Where to Learn to Sing

Where to learn to sing? You love music and have always loved to hum or sing your favorite songs. You’ve felt that little tingle when you hear a beautiful melody, performed by a singer with an exceptional voice. You dream of learning to sing, being able to master your voice. Yes, but you’re still asking yourself: “where to learn to sing?” Today, there are many options for voice training and singing lessons, so that beginners or advanced singers can improve, progress and work on their vocal technique. Here’s a non-exhaustive list of places to improve in singing!

1. Take singing lessons with a private teacher

Taking singing lessons with a private vocal instructor is a very popular way to learn to sing. The vocal technique work is personalized and adapted to your level as well as your availability, giving you the opportunity to learn at your own pace. Good voice teachers take the time to conduct a first assessment, asking you about your current level, your knowledge in music theory (not required), your vocal range (soprano, alto, tenor, bass…), your type of voice, your vocal repertoire and especially your goals. At the end of the first session, your voice teacher can offer you a work program to define the number of lessons to take. During singing lessons, the vocal instructor often includes singing exercises or vocalizations to work on your vocal technique, warm up your voice while having fun. The teacher is present to listen to you, correct you and give you advice in real time. If an error is made, you have direct feedback to correct your mistakes. However, one drawback of singing lessons with a private teacher is the price. Singing lessons can be expensive. Although for children, it’s possible to deduct 50% of the amount of lessons paid during the year from your taxes. In addition, to make voice lessons affordable for all budgets, some cities offer this service for the year. You can also find singing teachers on classified ad sites like Le Bon Coin or Leboncoin to support you in your vocal technique work and voice training. On these platforms, the prices announced by teachers are generally more affordable than on specialized music sites like Allegro Musique or Anacours. Another option for private lessons is to enroll with a voice coach or singing coach. This type of vocal instructor accompanies you (like a sports coach) over a set period, for an intensive vocal technique work: warming up the vocal cords, breathing exercises, singing and vocal health, vocal range work, etc. This follows more or less the model of private lessons but with an intensive aspect over a set period.

2. Enroll in a music school

You can also choose to learn to sing, to train in singing by taking singing lessons in a music school or conservatory. In a conservatory, it’s possible to take courses to learn about voice and vocal technique. If you learn to sing in a conservatory, you’ll generally have theoretical courses like music theory as well as practical courses like voice technique work and choir singing. It’s also possible to learn a second instrument in a conservatory, which is a very good complement to singing. In fact, learning piano or guitar to accompany your voice or to better understand harmonies is very advantageous. At Tokatab, you can moreover easily find beginner Voice & Piano pieces in the catalog, or directly import your sheet music to reproduce a specific melody. This is one of the many advantages of conservatories or music schools. It allows you to learn to sing in a structure and gives you access to different disciplines. These courses are generally offered in group lessons, but also sometimes in individual lessons (with an additional fee). Most conservatories and music schools also organize public concerts or auditions, sometimes with a jury examination, which allows students to perform on stage in front of an audience and gain experience. This can be stressful for some, but also very beneficial for others.

3. Join an a cappella choir or gospel choir

Learning to sing by taking singing lessons in an a cappella choir or gospel choir is an opportunity to learn in a group and have a more fun approach to singing. The advantage is that in a choir, you’re accompanied and encouraged by other participants and members. The choir conductor, who directs the group, also gives you advice on how to improve and helps you progress in singing. This approach to learning is less intimidating for those who are shy. However, you may have difficulty hearing your own voice among all the other voices present in the group, and will therefore have difficulty progressing at your own pace and working on your weak points individually. If you have trouble following the rhythm or if you’re off-key, the choir conductor won’t necessarily have time to come back to you as they might during a private singing lesson. However, if you’re looking to take singing lessons in a group to create connections while improving vocally and if you’re not anxious about being heard by your classmates, the choir approach is an excellent alternative. In Ile-de-France for example, there’s the Croche Chœur choir, located in the 11th arrondissement of Paris.

4. Learn to sing with online lessons

If you want to progress in singing and learn to sing at home, many videos and lessons are available online. Indeed, today, the internet is full of advice to learn to sing independently. You can find YouTube channels and videos that give you singing advice. On these channels, you can find vocal warm-up exercises, videos that teach you breathing techniques for singing or even tips to have better posture for singing. Among the many channels, Vocal Coach teaches you singing and vocal technique in educational and funny videos. Here’s one of his videos on the voice:

The advantages of online singing lessons:

• Lessons, videos and advice available for free, 24/7. You can therefore practice your vocal technique at any time.
• Self-paced learning. You can choose the exercises that suit you best, based on your level and your weaknesses.
• Taking online courses allows you to learn at home. It’s very practical for those who don’t have time to travel or don’t have structures nearby.

The disadvantages of online singing lessons:

• Online singing lessons or videos don’t offer a diagnosis of your voice. Indeed, since you’re learning to sing on your own, you won’t have a vocal instructor to correct you or point out errors you might be making. It will therefore be difficult to progress if you practice incorrectly.
• These online lessons also don’t give you the opportunity to test yourself and perform in front of an audience or a jury. These moments, stressful as they may be, allow you to fully experience performing on stage and gain experience.

In addition to YouTube channels, you’ll find sites offering paid online courses, like imusic-school for example. This platform offers individual lessons with video, audio and text support + downloadable PDFs like sheet music or a vocabulary glossary. There are over 200 courses including beginner to advanced levels as well as lessons by music genre: rock, metal, jazz, pop…

5. Follow online masterclasses

Masterclasses are courses given by an expert in their field or a well-known artist, whether in the field of science, art, cooking, music or singing. These courses have a very scholarly form. They’re in the form of a lecture where students listen to the professional and thus benefit from their advice, expertise and experience. However, it’s possible to participate in online masterclasses. You just need to register in advance. The Masterclass.com website is an online streaming platform that allows you to watch and listen to hundreds of videos given by world artists, politicians or renowned chefs.

The advantages of learning to sing with online masterclasses:

• Masterclasses are given by experts in their field. The content is very high quality. Learning to sing this way means educating yourself with the best teachers or artists possible.
• You can find online the expert that suits you best, whether for their personality, pedagogy or experience.
• It’s possible for you to learn to sing with celebrities you trust or admire. You’ll find on the Masterclass platform Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey or Alicia Keys!
• With this platform, you can watch these online singing lessons at any time, anywhere, without internet connection if you download them and on the device of your choice.

The disadvantages of learning to sing with online masterclasses:

• By taking online singing lessons with masterclasses, there’s a good chance the cost will be quite high…
• Online singing masterclasses offer neither feedback on the work you can produce, nor personal teaching and diagnosis. You won’t be able to know if you’re doing the vocal exercises correctly because you won’t have any correction.

We hope this article has been useful to you, in any case, if you want to learn to sing, don’t wait, go for it!

Good music and happy browsing on Tokatab!