Uncle Dave,

Excellent mic tips!
I remember learning these same valuable mic tips from my former vocal coach (Judy Davis), the vocal coach to the stars: Barbara Streisand, En Vogue, etc.

You are 'right on' about lyrics. You had better understand what the lyrics mean away from the context of the music before even singing them. I use a "sub-plot" technique of first memorizing the lyrics like an actor would memorize his lines in a script. I then figure out the: WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHY, and HOW of the lyrics to develop a personal meaning and understanding and from this evolves a sense of personal vocal phrasing. Afterall, an actor has many lines to speak, but we as singers are limited to the much fewer words to convey our message. Thanks for reminding me of all the wonderful things I've learned from the many great music teachers I've had the opportunity to work with over the years. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our lives that we forget the little things that mean a lot.

Scott