Consistent daily practice, proper hydration, healthy speaking habits, and focused vocal exercises go a long way. You don’t need to belt out big notes every day — even 10–15 minutes of mindful warmups and breath daily can make a huge difference.

Cracking is often referred to as a "voice break" and is very common. Rest assured, nothing is 'broken'! It occurs when the little vocal muscles used to adjust the vocal fold position for low or high notes are not co-ordinated. Vocal exercise to overcome this include 'ng' glides across the area of the area where the voice 'breaks'. Adequate breath support is needed as well as good alignment. Warming up gently and learning to bridge smoothly between chest and head voice can help eliminate cracks.

These terms describe vocal registers. 'Chest voice' describes the feeling of the lower, stronger voice and it's where we speak most of the time. We often feel the vibrations in our chest, hence the name. The so called 'Head voice' is useful for easy access to higher notes. The faster vocal fold vibration require longer, thinner vocal folds. We dont feel the vibrations as much or at all. It feels like it resonates higher up in your head and sounds lighter. Both are important for a balanced voice. We spend the vast majority of our time in 'mixed' voice - a bit of chest and a bit of head. Keep in mind we have one voice, and our goal is to move seamlessly between the registers from very low to very high and back again without strain or force.

Optimal body alignment, a tension free neck, jaw and tongue, good breath support, a feeling that you are landing 'down' onto high notes. Keep in mind that there really is no "high" or "low" in singing - these terms are abstract and as a result unfortunately can lead us to "reach up" for higher notes and "dig deep" for lower notes. They are really just changes in PITCH (vocal fold vibration speed).

Answer: Yes — if your throat is sore, rest is best. Singing on a sore or inflamed throat can lead to vocal damage.

Nasality results when the majority of sound produced at the vocal folds is directed through the nose rather than out of the mouth. This occurs when the soft palate is lowered. The nose is designed to humidify and filter incoming air, not to resonate sound so much. There are three sounds in English that are nasal. NG, M and N. Pretty much no other sounds should be nasal. You can check for nasality by singing vowel like "oh" "ah" or "ee" for example, then while singing, pinching shut your nose. If there is no change in the quality of sound, you have no nasality.

Read the lyrics out loud. What is the message of the song? Connect to the lyrics personally. Use facial expression and breath to support dynamics and phrasing.

Each has its own stylistic tone, breath use, and ornamentation. Work with a coach who specialises in that genre. Keep in mind ALL singing starts with having the fundamental skills in place: Breath Support, Intonation, Rhythm and Timing, Resonance.

Choose something age-appropriate that suits your range and shows your personality. Keep it under 90 seconds.

Be prepared. Nothing makes people nervous like being ill prepared. Know your song/s really well. Slow exhalations (out breaths) help dissipate adrenaline. Visualize a positive performance, and practise in front of friends first. Confidence grows with experience.

Pitch, control, tone, interpretation, and stage presence. Originality and connection matter too. Authenticity is huge. Not trying to be someone else, but making the song your own and having a real connection to the audience.

Use online lessons, YouTube tutorials, or vocal training apps. Track your progress and be patient. Online courses that are from qualified, evidence based teachers are best. You can find my courses here:

Look for Australian-based coaches or platforms like Better Singing, or international options like 30 Day Singer.

Yes — but progress is usually faster with feedback. Many singers start online and later get a coach. Keep in mind, our instrument is inside our body and we hear ourselves differently to 'outside' ears.

Gosh yes! — many teachers (including on YouTube) offer beginner-friendly warmups and tutorials.

Start with a quiet space, a USB mic or smartphone, and listen back with headphones on. You could also look into free audio software like Audacity or GarageBand.