Should I bother with vocal instruction?

[saije84]

I've always wanted to sing but I don't want to waste my time if I don't have a good enough voice. I've never had any formal training at all... so please* forgive my lack of rhythm, tune, key... I'd just like if someone could give me feedback as to whether or not I should bother pursuing lessons.

Thanks for your time, Adi

I tried doing Top of The World by the Carpenters

 

[grimtraveller]

Should I bother with vocal instruction?

Vocal instructors general feel that anyone can be taught to improve their voice. So the answer is yes. Even if your voice sounds awful now, you don't know that a year from now you won't be a melodious songbird.

 

[saije84]

Thanks for the input much appreciated!

 

[ido1957]

You sing well enough now - lessons are optional - I think if you stay within this range you can front a band / record without any problem....
You blow away many who have posted here...

 

[exhnozoaa]

Your voice does not totally suck, there are definitely worse people in the music program at my university, but that doesn't mean you don't need further training to be great.

I took private voice for a semester, and I don't really think it helped much. I probably should have put in more proper practice outside of class, but it was a really busy semester.

Two things really helped me: the beginning voice class I took at my university before private voice, and being in a choir, which I did after private voice. The beginning voice class gave me more of an idea of what I actually needed to be working on, and the choir met 4 days a week, so I was forced to do warm ups and sing with people on a regular basis.

I was also going to suggest you have a look at the "Singing Success" channel on YouTube, but it looks like they now also have video and such on their own website: SingingSuccess.TV. They really just want to sell you some CD sets about singing, but they have plenty of helpful information in their free videos too.

I have one last piece of advice. When you see people sing live, watch everything about their technique: their posture, breathing, how wide their mouths are open, etc. That stuff is really important.

 

[Bobbsy]

Speaking as a recording engineer whose voice could kill at 50 paces...

Most of the best vocalists I've worked with have had some voice training. The training doesn't necessarily change the existing voice; rather, it helps to get the best out of what you have.

Possibly more important, training can also show you how to look after your voice--fronting a band or spending a whole day recording can put a strain on an untrained voice and, evenutally, do some damage. The training can help you use your voice without hurting it.

So...if you can find a good teacher, vocal training comes under the heading of "can't hurt and might very well help".

 

[VomitHatSteve]

Knowing the theory behind your instrument of choice is always helpful, so I'd recommend taking a few lessons if you plan to sing much at all. (Bobbsy outlined the specifics of how it helps with singing pretty well.)

Depending on what genre you do, I might argue that unless you're completely tone deaf, it would be hard to have a voice so bad that there isn't *some* application for it.

 

[Hakea]

Knowing the theory behind your instrument of choice is always helpful, so I'd recommend taking a few lessons if you plan to sing much at all.

+1

Learning to sing is like learning to get control of any other instrument - there are things that you need to know, and do you need to practice regularly. Like learning guitar (for instance) you can get the knowledge in a combination of ways - by listening and watching, from friends, from books and websites, etc. Or you can get a face to face teacher. Which you choose is up to you. Different approaches suit different people, but one way or another it will help speed things up (and avoid damage) if you get some advice. Finding a good teacher isn't always easy, but it may be worth at least trying one or two out to get some basic information and see if you click.

Good luck.

Chris

 

[saije84]

ido1957: Thanks for your opinion. I would NEVER start a band... Ha! I wish! All I really want to do is join a choir but like I said I was too frozen up to even audition hence asking for people's opinions on here.

 

[saije84]

Your voice does not totally suck, there are definitely worse people in the music program at my university, but that doesn't mean you don't need further training to be great.

I took private voice for a semester, and I don't really think it helped much. I probably should have put in more proper practice outside of class, but it was a really busy semester.

Two things really helped me: the beginning voice class I took at my university before private voice, and being in a choir, which I did after private voice. The beginning voice class gave me more of an idea of what I actually needed to be working on, and the choir met 4 days a week, so I was forced to do warm ups and sing with people on a regular basis.

