Learning to sing for beginners

still to come

1. Have fun with it. The most important thing is to have fun singing. Sing songs that you enjoy. Experiment with your voice without being afraid of making mistakes. Improvise with different sounds and words. This way you can build up confidence in your voice and find out which things you already do well and where you could perhaps use a little help.
2. Learn to warm up your voice. Warming up your voice helps you to deepen technical exercises and prepare you for any difficult parts. You can do this in different ways. You often start with triads or common scales. You can also modify these to suit your mood. It is important that you warm up the whole range of your voice. This will help you to quickly notice where you may need to do more.
3. Develop an awareness of your breathing and your body. A conscious awareness of your own body and its processes when singing can help to avoid technical difficulties. There are many exercises that can be integrated into the warm-up in singing lessons. In particular, the right support and a free flow of breath are often the focus there.
4. Develop a feeling for your own voice. It is important that you develop a feeling for when something feels good or bad when singing. This way, you can prevent overstraining your voice and take a break at the right time. If your voice feels hoarse for a long period of time and you are struggling to produce any sound at all, it is advisable to consult a specialist.
5. Relax your jaw. A relaxed jaw helps you to let sounds flow freely and produce a clear sound.
6. Use your resonance chambers. The nasal cavity, oral cavity and cranial cavity shape the sound of your voice. Get to know these spaces and find out how you can use them to shape the sound of your voice differently.
7. And don't forget: there are many different techniques and opinions on the subject of singing. Try out different ones and find out which ones suit you best. In the end, it should feel good when you sing. That is the most important thing.
   

You can't be too young or too old to sing. There is no age limit to start singing or to improve your voice. Singing is an activity that you can develop throughout your life. Nevertheless, there are different things to consider at different ages.

We have described in detail what adults and older people in particular should pay attention to in a separate article: Singing lessons for adults

It probably makes little sense to start intensive vocal training before the age of 5-6, as the vocal chords are not yet fully developed, so the vocal range is limited, which in turn can considerably restrict the choice of songs. although it is possible to start earlier, from a pedagogical perspective it is more advisable to focus on early musical education at a younger age. Children over the age of 5-6 should also work with specially trained singing teachers who can teach singing in a particularly child-friendly way. The main thing then is to be creative, invent melodies yourself, improvise, train your ear, etc.
You can find a list of 88 trained singing teachers for children here. However, we have described exactly what you should look out for here in a separate article: Singing lessons for children

The phase between the ages of 10-14 is characterized by the voice change. This is a particularly sensitive developmental period for male voices. In contrast, women do not normally experience this change to the same extent as young men. Not singing during the voice change is not absolutely necessary. You can work specifically on technical exercises and adapt the keys of the songs so that they can still be fun during the voice change.

Here you can find a list of 88 trained singing teachers who teach teenagers aged 10 and over.

Sure, you can definitely learn to sing later in life. Many people have started singing at an older age and made remarkable progress. For older people, the challenge can be that the voice changes over time. It can also be more demanding to learn new techniques and extend the vocal range. Nevertheless, it is possible to train and improve the voice even in old age. People of advanced age often have more patience and perseverance, important factors that help with voice training. After all, regular training is crucial in order to make progress with the voice.

When learning to sing, it is important to decide on a particular style of music. Think about whether you are interested in classical singing or are more inclined towards modern styles such as pop, rock or jazz. This is because the techniques and sound ideals differ greatly.

The main difference is that modern singing styles such as pop, soul, rock etc. are more oriented towards the natural speaking voice. In classical singing, on the other hand, the voice is deliberately modified

That's a tricky question. Basically, everyone has the ability to sing and it's definitely worth giving it a try. However, it is also clear that different people make progress at different speeds. This could perhaps be due to more or less talent, but here are some possible first steps to find out whether you enjoy singing and would like to invest more in it:

• Self-observation: try singing simple songs or melodies that you know well. Pay attention to how it feels and whether you are able to repeat melodies and whether you enjoy it
  Recording and playback: An important tool is a recording device. Record yourself singing and listen to the recordings. This can help you to get a feel for your voice and recognize where improvements can be made. But be careful. Listening to your own voice on tape is often irritating at first!
• Trustyourself: Especially if you feel insecure, it is important that you trust yourself or, if that is not possible, build up the necessary self-confidence for your own voice with a singing teacher. Getting feedback from friends or acquaintances is not always advisable, as they can be very critical and therefore discourage rather than encourage you.
• Take singing lessons: A professional singing teacher can assess your voice more quickly and give you valuable tips on how to improve.
• Hit the rightpitch: Central to singing, is hitting pitches. It can quickly become demotivating, especially if you don't hit the right pitch at the beginning. Singing lessons are also key here, as they allow you to develop tailor-made solutions to this problem. Apps that measure pitch can also provide support.
  

