Experienced singer gives karaoke singing advice
09/09/2007
by Hayley Solich - A Writer from Helium.com

The joy of karaoke is that anyone can have a go. You don't have to have a great voice, be a pop star in the making or look like a super model. You just have to choose a song you know and be bold enough to step up to the microphone. However, if you want people to enjoy the experience, it is a great idea to learn how to use your voice correctly. You may also want to learn what to do with that silver or black object they thrust in your hand called a microphone.

I remember growing up, dancing around the living room with my wooden spoon in hand pretending I was Madonna or some other pop star. My family used to scream at me to shut up! I guess they felt tortured by the constant barrage of my singing. As a mother of four children who all love to sing top volume and constantly, I guess I can understand where they may be coming from. However, I simply turned a deaf ear and continued to practice that which I loved most - singing! What my family failed to realize was that all the practice I was doing that was driving them crazy, was actually helping me to develop my voice. This was foundational to my successful career as a performing artist and vocalist.

In my travels as a singer/performing artist in Australia, I've met many people that love to think they are the next Elvis Presley or Barbara Streisand, however let's be honest not many are that good! The golden rule I learned at a young age was to be open to constructive criticism, as there is nothing like a bit of honest feedback. When I was doing my first CD project, I remember a run in I had with a sound technician. He was a total perfectionist and had a particular taste in voice styles, which I found quite intimidating. He was criticizing my voice one day, telling me he didn't think it was commercial enough. He said to me, "You sound like a cross between Barbara Streisand and Celine Dion". Expecting me to feel insulted, I was elated. These were my two most favorite female singers and you only have to look at record sales to know that they are also very commercial! The point was, his honest feedback helped me to develop my voice. From this feedback, I realized that I needed to develop my individuality a bit more, which I did.

Song choice is also critical for any singer. No matter what song you choose, you need to know it and own it. I remember getting up at a karaoke one night, deliberately only choosing songs that I knew well. I chose "Delta Dawn", a song I'd learned as a young girl. I'd sung that song probably no less than a thousand times in my bedroom growing up. Well, I got up to sing this song. The music started with an unaccompanied harmony intro and the harmonies were up too loud. Totally threw me! I was not familiar with the arrangement and stood there like a dummy for the first chorus. My next song choice was a song that I knew really well and the difference in my performance was huge, as the comments I got from people were so different. Connecting with the emotion of the song is the difference between a great performance and something very mediocre. A less skillful voice will be praised if the song is well communicated. Therefore, choosing a song you know well and can connect with the emotion will help you to improve your singing.

If it sounds somewhat lame to you, then it probably will sound lame to others. A good way to hear what you sound like is to record yourself and play it back. Another way to hear how you are pitching is to put your finger in one ear. This helps you to hear the sound inside your head space. Try it out! It's great for hearing yourself clearly. Listen to hear if the sound you are making blends with the music that you are singing to. If you are having trouble deciding if you are singing okay, friends or family members that you trust are also a good source of feedback, but be warned...you have to want to hear what they are going to say before they say it. It's too late to take back "That was awful" after it has been said.

If you want to improve your singing dramatically, there are always singing teachers or singing classes that you can enroll in to improve your skills. If you are a bit scared of a one-to-one, join a choir or small group. These types of settings are less confrontational and offer a wonderful opportunity to socialize and improve your skills at the same time. Throughout my career as a soloist, I have worked in choirs, bands and small groups. Through these experiences, I learned to distinguish between melodies and harmonies. It also taught me how to blend my voice with music to make it harmonious.

Karaoke was designed to be fun. Just as there are no rules to say that you have to be able to sing to have a go, so there are no rules to say you have to stand stock still and sing into the microphone. This is your opportunity to let your hair down and just have fun. The more fun you are having, the more that those watching will want to join in with you and the more relaxed you will become. A relaxed singer has more control over his/her voice and a richer tone, so make the decision to have fun regardless.

I still get that gut wrenching fear every time I get up to sing karaoke, despite the fact that I've been a soloist in a band and up front singer for over 20 years. The first song is always the worst, but no matter how bad, karaoke is definitely addictive and the night is always too short!

Tips in brief:
1. Practice, practice, practice in front of friends, family and the mirror.
2. Record your voice and listen to it.
3. Choose songs that suit your voice and that you know well.
4. Get some lessons or join a singing group.
5. Relax and enjoy singing, as tension will hinder your singing ability.