Singing

Basic Pop Singing Lessons

Pop singing is more popular than other styles of singing. This is because most people want to be able to sing like their favorite stars or copy what they hear regularly on the radio. There is also a misconception that pop is easy. Learning pop vocals is probably easier than something like opera singing or Broadway singing, but it is in no way ‘easy’. Pop singing, like any other singing technique needs a lot of hard work, good coaching and practice. For more information on singing lessons in Singapore, check out the site: http://singinglessonssingapore.com/.

Breathing techniques

Proper pop vocal training should include breathing lessons. Of course, everyone knows how to breathe. We have all been doing so since we were babies without having to be taught. But there are breathing exercises and techniques that help in strengthening your vocal cords, your diaphragm and your lungs, thus enabling you to develop a powerful voice required for singing in different pitches.Make sure that your basic singing lessons include these techniques as they are essential for your voice training.

Voice exercises

Each voice is different, and the fact remains that some people pick up faster than others. Voice exercises are important to get you on your way to understanding the art of singing. To become a good singer, you and your coach both need to understand your voice. For this, you will need to learn how to make basic sounds. Of course, you probably want to get to singing songs right away, but you can’t run before you learn to walk.

Correct posture

Getting the posture right is very important for singers. When you sing, you use many of your muscles and organs to get the sounds across properly. With the right posture, you can develop a powerful singing voice. Standing up with your body relaxed, your neck loose and your head up is the right posture for which to aim. Don’t keep your muscles or limbs stiff. If you have physical disabilities that doesn’t allow you to achieve this posture, you can still become a good singer through finding a posture that is suitable for you.

Ear training

Ear training is essential to any musician. Without developing an ear for the music, you cannot keep track of the notes and the pitch of your voice when you try to sing. The idea is to sing the right note at the right time in order to keep time with the song. There is no easy way to do this. You just have to listen to a lot of music, do a lot of singing and work hard on checking where you went wrong and then correcting it. The last part is where a voice coach can be of immense help.

Sight reading

Sight reading is essential for singers even though you might not always want to use the skill. But when you want to try out a new piece or go for an audition for a gig or a job, you might be glad you have learned to sight read music. Sight reading, in short, is the ability to read music. It’s a completely new language but you will have to learn it in order to be a singer. The trick to doing it right is to read large chunks of music while singing instead of individual notes, which can put you off time. Make sure your pop vocal lessons include this important aspect.

For tips on finding a decent pop vocal teacher, refer to: http://singinglessonssingapore.com/which-pop-vocal-teacher-is-for-you/.

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Discover the benefits of learning an instrument:

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Boost brainpower

Build confidence

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Explore our wide range of lessons:

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• Singing and Cello Classes
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Broadway Singing Lessons: Challenges Facing Broadway Singers – Part I

Broadway is a unique industry with its own set of problems usually not seen anywhere else. It takes some time for newbies to even realize all the problems they can face in their Broadway career. Life is tough for Broadway stars, whether you are just dreaming about it, taking Broadway singing lessons, rising in the ranks or are already popular in theatre. Let’s see some common problems that singers have in Broadway. But before doing this, you might want to check out how to prepare for Broadway in the first place here: http://singinglessonssingapore.com/broadway-singing-lessons-for-a-broadway-career/.

Closed doors

It is unbelievably tough to get into Broadway. If you have Broadway aspirations and are ready to work hard towards it, it is still not guaranteed. It is a closed door industry and it’s really hard to get the door to open just to let you in. You need the skills and the talent obviously, but you also need a lot of networking and contacts – people who back you up so you get that audition in the first place. And finally, you also need dollops of luck to top it all. This isn’t to discourage anyone, but if you are realistic, you can always prepare better. The only recourse you have is to network: go to shows, talk to people, and invest time and money in people who are already in the industry.

Fatigue

Fatigue goes hand in hand with a Broadway career, especially after you have created a mark for yourself. This is an industry which is relentless and demands everything you can put in. This is the industry where you have to do shows all the time or risk being forgotten. To continue to be relevant in Broadway, you must continue to learn new skills, and this means investing time and money in classes for acting, singing, instruments, etc. In addition, if you are just starting out and have a part time job elsewhere, it can take a great toll on you. There isn’t a lot you can do to change the situation but you can take better care of yourself. Sleep for eight hours, drink a lot of water, and make sure you get at least one hour to be alone or to have fun every day and eat a healthy diet.

