Today our blog is going to be presented by our Acting Coach, Kirsten Anderson:
​A lot of Auditions are coming up. Many of you may be heading back to school and have an audition that is right away.  That maybe a play or a musical, either way the voice is a very important part of your success! Taking voice lessons not only helps you sing better but it also helps you learn techniques that help you in your speech. Today we are going to go through some tips! First tips for a healthy voice and Tips on Auditioning. Don't Forget to sign up for an audition prep session with me and Travis. Times are filling up!! Click here to sign up! 

Some 7 million Americans have some type of voice disorder, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology.
Hogikyan and colleagues have put together the following 10 tips to help keep your voice in shape:
1. Drink water to keep your body well hydrated, and avoid alcohol and caffeine. Your vocal cords vibrate very fast, and having a proper water balance helps keep them lubricated. Important note: Foods containing large amounts of water are excellent hydration-conscious snacks, including apples, pears, watermelon, peaches, melons, grapes, plums, bell peppers and applesauce.
2. Allow yourself several "vocal naps" every day, especially during periods of extended use. For instance, teachers should avoid speaking during the breaks between classes and find quiet ways to spend the lunch hour rather than talking in a noisy staff room with colleagues.
3. Don't smoke, or if you already do, quit. Smoking raises the risk of throat cancer tremendously, and inhaling smoke (even secondhand smoke) can irritate the vocal cords.
4. Don't abuse or misuse your voice. Avoid yelling or screaming, and try not to talk loudly in noisy areas. If your throat feels dry or tired, or your voice is getting hoarse, reduce your voice use. The hoarseness is a warning sign that your vocal cords are irritated.
5. Keep your throat and neck muscles relaxed even when singing high notes and low notes. Some singers tilt their heads up when singing high notes and down when singing low notes. "The high notes are on the ceiling and the low notes are on the floor," Rosenberg says. "Over time, you'll pay for that"—not just with strained vocal muscles but also by causing future limits on the vocal range.
6. Pay attention to how you speak every day. Even performers who have good singing habits can cause damage when they speak. Many skilled singers don't continue their healthy habits when they speak; indeed, says Herseth, "many people—including singers—should have much more breath flow when they speak."
7. Don't clear your throat too often. When you clear your throat, it's like slamming your vocal cords together. Doing it too much can injure them and make you hoarse. Try a sip of water or swallow to quench the urge to clear. If you feel like you have to clear your throat a lot, get checked by a doctor for such things as acid reflux disease, or allergy and sinus conditions.
8. When you're sick, spare your voice. Don't talk when you're hoarse due to a cold or infection. Listen to what your voice is telling you.
9. When you have to speak publicly, to large groups or outdoors, think about using amplification to avoid straining your voice.
10. Humidify your home and work areas. Remember, moist is good for the voice.

Further, warming up the voice is not just for singers, the researchers say. Think of it like stretching and loosening up before exercise. Easy, daily warm-ups for your voice:
1. Do lip or tongue trills in the morning (try it in the shower or on your drive to work) to facilitate better use of airflow and breath.
2. Perform gentle humming and cooing to warm up your voice in the morning.
3. If you do more vocally complex warm-ups too, such as vocal scales, do the simple warm-ups first.
4. Repeat these exercises throughout the day to reduce muscular tension in the neck, shoulders and jaw.
5. At the end of the day, perform a cool-down of the voice with similar vocal tasks.

Good Audition Tips
    Come 10-15 min early.

• Use the time to read over lines and go over your stuff
• This will give you time to be ready and prepared for when your time comes up
• DO NOT BE LATE
• be familiar with any sides they give you. 
• Pick a monologue/song that will show off your character choices and vocal experience
• Look over all the sides because you may be asked to do another one
• Dress professionally. Don’t come in a costume but maybe something that suggests the show. 

Introduce yourself
    The human brain makes over 27 judgments about another person within seconds of meeting them. These judgments are based on your posture, body language, voice tone, breathing rate, eye contact, etc. Make a bad first impression, and everything you do thereafter is filtered through that impression. Why is this important? Because acting is a business. And people do business with those that they know, like, and trust.

• Be confident, Make eye contact. State your name with confidence and not as a question. 
• Know what your performing
• DO NOT APOLOGIZE!!!! 

    Sing

• Practice your song in front of people before your audition so you get used to singing it for people. Don’t hid your face with your paper
• ACT WHILE YOU SING! 
• BECOME YOUR CHARACTER
• Don’t look and perform to my eyes. Perform like your on stage. It is unnerving for us to have to keep eye contact with you

Monologue (Sides)

• Study the show. Know who the characters are and what their personalities are like
• I may ask you to do more than one so look over all of them so it doesn’t throw you
• ACT WHILE YOU READ! Try to be memorized as much as possible
• Don’t hid your face with your paper
• After the audition- Say thank you and don’t talk right away when you get out of the room. 

You have the ability to make your own destiny. No one can tell you no except you! Don't stop your potential. Be the best version of yourself. Let us help you achieve those goals you have. Don't forget to practice as well. Those daily practices are only going to help you improve your skills. Doing daily warm-ups and practicing your songs will help you reach your goals faster.