The chest voice and head voice differ primarily in their sound and pitch range. While the chest voice is full and powerful, the head voice sounds rather light. When using the chest voice, the vocal cords vibrate across their entire width (scientifically referred to as "full vibration".) When speaking, for example, we are in the chest voice register. The "indifference position" is the optimum speaking voice position. (See chapter Indifference register). As the chest voice has a limited range - it goes from the lower to the middle register - we use the head voice for the higher register. The head voice is scientifically described as "edge vibration". In contrast to the chest voice, it covers the entire vocal range, so it can also vibrate down to the lower register. The mixture of the two mechanisms of sound production allows us to achieve a special voice quality. This is called the mixed voice. Learning to sing therefore ultimately means mastering and using these two mechanisms in a targeted musical way.

The transition between chest and head voice is more difficult for men than women, as the larynx grows by around 40 % more during puberty and the vocal folds become larger and thicker (voice change - see also the chapter on learning to sing as a teenager). This means that more vocal folds have to be rearranged when switching from chest to head voice.

The indifference pitch is the speaking pitch. It is an important aspect of singing. It is the pitch range in which your voice sounds the most natural and relaxed, without effort. But how do you find your indifference pitch?

• Pay attention to your speaking voice: Your normal speaking voice is the best starting point. Pay attention to the pitch range in which you normally speak when you are relaxed and at ease.
• Vocal exercises: Start with simple vocal exercises such as humming or singing light melodies. Pay attention to the point at which your voice sounds the most natural and least strained.
• Warm-up exercises: Move your voice over a wide range with vocal warm-up exercises. Pay attention to the range where the transition from one pitch to another is the smoothest and most comfortable.
• Observe your breathing: In your indifference position, your breathing should be relaxed.
  Tone experiments: Sing scales or simple songs and pay attention to the notes where your voice sounds the freest and requires the least effort.
• Feedback: A singing teacher can help you to find your indifference position.
  The indifference position is not fixed; it changes with training, age and other factors.
  

That depends on many factors: Talent, age, practice time and, above all, your motivation. Individual circumstances also play a role and, last but not least, the demands you place on your own singing. After a few weeks or lessons, all singers can notice significant progress and changes in their voice.

However, in order to master the basic singing techniques, you should expect 3 to 4 years of regular practice and lessons.

No, reading music is not compulsory! Understanding sheet music can be an advantage, especially for musical styles that are sung from sheet music. In classical music or opera, singers usually sing from sheet music. Sheet music is less important for pop, rock, soul, jazz and other modern styles. Reading music is not a prerequisite for singing lessons. Reading music is not a must for singing and many other musical instruments, but it can be an advantage if you develop a certain understanding of music theory.

Many of our pupils come to us with this problem. They say that they don't always hit the right notes. Even the most talented singers can sometimes miss the mark. However, this is more often due to the sense of hearing than the singing itself. The right technique is also relevant. If you support yourself incorrectly or not enough, certain notes remain out of reach. Good hearing and the right technique are therefore just as important in singing as the voice. The good news is that you can train this.

Especially for beginners who haven't sung much, lack of practice can be an obstacle, but the more you sing, the better you get. The voice is direct and immediate. We live our whole lives with it, but neglect it over time. Regular and attentive use of your voice will quickly make you more confident with the notes.

If you are disciplined and motivated, you can teach yourself to sing. There are numerous courses, tutorials and other resources available online and in other media.

However, the self-taught approach is somewhat more difficult with singing than with other instruments. This is because the danger is that by teaching yourself, you also learn mistakes that you won't be able to get rid of as quickly.

Unlike other instruments, there are also some health risks when learning to sing, such as nodules on the vocal cords or reddened vocal cords, which you expose yourself to if you don't know exactly what you're doing.

