do re mi etc.

April 15, 2007 8:28 PM

How do I go about learning to sing? More specifically, how should I go about it in NYC...

After hitting 26 I decided I was in a bit of a rut and I need to round myself out a little bit more. I've always wished I could sing well (nothing too fancy, just to be able to go out for karoake and not be embarassed) and was wondering if the collective had any advice for getting started. And tips for accomplishing this feat in manhattan would be appreciated even more. Thanks,

posted by slapshot57 to sports, hobbies, & recreation (5 comments total)

if you can already carry a tune: just go to karaoke! i started going a lot during grad school, and noticed over time that those of us who could already carry a tune got better and better over time; myself and another friend in particular went from sounding okay to sounding pretty good! (yes, we really went that often.)
posted by lia at 9:45 PM on April 15, 2007

Songfight, baby.

Yeah, I know, I know -- it's about writing songs, not singing per se -- but my first submission was mediocre at best, and I put my voice through a filter to sound like a phone call, because I thought my voice sucks.

Probably does suck, too. But on Songfight, you gotta submit SOMETHING, and nobody knows who you are anyway. And after your first few, people start saying things like "you need to commit to your vocals more" or "you might have a nice voice if I could hear you" and so you start pushing yourself.

And if you're musically-oriented like me, you're probably singing around the house anyway, but now you're writing (probably mediocre) songs in keys you can sing, and that feel good to sing. And over time, you find your voice is improving, because you're toning the muscles you sing with as you practice, practice, practice.

So, Songfight, because you have to sing to submit, and you have to practice to be willing to listen to yourself, and you'll get some good feedback (along with some "You suck!"s, probably) along the way.

Once your muscles are in good shape and you're comfortable being on-pitch (believe me, the songfighters will tell you if you're not!) you're karaoke-ready -- and in a much better position to take lessons if you want. After all, who wants to waste the first six months of lessons just improving because your singing muscles were out of shape and you were too shy initially to give it your all?
posted by davejay at 9:53 PM on April 15, 2007 [1 favorite]

There's a course over at Singers Forum I've been wanting to take. I love karaoke but none of my friends really do, but I joined a Karaoke Meetup here in NYC, and I'm looking forward to joining in. Practice does help, as lia said, so if the class isn't what you're looking for, perhapsthis is more up your alley.
posted by cmgonzalez at 10:28 PM on April 15, 2007

What kind of music do you want to sing? Pop? I'm a jazz singer so that's why I ask. Singing jazz is a different sensibility.

There are actually some good tips on singing here. And you should be able to find a decent teacher through the NYST. It's like anything though, you might end up trying a few people before finding the one you mesh with.

I never sang in public before, and then in 1999 I took voice lessons on a dare. Had no clue I had a natural talent before that. Within 6 months of that class, I was a professional jazz singer with a regular gig leading a quartet at a famous restaurant in Hollywood. Doesn't happen to everyone, but you never know! Just have fun with it! I actually just got back from sitting in with a guitarist in Napa Valley tonight... had a great time. Singing is the best therapy ever. So much fun!
posted by miss lynnster at 11:35 PM on April 15, 2007 [3 favorites]

Find a voice teacher if you want to improve. Songfight is a waste of time in my opinion.
posted by ludwig_van at 5:20 PM on April 16, 2007