Relax your mind and body before singing. Move your body around vigorously and stretch your muscles to get rid of your nervous energy. Visualize yourself singing well and giving the performance of your life. A person who is tense will have tense vocal cords and thus her voice won’t be as powerful. Being tense may also cause your voice to crack, especially when reaching for high notes.
Breathe properly to get the most power and control from your voice. When breathing, keep your chest and shoulders squared and relaxed. Expand your stomach and abdominal muscles when inhaling deeply. Don’t gasp in large amounts of air but rather breathe in slowly and smoothly. Exhale slowly as you sing and inhale again in between lines or notes of the song.
Find the right songs and style of music to sing. Think about popular recording artists that have a similar vocal range as you and listen to their music. Find songs that complement your vocal range and that you know you can master. Don’t attempt to sing songs that are out of your key and range, as that will only strain your voice and make you sound bad, ruining your tone. For example, if your vocal range is similar to that of Duffy or Amy Winehouse, don’t attempt to sing songs in the vocal range of Mariah Carey, who has a significantly higher range.
Practice singing often. Sing when getting ready in the morning, on your drive to school or work or by joining a choir or band that allows you to sing. The more experience and practice you get singing, the better you will get over time.
Take proper care of your voice. Drink plenty of water and other fluids to keep your body and vocal cords properly hydrated. Drink warm teas mixed with honey to lubricate and sooth your vocal cords, especially after a performance or practicing. Avoid eating and drinking dairy products around performance and practice times since they can increase mucus in your throat. Avoid smoking, shouting or straining your voice in any other way.
Hire a professional vocal coach to help improve your technique. A seasoned coach will be able to identify your strengths and weaknesses when it comes to singing and performing and help you improve in those areas. A vocal coach will also be able to work with you one-on-one and provide you with additional techniques for getting better tone.