Vocal problems

Broadway means continuous working on your singing. You have to practice in your spare time, you have to attend rehearsals, and you have to perform in shows frequently. This takes a great toll on your tool of the trade – your voice. It is very easy for Broadway singers to destroy their voice completely. To prevent this, hire a voice coach for vocal singing lessons – someone who can prevent you from getting into bad singing habits, which would eventually interfere with your performance. Learn how to strengthen your voice and develop good breathing habits. Train your voice to allow you to breathe while you sing. Keep your entire respiratory system in good shape with breathing exercises and a healthy lifestyle. Take care of a sore throat immediately without any delay. Don’t sing with a sore throat at all. It can only aggravate the problem.

Considering a career in Broadway is a good decision as Broadway has much to offer in terms of fame, money and job satisfaction, but at the same time, it also helps to understand the various challenges one might face and to take precautions against them. To gain more knowledge about the world of singing, check out http://singinglessonssingapore.com/.

Find Your Perfect Music Teacher with Absolutely In-Tuned Music Agency!

Unlock the joy of music with our personalised teacher-student pairing service.

Whether you’re a beginner, rekindling a love for music, or preparing for exams, we connect you with skilled & experienced educators who tailor lessons to your needs.

Discover the benefits of learning an instrument:

Reduce stress

Boost brainpower

Build confidence

Ignite creativity

Explore our wide range of lessons:

• Drum, Guitar/Ukelele, and Piano Lessons
• Singing and Cello Classes
• Flute, Saxophone, Violin, and Viola Training

👉 Click here to find out more and begin your musical journey today!
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👉 Read more on our blog!

Fun and Kid-friendly Vocal Warm-Ups For Children Singing Lessons

Vocal exercise is synonymous with nonsensical syllables sung in an operatic tone. The lilting sounds of ee, ay, ah, oh, oo…. has an underlying purpose for a mature singer. But for a kid undergoing children singing lessons, this exercise sounds b-o-r-i-n-g.

If that is the case, why not skip the warm-up routine and just belt it out? Hold it right there, before getting into singing action. Vocal warm-ups are important preparations to gently stretch and relax the vocal chords. This could prevent stress and vocal injuries in kids’ singing lessons. Singapore students are required to engage in this exercise for proper breathing techniques. In this way, they are trained to develop and expand their vocal range.

Here are creative and kid-friendly ways to make those vocal warm-ups fun and exciting:

Silly sounds fun!

In a traditional vocal warm-up, the teacher usually plays repetitive scales and arpeggios. The student sings these notes with endless and meaningless vowels. For kids, you can make this exercise more enjoyable and relevant by letting them sing syllables and sounds they’re more familiar with. Animal sounds are definitely on top of the list. Low notes could sound like a cow that says moo. High notes could sound like a bird chirping or a telephone ringing. If you’re familiar with the pop song “The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)” by Ylvis, it has a lot of animals sounds and the beat could be a great energy booster. Come-up with ideas that are in line with age and interests.

Let their bodies sing

There are vocal exercises that do not involve singing. Yet, it supplements vocal and performance techniques. Facial and mouth movements that simulate yawning and sneezing develop tone and modulation. Body rhythmic movements such as clapping and stomping heighten a child’s sense of timing and rhythm. Integrating dance moves also develop breath control and endurance. This warm-up also sets the mood and can get the child pumped-up for the session.

The need for clarity

Lyrics from Abba’s hit song “Thank You For The Music” says: “Mother said…I could sing long before I could talk.” Isn’t it amazing that little kids could actually sing in pitch perfect tune even before they could properly enunciate the lyrics of a song? But music and lyrics go hand in hand. Thus, warm-up sessions could also be the best time to introduce pronunciation exercises. Tongue twisters are one of the ideal fun drills they could have. Teach them classics and all-time tongue-twisting ditties like “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”. Make it light and easy for younger age groups.

As parents, you should also realize that singing lessons are not all fun and games. There is a structured training that kids would have to undergo after doing warm-ups. Hence, you should be on the look-out for tell-tale signs that your child is ready to go through voice lessons. Check-out pointers stated in this article to find indications of vocal-training readiness in your child: http://singinglessonssingapore.com/starting-your-kid-on-singing-classes/

Children have very limited attention spans. When boredom strikes, tantrums, uncooperativeness, and disinterest may arise. Avoid mindless and repetitive warm-ups. Creativity and variety is the key for a fun, stimulating, and inspiring children singing lessons. With this, we recommend voice teachers from http://singinglessonssingapore.com/ who can handle kids of different ages.

