How can I learn how to sing well?

[Razorwyre]

I never before in my life would have ever considered singing, but the circumstances being what they are, I am now interested. My roomate here in college can play the guitar very well, and I think it would be cool if I could sing along with the some of the stuff that he plays. He was playing some Tool songs last night, and he told me the singer for Tool and a Perfect Circle, Maynard, learned how to sing in his college years. So I was thinking, what the hell, maybe I should try, I think it would be good to relieve all of the stress that I have built up lately.
So, I guess my question is, where does a person with no experience/talent start? Do I have to take classes? Read a book? Tapes CDs? Any feedback is appreaciated.

Lyn

 

[eyecandy]

Do you think you can sing? Do you like to sing? These can be hints about whether or not learning to sing will do you any good.

But the best way would be to get voice lessons. Often times the college can arrange it for you. Or you could go talk to the choir professor(s) at your college or look up "voice lessons" in the phone book.

I'm a singer and I love it- it's fun to travel around singing in a choir. Good luck!

 

[pulse8]

I've always wanted to take voice lessons. I love to sing and do it all the time - regardless of whether or not my voice may be nice. I just enjoy doing it.

Do you have any tips, eyecandy?

 

[swai]

if you have no experience, you should start with a basic musicianship class... learning scales, music notation, basic sight singing, etc.. and then go from there

 

[RedRooster]

Go out to your car right now, fill the tank, and drive around for a couple hours singing as loud as you can. Worked for me, but I'm a natural anyways.

 

[Hossenfeffer]

I love singin, but I'm not a "singer", per se.

Check into voice lessons while you're in college cuz they can be expensive. Could always try mimicry as well.

 

[Robert01]

Geez...don't waste your money on music lessons if you're just going to sing in a band. Just listen to records and pay attention to the voices you want to imulate the most. Just practice, practice, practice...

 

[eyecandy]

<< I've always wanted to take voice lessons. I love to sing and do it all the time - regardless of whether or not my voice may be nice. I just enjoy doing it.

Do you have any tips, eyecandy? >>


See if you can find a good voice teacher. Often times the best teachers for voice play piano as well. Or join a choir.

The biggest thing I can tell you is to not be afraid to do what they say, even if you think you look/sound funny while doing it. Our choir teacher made us do things with our hands that represented if we were singing higher or lower and we swore it didn't help. So one day she taped us doing hand motions and not doing them and doing them sounded so much better. Teachers always come up with funny warmups, but if you concentrate and sing well during warmups, then you will improve your voice quality.

Don't be afraid to stretch your voice and go higher or lower then you think you can. Obviously if you're hurting yourself, stop. But usually we can sing a greater range then we think we can.