You cannot sing correctly or apply any other techniques without the correct support, obtained through posture. The line of your body dictates the flow of air, and without the proper alignment, you cut off your air supply. "Singing is all about air being manipulated into specific vibrations through your vocal chords and then resonance cavities which are spaces in your head," notes MusicianWages.com. Stand with your ears over your shoulders and your shoulders over your hips. Keep your chin at rest, meaning don't lift your chin, as this weakens your air supply.
Proper support and breathing ensures that your have the air supply to make it through a phrase. Proper breathing involves controlled breaths and supporting the diaphragm. The diaphragm is located just beneath the breast bone; therefore, you get the most controlled breaths when you contract the muscles of the abdomen while keeping the rib cage in an expanded position. "To get the best breath for singing, you want to fill up your abdomen like an inner tube," according to A2ZSinging-Tips.com. The expansion should encompass your entire midsection, including your back. Imagine lifting up from the center of your body, supporting the air as you release it. Singers who continually lose their voice or appear to be straining are using their throat for power as opposed to their diaphragm.
Articulation provides rhythm, and involves the lips, teeth and tip of the tongue. Make sure that you are not trying to articulate from the back of the mouth, also known as swallowing your articulation, as this impedes your tone and resonance. Resonance begins in the mouth, so experiment with different mouth shapes to improve your resonance. If you find that your voice sounds nasal, there is too much resonance in the nasal cavity. Open your mouth taller as opposed to wider to get rid of the nasal sound.
Occasionally, singers learn basic vocal techniques that damage the voice. The flat tongue technique provides more acoustical space in the mouth, but is damaging because it forces the muscle mass of the tongue into the pharynx, putting stress on the vocal chords through continual pressure. The smile technique teaches you to smile while singing; however, this is a destructive practice for the throat, as it raises the larynx and drops the palate, putting your throat in the wrong position and not allowing the vocal chords to close properly. Smile with your eyes instead of your mouth to avoid damage.