Tips:
         Record your lessons.  Transcribe the tape into your notebook.  Notate what exercises you did, what worked, what you need to work on more, how things felt, and what your teacher told you.   Write down all the information that your teacher gave you about your exercises, music, and any other tips he gave you.  Review your notebook often.  Bring your notebook with you to practice.  Look it over.  Try recording your practice sessions also.  It's important to hear yourself often on recordings.  It gives you an idea of how you're progressing.  What you hear inside your head, and what your audience (the tape) hears, are two completely different things.  If you rely solely on what you hear when you're singing, you will be in serious trouble.  You will either consciously or subconsciously try to compensate by changing how you produce your sound, and most likely it will not be for the better.  Rely on how things FEEL, not how they sound. Remember, you will be performing in recital halls, your teacher's studio, the practice room, your home, and a variety of different places.  (Sometimes, you may have a little cold or stuffiness)  Each time, the sound you hear in your head will change.   If you get in the habbit of relying on how things sound in your head, you will never learn anything.

         
Listen to various recordings.  Try to find recordings of your voice type (soprano, mezzo, alto, tenor, bass, baritone) if you know what your voice type is yet.  If you and your teacher are not sure, try listening to voices of your gender.  Try different composers and composers.  Start buliding your music library as soon as you can.  Listen to recordings at the library....it's free!

         
Don't try to imitate another singer. You will obviously come across a voice that you truly admire. Don't try to imitate the sound you hear.  You must develop your own voice.  Trying to sound like Joan Sutherland or Placido Domingo will only stop you progress and eventually harm your delicate vocal folds from the strain and unnatural production.

          
Find a good ENT in your area. An ENT is an Ears, Nose, Throat specialist, or an otolaryngologist.  Ask around.  Make sure you're getting a great doctor.  If you have allergies or other problems that affect your vocal health, your ENT can be a lifesaver.  If you happen to get a sinus infection, there are things that he can do to help you get over it quickly without antibiotics.  Use antibiotics wisely. If you find that a doctor seems to prescribe anitbiotics at the drop of a hat, he may be doing you more harm than good.  Your body can and should get over mild infections on its own.  Antibiotics should be used when the body is having trouble getting over an infection on its own.  For example, if you've had a sinus infection for two weeks, something is wrong.  You're body is having difficulty getting rid of the infection and needs help.  If you abuse antibiotics, your body becomes immune to them.  You will have to be moved to another, stronger antibiotic.  This cycle continues unitl eventually, no antibiotics will work for your body.  Then, when you really need them, nothing works.  If you eventually have a life-threatening infection someday, and your body is resistant to all available antibiotics, the results could be....very bad. 
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