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Keep Your Facial Expressions Positive While Singing

Edited by Ermin, Eng, Lynn, estrella sacragon and 10 others

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Yes, you have a wonderful voice, but you sing without emotion, and your facial expressions are not appealing to the audience. Your performance is not convincing, although you sing like an angel. You should feel the song as you sing and connect to the lyrics and the tune by using the appropriate facial expressions. If the song sounds melancholic, you should correspond with the right emotions and facial expressions. If the song sounds jolly, you facial expression should relay that same joy.

You face needs to express the message of the song, in the same way the melody and lyrics do. Positive facial expressions will reveal to the audience that you sing with joy in your heart. Enjoying yourself while you're singing, if it's an upbeat song, sends joy to the audience. If you are happy, your audience will be influenced by your joy as well. Negative facial expressions during an upbeat song, will send a message to the audience you are not enjoying the song, which will make it difficult for them to enjoy the song. Tenseness, nervousness and stage fright might contribute to the improper facial expressions, but some people just make strange faces when they sing. Whatever the reason, when your expressions don't portray the intent of the song, it's difficult to engage or connect with the audience. So...how do keep your facial expressions positive while singing? You may follow the steps below:

1
Be Confident
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Mary J Blige is singing with confidence.
I know it's hard to gain confidence, as well as self-esteem. Lack of confidence happens if you doubt your own ability. If you believe in yourself, you can do the impossible things. How to be confident while singing? Practice in front of a mirror, especially if you've been told your face does weird things when you sing. Think of your reflection as the audience. Sing in front of the mirror and look at your own eyes. This way, you can overcome stage fright. Another way to be confident is to look at the audience as non-humans while performing. Think about them as plants, trees, etc. This way, you may be able to sing easily in front of a crowd. You could try talking to other people and explore yourself in society. One reason you might lack confidence is that you may not be particularly sociable. If you want to sing successfully, practice things you have not done before. The audience is filled with different eyes with different views. You should know how to handle this by being optimistic. Tell yourself that the audience's eyes show happiness while they are listening to you.

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The truth is, when you engage an audience, you are sending them energy, and they, in turn, will send positive energy back to you. As much as you have a job - singing, they have their important place in your performance as well, and the energy they send you, only serves to heighten your performance.

1
Sing with Emotion
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Trisha Yearwood is singing emotionally.
Your facial expressions depend on how you feel. When you sing, you should feel every word of the song. Imagine you are serenading one particular person. You are on stage to persuade the audience and move them with your song. They may not be persuaded and moved if you sing without emotion. Take this song, for example: "How do I live without you?" by Trisha Yearwood. As you can see in her music video, she feels the lyrics as if she's trying to persuade someone not to leave her. Every singer should believe every word they are singing. Persuade the audience with the song you are singing.
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2
Don't Be Self-Conscious About Your Looks and Voice
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One of the things that can sabotage your song is insecurity. Some amateur singers are self-conscious about their looks, their singing, their appearance, the lyrics, reaching the high note. A great singer will be totally immersed in the song, leaving any feelings of inadequacy behind. The audience can feel when you're unsure. When you are completely captured by the song, they will be as well. When you are thinking of everything but the song, so will the audience. People are willing to ignore the small mistakes you make if you are willing to. In fact, the charisma you exude on stage will conceal minor mistakes. Have you ever noticed some comedians sing, and without having particularly good voices, they have a strong appeal to the audience? They may not be particularly good-looking, but they make the audience enjoy their performance. Why...because they are confident. They keep their facial expressions positive while singing, enjoying the song without worrying about their appearances or mediocre singing voice.

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3
Use Appropriate Gestures While Singing
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If you sing, you should not be stiff. When people come to see a live performance, they expect you to look alive. Hand gestures should coordinate with your facial expressions. Try to make them natural. Organic. Authentic. Don't overdo them. Don't gestate wildly as the audience will feel your performance is not genuine. Gestures flow naturally with the song you are singing. Have you noticed that whenever you sing a song with emotion, your hands move naturally, without thinking about it? Gestures are part of everyday conversation, which has it's own kind of melody. Let your body be free to express itself in your song. This will help keep your facial expressions positive while singing because of your gestures.
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4
Smile if You Need to
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Mandy Moore in her Only Hope
Not all songs require you smile. Your face should mirror the lyrics of a melancholic song in a very different way they'd mirror a song filled with joy. If you are going to sing a sad song, feel the lyrics and understand the meaning of the song, and your facial expressions will naturally be appropriate. Sad songs do not require you to look happy, nor should they. An example of a sad song is "Only Hope" by Mandy Moore. Do you think you have to be happy and smile throughout the song? Of course not! Watch how Mandy Moore sings the song with sadness in her eyes in the music video on YouTube. It engages the audience and although it's been sung by many artists, you can see, from the perspective of the audience, how persuasive her performance is.

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5
Talk to Your Audience
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Freddie Mercury singing
If you're singing a rock song or any upbeat songs, you have to involve the audience in your performance. Enjoying the song and interacting with the audience will ensure your facial expressions are appropriate. Your audience will think you are happy with the song and so they will be too. Audience impact is the most important of all. You should talk to your audience, and look them in their eyes while singing. These things make them enjoy and be involved in your performance, because they think that they are special in your eyes. They wouldn't think of leaving, and will still until the very end of your performance because you are awesome!
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6
Dance if Needed
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Lady Gaga
Indeed, you have to dance, if you are going to sing an upbeat song, for example, R&B songs or pop songs, the rhythm and beat should persuade you to dance. Dance is part of the performance. Lady Gaga's songs are upbeat, high-energy songs. She dances in most of her music videos, because her songs require her to do so. What if Lady Gaga did not incorporate dance in her performance? Do you think she would be as popular as today? Of course, the answer is no. Because of her style and dance moves, she has impacted audiences all around the world. So, whenever you sing a upbeat or high-energy song, dance, or at the very least - move!

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Singing has always been a tradition in every culture, in every country. People across the globe tell the stories of their history, lament death, celebrate life, and drown in the inevitable heartbreak of unrequited love - through song. Singing can enhance a, relationship, as well. How much more love would you feel, if you sing with positive looks and emotions? It can build a strong relationship between you and the audience, if you are an authentic singer. Moments in life can be defined by song. Understand the power of music and follow the steps above to achieve your dream. Good luck!

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1 Questions and Answers
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Questions and Answers

How can I make facial reactions when singing?

Before singing a particular song in public, take the time to review the song. Learning what a song really means helps when it comes to interpreting it, and then expressing it to your audience. Once you are know it, remember the following:

If it's a sad song, remember not to smile. Reference your own failed relationships and hardships. Always close your eyes and "feel" the song. In songs like this, the forehead is usually puckish as if contemplating on something. Minimize smiling.
If this is a happy song, never forget to smile and move around especially if this is an upbeat song.
Songs of encouragement should show determination when it comes to singing. Your face should also show that.

How to control your face when singing?

You have to think happy thoughts. Also, it helps when you actually interact with the audience. It makes you feel a lot more relaxed, so your facial expression will look more natural. But of course, it depends on the song you are singing. Most of the time, if you are singing a very lonely song, it will help to mirror the expressions with the lyrics, so your audience can also feel the emotions.

Facial expressions for choral singer?

I have a choir and it's hard to teach how to express the song with facial expressions. Are there any exercises for facial expression and hand gestures? Thanks!