I was also going to suggest you have a look at the "Singing Success" channel on YouTube, but it looks like they now also have video and such on their own website: . They really just want to sell you some CD sets about singing, but they have plenty of helpful information in their free videos too.

I have one last piece of advice. When you see people sing live, watch everything about their technique: their posture, breathing, how wide their mouths are open, etc. That stuff is really important.

Thanks for the advice, I actually have no experience... like at all. I don't even know what notes are. All I can do is mimic what I hear to the best of my ability. My brother on the other hand is a music prodigy and what I can do is tune* my voice to his guitar or match whatever he plays as long as its in my range. Thanks for saying I don't suck though... much appreciated.

 

[saije84]

Speaking as a recording engineer whose voice could kill at 50 paces...

...training can also show you how to look after your voice--fronting a band or spending a whole day recording can put a strain on an untrained voice and, evenutally, do some damage. The training can help you use your voice without hurting it.

Thanks for the input, I would never be in a band let alone record... I was just wondering whether I should try out for the choir. Heck I don't think I'm brave enough to go for a solo. Will definitely try looking for a good teacher because I agree... it can't hurt.

 

[saije84]

Knowing the theory behind your instrument of choice is always helpful, so I'd recommend taking a few lessons if you plan to sing much at all. (Bobbsy outlined the specifics of how it helps with singing pretty well.)

Depending on what genre you do, I might argue that unless you're completely tone deaf, it would be hard to have a voice so bad that there isn't *some* application for it.

I don't think I'm completely tone deaf... not completely anyways. Thanks for the reply

 

[saije84]

+1

Learning to sing is like learning to get control of any other instrument - there are things that you need to know, and do you need to practice regularly. Like learning guitar (for instance) you can get the knowledge in a combination of ways - by listening and watching, from friends, from books and websites, etc. Or you can get a face to face teacher. Which you choose is up to you. Different approaches suit different people, but one way or another it will help speed things up (and avoid damage) if you get some advice. Finding a good teacher isn't always easy, but it may be worth at least trying one or two out to get some basic information and see if you click.

Good luck.

Chris

The watching and listening thing would work well for me... and I do watch and listen to people often, however when I look too closely I'm always intimidated... there are so many foreign concepts: tone, pitch, key. I won't even mention sheet music- it's like a nightmare. That's why I was curious about getting an instructor or taking a class. I'm curious about the mechanics as well as actually performing (singing in a choir not professionally). I just didn't want to waste my time learning how to use something I don't really have the talent for: like (pardon the analogy) a blind man learning about 3D.

 

[exhnozoaa]

My voice probably improved the most while I was in a choir, I would definitely recommend it.

I think you should audition, but try not to be too discouraged if you don't make it. I actually got into the beginning voice class I took because I auditioned for the choir here, and the instructor told me I needed to take the beginning voice class first.

It would probably help your audition if you could read sheet music, but that's not a skill that comes super easily. Choirs actually help you learn to read sheet music, since you can see the sheet music and listen to the other people in your section to learn your part.

About the foreign concepts of tone, pitch, and key: That where beginning voice helped. Private voice was more about independently learning a piece and allowing the instructor to critique/improve your technique. Beginning voice taught more about how the voice works, and about music, starting from the basics. The book my class used was called Adventures in Singing by Clifton Ware. It was a great book, but it is unfortunately about $65 on Amazon.

 

[ido1957]

Did you join the choir yet?

 

[saije84]

Did you join the choir yet?

No, I told them I wanted to join and they told me I had to audition... However its only a four person chorus so I'm not too sure I'll get in. Also, I told them I didn't have a great voice and they said that was ok if I had the ability to harmonize. So- pretty much a dead end because I have no idea how to harmonize. I thought maybe I could take private voice lessons and then I could audition for the choir. Just don't want to pay for private lessons if there's not really a chance I could get on the choir team.