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The 25 Secrets of Singing
By Jeffrey Allen

Words of Inspiration

1) To be nobody but myself -- in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else -- means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight and never stop fighting...... E. E. Cummings

2) This thing we call failure is not the falling down, but the staying down...... Mary Pickford

3) Singing is the ultimate do-it-yourself activity. No one can do it for you and no one can make you feel good about the discouraging days. No one will get you to work on it tomorrow. Singing is your job. It's a test of will. But if you find this will, you will also find the voice of your dreams....... Jeffrey Allen

4) Fate is being kind to me. Fate doesn't want me to be too famous too young....... Duke Ellington

5) Learn from your very first steps to listen, to understand, and love the bitter truth about yourself. Find out who can tell you that truth. Talk of your art only with them and let them scold you to their heart's content....... Constantin Stanislavsky

Practice/Rehearsal Tips

6) Where you practice can be as important to your vocal workout as how much you practice. Make sure you practice in a place where you feel free to sing out -- without worry as to who might be listening.

7) Singing at gigs, recording sessions or band rehearsals should not be considered practice. You must also make time for yourself to sing without the pressure of having to sound good. Give yourself the luxury of taking chances and making mistakes during your own, private workout.

8) When you practice, do so slowly and give yourself the time to relax before your workout -- don't rush! Haste is the #1 enemy of meaningful vocalizing.

9) If you vocalize for a half and hour everyday, you'll be surprised at how much more ready to sing you'll always be.

10) Always train yourself to be able to sing one or two notes higher than required in your performances. This insurance will allow you to relax on stage.

Physical Tips

11) The muscles used for sit-ups or leg lifts are the same used to support (or press) air through the cords to bring forth a singer's sound. Some of these exercises, on a regular basis, add power to your overall tone.

12) Your jaw should drop -- as it does when you yawn -- whenever holding a note in your upper range.

13) If you have to cough or clear your throat, do so gently. These actions are like sandpaper to your vocal cords.

14) Eat and sleep properly -- and ideally -- exercise daily. All of these things will enable your body to achieve a state of relaxation and vocal-cord readiness and will benefit your singing more than you'd think.

15) Maintain a high level of water in your body. The old adage ...eight glasses a day... helps keep your vocal cords lubricated and conditioned.

Breathing Tips

16) The significance of the diaphragm as a muscle of breath support is over-emphasized by most music singing schools and teachers. The diaphragm has two jobs: it furnishes the power for inhalation and then controls tone support.

17) When you take a breath for singing -- to open the throat -- add a yawning feeling as you're about to produce the tone (the beginning of a yawn, to be exact).

18) Be sure the shoulders do not raise when taking a breath.

19) If you can hear your inhalation, you're taking in too much air or your stomach is tense. Be sure your stomach is relaxed before, and as, you inhale.

20) Always inhale gently when singing. Heavy gasping of air will tighten your throat.

Essential Tips

21) Posture is the foundation. Be sure your posture is erect when singing -- not a military stance, but comfortably upright. This positions you for maximum support.

22) Always imagine the sound that you want to make and then sing it -- using all resources available -- your entire physical being, emotions, psyche and spirit.

23) A tight jaw is bad for good singing. Do whatever is necessary to relieve your jaw, neck and shoulders of tension before you sing.

24) Don't smoke. Smoking puts at risk the entire mechanism you're going to stake your claim to a vocal career upon.

25) Don't try to imitate another singer's voice. Discover your own, unique, vocal identity.

About Jeffrey Allen

Thanks to an international reputation as a voice teacher, stage performer, author and lecturer, Jeffrey Allen has had the opportunity to personally train thousands of performers from every spectrum of the music world.

In a career that spans private coaching, producing, and teaching master classes at top music schools and universities, Jeffrey has gained tremendous insights into the qualities and capabilities of the human voice. This knowledge has enabled him to develop his highly successful teaching methods, which have reaped the praises of beginners and professionals alike.

Mr. Allen maintains his own world-class studio (established in 1978) and has lectured extensively at the Musicians Institute and Dick Grove Music Workshops, and the California State University, Northridge and University of California, Los Angeles extension courses. He resides in Los Angeles and is currently producing several projects as well as working on his upcoming Warner Bro. releases.

Jeffrey Allen has also written several books including the "Guide To Karaoke Confidence", a quick easy guide on how to perform your best on stage.

To Contact Mr. Allen: WRITE TO: Jeffrey Allen's Vocal Arts Center
P.O. Box 4056 Valley Village, CA 91617-0056
Email: HelpUSing@aol.com