Tip # 19

Singing artistically entails transporting the audience from the concert hall to imaginary lands and inspiring places. In order to do that, singers must be well read, and broadly so, because it takes various kinds of nutritive ingredients to produce informed and imaginative singers. Vibrant minds breed vibrant singers.

Tip # 18

Befriend your mirror as it truthfully reveals postural faults, facial expressions, jaw movements, articulatory tensions in the tongue, lips, neck, and shoulders. Vocal hygiene requires the faithful use of a full-length mirror like a toothbrush is needed in dental hygiene. Better yet, as technology covers more territory, capture your practice sessions on video and review every aspect of your singing with the precision of a neurosurgeon.

Tip # 17

Treat your collaborators like royalty. You need people in order to succeed; so, be likable and genuinely care for each colleague. Provide your pianist with legal copies of your music, ensuring that there is ample time for music learning and rehearsing before each performance. Use respect in all interactions with conductors, directors, teachers, coaches, other musicians, and fellow singers. Their trust in you and respect for you will enhance your own singing.   

Tip # 16

You need faith, a lot of faith in order to sing well. Unlike all other instruments, the human voice cannot be readily seen or touched. So, you get to train your mind to trust the air, educate your heart to value the process more than the product, and instruct your body to be supple and responsive to the directives of trustworthy teachers and coaches. 

Tip # 15

Commit to warming up slowly and meticulously before practicing, rehearsing, or performing in order to avoid vocal injury. A good warm-up regimen prepares the whole instrument -- mind, heart, and body -- for the rigorous event that singing represents.   

Tip # 14

Unless the music steps up from the page, unless the words become a part of one's physical and spiritual makeup, unless the relationship between performer and audience is seen as intimate and vital, singing merely adds garbled sounds to the cacophonous noise of the world. Music changes lives only when we share it as though it truly matters.   

Tip # 13

Singing to impress often wins competitions, receives accolades, secures a role, and even lands a good job. However, singing to express is the only way to win hearts.