There you are on stage. You've been working up to this time and "THE" song of the night is next. It's the song that really "got" you when you heard it. Because it has a "moment" of it's own.

It has the big crescendo, the very high note, and lots of emotion and power right in the bridge or the last chorus.

The first time you heard the song, it sounded "hard, but easy." That is, it was impressive and demanding, but the singer who recorded the song made it SOUND so easy. But now.....it's all up to you. You've rehearsed and you know the lyrics and notes of this song inside and out.

The song starts and you feel the rush of energy. People in the audience like the song too. They let you know by early applause. The look of recognition and feeling comes across many faces beaming back at you. It all proceeds like it is supposed to do.

The emotions begin to build and pulse. It becomes clear that we are building momentum...heading to a particular impact point. The portion of the audience that knows the song knows where you are going... TO THE PEAK. Here it comes...you charge forward like a knight on his steed.

Then you notice that you are experiencing nervousness. Then, inside your own head, you ask a question that SHOULD NEVER BE ASKED...

"Will I make it this time?"

I have been in this exact position...wondering if I will make the "big moment" or blow it.

WHY should you never ask this question? Because you should NEVER do a song that contains notes that you make sometimes/miss sometimes! (The only exception is in private rehearsal!)

Your audience is never in the mood for a bad performance, (unless it's "rehearsed badness" for comedy's sake). Here's the hardest thing for a singer to ever have to admit:

"This is a great song and I'm NOT ready to do it yet!"

SO WHAT'S YOUR POINT?

My point is NOT to discourage you! My point is that if you NEVER miss, then it's time to do the "Big Song." The key then becomes HOW you will get to where you never miss.

Before working with Brett Manning, there were songs I had recorded that I couldn't really DO, if you know what I mean. I had worked them out in the studio where I was able to try the same phrase over and over until the engineer captured me doing it well ONCE!

Then, out on the road, in the middle of a demanding concert, I'd get to that song and sometimes choke! I'd get to the high note and have to flip into falsetto most nights.

People in the audience would be visibly disappointed. They were embarrassed for me. What a bummer--everybody was uncomfortable for that moment. The moment I was supposed to inspire them, I brought them down instead.

Once I learned Brett's method, I found out I never needed to doubt again. I could take the hard song, do his exercises in the tune of the song...THEN transpose the song UPWARD!

I'd get to where I could hit the high notes in a key that was several steps higher than I'd be singing it on stage.

Needless to say, when the song's "Big Moment" came while I was on stage, I NEVER had to wonder if I'd make it or not. In fact, I knew it was going to be a walk in the park! "Oh THAT key...that's nothing! You should hear how high I have to do it in rehearsal!"

BEFORE you perform it on stage, work out your difficult song so that it's so easy, you CAN'T miss.

Go through the progression of the Singing Success exercises until you get into the "mum, mum, mum" exercises. Then you will do that exercise to the tune of the song in the correct key. You'll be able to sail right through.

Then replace it immediately with the correct lyrics...first "mum," then the lyric...back and forth until you feel the comfort of it.

After you do that a few times, move up a half step. Get comfortable singing the song there, then move up again...then again. With Brett's exercises, the strain will be gone and you'll be seeing the wonderful side benefit of  NOT being nervous about a song that used to make you nervous!

Confidence is a beautiful thing!

Don't stop singing,

Listen to the amazing transformation that can take place with the right vocal instructions. Singing Lessons