Auditioning for Musical Theatre Singing

Broadway singing is a specialized field that goes hand in hand with a multitude of skills you would have to develop to get a sporting chance at getting a job. Singing, acting, dancing, playing an instrument are all things that would assist you in acing an audition. If you wish to know more about all the skills you would need along with Broadway singing lessons, check out this article: http://singinglessonssingapore.com/broadway-singing-lessons-for-a-broadway-career/. But here, we will see how to prepare for an audition to one of these difficult positions.

Know the musical

If you are preparing for a specific show or musical, the best way to make sure that the auditioners will notice you is to be very familiar with it. Attend the shows, observe the actors on the stage carefully, find out what is acceptable and what isn’t by going through YouTube videos of the shows. Understand the people you are going to audition for, so you can make your preparations accordingly. You will find that there are different styles of performance and you will have to give the auditioners what they are seeking.

Relevant preparation

You would of course, have had professional singing lessons in order to prepare for a career on Broadway. But when preparing for a specific audition, generic songs are irrelevant. The auditioner is looking to fill a specific role and your audition performance has to convince them that you are a good fit for the type of role they want you to fill. Preparing a tragedy piece for a comedy show would never get you the job. Once you know what kind of role is being auditioned, you can prepare your piece accordingly.

Show off your skill immediately

Choose a piece that would showcase your talent immediately at the start. This would be the smart thing to do since auditioners often receive a large number of applications and don’t have enough time to see entire pieces performed. In such cases, it is important to get their attention right away, so find something that you are good at, but at the same time, it should be something that gives you the opportunity to show off your skills as soon as soon as you start the audition.

Take your repertoire book

If you are serious about your career aspirations in Broadway, start with building a repertoire. Get yourself a book and note down all that you have memorized and index them properly. This way, when you get called on to perform in an audition, you will have a number of suitable choices at your fingertips and can easily pick one.

Live healthy

Preparing for a career in Broadway is not a walk in the park. It is demanding and exhausting. For this reason alone, you must ensure that you are taking excellent care of yourself. By sleeping on time, eating nutritious food and getting sufficient exercise, you will be able to keep yourself in a positive frame of mind and energetic enough to meet the rigours of the field.

Getting into musical theatre is not an easy job and needs a lot of preparation for a number of years before you are even ready to think about applying for a role. But hard work and perseverance pays off, and good talent is not hidden forever. For more information on learning Broadway singing, consult www.singinglessonssingapore.com.

How to Gain Exposure After Taking Pop Singing Lessons

There is more and more space for pop singing these days. From making videos for the internet to playing at the local pub, there are more opportunities today than ever before. If the competition is fierce, so are the openings available to budding artistes. If you want to get into pop singing classes with the view of working on it as a profession, you will have to do some more work and be strategic about how you proceed.

Take voice lessons
This is a no brainer, really. If you want to be a singer, you will have to take voice classes. A lot of people can and do learn singing by themselves but there is a lot you can learn from a trained teacher. How to use different voice techniques, how to maintain your voice and respiratory health, how to sing in different genres – these are all things that an experienced teacher can teach you.

Take dance lessons
It is not enough to simply know how to sing. If you want to make it onstage as a pop singer, you also need to know a bit of dancing. While you might not be called on to perform a full-fledged dance in your video or the stage, you will find it useful to know how to shake a few steps and to move gracefully. A few pop singing lessons will include both voice and dance training and help you do better overall.

Enter talent contests
These days, there are talent contests everywhere, and pop singing has a lot of avenues you can explore to give you an opening into the field. You might not make it to the reality shows on TV, though that would be fantastic. But there are so many other contests that take place, which will give you some much-needed experience. It might also get you noticed by someone working in the industry, and that would be a surefire way for you to get in.

Check out recording studios
Contact recording and demo studios in your area and see if they are willing to help you with creating a demo CD that you can then forward to agents or talent scouts. You would not have to write your own song for a demo. This will help with getting you a more professional presentation with the help of people who already know what works and would be able to guide you, if required. At this stage, ensure that your demo CD also gives credit to the recording artistes.

Create a YouTube channel
Nowadays, it is easy to reach a wide audience without depending on other people. By creating a YouTube channel, you will be able to instantly gain an audience. Upload videos of your singing, making sure you stick to your genre. It would be advisable to sing popular songs in order to get a following and then you can gradually switch over to writing your own lyrics and creating your own music, which is the real goal.

