by Filmgirl37

Created on: April 05, 2009   Last Updated: April 06, 2009

Buck Up and Belt Out

Karaoke is a national and international favorite pastime for passing weekend time. In bars and clubs across America and the rest of the globe, the voices of both ametuer and professional vocalists can be heard. Most seasoned performers know the value of stretching those precious vocal chords by singing a few scales before going "on stage." But what for the inexperienced and perhaps more casual party seeker that still wants to sound like a pro in front of his or her friends at break and vacation times? How, pray tell, is he or she supposed to go about improving his or her singing voice before hitting those bright strobe lights and booming back-up music tracks? Here are a few hints to turn you and you friends from squaking or screming deafeners to daringly dazzling key holders:

1. Have some idea of what songs you would like to sing in advance. If you think that the songs you would like to sing do not suit your vocal style, or your friends are honest and kind enough to tell you that your inner tuning fork is terrible when you sing your favorite song, call a music school or professional voice coach near you and ask if they will offer you a free consultation to hear your singing voice and run a few song title ideas by you that are sure to suit your personal vocal style and range.

2. If no such service is available in your area, go to your local library or bookstore to borrow or purchase copies of the CDs on which the songs you wish to sing appear and listen to the songs over and over at home until you think yo can comfortably mimic or sing the songs in the style in which they are written and intended.

3. Anywhere from a few nights to a week before you think you will have the guts to get up in front of others and perform, it is time to buck up and belt out. But there is no reason that you can't make a night of it. Make music fun by inviting a few friends over for a big slumber party and, if budget allows, rent a kareoke machine and microphone and practice performing in front of your friends before you fearlessly prance up on stage, pucker those pretty red lips and untie that "tied up" tongue to sing the karaoke "k"lassics that might one day turn you, the amateur, into an amazing star.

4. And by all means, when the "big night" arrives, be confident, know that you have prepared the best that you yourself can possibly prepare and know that first and foremost, you are there to do something that you hopefully love and have fun with it. Sing well, but do not take yourself so seriously that you scare yourself into an unnecessary frenzied fear.

5. Know that as long as you have brought a few friends along, no matter how good or bad you actually do, they will encourage you by cheering you on out of love and friendship. Also know that the remainder of the audience (who you must remember are not your friends) might or might not gauge a real reaction to how they felt you preformed by their boos and cheers. But remember that the average audience is populated with everything from drunk yahoos to seriously seeking talent scouts at any given time and in any given area. And the seriousness with which you should choose to take their reaction will depend on how well you yourself thought that you performed on each night that you are allowed and choose to do so.

6. If you are truly earnest in your desire to continue performing, you will learn over time to take the good with the bad, the qualified criticism over the hurtful, uneducated boos and you will develop the "sixth sense" on how to become your own worst critic.

Have fun and happy singing!

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