Through a complicated series of events, it has transpired that I will be singing a solo in a concert tomorrow. Being a pianist, I almost never sing in concerts, and I can’t ever recall singing a solo, so this will be a new thing.
FWIW, I’m a 28-year old man and sing baritone, or around that range. I have a very narrow range and some of the low notes are going to be tough and same for the high notes.
Hot beverages are often recommended, as I understand it, but I don’t think that will be an option tomorrow. Should I warm up by singing to myself (maybe in the restroom or something) beforehand? Avoid food for several hours (I have acid reflux?)
Advice from our Dopers with singing experience would be much appreciated!
Those both sound good. Do you know the piece well? It may be possible to improvise with the notes outside of your range. At any rate try to enjoy the experience - the organisers are lucky to have somebody able to fill in at the last minute, and having even an inexperienced singer is better than having to cancel the whole thing!
Same as with any new performance: practice the first 30 seconds until you can’t get it wrong. Seriously auto-pilot.
That way, you can lean a bit on that auto-pilot while you are processing the nerves hitting you because of the newness.
Find “landmarks” in the vocal that you can hit comfortably. Practice getting to each of those cleanly.
Oh, and finally: target “cleanly” as the ideal performance. Not brilliant. Not fucking soulful or intimate. If you stretch out a syllable into more than one note, I will know it and hunt you down and smack the back of your head. Deliver the lyric as simply as possible that honors the song’s intent. The song is more important than the singer.
I hope you sing cleanly and integrate with your piano playing well. Folks love that.