To be a good vocalist, there are certain things you need to do and some others you need to avoid. And then certain things you need to form the habit of eating and others you need to avoid, in order to come out great in vocal performance at all times. Check them out below:


1. Avoid shouting and talking loudly and do not engage in long hours of conversation before you perform or sing. They can wear you out and strain your vocal cords.


2. Avoid chewing hard foods like corn, groundnut, coconut, sugarcane etc. They can strain and weaken your jaw and make it difficult for you to sing with ease. Avoid chewing gum for long hours too.


3. As a vocalist, your voice is your tool. Make conscious effort to always protect it from getting bad.


4. You may eat anything you want, but watch out for foods that affect your your voice and avoid eating them before you sing or perform.


5. Avoid eating too much. Do not eat food an hour or two before you perform. It will help to free your vocal cords and give your bowel space to breathe well. As much as possible empty your bowel to enable you sing with ease. You need a lot of space in your bowel to to breathe deeply for a good performance. If you cannot avoid eating, then eat a little (two hours) before you go to sing or perform. And then use warm water to gargle your throat to clear your throat.


6. Do voice exercises before you perform. It will help to prepare your voice to sing. It will also help to enhance your voice quality.


7. Anytime your voice gets cracked, or it's sore, take out time to rest (2-3 days) from singing and take a mixture of lime or lemon and pure honey. Eat variety of fruits at this period. Drink warm milk, eat raw okra and any other slimy food. You can also dilute lemon in water and drink. Any of these can help to heal your throat (vocal cords). Anytime your voice cracks, find out exactly what you did wrong and guard against it next time.


8. Avoid ice or extremely cold drinks. They make your voice contrast (tighten) and then you strain when you try to sing. If you cannot avoid it, take it some hours before you sing or perform.


9. Avoid oily foods. If you must eat oily foods, take them a day or two before you sing or perform. By then, the oil much have fully cleared from your throat. And then eat a lot of ginger, alligator pepper, peppered fruits to clean up and clear your throat (vocal cords).


10. Avoid eating peanut, walnut, cashew nut, coconut, corn, biscuits etc. And anything foods that could leave food particles in your vocal cords. You may not stop eating them, but avoid eating them days a day or two before you sing or perform. These foods are capable of clogging your vocal cords and interfering with your singing.


11. Do voice exercises to help enhance your voice quality. I'm presently writing on 'SOME VOCAL EXERCISES' that can help you. Expect it on this blog soon. Vocal exercises help to warm up, clear and strengthen your vocal cords and get you ready to sing.


12. Develop some musical skills and techniques during rehearsals. Be current with new trends of music or singing and work with them. Spend time in perfecting your musical skills. It is very important.


13. Avoid taking minty sweets or candy or substances with mint in them, before you sing. It may tighten your vocal cords and make you strain when you sing. If you must take it to clear your throat, take it at least one or two hours before you sing or perform.


14. Learn to listen to sound. Listening is a major part in singing. It helps you know and notice musical notes, tunes, melody, rhythm, harmony etc, in a piece of music. Listen to different instrumentation and improvised songs (work) done by good musicians and be able to differentiate between the cords played in them.


15. Practice breath control. It is one very important aspect of singing. It helps you sing with ease and balance.


16. Rehearse properly and perfect your song before you sing or present it, each time you are to perform or sing.


17. Always maintain good posture when singing. It helps you to be balanced.


18. Add dynamism to your singing each time you rehearse or sing. Avoid monotony.


19. Always dress well and properly always. Learn to look good and presentable always.


20. Build self confidence. Confidence comes when you do very well. And great preparation helps you to perform very well. Avoid a poor performance any day. As the saying goes, 'Great preparation prevents poor performance. Always be prepared to perform well, it will help to boost your confidence.