If you have been singing for years or just sing the occasional “Happy Birthday”, everyone wants to be a better singer. Here are some quick tips* so you are on your way of becoming the next Beyonce!

1. Keep your arms slightly away from your body. Clasp your hands out in front of you or bring your arms to your sides and a bit forward, raising them about 6 inches in a flexible, relaxed fashion. This will allow your ribcage to fully expand and your lungs to fill to capacity. More air allows you to project your voice more strongly and clearly.

Remember, not all great singers were born with record deals, some had to audition. Here are some videos of famous singers you might know who found fame though American Idol.

2. Keep your feet about shoulders’ width apart. If you like, one foot can be further forward than the other. Make sure you’re solidly balanced, but still flexible. Slightly bend your knees. If you must sing while sitting, make sure both feet are flat on the floor, with 12 inches or so between them, and that you’re sitting up straight, but not stiffly.

3. Relax! Tension destroys vocal tone. Try not to let your shoulders hunch up and keep your neck from tensing. Don’t force your chest up and out when you breath in. This will actually constrict your air flow. Stay in motion, however slightly. This will relax your body and your tone will sound more natural. Try gently swaying from side to side with the rhythm. You’ll look better, too!

4. When you inhale, push your stomach out. This will allow you to more completely fill your lungs. As you exhale, bring your stomach slowly in, using the muscles of your diaphragm (which is just under your ribcage) to control your tone.

5. If you have to hit a high note or you hear yourself singing flat (that is, if your notes are a tiny bit too low), raise your arms a little higher and smile slightly. For very high notes, try closing your eyes and turning your face up slightly.

6. Conversely, if you start to sing sharp (a tiny bit too high), bring your arms down a little lower and open your mouth slightly wider by dropping your lower jaw. Don’t dip your chin towards your neck, however, as this will cause your air flow to become constricted, which will show up in your voice.

7. Find your natural volume. Many people sing too softly, out of shyness or embarrassment. This keeps them from being able to support a good tone. Others sing as loudly as possible, which can result in sharp or flat notes, as well as body tension. Singing at your natural volume should feel good, not forced or constricted.

8. Find your best tone. Tone is strongly affected by your state of mind. You may find that you sound better when you imitate someone else, like an opera singer, pop diva or rock star. Have fun experimenting and don’t hold back! You may be surprised at just how good you can sound.

9. Enjoy yourself!

*Tips taken from knowledgehound.com

Wanna have a cooler profile than everyone else? Update it! You can update your midomi profile to include pictures, write something about yourself, let everyone know when your birthday is, and even tell others who your favorite artists are…..all in 2 easy steps!

Step 1: Go to the upper right hand corner of your profile. Click on the arrow besides your name and click on “Account Settings”

Step 2: Click on the tab of what you like to update:

• Basic: You can change your name, email, birthday, gender, and even write a little note to describe yourself to other members! If you update your profile, but still want to keep some things private, you have that option too! Just click on the drop down menu besides each category to make things Private or Public for other users to see!
• Photos: Upload as many as you like! To make a photo your default profile picture, click on the “Set as Default” for the picture that you would like as your main profile picture. The picture will show up within a few minutes.
• Password: You can always change your password automatically. Just enter your old one and hit “Save”
• Email Settings: You can change your default email settings to notify you when YOU would like to be notified. Just click from the drop down menu besides each category and select your preference.
• Note Settings: Don’t like some of the notes other users post on your profile? You can choose whether to approve the notes yourself or let midomi post them for you.

Just don’t forget to hit “Save” after each new update is made. If you have any questions, you can always email support@midomi.com

Enjoy!

Song of the week: Carrie Underwood’s “Just A Dream”. This girl can really sing her heart out! Check out this video from the Country Music Awards that was held in Tennessee on November 12th.