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For the past five years or so, I've taken singing lessons. I really recommend it to anyone who has even the faintest interest, even if you feel like you can't c
by djur 4y ago
For the past five years or so, I've taken singing lessons. I really recommend it to anyone who has even the faintest interest, even if you feel like you can't carry a tune in a bucket. What I learned the first four to six lessons was enough to make a substantial difference both in my vocal quality and in my comfort in singing for long periods (one of the first things you learn, essentially, is how not to shred your vocal cords). One thing I love about singing is that it's one of the most democratic arts. You don't have to buy or maintain instruments -- you were born with it. Almost everybody is capable at least of some degree of singing. There's no gadgets to buy to improve it. And no matter what kind of music you like, there is a place for vocals. You can sing by yourself in the shower or in front of a band or in a chorus or in a congregation, if that's your thing.
Aside from the benefits of being able to produce aesthetically pleasant sounds and the fundamental pleasures of mastery of a skill, I recommend it to anybody who wants to become more aware of and comfortable with their body and/or with expressing their emotions.
I'm sure that there are good free online lessons for singing, and I've used a lot of videos for practice, but I really encourage seeking out a teacher if you can. Covid has been bad for their business, and there's no replacement for face-to-face instruction. (The good news is that, unlike something like the piano, it's absolutely feasible to get useful instruction over a video call!)
- nyanning 4y agoHow do you go about finding a good teacher that will teach you to sing safely with proper technique? I've had a singing teacher in the past that caused vocal issues and didn't have the faintest idea on why the way I was practicing was causing issues, except for "my other students don't have issues".
- djur 4y agoThat's a good point. I really just lucked out in immediately finding a good teacher. It's probably worth doing some research and watching some videos from vocal instructors online to get the general idea of what good and bad advice sounds like.
- tomcam 4y agoExciting! What a feeling to know you can do it!
- stevage 4y agoWhat makes you say that piano can't be taught over Zoom? I know a few music teachers that teach instruments remotely - though not piano, I'm not sure why that would be different?
- djur 4y agoI don't play the piano myself, but my understanding is that effective teaching requires constant feedback (including, possibly, physical correction) on both your posture and your hand positions/motions in a way that really requires the teacher to be present in the same room. I've heard this both from piano players and teachers.
- stevage 4y agoNo idea. I do play piano, but it was such a long time ago that I got lessons, it's hard to remember what was taught. I think whatever I was told about posture definitely didn't sink in though.
- Simon_O_Rourke 4y agoI'd love to get back into it, but I'd fear that all my lessons and parental "guidance" with music and singing would come flooding back and ruin it again for me like it did the first time around. I was one of those kids whose parents kind of imposed music on us kids rather than let us enjoy it. It makes me happy to see someone getting some joy out of singing, I hope you really emjoy it!
- berniedurfee 4y agoGood for you! Chest voice? Face voice? I took lessons for a bit and I found there was more to the techniques than I had anticipated. Singing through the nose, well resonating in the nasal cavity, as a technique to enrich the voice was the one thing that stuck with me. Now I hear it all the time. So many singers are nasally because it helps them sing clearly, in tune and with richer overtones. It’s subtle sometimes, but once you listen for it, you hear the nasal resonance in almost all singers, unless they’re chest singers or screamers.