Take up jobs
Take up singing jobs just so you can get heard by people. Seek out the local jobs in your community. Inform the pubs, entertainment locations and other places which might be seeking musicians. Offer to help out friends at parties. The idea is to get noticed by as wide an audience as possible.

It is not easy to get into pop singing because of the fierce competition, but if you are dedicated enough, there is always a way to do it. With the help and advice of your Singapore pop singing teacher, you could enjoy a singing career.

Your Guide In Selecting A Voice Lessons Teacher

The human singing voice is considered as a unique musical instrument. It is very fragile. When damaged, it is hardly repairable. You cannot just walk-in to a store and buy a new ‘voice’. It is irreplaceable. In the capable hands of a good voice lessons teacher, your voice could be honed to reach its full potential. At the same, time a teacher could teach you how to give your voice the TLC (tender-loving-care) it deserves.

Your voice is a very delicate instrument. Thus, it should be entrusted under the care of a capable, experienced, and knowledgeable teacher. Here are some important considerations you should make in picking the ideal voice instructor.

1. Formal Training and Education: A voice instructor is deemed more eligible if he / she has undergone academic training. A teacher’s voice quality and performing experiences are important. However, this is not an assurance that he/she make an effective teacher.   Music schools not only provide vocal training techniques. More often, music degree programs integrate the following:

   a. Teaching program: Schools include teaching programs to prepare them for a voice teaching career. The instructor should know how to handle the different learning abilities and paces of their students.
   
   b. Knowledge:   They learn about intellectual and physiological information about the voice.
   i. They are educated on the ‘science’ behind the voice — its breathing and sound production mechanisms.
   ii. The instructor should be able to understand and explain the rationale behind certain vocal exercise and techniques.
   iii. A voice trainer should be able to impart health and wellness tips and issues that could affect vocal performance like hydration, humidity, diet, attitude, etc.

2. Capability:   It is imperative for a teacher to gain the trust and respect of students in teaching voice lessons. Singapore teachers are expected to ‘practice what you preach’ or ‘walk the talk’, so to speak. A voice teacher would not be effective if he merely gives theoretical instructions to the student. More often, students learn best through imitation. The instructor should be able to clearly demonstrate what needs to be achieved and apply the necessary techniques on how it achieve it.

3. Know Basic Piano Skills: A teacher who can play basic piano is a must during vocal warm-ups and vocalization exercises. Knowledge in music theory could also help the student execute pieces from a music sheet.

4. Discipline and Motivation: A teacher should be firm and assertive. He should not tolerate disinterest and a lackadaisical attitude. A teacher should be able to enforce discipline on the student. In the same manner, a teacher should be kind, understanding, and patient. He must inspire and encourage students to overcome challenges.

There is no guarantee that a voice lessons teacher who meets all of the above requirements during your interview is your perfect match. As the lesson progresses, you should monitor your progress. Evaluate your skills and your feelings as well. If you are not satisfied and objectively see that you are not improving, it would be best to find another teacher. However, do not quit too soon. Give yourself some time to ‘break-in; and in no time, you’ll experience a breakthrough.

Qualities for Successful Completion of Opera Singing Classes

Learning opera singing is an art many music students can only aspire to but most generally veer off into easier and more quickly rewarding streams of music. Only a person with true passion for the opera singing and the stage as well as for the operatic life will consider a career in the field, with all the attendant issues. However, if you have the passion and the talent, you can achieve a great deal of satisfaction by joining opera singing classes, as well as learn all kinds of different skills at the same time. Here are a few abilities you might need or have to cultivate in order to become successful in the opera.

Endurance and stamina

Opera singing involves long hours of singing in high pitches, which takes its toll on both your vocal chords and your general body. Apart from this, opera singers need to be on the move continuously, brushing on their skills and attending performances regularly to network and experience the art in its full glory. All this requires incredible amount of stamina and physical and mental endurance in order to sustain the lifestyle.

Healthy lifestyle

If you want to take opera singing lessons for adopting it as a career, your first priority must be to develop a healthy lifestyle. Your voice is your most precious tool and you need to take good care of it. This means preventing colds or sore throats, taking enough rest and fluids when you are unwell and getting regular medical check-ups in order to prevent any complaint from developing. In addition, it is also important to get enough exercise in order to maintain a high level of stamina and eat nutritious food and get enough sleep and develop an overall healthy outlook.

