Hi everyone! Have you ever been perplexed about something music-related and taken your question to Google search? Well, if you have, you are certainly not the only one. In fact, there are A LOT of people that have the same (or very similar) questions as you do sometimes but the appropriate answer not always can be found within a simple search. And this is exactly what prompted me to open up a whole new series for my blog: answering popular questions from Google search! This month we are kicking off the series with a very common and deep one: can I learn how to sing?
The answer is YES, anyone can learn how to sing (with some exceptions regarding medical or physiological conditions like muteness for example). It is common knowledge that learning how to play an instrument is somewhat more achievable than learning how to sing, although it is quite wrong to assume so. It could be easier to pick up a guitar in some cases, yes, however that doesn’t mean developing a singing voice is impossible or unrealistic. The voice is an instrument in itself, so just like every other instrument requires training and practice to develop. However, the voice is an internal instrument, meaning that we all have our own and it is only accessible by the owner in an indirect way. This is usually what makes singing a bit trickier and ‘scarier’ to deal with. I have mentioned in previous posts too that singing is all about muscle coordination and training. The mechanisms we aim to unlock and coordinate are internal, and usually related to two main areas: the ones situated in your larynx (neck) and abdominal (diaphragm and intercostal mainly). So the mechanical part of singing revolves around understanding how it all works and having exercises and routines that can tackle your weak spots and strengthen the more developed ones.
So one half of the hurdle is learning how to play an instrument that you cannot see or physically touch, and then there’s the aspect of musicality and sense of pitch. Once again, this is something that can be indeed trained and developed, but it requires a lot of specific attention and dedication to the cause. Some of us have naturally been around or involved with music since the early years of our lives, allowing us to unlock this area of our brain that deals with sounds and frequencies. Our brains can now discern different pitches and isolate them, although it is not the case for everyone. Usually people that struggle with pitching or sound recognition have to gear up for the fight if they want to get into singing as this can become a medium-long path and not always will feel ‘engaging’. Once again, this is something that most of the times throws people off because progress can’t be seen within 2 sessions. The super good news is that no matter where you’re standing with singing at the moment, there is someone out there that can help you move forward. Myself and tons of other vocal coaches and singing teachers are here studying and experimenting with new techniques and approaches every day to hopefully bring a positive change to your routine, appealing to different people and their specific needs. Vocal pedagogy has definitely come a long way since the 1900s, and it has become a lot more accessible to the public too. Just be mindful of your sources and where you’re getting the facts from.
In total honesty and from my personal experience, people don’t give up on singing because they can’t (although sometimes they are wrongfully told so), but because they are not patient or willing to put in the effort. We live in a world where everything has a 40-sec tutorial, a “mini guide”, a quick fix. It doesn’t work like that for singing, especially at the very beginning. I always make this comparison to give people an idea: your goal is to get that summer body, refined and toned; totally possible for everyone, however: do we all start from the same place? Unlikely. Can I put a deadline and rush through my journey? Definitely not. Am I going to see major changes after 3 times in the gym? Unlikely. Can I plan and seek guidance from professionals to hit my goal in a reasonable amount of time? Absolutely yes. Am I willing to put in the work? Yes.
To recap, YES, anyone can learn how to sing. Everyone’s journey will be different and we all have our share of work ahead of us. But as long as you are motivated, positive and willing to put effort in it, you are totally going to succeed.