Q: All of the members of your choir should have coordinated outfits that do not distract from their performance and that look professional. Church choirs may already have choir robes. Be sure to communicate with the church organizers about choir expectations. Other types of choir groups, such as school or community choirs, may not have preexisting uniforms, but may wear white shirts with black pants or skirts. While secondary to singing, skills such as taking a bow together at the end (if applicable) or sitting and standing in unison can make the difference between an amateur and professional looking performance. Be sure to include detail such as time, date, and place of performance, featured singers, and hosting organization. Include ticket prices or suggested donation if applicable. Warming up will ensure that your choir is ready to sing, and you can be sure that everyone is present. Try not to introduce any new information before a performance; instead, try to "fine tune" things that you have already worked on. Give a few last-minute reminders if necessary, but try not to overwhelm your choir with different things to remember. Be sure to communicate with the director of the event about how and when to begin the performance, as well as where the choir should sit or stand both before and during the choral performance. While directing, be consistent. Use the cues, hand gestures, and facial expressions that you used during rehearsals. Save any constructive criticism for the next rehearsal: tonight, let them shine!
A: Decide what type of clothing or uniform your choir will wear on performance night. Teach your choir that details are important. Advertise your performance. Hold a brief warm-up session prior to the performance. Begin the performance. After a performance, praise your singers privately.

Q: Staying active will help you control your blood pressure and your body weight; if you have diabetes, exercise will also help you manage it. You don't need to join a gym or do anything fancy: even just walking can be excellent, low-impact exercise. Talk to your doctor about the right exercise plan for you, and consider asking for a referral to a physical therapist, especially if exercise is new for you: this person can help you create an exercise program with your particular health needs in mind. Start slowly. To begin, try exercising for 15-20 minutes three days a week; once you can do that, work up to 30 minutes five days a week. Stretch before and after exercise. Careful stretching warms your muscles, increases blood flow, and minimizes cramping. Smoking is unhealthy for everyone, but for people trying to preserve residual renal function, quitting is crucial to slowing the progression of kidney damage and maintaining a healthy blood pressure. Being overweight or obese places increased strain on your kidneys. Work with your doctor to determine your ideal weight, and strive to stay at or near it. The diet and exercise suggestions offered here will help you do that. Nephrotoxicity happens when your kidneys are exposed to a medication that may be toxic to the kidney cells, resulting in serious health consequences. Talk to your doctor about all medications you may be taking, and discuss alternatives. Some drugs known to be nephrotoxic include: Cyclosporines (immunosuppressant drugs used to prevent organ rejection and treat severe rheumatoid arthritis and severe psoriasis). Brand names include Gengraf, Neoral, and SandImmune. Aminoglycosides (antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections). Brand names include Gentamicin, Streptomycin, and Tobramycin. Chemotherapy medications (drugs used to treat cancerous tumors). Brand names include Cisplatin and Ifosfamide. NSAIDs (drugs, including over-the-counter drugs, used to treat inflammation, pain, and fever). Brand names include Advil, Motrin, Ibuprofen, and Nuprin. Some herbal preparations, including Chinese herbal preparations with wild ginger and aristolochic acids. Contrast dyes (dyes containing iodine, which are used in diagnostic procedures like CT scans).
A: Exercise. Stop smoking. Maintain a healthy weight. Avoid nephrotoxicity.

Q: Make sure your shampoo is sulfate-free and silicone-free, because sulfates can dry out curly hair even more, and silicones can build-up on curly hair. Silicones are okay for your hair as long as you use a shampoo with Cocoamidopropyl Betaine or coco-betaine, and that the shampoo does not actually contain silicones. It is important to avoid overwashing your hair to preserve your hair's natural oils. When you do wash your hair: Massage the shampoo into your scalp and let the suds run down to your ends. Put conditioner in at the midpoint of your locks and work it down to the ends. Comb it in with a wide-toothed comb, if necessary. Scrunch your hair to help define the curls. Rinse your hair with warm or cool water to keep it from drying out. Use a 100% cotton t-shirt, microfiber towel, or even paper towels to dry your hair. Avoid rubbing your wet hair with a towel. Then, apply a monthly hot oil treatment to give your locks a glossy shine. Brushing will break your hair cuticles and cause frizz. Use a wide-tooth comb or your fingers to pull out tangles. Style your hair when it's wet and try not to touch or scrunch it while it air dries. Sprays that contain sea salt are great for defining curls, but make sure it also contains conditioning ingredients, as sea salt can dry your hair. If you have to, then braid or plait it in three or more sections. Also, sleep on a satin or silk pillowcase or head scarf to minimize frizz.
A:
Use shampoo and conditioner specifically designed for curly hair. Wash your hair only as needed. Blot your hair dry. Apply a deep conditioning treatment weekly. Avoid brushing your hair. Put a leave-in conditioner on your hair before you style it. Skip any styling products that contain alcohol. Try not to sleep with wet hair.