Interpersonal skills

Opera singing is not just about your singing skills, though that is required. It is a highly competitive field in which it is rather hard to enter. This is where good people skills can help you. Meeting the right people at the right time can help you gain gigs, which in turn will develop your career. Interpersonal skills are also valued in this field because you have to learn so much in so many different skill sets that you will have to take every opportunity offered to hang around talented people and learn from them. Opera singers have to be learning all the time, and without people around you, it’s pretty much impossible to do so in an isolated environment.

Discipline

An opera singer requires intensive training and discipline to develop their skills to a level where they can give a performance. The dedication and discipline that opera singers need to put in their practice and work is very high. With so many different and difficult skills to learn, discipline and time management is essential for an opera singer. Without this level of discipline, most students studying for the opera end up dropping out. Some of them don’t even begin their lessons since it takes a great deal of musical knowledge and education to even contemplate starting with opera lessons.

Ultimately, some basic life skills can also help an opera singing student to perform well, as well as singing talent and musical skills. If you want to take opera singing tutorials, Singapore is a great place for it since the art has now spread out all over the world and is gradually making inroads in different countries.

Tips for Starting Broadway Singing Lessons for Your Child

If you want your child to become a Broadway star, you need to put in plenty of effort and motivate him or her to work hard to achieve this particular dream. Success in Broadway does not come easy, so your child needs to learn to persevere and focus on their career. Good Broadway singing lessons from a good teacher for your child will encourage them to work forward to this end.

Don’t start too early

While it is usually a good idea to teach children about their various opportunities at an early age, singing is not one of them. Fostering a love for music or the Broadway theatre is a good idea, but actually sending them for singing classes is not. The good teachers who take in students usually prefer to take children only after they achieve puberty in order to avoid them ruining their singing voices. Young children simply cannot develop their singing voices to the level required by Broadway without damaging them extensively. So as impatient as you are your child may be to start them off down this path, wait till they are able to do so without hurting their voices and future chances.

Teach them to appreciate the art form

It is hard for children to work hard and long at anything without sustaining interest in it. If they don’t have any appreciation of Broadway, they will simply not put in the effort required to enter the career. Don’t consider taking them to shows or having a discussion on the merits of different plays as a waste of time as many over-ambitious parents often think. It is a very essential component of their education. Without developing an interest in theatre, Broadway or music, your child cannot really be expected to work towards this goal. Let your child enjoy the wonderful world of Broadway and decide for themselves that they want to join this world.

Try workshops

It’s a good idea to give your child the taste of Broadway singing through short workshops. A Broadway career requires a lot of commitment and hard work, and not every child will be willing to put in the effort required for a future Broadway career. It is also expensive for the parents to finance all the classes that they might need. There are a number of short workshops that are organised just for children, who get a quick overview of what it means to train for Broadway. This helps in getting the children interested, but it also helps parents to understand whether the child is interested enough to pursue it wholeheartedly.

Invest in Broadway singing classes

For children who do show enthusiasm in working towards a future Broadway career, you must think of investing money in different classes for them. Apart from singing, it helps to have them take lessons in acting, languages, musical instruments, etc. because Broadway is a very versatile art form and the more you know, the more likelihood you have of getting an audition. Consider this an investment in education similar to how you would invest in a college education for your child’s future.

Broadway singing tutorials are important for a future Broadway career, but the interest and the commitment must come from your child. You can only motivate and help them, but the hard work has to be done by them.

Quick Pointers Before You Start Your Pop Singing Lessons

In singing, natural talent is one of the important elements to have. There are people who are just really born to sing. However, this talent must be polished and continually honed, and the best way to perfect your singing voice is to go for pop singing lessons.

But before you start your formal lessons, read through the quick pointers below to get the most out of your training.

1. Practice vocal dexterity

Do repetitions of the scale to determine your vocal range. Go up and down, up and down the scales and notes to further develop your vocal skills. Know your range and be powerful on it and make it your strong point.

Developing this skill will come in handy during actual performances. The current style of pop music gives singers a lot of opportunity to improvise, wherein they play around with notes in a scale to come up with unique and soulful harmonies. You can practice this on your own, with a keyboard or a piano. It is the modern adaptation of the vocalization of classical music.

2. Learn and be aware of your registers

It is important to recognize your high, middle, and low registers and work on all of them equally to produce a nice and even tone when singing. This will also be a focus in one of your pop singing lessons.

