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Can Anyone Learn To Sing?

I think this is the most important question that I am so often asked. And just as often I am saddened when people tell me they can’t sing. As I said earlier, if you can speak, you can certainly sing! Unfortunately though, many people think that singing should come naturally or perhaps you have to be born with ‘it’. This is simply not true. Many professional singers have devoted their lives to their vocal progress and put in thousands of hours of dedication to make it to the big-time – to go from amateur to astounding. On the other hand, it comes much easier for some… Entertain the possibility that, maybe you haven’t given yourself a real opportunity to learn to sing well. After all, have you had years and years of lessons in an attempt to learn? Have you really set aside time in the last 12 months or 12 years and fully focussed your attention day after day to learn to master the art? If you answered “No, not really”, then perhaps it’s time to treat yourself and give yourself a fighting chance before you give up. And the good news is, it doesn’t take years. You could be singing on a stage somewhere in a few months time, depending on your commitment to your vocal advancement.

Until we learn a skill, we should not expect ourselves to be a master of it. However, we ARE the masters of our own destiny. The way we see ourselves and the way we speak of ourselves, has a very profound impact on how our lives play out…

Remember this quote:

“Whether you think you can, or think you cannot…Either way you are right”

Do I have to read music to be a good singer?

No – but it helps. If you feel like taking your singing to a more professional level, knowing how to read music can give you an advantage over singers that are unable to. For instance, if you are at an audition for a stage production, and the casting director gives you a notated piece of the score to sing, you will be looked upon favorably if you can do this, for the following 2 main reasons:

It states that you are serious about your musicianship as well as your singing which makes for a well-rounded performer.

It means that you will be self-sufficient in learning the music in your own time instead of needing to be ‘spoon-fed’ or taught by rote – which is time consuming and can cost the company money

How often should I practice?

I recommend that to begin with, keep your practice sessions to around 15 to 20 minutes.

Make sure you allow time for a warm-up and a cool-down at either end of the session.

Choose the aspect or area of the voice you want to work on for that session before you start and try to place yourself in an environment that allows you to concentrate and fully focus on what you’re wanting to achieve.

Set simple tasks and understand that it takes time to sensitive your mind and body to the intricate workings of the voice.

Be patient and be kind to yourself – be realistic in your goal setting – although you CAN expect to improve consistently with regular practice.

What is ‘Head Voice’, ‘Mix Voice’ & ‘Chest Voice’?

This is something that perplexes most people who are new to singing. And at the same time, these terms continue to confuse singers who have been singing for years. In my teaching, I try to avoid telling students to sing in their ‘chest voice, mix voice (or speech register) and their head voice. The reason is simple – the students begin to think they have 3 different voices that require 3 different techniques. I like to encourage singers to use their whole voice as one unit.

The ‘Head voice, mix voice & chest voice’ merely refer to the areas where the voice resonates mostly. For example, the vocal register you speak with, usually produces a lot of resonance in the chest cavity. as you move upward in pitch, your voice will resonate higher and higher in the body including, the jaw, nose and cheeks for your mix voice; eye sockets forehead and head for your head voice.

At any given time, your voice will be resonating to a certain degree, in ALL of these areas simultaneously but more so in some than others, depending on where you are in pitch.

Having said that, there are points in your vocal range where the vocal cords will need to make slight adjustments in order to change in length and produce higher sounds. Its at these points that your register reaches a crossroads – often known as the ‘break’, ‘bridge’, ‘passage’ or ‘passagio’. Click here to find out more about singing terminology

My voice is damaged, is it possible to fix it??

Yes! Actually, the majority of students who come to me, have come to undo many bad vocal habits that are causing problems such as huskiness, recurring laryngitis and throat infections, strain and varying other symptoms as a result of incorrect vocal technique. Unfortunately, if you feel you may have developed nodules or ‘polyps’, you may want to see an Ear, Nose & Throat doctor for advice about treatment before you continue singing.