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Most people who are avid karaoke singers don't realize this important basic truth: Karaoke's main focus is not necessarily singing.

Perhaps that seems a bit of an alien concept for those who spend a lot of time rehearsing for a "best" sound. It should. After all, karaoke is marketed as a sing-a-long form of entertainment for amateur singers. An audience goes wild over great riffs and runs, fancy arpeggios and long-lasting high notes.

The key word here, though, is "entertainment." Karaoke is all about connecting to an audience through a spirited performance.

The very first thing you need in order to perform well is sheer confidence. It takes courage to stand before a waiting, scrutinizing crowd and know that you have to impress a good majority of the people watching. For many karaoke singers, it's unnerving and makes them feel naked, somehow. In karaoke, you have to be willing to be exposed, to sing as if no one is watching.

So, if it helps improve the chances of you being less nervous, find a way to pretend that you are the only one in the room - just as you might in the shower, or in front of your mirror with a hairbrush you use for a microphone. If singing to a single person makes you comfortable, then pretend only that person is in the room with you, and give a stellar performance for your one-person audience.

Karaoke is first and foremost a game of precision. It's a test of your ability to keep good timing, and you must know how long to hold the notes. Pay attention to how long the artist who sings the original song holds a note, gives a belt, or holds back and sings softly. Though you don't have to do it *exactly* the same way, your performance should pack just as much power.

The words you utter should also be precise. Become a listener and learn the right song lyrics. This becomes a very important part of both building confidence and singing a great song. No one in an audience wants to see a performer stumbling over the words. Remember, one of the guiding principles for karaoke is imitation - which means you must be believable. An audience must buy into the sincerity of your act.

As much as karaoke is about precision, it is also about giving yourself permission to not be perfect. As you are strengthening your voice through daily practice, sing freely around your house and pay no attention to how many times you fall flat or belt out pitchy notes. It is important to find a warm-up routine with a scale that is comfortable to you. Rehearse it daily, even while you are doing other tasks.

Your "rehearsals" should also include exercises in proper breathing: Keep erect posture; relax the stomach; don't raise the shoulders while you're taking a breath; open your throat as if you are about to yawn (but please, don't yawn!); use the diaphragm for tone and support; and then sing!

Half of giving a good performance in karaoke is believing you *can* sing. Close your eyes for a moment, if you must, imagine the way you want to sound, bring your heart into the room with you, and then make the sound you have imagined. Use everything inside of you - what you feel, what you think, and what you know about the song - not only to sing, but also to become an instrument.

Learn more about this author, Cherryl Floyd-Miller.
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