1. LOW register – this is your normal speaking voice, so this does not take much effort from you. Also called the chest register for men, it is achieved usually with an open mouth. The best way to practice your low registers is to exercise it in front of the mirror. Make sure your face is relaxed, you are not forcing your voice out of you, and that there is enough abdominal force with it. Practice by going through a descending scale, gradually lowering your tone half-tone by half-tone until you reach the lowest, most compatible tone.
2. MIDDLE register – a bit tougher to master than your low register, you can practice this also by using a descending scale. For most women, this is their chest voice. This is what is considered the “most abused” voice range, and you will tend to alter your voice a lot at this register. Make sure you stay relaxed, and that you are still using chest voice, and not head voice. The transitioning from low to middle, and from high to middle is also a bit tricky, so make sure you understand your comfort level and the proper techniques when going up and down to and from your middle ranges.
3. HIGH register – when this is not your normal speaking voice, you will tend to squeeze it in to stay in this vocal range. If you do not know the proper technique though, you will just sound nasal and high-pitched. The correct way to practice this is to tighten your cheeks by lifting it up to some sort of a smile. That way, your high ranges will sound more natural.

3. Belting it out

This is singing forcefully while staying in your high registers. This technique is very delicate that a lot of singers who belt it out just sound like shouting without the singing. Practice this by keeping your abdominal muscles tight as you sing. Use ascending scales, until your reach a comfortable high tone.

Remember these tips when learning or practicing singing, and you will find that your pop singing lessons will be easier and much more enjoyable!

Challenges After Taking Opera Singing Lessons

Performing and studying any kind of art can be difficult, especially if you mean to pursue it as a full time career. A musical career is not for everyone and for the few who actually make it to the top, there are a large number of people struggling to continue their passion. Let us see what challenges a person taking opera singing tutorials can face in the future.
Pressure
Opera singing is a very high pressure career, which might impact advance level students who are already performing. If you make any mistake, it is immediately picked up and the word goes out quickly. Students are also given more exposure today to shows and events. It can be a very good thing as it helps you make connections and learn new things, but it is also a huge drain on your time and energy. The fact that you have to excel every single time means that the pressure just builds up gradually. Unless you know how to deal with this, you might face some major problems.
Throat problems
Opera singers can face muscle tension, stiffness and pain in the throat, jaws, tongue and neck. Everything from your posture to faulty singing techniques can aggravate your problem. Besides these, you have to be very careful not to put any strain on your respiratory system. Throat infections are also common among opera singers. But these are not insurmountable problems. By developing a healthy lifestyle by eating a balanced diet, exercising, doing breathing exercises and getting timely medical consultation for any problem that arises, you can prevent or limit the damage.
Expense
Opera singing can be very expensive, because it is a highly technical skill that can only be taught by trained teachers. Apart from this, students taking opera singing lessons also have to pay their way through a number of different classes including acting, language, instrument, etc. The cost adds up quite quickly, making opera singing an expensive investment. As if this were not enough, opera singers are also required to maintain a certain image onstage, so there is no going in wearing your daily clothes!
Multitasking
An opera singer’s life is full of juggling different schedules. Performance dates must be remembered and you need to show up for rehearsals. In addition, you must continue your opera singing classes because it is essential to continue working on your skill. Traveling is usually required when it comes to grabbing opportunities for being onstage. All this can leave you with very little time for your regular employment or life. Problems arising out of your hectic schedule can be managed effectively with a little discipline and making provisions in advance.
Image
Nowadays, apart from your singing abilities, you also need to look a certain way in order to get an audition. Audiences expect you to look the part of the role you want to fill. This is certainly a challenge as you want to explore as many options as possible. What you can do to overcome this stumbling point is to ensure you are able to act out different parts well. If you can sing with conviction, this criterion can be overlooked.
In conclusion, there are many challenges in an opera singer’s life but it is also a very rewarding one. If you are planning to go ahead with your advanced opera singing classes and work hard at it, you will definitely find satisfaction, if not great success, though that might happen too!

Which Pop Vocal Teacher Is For You?

So many young people today are into serious singing, whether they are just doing it for personal satisfaction, or they are planning to do it professionally. The most common genre is pop music, so the demand for pop vocal teachers has multiplied greatly. But how do you know which one is for you?

Your vocal teacher should be an inspiration to you, not just a mere coach. They must also share your goal, and must be committed to your vocal development. Here are a few tips on what a good pop vocal teacher should have.

