Many people have aspirations of becoming a singer, but have no idea how to learn to sing. Whether it's to sing in a band, or the church choir, to win the prize on Karaoke night, or just to sound better in the shower, taking the time to learn how to sing with good technique will improve your results and keep your voice healthy and strong. Unfortunately, some people give up the notion of ever learning, because the task seems to daunting.
Like most things however, if you take the time to break big or intimidating tasks down into manageable chunks, they can become less of an obstacle. So, if you've ever wanted to learn how to sing, but had no idea how to go about it, read on.
In this article I'm going to break down the concept and show you how to learn to sing in five basic and actionable steps taking you from wishing you could, to doing it. And it starts with a commitment.
Learning to sing is a commitment. It takes hard work and dedication to become proficient. Like anything else in life, the more time spent on the task, the better the results will be. Therefore, it is important to understand that it won't happen overnight. Because learning how to sing usually involves a monetary investment, it's best to decide early whether or not you're willing to put in the necessary time and effort.
In the beginning, learning about the techniques and methods involved in singing will most likely seem fun and exciting, as if you've uncovered the mysteries to an unknown universe. That euphoria will fade. Trust me; it won't be as much fun singing lip trills on a major scale the 200th time as it was the first few.
Of course, the great thing about singing is, there is no better feeling than having a break through moment. That one day when something you've been struggling with clicks, can motivate you for many months to come, just from seeing the possibilities. If you want to learn to sing, commit to it.
Once you've decided that you're ready to get serious, you need to decide on a method. What's the best way to learn how to sing? Here is where things can get overwhelming quickly. The answer will depend on a number of things.
What can you afford to invest in the learning process? How do you learn best? Are you the shy type? Do you need someone to keep you accountable? These are the types of questions you should ask yourself, to make the decision process easier.
If money is not an issue and you have no social phobias, maybe hiring a personal vocal coach is the answer. This will undoubtedly be the most expensive option, but also the most tailored to your needs and capabilities. You may find it easier to stay motivated as well, knowing that you may be held accountable for your actions by your coach.
If money is tight, or you are more of an introvert and uncomfortable with the idea of singing in front of someone who will be critiquing you, perhaps a home study course is more within your comfort zone. There are some very thorough and excellent programs available online, with more coming along all the time. Some careful reading of reviews, and money back guarantees should allow you the opportunity to find the right fit.
Once you have picked a method, the next step is an obvious one. You can't learn how to sing without practicing, so prepare to spend time honing your skills. Most likely, a lot of time. This is where commitment comes into play.
Some people don't realize that learning to sing is largely about concepts and techniques in the beginning. You will be focused less on singing songs, and more on things like breathing, posture, soft palette placement, registers and much more when you first start to learn.
In fact, while learning the fundamentals, you should be prepared for the probability that you may not sing at all. What you will be doing is vocalizing. This entails lots of sounds, (but not necessarily words), and scales as opposed to melodies. Although not as sexy or fun as belting out your favorite song, it is a necessary part of the process to learn in order to train your voice properly.
Along with practice comes consistency. To really speed up the process and develop a strong foundation, developing a consistent routine is highly encouraged. The goal of learning the fundamentals is so that they become second nature to you, and you no longer have to consciously think about them.
You do this by being consistent. Eventually, the things that required a lot of mental effort in the beginning will become natural. You will develop muscle memory and find that singing becomes much more effortless. This is the ideal way to sing.
One you reach the point where you no longer have to think about singing properly and your body adjusts and naturally performs its necessary functions automatically, you can begin to focus on the fun stuff.
Lastly, it is important to be persistent, and don't give up. It won't always be fun, and at times it may feel like the last thing you want to do, but if you stick with the practice routines, and continue to put in the work, it will pay off.
Remember what you are trying to achieve, and try to find the motivation to stay the course and stay focused.
Being able to sing well is one of the most rewarding and personally satisfying experiences a music lover can have, and virtually anyone can do it. Just remember, there are no shortcuts to mastering anything. It is a process. Now that you understand the process and know how to learn to sing, the next step is to actually get out there and do it.
