preserve your ability

[ronws]

I don't know if anyone has covered this before but I will. One of the important things to being able to sing on key is being able to hear the tones of accompaniment, by whatever instruments you have. So, in that regard, protect your hearing. Get it checked once in a while, even. I work in the construction industry where there are all kinds of loud noises. And I wear ear plugs. I even wear ear plugs when I mow the lawn. Protect your ears. Anything past 80 dB causes pain and approaching 100 dB causes damage, sometimes permanent. Most rock concerts range from 80 dB to 130 dB. A jet engine is 120 dB. So, if you like to go to rock concerts, wear ear plugs. Trust me, you will be able to hear what you need to hear, even through the ear plugs. Decent ones will cut the volume by 20 to 30 dB.

[ronws]

Another bit of advice from various singers is to drink water. Before a performance and during a performance. I should follow this advice but my usual soft beverage is Diet Coke.