Avoid strange remedies for your voice. If you train among singers, you will undoubtedly hear strange concoctions of beverages and even over the counter medications to improve vocal stamina or help a fatigued voice. These will do more harm than good. Sometimes simple vocal rest is needed.

It is very important to keep hydrated. It is a little known fact, though, that drinking excessive amounts of water just before singing can remove too much of the natural lubricant your body creates on your vocal chords.

While it is fun to copy someone else's singing style, be sure not to do so to the detriment of your physical voice. Very few people have vocal chords that lend themselves to singing like James Brown, Luciano Pavarotti, or Mariah Carey.

Most singers need to have some type of basic warm-up routine, even if very basic. Make sure your routine always includes the same basic passages or exercises so you'll be able to judge where your voice is in relation to where it normally is.

With vibrato, most vocal instructors agree that it is best not to practice it, but to let it develop and occur naturally. If you are singing with correct technique and your voice is maturing, it will happen. If it does not, it usually means that there is something to correct in your technique.

It has been said that singing is yelling on pitch. To a degree, it may be.

Here's a cool trick that can be used solo or by an entire choir. If you have a section of music that you are supposed to hum rather than sing with an open mouth, try this - with your mouth closed, touch the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth, then hum. You'll notice that the hum projects much better due to increased nasal resonance.

A nasal sound is usually thought of as being harsh on the ears. Truth be told, all great singers who really project have a good deal of nasal resonance. When you sing, does any air at all come from your nose? A little should. Experiment!

When singing notes that are very high in your vocal range, don't be afraid to modify the vowel sounds a bit of you are singing solo. For example, the "a" in "far" could be sung where it sounds like it is between an "a" and an "e".

If you have ever sung in a professional choir, you know how important it is that the group be uniform in their vowel sounds. This promotes blending in tone quality, and can help keep notes better in tune throughout the choir.

If you sing in a group, be open to shifting to a different place in the ensemble, even if it is not beside your best friend, and even if there is someone a bit taller in front of you, or vice versa. Some good choir directors will put people in different places according to the unique qualities of their voice and tone.

An old joke says that an alto is just a soprano who can read music.

While funny, and sometimes true in practice, it is ideal to be able to sing the voice part that your voice suits the best. For this reason, you will create more depth in your choir if you can learn to read music and sing harmonies. That way, if you truly are an interior voice such as an alto or tenor, you will be able sing it, rather than your director having to recruit someone who can read the music but whose voice may not be as well suited to the part.

The renowned Harry Bulow, a composer and music theory professor once asked his class in earnest why in the world J.S. Bach used the same melodies in so many chorales, simply reharmonizing the lower parts. He suggested that perhaps Bach just liked those particular melodies. A quick-witted music student remarked "Either that, or he just had really stupid sopranos!"

Overcome the stereotype, sopranos and basses. Don't let the ability to easily hear your part become a crutch - improve your sight-reading skills whenever you are able.

Pavarotti was said to have said that singing takes lots and lots of memory. Point taken to remain focused in concentration when you are performing. You will never be added to the list of those who have forgotten the lyrics when singing the national anthem.

Many singers have beautiful voices and technical ability. The very best also do a superb job of interpreting the lyrics. Tell a story! Always be thinking of how what you are singing lends expression to the lyrics and artistic thought behind the song.

When preparing for a performance, balance practice and rest. The last thing you want to do is tire yourself out, causing more harm than good.

While you don't want to tire yourself out, make sure you can sing a complex passage 5 to 10 times without a mistake if you are having problems with it and will need to perform it.

Many female singers have remarked that they have done some of their best singing when pregnant. Others have said that their baby's excited actions in the womb when singing made it difficult. Stay positive and keep in mind that it could happen either way.

A man's vocal prime is much later in life than a womans, many times reaching into the late 50s.

Make sure you're relaxed while you're singing. If your throat and neck muscles are tense, you'll be straining to catch your breath and your projection and tone will suffer. Many years ago, the leader of our high-school a capella choir shared an excellent tip I still use today:

While practicing, place your hand near your throat and try to pull the skin of your neck away from the neck itself. This may be tricky if you have more than one chin or if your chin is a bit saggy, but if there's any sign of excess tension, you're going to feel it no matter what. Focus on keeping that area as relaxed as possible, and you'll notice the difference!

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keepin' the beat goin' and passing it on!