5 REASONS WHY PEOPLE WANT TO SING, and should take singing lessons

Many people wonder why someone should commit to singing classes; this is what I have discovered in my 30 years of experience as a singing coach for professionals.

Here is the 5 most frequent reasons why an adult should decide to look for a singing instructor for themselves, a friend or family member or choose singing classes for children.

1 They feel an urge to connect to their inner self, explore their human and singing potential, express themselves.

When an adult starts thinking about singing lessons, this is the most common reason: self discovery. Self improvement.

I have 33 years of experience as a singing teacher. On average I have taught for around 30.000 hours and met hundreds of singers or aspiring singers.

Like many I started with no particular intention to become a sought for singing coach. My curiosity pushed me to open and explore people's potential like a magic trunk with unknown treasures hidden inside. Over time I learned to do it by quickly framing a person’s voice and particular abilities.

That is the work that I do. Looking for the hidden diamond that can be revealed, namely the potential of a singing voice. I do this through my singing lessons. I wish and encourage the best out of my students singing activities, whether it is singing lessons for beginners, advanced, professionals, or singing classes for kids.

Over the years I met people truly coming from every walk of life. From doctors to sales assistants, from actors to ministries of religion. One thing that they all have in common is that they are looking for a way to reflect themselves into the great mirror of existence. People have singing embedded in their depth, as it is an ancestral way of communication. People who want to sing want to exist and be recognised as wonderful entities.

Singing classes enable communication with our inner self and with others in an endless journey for discovery.

2 They want to have control over their voice, and understand how it works.

Whereas one can sing without taking singing classes, and many have built a singing career with very few singing lessons or none, there are actually very few individuals who can sing wonderfully without the help of a singing coach. Even the most gifted voices will face a limit in their capacity, where personal skills and intuition are no longer sufficient.

A good voice coach can guide through a specific path to recognise what body movements or habits pose an obstacle to singing. A good voice instructor enables you to eliminate all those tensions, fears, muscle oppositions that block your voice from flowing freely. When you meet the right voice professor your voice starts acting as an instrument able to create wonders.

Singing without a singing coach  will be limited to a few songs that will work well in the most fortunate cases, but without much space for improvement. That is because every voice has their own particular nature and will be good in something but will need work on another side. Some particuar types of singing strictly need coaching, for example Opera and classical, Musical Theatre and also some types of pop and hard rock where voice strain is quite common due to the need of loud belting/projection.

Singing classes are the necessary tool needed to gain control over the body as an instrument. Think about singing technique as an embankment that can give the right direction to an endless stream of flowing expression.

3 They want to develop confidence

How can singing classes help to develop confidence?

Some people are born confident, supported by positive outcomes and confirmation in their own self- belief, and perhaps a family that nurtured their individuality.

Some other people, even the most famous and gifted, may be so insecure at a very personal level that they do not dare testing themselves in any activity that provides exposure. 

The extreme of this is suffering the “impostor syndrome” and deeply believe that they don't deserve what they have achieved. Two examples of this are Billie Eilish and Lady Gaga, despite receiving recognition from crowds.

Extreme cases of lack of confidence can lead to mental health issues like depression or eating disorders and isolation.

How can singing lessons help to overcome lack of belief in themselves (lack of confidence?).

Personally, as a skilled Vocal Coach for professionals, I believe that 2 elements play a pivotal role: learning to gain healthy exposure and discovering all the ways in which the human body can produce a singing sound. Training on specific movements ignites a deep process of empowerment. From day one on your very first singing lesson, you get coaching about how to stand up with a proud and composed poise. This is immediately imprinted in your brain as a processs of self-affirmation.

(How lucky are those children that learn this from a very young age!)

A singing technique enables the development of the ability to hit higher notes, normally out of range for an untrained voice, loudness, a personal unique sound and appealing voice nuances that can be used not just for performing but also to influence people and circumstances. An improved posture, a confident upright look, the ability to project a sound that can resonate from a distance become a positive second nature. This starts a ripple effect of self nurturing of confidence and empowerment by affirming your self-worth by the way you look and take your space in the world - preferably in a privileged position!

Like ballet dancers, who walk graciously into a room and can be recognised from a distance because of the way they move their bodies, a singer usually develops an instinctive positive self-worth image that gets recognition due to an acquired assertive look. A trained singer stands out in terms of positive self-assurance like a statement of greatness!!

These are transferable skills, that you can bring to your own workplace and will remain with you when you leave the stage (or your singing class) for the rest of your life. People will think of you as a very special person, because you are a singer and can do something very special. and you exude some sort of reassurance in yourself - the vibration of confidence.- namely, something perceived by others and sometimes so subtle to identify.

I have seen countless cases of a change in personality after a few years of singing training.

 It is an unescapable pattern because singing is deeply connected to how a person interacts with the external environment. Singing and meditation also have a lot in common, including breath control, relaxation and detachment from negative emotions. 

A chemical change happens in the brain as the science says, because endorphines are released during singing, which are the chemicals producing happy emotions.

All of these features promote empowerment and self confidence.

4 They want to explore a hobby that can be monetised over time

The 4th reason why people want singing lessons, I discovered over 30 years of teaching, might surprise you.

Most people started singing simply by chance. Excluding those lucky enough to have a family that encouraged music studies, and booked singing classes for children from a young age, many people arrive to a singing teacher with little clarity in mind.

A common example is people joining a choir, people singing in church for a function, young singer joining a band for fun encouraged by a friend, people encouraged by friends to join a competition.

In many cases this starts as a hobby or a side activity. Over time, some committed individuals can give consistency to this activity and start a job as a front singer for ceremonies, choir member in a paid institution like an opera company, or front singer in a band for gigs and ceremonies. Or even embark in the wonderful adventure of becoming a skilled opera singer or musical theatre performer.

Some lucky ones might end up with an unexpected singing career.

In all cases, a singing training and singing classes help having consistency in personal ability to sing, and help preserving the voice from being ruined by bad habits like shouting instead of singing. You obtain this by learning how to use the diaphragm, your trained breathing and your posture.

5 we cannot do without !!

And last but not least…

People simply want to sing because it gives joy and a sense of fulfillment!!

Especially those starting or re-starting singing classes for adults.

For myself and other lucky individuals a singing career started as some unexplained burning passion that couldn't be satisfied if not by having more and more of it and constantly taking it to the next level.

I started singing opera because I loved singing, and for me it was the most complex way of using my voice. I simply couldn't do without !! Discovering I have a talent for this was actually secondary as the joy that comes from singing is truly second to nothing and it is what matters the most, regardless of ability.

After countless years of singing I still feel the same burning desire to carry on with singing and performing opera singing.

Like my maestro Paolo Silveri (a Baritone with an outstanding career of last century) said when I was a young student in his class: it is like a virus, and you contracted it.

I couldn't agree more with this statement.

Let's sing just for the sake of it!!

Classes for adults beginners and advanced, singing classes for children, are the first step to a deeper sense of happiness and fulfilment, and eventually will lead to many types of achievements: confidence, peace of mind, relief from stress. Maybe a financial gain, succes and certainly a new way of looking at yourself and how others perceive you.

You never know what will come out of it but let's work for the best!!