Do singing lessons...really help? — Page 2

I agree, anything is possible if you try hard enough. I know it sounds so corny but I really think that's true. Sure its not easy to get onto broadway or anything but come on, what is easy in this world? But I think its a far cry from impossible. And as others have said, there are plenty of community and other off-broadway shows to work with.

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Yesh Dreamcatcher, I believe that if you try anything had enough anything is possible!!

swimming lessons, lol. that kinda made me laugh...yay i have a very different sence of humor!

A good musical theatre singer needs the following:

1. Good technique. And the best place to study this IS through a classical voice teacher--working on art songs and/or opera. If Ballet is the basic technique for all dance, classical singing is the basic technique for all (good) singing. This isn't to say that you should have to master opera/classical singing--but that you understand deeply the basics and what to strive for.

2. Good phrasing/style. For musical theatre, this is what you learn when working with a vocal coach. Vocal coaches also help you find material that is right for you.

3. Acting. A good singer or dancer is a good actor. Period. And music is even easier to sing (as good writing is written to support the character) when you are connected to the material from an acting pov. It takes the technique and phrasing and puts everything into perspective. It's the difference between a "pretty" performance and a "riveting" performance.

4. Time and hard work. It doesn't happen over night. It takes years. And in most cases, the things you learn from your first teachers won't finally click in your head until a year, two years, maybe ten years later. It's a combination of good teachers and yourself being able to truly comprehend what your body and mind need to do. And, singers' voices do not fully mature until your 30s.

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Updated On: 4/10/05 at 01:59 AM

Every professional singer should have at least one year of training in my opinion, preferably more. I've been taking lessons for five years and I still learn something new every lesson. Just as with acting, one's voice is always a work in progress, and one can never reach their full potential without at least some training. Also, other professionals (including casting directors) will usually know when you aren't using proper technique, and that can count against you. Lessons are expensive, but unfortunately a necessity as well.

Updated On: 4/10/05 at 12:30 PM

One of my friends has been taking lessons for 5-6 years now and he told me that before, he couldn't sing for **** but he started up lessons because singing was required for a show he was auditioning for and he ended up sticking with singing. I had a hard time believing that because now he has an amazing voice so I think its just that you have to really want to do it and be dedicated to it to really improve because as others have said, it'll probably be at least a year before I show really significant improvement since I only started lessons a couple months ago.

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One summer I took a musical theatre audition class, 8 sessions of that with about 8 other people madea huge difference in my voice.

I have been taking lessons for a year and a half and it has made a tremendous difference. In the fall I will probably get a classical teacher because at this point I think that is what will be beneficial for me. I really don't want to leave my current teacher though because she has been so great and I love her death.

How many teachers have you guys had? How often do you switch?

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jeremy......you did remind me, sometimes swimming lessons don't work; case in point, my partner.
at least he doesn't hang on to the edge of the pool anymore thanks to those foam noodles!

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Yeah the first lesson I ever had, I was so self concious about singing all those scales and warm ups because, since I wasn't used to them I sounded really weird trying to get the notes out but now I'm alot more comfortable with it and already I can see how they are improving how I sound when I sing. So don't be embarassed by it.

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as a long-time student, it totally helps b/c they teach you the "proper" way to sing so that you can not only improve but keep you from getting vocal nodes or sounding like a nasal pop star :) If you do musical theater and dance a lot when you are singing, your basic lessons on breath control can do wonders. But yeah, i agree; if you have a crappy teacher then you are wasting money. fnd someone who is good at teaching you the type of music you are interested - i had an opera teacher, but wanted to sing Into the Woods..... strange mix.