Preparation to Perform

Whether for an opera audition or a night out of Karaoke, here are a few tips and tricks to help you prepare for a vocal performance.

1. Drink Water

   1. A well-hydrated voice will help avoid voice cracks and allow the sound to flow freely.

   2. Start drinking more than usual one to two days before you have to sing, not just the day of the performance.

Rewritten lyrics to prepare for an audition.

2. Prepare your Music

   1. Write out your lyrics on some notecards or post-it notes if you need to memorize them to help with your kinesthetic learning.

   2. Print and clearly mark up any music you might need to give to a pianist and put it in a clean binder, without sheet protectors.

   3. If you are using a backing track, make sure you find and practice with the same one that you feel comfortable with every time.

3. Plan Out Your Outfit

   1. Different performance/audition opportunities have different attire requirements and recommendations, so if you have questions, always ask a teacher.

   2. Practice singing in the shoes and outfit you are going to be wearing at least once before the performance to make sure they feel okay.

4. Eat Some Food

   1. Don't eat the entire menu of McDonald's, but it is important to have some food in your system so you can be at your best energy levels for performing.

   2. Stay away from food that trigger excess phlegm or dryness in your voice. Each voice is different, so eat these food and check for how it affects your voice on a day you don't need to perform. Common trigger foods include dairy, caffeine, and excess spice.

5. Warm Up Your Voice

   1. Start with a smaller interval exercise on a lip or tongue trill and work your way up from there. Be careful not to over warm up or sing too much music out of the style you are performing in that day!

6. Meditate

   1. Take some deep breaths and center yourself as needed through the day when you feel stressed or anxious.

   2. Find some instrumental music that calms you, a guided mediation, or even just sit in the car in the quiet and focus on clearing your mind and getting in a good headspace.

   3. Keep in mind that people in the audience/panel want you to do well and you will do well if you have confidence in yourself.

7. Enjoy Yourself While You Perform

   1. What is the point in putting in all of this hard work if you are not going to enjoy your own performance? Try not to listen and analyze while singing and just have fun!