O Solo You-oh!

The first time I got up to sing in front of an audience, I was 13, in eighth grade in Columbus, Ohio, and so scared that I couldn't catch my breath. I sang "Bound for the Rio Grande," and I kept gulping air—I was so nervous! I thought, Oh, God, I never want to do this again! Later on, I sang in the school choir, but I was never picked to do solos because I wasn't secure about my voice.

Some 30 years and countless performances later, I deeply believe that the whole point of sharing music and performing is to connect with something that's greater than us, a universal bond we all have. When I see people express their individual talent through music and song, it inspires and excites me. Here's how to find the voice inside of you and raise it in song. See you on American Idol!

Learning to sing comes from experience—just do it wherever and whenever you can. Experiment, and get comfortable with the sound of your voice. Singing in the shower is a great way to get your daily vocal exercise. So is singing in the car, though you might want to keep the windows up the first few times. It's not about the quality of the sound; it's about releasing that vibration that resonates inside of you.

The whole idea is to share your gift. But you need to get comfortable. Screw up your courage and approach some family members or friends, maybe after a dinner party, and tell them that you'd like to sing for them. After you've done that a number of times, find a place where you can perform regularly, such as an amateur night. Until you do, you'll never know just how good you are.

Nervous about the reaction? Rosemary Clooney would always open her show with "Sentimental Journey," and people would go, "Oh, isn't that wonderful!" "As Time Goes By" is another great choice. From the first six notes, "You must remember this," people go "Ahhhh!" It's multigenerational and appeals to so many people. Some other favorites are "The Way We Were," Carole King's "You've Got a Friend," Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind," or any song from The Sound of Music.

Before I go onstage, I picture what it'll be like to walk out and see the people, hear the applause. That way, it's like I've already done it, so it's not a shock to my nervous system. Also, I go offstage and breathe slowly, in through the nose, out through the mouth. As I take in each breath, I think of the things I'm scared of, and when I exhale it's a deep breath that really gets all the fear out. Sometimes, I make low, guttural sounds. People think I'm crazy, but just going "Huhhh...huhhhhh" really helps me get the fear out through the breath.

Really can't sing a note? Rex Harrison couldn't either, so he talked his way through My Fair Lady and audiences loved it. After he'd been with the show for three years, he began singing his songs—it was terrible!

When performing, always know the first thing you're going to say. Make a joke about the surroundings, the food, or something that happened earlier in the evening. This gives you an opportunity to let go of your stage fright—and your audience a chance to take a breath and relax. A little self-deprecating humor is a surefire way to connect. Here's a line that always works well: "I know this is the first time you've heard me and you're nervous, but just relax—it's going to be okay." It acknowledges your anxiety in a way that's funny.

What's most important for any aspiring singer to understand is that singing is about communication—your ability to connect with your audience. The secret is getting in touch with the lyrics. You must know and feel a song, love it, and convey the essence of what it's about. You can have a mediocre voice, but your personality and ability to relate to people through a song's lyrics are what will make you successful.

Once you've sung in public, word will get out, and that can be a problem in itself. Say you're at a party and your host or hostess asks you to sing. (I hate singing at parties because I'm basically a shy person.) If you do decide to perform a song or two, locate yourself where you'll be heard. You could be drowned out standing in front of the piano. If there's a sound system, use it. Look for a setting where people can sit down if they want to hear you—or leave if they don't.

Another thing about command performances: It helps to have someone introduce you. I once performed at a benefit in L.A. where there were lots of celebrity guests, and contrary to popular belief they are the cruelest audience. It was late in the evening, and when I started to sing, people were talking and the noise level was so loud that I couldn't hear myself. Army Archerd, the legendary Hollywood columnist, got up and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention? Michael is going to perform for you, and I would really appreciate it if you'd give him the courtesy of listening." He was not scolding, but firm, and everybody quieted down and listened. If he hadn't done that, I'd have been like wallpaper.

Believe me, I'm harder on myself than I am on anyone else. But the greatest lesson I've learned is to not judge myself or others. I've seen people at karaoke bars who are terrible, but they have confidence—they love what they do and they don't care if other people don't like it. After all, the whole reason to be up there is so you'll feel good inside. It's all about enjoying it. So, if it feels good, sing!

Jean-Noel Bassior last wrote about the night sky with astronaut Colonel Eileen Collins for our November-December 2003 issue.

Michael Feinstein's latest album is Only One Life: The Songs of Jimmy Webb on Concord Records.

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