Singing Lessons for Beginners

“Singing is the sound of the soul.”

- James Runcie

As the famed British novelist and playwright said, singing is nothing more than us – our stories – that are attuned to rhythms and beats. Singing is an activity that involves almost every living being on this planet and has a symphony even celestial. It is one of the closest things that transports its listeners to a different dimension.

Singers are those who breathe life into poetry writing. It is their voice that gives songs the thrill of the mountains and the intensity of the oceans. But just like any other aspect, singing too requires effort, and the singers have to remain under practice for all life.

For all amateurs who want to sing but don’t know where to start, singing starts foremost with some basics that can be self-taught.

Health: Yes, even singers need to take care of their health. The entire working of the body is interconnected, and an unhealthy diet can harm the throat. Hydration is very important. As is abstinence from smoking and drinking. Ice-creams can also harm the throat.

Breathing: Breath from the belly. A majority of people breathe from their chest, a habit we catch growing up. The air inhaled must be directed to the stomach and not the shoulders where it will be wasted. To improve breathing, there are several simple exercises that are effective within a short time.

Posture: For a singer, their entire body is their instrument. Therefore, every part of the body must be used the best way. However, the perfect singing posture can be hard to achieve by oneself, so it is better to work with a qualified vocal coach to correct any postural issues.

Diction: Words matter. And when singing inflow, there can be inaccuracies in pronunciation or gobble of words for the listener to hear. A clear, distinct articulation of the lyrics is important.

Those who want to learn how to sing are advised to train under a professional teacher or vocal coach. There are just so many aspects that are there to learn, and like any craft, singing has its own technicalities and tricks. Some very fundamental parts that require professional guidance include:

1. Basic Music Theory
2. Improving Tone
3. Singing on Pitch
4. Determining individual Vocal Range

Online Resources

There are some excellent online resources available for amateur singers, sponsored by universities across the globe.

Coursera:

The highly popular global learning platform has several courses and specializations for singing. There are lessons for songwriters, pop music, vocal production, song arrangement, and music production, with almost all being offered by the Berklee College of Music. Either free enrolment or financial aid is available for all.

Shankar Mahadevan Academy:

The Shankar Mahadevan Academy is a music academy founded by veteran composer and singer Shankar Mahadevan along with Sridhar Ranganathan Founder and CEO of Cloodon- Personalized Learning Platform. The institute has knowledgeable, imaginative, encouraging teachers who are on a mission to create a love for music in every learner. They function in 81 countries and offer 650 live courses, with both online and in-person classes. Additionally, these courses can be availed at a cost similar to professional college fees.

Ajivasan Music Academy:

Under the guidance of renowned singer Suresh Wadkar, Prem Vasant & Padma Wadkar, Ajivasan Music Academy has been teaching music to more than 26 studios in Mumbai. The academy aims at providing vocal music classes- Bollywood, Hindustani Classical Vocals, and Devotional Songs under the guidance of renowned singers. The online classes are to be booked in advance.

Udemy:

Udemy’s ‘Learn to Sing (Even if you suck)’ is one of the best online singing courses for beginners who want to build a successful singing practice and grow their skills. Just like the title says, the course teaches lessons on basic, but crucial topics. What makes this course good is that there are practice songs given to learners. These songs are suitable for low, mid, and high ranges respectively.

Another course titled ‘Become a great Singer’ deals on how to train in specific vocal styles and build vocal strength; how to use vocal distortion and vowel modification; the mechanics of tongue and body positioning, etc., with 53 vocal training workouts for comprehensive learning.

Skillshare:

Skillshare is an American online learning community for people who want to learn from educational videos. The courses, which are not accredited, are available through subscription. The platform provides some of the best courses related to singing, like Fundamentals of singing, Complete Vocal Training, etc. The lessons cater to the need of all three levels of learners, and is very inclusive. What makes it better is that these courses are free.

Offline Resources:

There are music teachers and vocal coaches available in most cities. Depending upon place and language, one can enroll in regular singing classes and better themselves. For beginners, the presence of a professional is important in learning how to sing. For beginners, singing might look easy on the outside, but it has several things that are not visible without external influence. Lessons are vital for any instrument, and especially for singing – the voice is the instrument of any singer. So, practicing under a person adept in what one is trying to learn is very crucial.

Online Classes:

There are many established music / signing houses/portals/academies in India & abroad. But Musikclass strength is that we "keep our music simple". Our first & main objective is to immediately help our students identify their potential, correct their basic mistakes and help them grow. This way they will feel more confident and express themselves freely through their singing. Post our basic training, they can choose to go deep in the field of music. We not only guide our students & their parents but help them identify the right academic route and which certificate courses to pursue. 

To know more about online singing classes CLICK HERE

Conclusion

Everyone enjoys music, but not everyone can sing. However, irrespective of whether one sings well or not, the voice of the soul must not be quietened. We should never refrain from singing out loud, to our heart’s content. In tune or not, tone-deaf or not, music must be a part of our lives. It makes things and situations brighter.