# I'm not a singer type - and I'm singing in a concert. Advice please.... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 24, 2016, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-singer-type-and-im-singing-in-a-concert-advice-please/766708 "2016-09-24T05:51:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-singer-type-and-im-singing-in-a-concert-advice-please/766708/1 "2016-09-24T05:51:16Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Mood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@Blue\_Mood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Mood)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-singer-type-and-im-singing-in-a-concert-advice-please/766708/2 "2016-09-24T12:01:16Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Should I warm up by singing to myself (maybe in the restroom or something) beforehand? Avoid food for several hours (I have acid reflux?) 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! ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-singer-type-and-im-singing-in-a-concert-advice-please/766708/3 "2016-09-24T12:52:30Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-singer-type-and-im-singing-in-a-concert-advice-please/766708/4 "2016-09-24T14:01:31Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > 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. That doesn’t tend to be noobs… it tends to be self-thought “great singers” from the very local pop diva to this week’s international star. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-singer-type-and-im-singing-in-a-concert-advice-please/766708/5 "2016-09-24T19:26:13Z")
Thanks, great advice. The good thing is that I get to read the lyrics while singing, so at least lyric-lapse isn’t an issue. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-singer-type-and-im-singing-in-a-concert-advice-please/766708/6 "2016-09-24T23:52:58Z")
What are you singing? ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-singer-type-and-im-singing-in-a-concert-advice-please/766708/7 "2016-09-25T00:12:58Z")
Best advice was from your Mom on Picture Day: Stand up straight, shoulders back, chest out, chin tilted slightly up. Remember to breathe. Deep breaths when you can. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-singer-type-and-im-singing-in-a-concert-advice-please/766708/8 "2016-09-25T00:31:02Z")
One word: AaaAauTotuuuuUUUuuuuUuuUUUuuuuunNnNEe ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-singer-type-and-im-singing-in-a-concert-advice-please/766708/9 "2016-09-25T01:14:29Z")
I like sirens to warm up. You can do them quietly, through your nose, all the way up and down again. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-singer-type-and-im-singing-in-a-concert-advice-please/766708/10 "2016-09-25T04:25:47Z")
> [@fachverwirrt](#): > > What are you singing? A song I composed (music, not the lyrics). ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-singer-type-and-im-singing-in-a-concert-advice-please/766708/11 "2016-09-25T04:58:28Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Thanks, great advice. The good thing is that I get to read the lyrics while singing, so at least lyric-lapse isn’t an issue. But don’t bury your face in the score, preventing your voice from projecting to the audience. When you practice, mark your breathing spots on the score, wherever it seems natural to you. Relax and stay hydrated. And don’t lock your knees. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-a-singer-type-and-im-singing-in-a-concert-advice-please/766708/12 "2016-09-25T09:06:17Z")
Definitely warm up first. Relax, and have a good time. By the way, I’ve been singing solos for nearly 30 years and I still get nervous, so don’t worry about it.