Do You Want to Be the Next American Idol? Take Care of Your Voice Now.

It is never too early to develop the right habits that guarantee you have the stamina and flexibility with your voice to be able to perform every night to sold-out crowds. National voice expert, Linda Shields, MS, CCC-SLP, says that it is critical to develop and care for your voice now if you have big plans for a future in singing. In a great article, Linda will share the top 2 ways singers ruin their voices, and can describe 2 powerful techniques that even children can use to strengthen and prepare their voices for a future in singing.

American Idol favorites Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard have sky-rocketed the dreams of young singers across America, who now believe it can happen to them. But according to Executive Voice Coach Linda Shields, president of Speaking With Authority in Raleigh, N.C., If you want to be able to compete in the demanding world of vocal stardom, you must develop good habits with voice care. To do otherwise" says Shields, "is to commit vocal suicide!"

It is never too early to develop the right habits to guarantee you have the vocal stamina and flexibility to perform every night to sold-out crowds. In her award-winning book, The Voice That Means Business: How to Speak With Authority, Confidence and Credibility Anytime, Anywhere, Shields shares tips on ways to develop the voice that means business and creates the voice that music fans want to hear.

Two ways would-be Idols ruin their voices are:

Singing in the wrong range. Developing a wide vocal range is one thing; singing completely outside your authentic range is a disaster. When singers force their voices outside their vocal limits, it can cause serious, even permanent, damage to the vocal cords. It also creates a strained sound to their singing and pushes them off pitch.

Failure to warm-up. Just as athletes need to stretch and warm-up prior to a major event, singers also need to exercise their vocal cords in preparation for singing. Kenny Rogers and Larry Gatlin are just two examples of top professionals who ignored this advice, and paid the price with vocal surgery to remove nodules.

Shields top three tips to help you create your American Idol-worthy voice:

Say Mmm-hmm to discover your authentic range. Press your lips together and say mmm-hmmm," as if you were agreeing with something someone said. After a number of mmm-hmmms" say the number one" following the um-hmmm" at the same pitch as the end of the mmm-hmmm." This is your natural voice-your home pitch."

Warm Up With the Alphabet. Take a deep breath from your diaphragm, then sing the vowels, A -- E -- I -- O -- U, at your home pitch." Then add a consonant in front of each (i.e., MA-ME-MI-MO-MU) and repeat. Now, raise a half pitch and repeat the exercise. Continue doing this until you reach the top of your comfortable pitch level. Then run back down the pitches to your home pitch, and continue downward. Then return to your home pitch.

Let Your Face Tell Your Voice How to Sound. Your facial expression has an impact on the way your voice sounds. ... and your expression helps connect you to your audience. Practice singing in front of your mirror, using proper breathing techniques while changing expressions to match the mood of your music. You will discover that, by changing your facial expression, you create an emotional depth to your music.

You have a voice that is unique to you" says Shields, -a voice that can help you project a powerful image of confidence, credibility and celebrity. Make it a priority to discover your authentic voice, and develop it into the voice that means business."