properly or from the diaphragm is to inhale (breathe in) through your nose and exhale (breath out) through your mouth.

Try this …

Take a deep breath in through your nose and breath out through your mouth.  Breathing from the diaphragm is the art of expanding and collapsing the middle and upper abdomen, the area from the pelvic up to the lower chest cavity.  When breathing fully from the diaphragm, the shoulders will not raise and lower when a breath is taken. The middle area (torso) of the body will expand on the *breath in* (inhale) and collapse on the *breath out* (exhale).

1. There are two times when your body does this naturally, as you are sleeping, and
2. when you yawn.

Want More?  I teach my favourite breathing and muscle strengthening techniques, along with other helpful tips in our FREE 5-week Video minicourse. Join NOW!

With so many singing lesson products on the internet today, how do you know which one to buy?  Are some products better than others?

Here at Singing Lessons Now, we have taken the guess work out for you by reviewing the top singing products on the internet today.  While many products promise to have you singing like a pro in a matter of months, weeks or even days, only a few of these products actually deliver and provide real value for your money.  Don't be fooled by promises to sing like Celine Dion or Pavarotti in as little as a week. Good singing, like any sport or activity, only improves with a good coach and tons of practice, practice and more practice.

1. Sing Like a Star

Of couse our top pick is none other than our own featured FREE 5-week Singing Lesson course "Sing Like A Star" featuring Rock Diva Lisa Smith. A professionally trained and accomplished Opera singer with the Royal Conservatory, Lisa Smith has been singing professionally for many years and is becoming known across the globe for her original hard rock music.  These lessons are short, sweet, and really pack a punch with valuable tips you can use today, to improve your singing immediately!  The best part is – it's absolutely FREE! Sign up today!     

2.     Singorama

Discover Precisely How to Sing with a Full Vocal Range, Hitting Notes with Professional Precision in less than 3 months. Singorama features 28 audio lessons, cool music software for your computer, PLUS tons of other great giveaways and product features.  If you're looking for a great product that can help you improve your singing; land the leading role, sing along better at parties, improve your range, or even if it's to try something new, this product delivers better than any other!

3.     Pitch Master Pro – Ear Training Software

Ever wonder how some people have the ability to hit the right notes all the time? Now you can too with this ear training software. You'll learn all the secrets, like how to hear the notes properly and how to sing the notes you hear in your head. They also offer free software and a fabulous newsletter full of tips and tricks to help you improve immediately.      4.     The Pure Pitch Method Learn The Secret Method of Pitch Recognition that allowed a 16 year old teen to master absolute pitch and relative pitch in less than 6 weeks.  For serious singers, this course provides the technical expertise you'll need to take your singing to a whole new level – level of pitch that is! Learn what the masters already know and improve your singing skills today!

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