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probably no less than a 1000 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 their 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.

Learn more about this author, Hayley Solich.
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