1. Credentials

A professional singing coach is more than willing to show whatever documents they have that show their qualifications, if you ask them. Do not fret about asking, they are used to it, or should be, if they are true experienced professionals. Get this out of the way as early as you can, preferably on your first meeting.

You might also be better off getting a teacher who has experience performing on a professional setting. Not only will they be able to teach you the techniques of pop music singing, but also instruct you on how to carry yourself in front of an audience.

2. Methodology

Your teacher’s methods should not be fixed, and not sort of a template for all students. Their approach in teaching should consider and be patterned after your vocal style and what is comfortable for you. The most effective coaching methods are best developed when both teacher and student both give their valuable inputs.

You should also be comfortable telling your coach to slow down, or hasten, the lessons. Keep in mind that you are not there merely to follow instructions, but to learn and be participative in the learning process.

3. Goal setting

Do not go through the vocal lessons blindly. Your vocal coach should set a goal for you, if you have not set one yourself. Aside from the ultimate goal of perfecting your singing, your teacher should put up milestones for you to achieve, sort of mini-goals. Maybe perfect a certain tone, reach a higher octave on the scale, or just simply improve your breathing. Not only does this make the lessons more challenging, it keeps it from being repetitive and boring.

Not only should there be goal setting, but your progress should also be properly tracked, and preferably documented. This should be regularly discussed to you by your teacher, usually at the end of each session. The succeeding lessons, and maybe even the rest of the course, should consider your progress, and it should be adjusted or modified accordingly.

4. Up to date

Since you are learning to sing popular and current songs, your teacher should be familiar with pop songs and music of the current generation. Pop music often go through changes in style every few years. It is always good to be on top of, and maybe even be ahead of, the trends in pop songs.

It may seem that singing pop music is simple and uncomplicated, but as with any other music genre, it has its own peculiarities. You may think it is unnecessary for you to get the service of a pop vocal teacher, but learning from a professional is the quicker, better, and more effective way to achieving your dream of being a professional yourself.

Qualities of a Good Classical Singing Teacher

Classical singing is a style of singing that was perfected over decades and is now held to be the standard. Most students want to start off and train their voice with some classical singing before moving on to whatever they are really interested in. Most voice teachers too endorse this approach since it is felt that classical singing lessons help in training the voice. But for this, you must have a good teacher.
Understands the genre
A good teacher will understand the genre you want to learn. It is better to choose one who has had training in classical singing themselves. It is the only way they will be able to teach you the techniques that you want to learn. Ensure that he or she has either certification or experience in classical singing, or both. Don’t go to the first teacher who shows up or join classes with a teacher because it is cheap. Once your voice is trained the wrong way, it is difficult to correct it.
Demonstrate rather than tell
When you are in the middle of learning, your teacher will often try to correct your singing. They must be able to do it through demonstration and tangible exercises. Simply asking you to sing higher or use your stomach is not going to help you, especially if you are a beginner. As a newbie, you have no way of knowing how to follow these instructions. Choose a teacher who has a more precise manner of showing how to achieve the desired results.
Allows you to hear them out
Before signing up for classical singing classes, it’s not a bad idea to ask your teacher for a demonstration. Some teachers might get offended at the thought of being judged for their performance, and it might be better to avoid these teachers. You could also exercise some diplomacy and check out the prospective teacher during public concerts, if they give any. But it is your right to hear them out before paying them.
Shows respect
A decent teacher will respect their students, and put in effort in building up relationships. If your teacher spends time talking on the phone during class hours or their children keep wandering in and out of the classroom, creating a ruckus, this means that the teacher is not professional enough. If your child is the one taking classes, then some teachers might even instill fear by being too stern with children. All this is a blatant lack of respect for the students and such teachers are better avoided.
Makes it enjoyable
Singing must be fun even if a lot of effort and time goes into it. Find a teacher who really understands this. If your classes are becoming more of a chore and are leaving you dispirited, your teacher is not doing enough to make it fun. While discipline is required to master classical singing techniques, it is not sufficient. Unless you are also deriving enjoyment from your classes and your learning, you will never be able to immerse yourself fully in your music. It is imperative that your teacher makes the lessons fun.
A good teacher is a blessing and must be a good fit for you. If you feel comfortable with a teacher, then go ahead and sign up. Don’t get intimidated by their behavior or knowledge, and make your choice of classical singing teachers with a clear head.