That's why we strongly recommend that singers get a singing teacher. Singing teachers ensure that you don't train yourself to make mistakes. All you need to do is meet with a singing teacher at regular intervals. They will make sure that you are not developing in the wrong direction and can motivate you if you lack discipline. They can also refer you to a specialist if they notice that something is wrong with your vocal chords.

The same applies here: develop a good sense of your own voice, if you are often hoarse and singing is very strenuous, this may be an indication that your vocal cords are no longer closing completely and something is wrong.

This is the best way to proceed if you want to amplify your voice:

1. Ask friends: Maybe you know people who have vocal equipment. Test it or borrow it.
2. Try it out with your singing teacher. Your singing teacher may have a system. Ask them to show you the equipment and get their tips (->How tofind a suitable singing teacher)
3. Expert advice. We asked all our teachers and made a list of great music stores in different cities. Go to a music store and get advice.
4. Rent & borrow. Many music stores also allow you to rent equipment. We've asked all our teachers and put together a list of great music stores in various cities that rent out affordable equipment. You can find them here: Music stores in my city.
5. Don't buy until you're sure. Only buy a system when you are sure that you like singing. Once you've found the model you feel most comfortable with, buy it!
   

Siro Müller is co-founder and director of the Instrumentor platform and has already found the right teacher for over 10,000 music students. Siro recommends the following steps to find a singing teacher in your city who is just right for you:

1. What style of music or song do you like? Be clear about what style of music you like. Maybe you like rock, jazz, blues, pop, classical music or opera. As an alternative to the style of music, a good starting point is always a piece that you like and want to learn. Choose one. It is helpful to choose a teacher with whom you share musical tastes.
2. Visit the list of singing teachers. In Instrumentor's list of vocal teachers you will only find selected and specialized vocal teachers that we can wholeheartedly recommend (Currently over 100 vocal teachers for beginners.)
3. Use the filters. You can filter by music style (rock, pop, jazz, classical, funk, Latin, etc.) and by level (beginner, advanced), by language, etc.
4. Read the personal profiles of the singing teachers carefully. We recommend that you choose a teacher that you like straight away. If the general conditions (musical style, location, etc.) are right, you can devote yourself to the interviews. Singing teachers will tell you what is important to them when teaching, what they attach particular importance to or how they actually structure a lesson. Even if two teachers have the same training and teach the same genres, they differ in how well they suit you. Singing lessons are very personal. It is important that these or these very qualities match your expectations.
5. If you are still not sure which singing teacher would suit you, please contact us. We know all the profiles very well and can certainly recommend a suitable singing teacher for you.
6. Sign up for a trial lesson.
   

In many Swiss cities we provide you with numerous selected singing teachers for beginners. We know all the teachers personally and recommend them for their outstanding ability to teach beginners:

84 singing teachers for beginners in Zurich

In singing lessons, it helps a lot if the student and teacher are in the same room. This makes it much easier to correct mistakes in breathing, posture or singing and exercises can be better presented and immediately checked with feedback.

Nevertheless, many selected teachers also offer their lessons remotely via video conferencing. In contrast to instrumental lessons, singing lessons often work quite well online as long as a stable internet connection is guaranteed. The voice often distorts less than instruments and there is also the option of singing via an interface combined with a microphone, which increases the sound quality online many times over.

If this is of interest to you, you can find singing teachers who offer distance learning here.

124 teachers in Bern

Valérie Arias teaches classical and musical singing. She often encounters the following challenges with her students at the beginning:

The initial difficulties are as varied and individual as the singers themselves. Nevertheless, many find it difficult to accept their own voice and instrument. Clear ideas about how they should and want to sound make it difficult to get started. Similarly, the shame of making wrong or off-key sounds often prevents initial progress. Unlike the violin, the voice is not perceived as an instrument that can be learned. The general opinion is that a person can either sing or not. However, with the right approach, these challenges can be worked on.

