Whether you sing along to the radio or have wanted to perform for years, you may want to learn to sing. Learning to sing can be a great way to express yourself or set yourself up for a fulfilling career.
Keep reading for tips to learn singing.
One of the most important steps to learning to sing is to listen to music. Of course, you may have your favorite songs and artists that you already listen to. Continue listening to those performers, but do so more intently.
Pay attention to how each singer sounds and what techniques they're doing to sound how they do. It's also important to listen to more than just your favorite singers.
Listen to some of the best singers of all time. Consider listening to performers in all genres as well. Compare how a pop singer sounds versus a classical singer, for example. The more you listen to music, the easier it will be to learn to sing.
Eventually, you have to start singing to learn the skill. After you've listened to a bit of music, try to sing along to the songs. Sing along to the radio at home or when you're in the car, or put music on when you're doing chores.
If you know a song well, sing it in the shower. Try to sing a little bit each day, and pay attention to how your voice feels when singing different songs or genres.
When you're a beginner, you probably won't sound the best, and that's okay. The important thing is to practice singing a little bit at a time. And if your voice ever starts to feel tense or stressed, stop singing to avoid damaging the vocal cords.
When you start to sing along with songs, try to imitate the performers. Listen to how a singer says certain words and the different tone colors they use when singing. Do your best to sing similarly.
Now, eventually, you'll want to find your own voice as a singer. But for now, it's okay to practice singing like different singers. Doing so can help you figure out what styles or techniques you like and dislike.
If you find a technique doesn't work for you, stop using it. Follow this process with a variety of singers across multiple genres. Then, you can start to add your own flair to the songs you sing.
An essential step to help you learn to sing is to determine your vocal range. This refers to the highest and lowest notes that you can sing. First, consider how low and high you can sing comfortably.
Use a piano keyboard or a piano app to sing along to different notes. Write down the highest and lowest pitches you can sing without a ton of strain. You can also repeat the process with your full range, including notes that take a bit of extra effort.
Keep your vocal range in mind when choosing what you'll sing. That way, you can avoid straining your vocal cords.
If you're interested in singing classical music, you may also want to determine your voice type. This includes your range as well as the sound quality of your voice. The best way to determine voice type is to work with a voice teacher.
It's okay to sing for a bit without warming up. However, doing a few warm up exercises can help protect your voice. Your vocal cords are like muscles, and you need to "stretch" them before you go full force into singing.
As you start to get serious about learning to sing, incorporate some warm ups into your practice sessions. You can start with scales that you play on the piano and sing along to.
Another great exercise is lip rolls. This is where you blow air through your lips and let them vibrate against each other. You can even combine lip rolls with scales to practice singing different pitches while loosening up your lips.
Ideally, you'd stand to sing. This will give your abdomen more room to expand when inhaling, so you can take in more air. However, it's also possible to sing, particularly when playing piano as well.
Either way, you should sit or stand up straight. Think about a string attached to the top of the head that's pulling you up. If you're standing, avoid locking your knees, and place your feet about shoulder-width apart.
Be aware of any tension in any part of your body. Try to stay as relaxed as you can. Any tension, even in your lower body, could affect how you sing.
Good breath support is vital for singing well. Without singing, work on taking full, deep breaths. Breathe in through the nose, especially before starting to sing.
You can also breathe in through the mouth, which is helpful when you need to take a quick breath of air. Practice both nose and mouth breathing with some exercises.
A good exercise to try is the 4-7-8 method. This is where you inhale for four seconds, hold the breath for seven seconds, and exhale for eight seconds. Try to inhale and exhale as completely as possible.
You can also work on taking a quick breath. Get as much air into your lungs as quickly as possible. Then, try to sing a comfortable note and hold it for as long as you can.
Diction refers to how you pronounce and enunciate words when singing. While you can learn a bit about diction from listening to recordings, consider, more study.
Many colleges offer a diction class for voice students. You might be able to enroll even if you're not a student. Another option is to look online for diction classes or tutorials, or you could find a vocal coach specifically to learn diction.
No matter how you study it, work on diction in any language you want to sing. You can start with English. But if you want to perform opera music, it doesn't hurt to learn diction in Italian and German as well.
When you practice singing, consider recording yourself. You can use your smartphone to record either the audio or the audio and video. Listen to your recordings with a critical ear as if you aren't the singer.
Consider what you did well and what you need to improve on. Maybe you stayed on pitch well, but your rhythm was a little off.
You can pick up on these things while singing. However, it's a lot easier to hear pitch or rhythm issues when you're simply listening. While actively singing, you have a lot to focus on, so it can be hard to also pay attention to your performance.
It's possible to learn to sing on your own. However, if you want to progress more quickly and to avoid developing bad habits, consider finding a private teacher. In lessons, your singing teacher can watch and listen to you.
From there, they can tell you what's working great and what you may want to change. They may also be able to recognize bad habits before they get too bad. That way, you'll know what to do differently to protect your voice.
Many singers take private lessons once per week. Lessons can be anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes, and more advanced singers usually take longer lessons. You can find a teacher in your area or online, so you can work with someone who understands your business.
If private lessons don't work for your schedule or budget, the internet is great. You can find a variety of video tutorials and pre-recorded courses that teach you how to sing. Some of these tutorials are available for free or a low cost.
Others may cost a bit more, but they're more flexible than committing to ongoing private lessons. You can watch the tutorials at a time that works for you. If you learn fast, you can go through more tutorials in less time.
On the other hand, you can also go through the materials at a slower speed. That way, you can really focus on learning new concepts before moving on.
Another alternative to private lessons is to join a school or community choir. These ensembles are usually open to singers of all levels. While the choir director can't give you personalized singing lessons, they can help the group overall.
You can also learn from other singers in your section. Plus, the choir will most likely have public performances to help you build your singing confidence.
Before joining a choir, it's essential to know your vocal range. That way, you can join the proper section and sing parts that aren't too high or too low. The director may be able to help you decide which part is right for you.
As you get better at singing, you may be able to audition for solos. Then, you can get more experience singing outside of your section.
Whether you join a choir or not, you may want to find performance opportunities to sing as a soloist. You can start by singing for your family and friends. Sing at family get-togethers or when your friends hang out to get practice performing in front of people.
Some singing teachers also offer a studio recital that you can perform on. The recital will include other students, and each of you has the opportunity to sing a solo. You can invite your loved ones, and you'll also sing for the other students and their families.
Another option is to set up your own recital or concert. You can contact local churches and ask if they have time in their schedule. Then, you can perform a full program of solos, and you can bring in your family and friends to fill the audience.
While it's not necessary to learn to sing, you may want to film yourself singing covers of your favorite songs. You can put everything you learned into practice, from choosing the right songs based on your voice type to using good posture.
After you film a cover, you can then upload it to YouTube or other social media sites. If you want, you can ask for feedback from other singers and teachers. That can be a great way to learn from a variety of professional singers.
You can also use your covers to build a singing portfolio. If you want to become a professional, you'll want to provide recordings to potential clients or employers.
You can teach yourself to sing, and many people do. However, it's much easier to learn to sing well with the help of a teacher. They have the experience to guide you and ensure you don't do anything to harm your voice.
You can learn to sing in your 30s and at almost any age. Most people in their 30s have jobs and other commitments, so it will take a bit of prioritization to practice singing. But it's possible to improve your singing as an adult.
If you want to learn to sing, you need to consider some vital tips. That way, you can keep your voice in good health, and you can keep from developing excess tension and stress. Consider working with a teacher or following tutorials to learn singing more efficiently.