How can I make my voice sound better for my school musical auditions?

Question:It's not that I'm a bad singer, but I know there are some tricks and warm-ups to help before I sing. I once read in a magazine that some of the American Idols drank olive oil before performing. Comments like that would be helpful.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: It's not that I'm a bad singer, but I know there are some tricks and warm-ups to help before I sing. I once read in a magazine that some of the American Idols drank olive oil before performing. Comments like that would be helpful.

Don't try something too new right before an audition. You don't want to throw yourself. If you plan to try something like drinking olive oil (I've never heard of it being done before) then try it a couple of times in advance so you know that it's not going to swell up your throat to abnormal size, or something else strange like that. There's no harm in the "no-dairy" rule and it's always good to drink lots of water. Don't talk too much before hand, certainly don't go about yelling. Be sure to warm up, but don't strain your voice. Get some rest the night before. Don't eat an enormous meal right before you sing. Deep breathing is good. Go into the audition calm if possible. Remember: no one wants you to mess up (unless they're really petty).

For laryngitis I drink cayenne pepper mixed into orange juice. It's absolutely disgusting, but it works. Be warned: It makes you a bit constipated. It's not a replacement for not talking, but it helps a lot.

This stuff is all good, but it doesn't make up for practicing.

SUGGESTIONS FOR PRACTICING/WARM-UP:

Practice every day. It is better to warm up for 15 minutes, three different times during the day, than to spend 30 minutes straining to reach notes. That way each warm up almost acts as a new day's warm up. So you get three days of work in one day.

Don't strain your voice. The first thing that people do when they want to sing is force themselves to sing notes that they really can't reach (both high and low). Find the middle of your range and start from there.

Try singing a few notes at a piano. If you have piano skills, great. If not grab a friend who does. Play a single note and then try matching your voice. Listen carefully to what you are singing vs. what is being played. Try this on different vowels: e eh ah Listen CAREFULLY. Even better, have someone else listen to make sure you are singing the right pitch.

Next, warm up slowly. Don't start very high. In fact, it might actually be better to go down first. Start on middle C doing a five note scale (C => G and then back down) and then go down to B, B-flat, A, you get the idea. Try to connect your pitches through air. You don't want to swoop, instead try to keep a very steady flow of air coming out of your mouth. For example: If you take a big breath and then exhale you will notice that it is very smooth, the air is steady, it doesn't sound like a scratched CD. Apply this to your exercises.

Now you can go up. Keep in mind the same things: don't swoop, steady air, don't strain. As you repeat this throughout the day you will notice that your voice will get stronger, as will your range.

You can also try some other exercises:
note: (do) = high do

do mi sol mi do
do mi sol (do) sol mi do
do sol do
do (do) do
do (low-sol) do

Now apply the skills you have learned in these exercises to the songs you are singing.

Good luck!

You could do warm up like this mickey mouse wears rubber shooooooooooooooooes try singing this with diffrent notes and go up and down on your oooooo's. Also the day you have tryouts NO DAIRY PRODUCTS it will make your voice sound sticky other then that when you do your tryouts dont do them accapella do them with music it will help you stay on key and keep you from switching notes to early

drink plenty of water
and just pratice
GOOD Luck