1. Find the right singing teacher. More important than taking as many singing lessons as possible is to find a teacher who is a good fit for you. The teacher is not just there to teach you the right technique or to monitor your progress. The right teacher is a mentor. They are someone who picks you up at the right moment, motivates you and can point out mistakes early enough to prevent them from getting worse. A suitable teacher also motivates you through their passion for music and singing. And they will ensure that you are committed to practicing even if you have other things to do.
2. Practice. The more the better. This is a boring and logical tip. But regular practice accelerates learning progress. If you practise, you make faster progress. The trick here, of course, is to make practicing something you look forward to. To the learning progress. To the new skills. But also to the positive feeling when you can sing something you've learned again
3. Be patient: It takes time to learn to sing and as you can't "see inside" your own body, it is often difficult at the beginning to feel exactly how a certain technique needs to be applied and implemented, for example. As difficult as it is, however, it is all the more interesting because you get to know your own vocal apparatus and body in general much better.
4. Curiosity. If you can maintain your curiosity about singing, then progress will be easier for you. Gather your resources. Talk to other singers, go to concerts, listen to music. Look at online tutorials and discuss it with your teacher. If you approach singing with enthusiasm, you will make rapid progress.

Damaris Brendle, teaches singing for jazz and pop. Her first singing lesson looks like this:

1. Get to know each other and see if it fits. Singing is a very personal matter. That's why the first thing to do is to find out whether we feel comfortable in this context. This is the most important prerequisite for the lesson.
2. Together we will find out what your individual needs and wishes are regarding the lessons and whether I am the right teacher for you.
3. Then we get started: for example, we can warm up with physical, breathing or vocal exercises or we can sing a song that you or I have brought with us.
4. Finally, we look to the future: if we both feel comfortable, we think about what we want to do in the coming lessons. If it doesn't work out, we can look together with Instrumentor to see if there is another suitable teacher.

In addition to the fun and joy of music, learning to sing also has numerous other positive effects:

• Unleash creativity. Being able to sing encourages your creativity and gives you expression: singing is a way of developing your creative potential and expressing yourself in a new, unfamiliar way.
• Self-confidence. Learning a skill often leads to self-esteem and self-confidence.
  Reduce stress. Just like listening to music, singing also reduces stress.
• Social interaction: Making music with friends gives you a great new way to connect with other people. Jamming, connecting with band members is great for making friends or connecting with existing friends.
• Health. Scientists also attest to the health benefits of singing: These range from improved cognitive function, to stronger coordination and to all the positive effects of reduced stress levels. Significantly less unpleasant than the doctor
• Learn your favorite song. Learn a song that is particularly meaningful to you: Many adults have favorite songs that they would like to play.

We advise you not to go to an audition too quickly. Being ready for a singing audition requires solid vocal ability, musical and mental preparation. If it is still your long-term goal, work specifically on these things:

• Improve vocal technique: Basic vocal techniques such as breathing, articulation and phrasing need to be in place. Consider taking singing lessons to improve your technique.
• Record and analyze: Record yourself singing and identify where you need to improve.
  Practice, practice, practice: Practice the song over and over again. You need confidence. Pay attention to pitch, rhythm and pronunciation. Find the best pitch for your voice.
• Song selection: Choose a song that suits your voice and that you can sing well. It should emphasize your strengths and not be too complex. More importantly: Avoid songs that are not in your vocal range or require a higher vocal level than you have.
• Honest feedback: Have your song heard by a trusted person with musical taste who can give you honest feedback. This can also be a vocal coach.
• Stage presence: It's not just the voice that counts. The audition is about how you present yourself on stage. Practice your movements, body language and facial expressions.
• Mental fitness: auditions put pressure on you. You have to be ready for it. Meditation, for example, can help if you suffer from nervousness.
• Logistics: Find out about the location, time and schedule of the audition. Make sure you are there on time.
• Healthy voice care: Take care of your voice in the days before the event. Avoid shouting and drink enough.
  

• Singing lessons for children
• Singing lessons for adults
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We know the following teachers personally and recommend them for their outstanding ability to teach beginners:

• 84 Singing teachers for beginners in Zurich
• 26 Singing teachers for beginners in Bern
• 19 Singing teachers for beginners in Basel
• 20 Singing teachers for beginners in Lucerne
• 12 Singing teachers for beginners in Winterthur
• 10 Singing teachers for beginners in St. Gallen
• 8 Singing teachers for beginners in Zug
• 3 Singing teachers for beginners in Olten/Zofingen
• 2 Singing teachers for beginners in Aarau/Lenzburg
• 5 Singing teachers for beginners in Baden