The crowd grows quiet, except for your beating heart. You feel the sweat begin to flow as you make your way to the podium. It’s amazing how the lights always seem to glow brighter when you are alone on stage. You slowly take your position behind the mic as your knees begin to knock ever so gently, creating their own percussion section. Although your mouth has suddenly gone dry, you are still able to open your mouth for your first note….

Most singers have experienced stage fright at least once. For most of us, we struggle with some level of anxiety before we sing. Naturally, if you are too nervous to sing then that will hamper the sound you want to achieve. So this post today is all about controlling stage fright so that it does not control you! Here are five things to remember:

1. Nerves are your friend, not your foe!

Biologically speaking, nerves remind us that we are alive and kicking. Nerves help us to feel what is going on inside of our body. As singers, we can actually use our nerves and the adrenaline rush that comes with them to propel us to better singing. For instance, knee-shaking is a way for our nerves to tell us to relax our legs by moving them around on stage. So next time you get the shakes, thank the Lord that you are alive and try shifting your body into a more comfortable position. It works!

2. Yawn!

Stage fright makes singers tense and that tension reeks havoc on your voice. Solution? Just yawn! Yawning relaxes the muscles in the mouth and throat, lifts your hard and soft palate, and helps achieve that inner smile. All these things will make your tone smooth and effortless. So a few seconds before you sing, indulge in a good, long yawn. Just try not to fall asleep!

3. Keep Breathing!

This sounds simple, but is so important. The more nervous a singer gets, the more shallow breathing becomes. This means that the body is not getting enough air to maintain a vibrant tone. So right before you sing, practice breathing deeply. Begin by pretending to smell a rose, allowing the breath to fill your body. You should feel your stomach, back, and ribs expand. Then slowly let the air out. Breathing deeply not only gives your body enough air to sing well, but also relaxes any tense muscles.

4. Practice, Practice, Practice!

The most common cause of pre-singing jitters is lack of preparation. Overcome stage fright, by practicing your song many times before your performance. Try to focus on weak spots so that you have more confidence as the day approaches. When the song becomes second nature to you, you will be amazed by how comfortable you feel.

5. Think positively!

Visualize yourself giving a stellar performance and don’t forget to say a quick prayer before you sing. This really changes your perspective!