Nats.org – National Association of Teachers of SingingA great place to start would be www.nats.org. The National Association of Teachers of Singing is the largest professional association of singing teachers in the world. With over 7,000 members in US, Canada, and 25 other countries. NATS main focus as an association, is to encourage the highest standards of singing and vocal arts combined with the ethical principles in the teaching of singing. What does that mean? They are truly 110% committed to forming an association containing only THE BEST singing teachers. This is great news for anyone looking for a singing teacher! No need to fear taking lessons from someone that might not know what they’re talking about from NATS. www.nats.org is a great starting place when looking for a singing teacher.
Some places that would have helpful information for you would be:
1) Are you prepared to commit to several months of lessons and practice? This means blocking time out of your schedule and life for focusing on your singing.
2) Do you understand that strong singing can be mastered with practice and diligence? Although at times it may be very difficult and seem impossible.
3) Have you thought about the financial investment you’ll be making?
People often get results in the first 12 weeks. Those that continue for a year really start to feel the strength of their voice. The longer you stick with it, the more you begin to really experience the true power and beauty of your own voice!
Anywhere between $35-$50 per hour is reasonable. You really get what you pay for when it comes to your voice and singing career. Lessons should be one-on-one for 1 hour per week. For your teacher to really help you grow, they need to hear just YOUR voice and be focused on only you. Having group lessons is usually more distracting and unproductive than a one-on-one lesson. Don’t be afraid to invest in yourself and your voice. But if you feel that you are not making the progress you think you should be making with your current teacher, it might be time to start searching for a new one.
I hope this helps give some people an idea of where to look and what to look for when finding a local singing teacher! If any of you have questions, please post them in the comment section below.
Take care, and talk soon
Billy
How to Learn Singing – Before You Begin
Before you begin, listen to a lot of different songs in many genres. This will help you settle on a style that best suits your voice and personality. Do you want to sing rock music? Opera? Maybe country and western or rhythm and blues suits your style best.
Next, start practicing to find your natural vocal range. Sing a note that you can comfortably hit. Then sing progressively higher notes until your sound quality decreases. Go back to the first note and then sing down the scale to find the bottom of your range.
This is an informal exercise, but it will help you get an idea of which notes you can comfortably sing, and which ones you need to work on.
How to Learn Singing – Self-Study
Many vocalists teach themselves to sing. Learning to sing by listening to other singers, without formal training, is called ‘singing by ear’. While some classically trained vocalists frown on this approach, it can lay the foundation for strong pitch recognition.
The problem with learning to sing by ear is that you can develop bad habits that are difficult to break later in life. Professional lessons can be expensive, though. Many singers find middle ground by using self-study courses.
Self-study singing courses typically contain videos or audio files that guide you through warm-ups and vocal exercises. They can help you expand your lung capacity, control your breathing, increase your vocal range, and sing smoothly across your vocal breaks.
If you decide to go this route, read reviews before you purchase a product. Some systems are better than others, so user reviews can be very helpful. You can find self-study singing courses online, or at your local library or book store.
How to Learn Singing – Professional Help
If you would prefer to do your learning face-to-face, consider signing up for singing lessons. Look for voice coaches in your area, or get a referral from friends who have had a good experience with a particular instructor.
If the cost of voice lessons is a little steep for your budget, try joining a choir at your school, church, or community center. This will give you access to an instructor and other singers that you can trade tips and techniques with.
How to Learn Singing – Advanced Techniques
After you’ve spent some time practicing, you might decide that you really enjoy singing and want to do more of it. It can be a little daunting to sing solo when you’re accustomed to singing with a group, but a little practice will decrease nervousness.
You can use your self-study course or your instructor to learn advanced techniques like perfecting your head voice, reaching into your falsetto range, and developing a vibrato. You will also learn to read music and transpose your favorite songs into a different key so that you can sing them easily.
Now you know how to learn singing without putting a huge dent in your bank account. Have fun experimenting with different musical styles and gaining confidence in your voice!
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This article comes to you courtesy of Singorama:
http://www.singorama.com
If you’d like to take your singing voice from ordinary to extraordinary, make a signature song all your own, increase your vocal range, hit every note with professional precision and learn every nitty-gritty detail about auditions, singing in a band, harmonizing and more, then check out the most comprehensive learn-to-sing system available.
No matter if you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced singer, Singorama can help you. Not only is it educational, it’s really fun!
Sing like a professional starting today!
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