Succeeding as a singer is not just luck. Yes, you can have a �lucky break.� But that usually occurs for those who take the steps that earn them success.

Elements of Your Success

I have created for you a list of things we can call �successful actions.� These are actions taken by singers and people who are successful. I have compiled this list from observation, experimentation, research and experience. It is not necessarily complete, but it encompasses many of the most important. Some of them you may find to be common sense. Well, sometimes we all need a gentle reminder to do those things that will help us along our path to success.

No Doubt

If you were so certain of yourself that you never had any personal doubts about succeeding it is very unlikely that you could fail. Having a positive attitude and belief in yourself is the single most important aspect of success. Self confidence includes the attitude of �I will succeed.� Of course, even the most self assured successful people have occasional doubts, so besides your own attitude, the next successful action is the answer to: With what kind of people do you associate?

Are they negative and undermining, or positive and supportive? It�s all well and good to believe that you are strong and others� attitudes and behavior toward you do not influence you. The truth of the matter is if you associate with people who readily criticize, are negative about life and are not supportive of who you are or your career path, it is likely to infiltrate your own attitude and actions. Be kind to yourself: associate with people who are supportive and positive.

Your Body is Your Instrument

Taking care of your body is taking care of your voice. You need an instrument you can depend on; an instrument that remains resilient and free; one that you can use for many hours, day after day. Having a healthy body in good condition contributes to your self confidence. In this case, confidence in your voice means that you can �deliver the goods� at any time.

Your voice is the result of vibration which comes from the coordination of small internal muscle movements. The vibrations are triggered by air released from inside your lungs. Good nutrition and adequate sleep play a role in how well those internal muscles function.

Singing is most definitely an expression of emotion, intention and ideas. When your expression involves projection or volume with an emotional intensity that your vocal muscles have not been trained to deal with, you can get adverse side effects like laryngitis, vocal blow-out, etc. Often this is mistaken to mean that certain styles of music are vocally harmful or that you are born to sing only one style or �sound.� This is a conclusion based upon ignorance and couched in fear.

Your Potential

From my research and experience as a vocal specialist, I have come to different conclusions. I find that most people � singers, in particular � have far more potential than usually imagined. This includes more range, more power, more expression, more tonal possibilities - in short - much more.

To achieve more you must acquire the simple but often hidden knowledge of your vocal instrument and then put it to use with an effective approach of exercises that develop your vocal muscles. With the expanded range, stamina and full freedom of expression that comes with knowledge and a developed instrument, you can sing in any style that you choose.

Self Confidence

This freedom of expression and versatility translates into trust in yourself as a singer and self-confidence. What is the difference in attitude between someone who walks into a rehearsal room or onstage and knows he/she can sing whatever the music demands versus someone who is uncertain and doubtful? Who of the two is most likely to succeed?

We�ll continue exploring the top successful actions of those who succeed in my next vocal tips newsletter. Let�s make you one of them!!

I�m cheering you on,
Jeannie Deva