How to Start Your Singing Career

Building Your Singing Skills

1. How to Start Your Singing Career Picture 1
   Cultivate your talent. You need to discover who you are as a singer and performer before you begin trying to launch your singing career. Start out by experimenting singing different genres of music. This will help you figure out what kind of singing style comes naturally to you. Take note of things you learn about yourself as a singer, for example: your vocal range, singing styles that are easier and more difficult to pull off, and what wears out your voice.

   1. You also need to figure out what kind of performing works best for you; do you work better singing solo, as a lead singer, or as a backup singer? Do you prefer performing in front of small, intimate crowds, or louder, more rambunctious crowds? Figuring out the answers to these questions can further develop your act, image, and set of skills as a singer. Some other questions you might want to address about yourself are:
      1. How good is your ear for music? This means: are you able to sing in tune? Can you recognize and feel rhythm in songs? Can you hear a melody once and sing it back correctly?^[1]
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   Take voice lessons. You want to learn how to bring out the best in your voice. Hiring a vocal coach can help you reach your greatest potential. Vocal coaches can remedy poor technique while addressing your strong and weak areas as a singer.^[2] With a voice coach, you can practice increasing your range as well as experimenting with your vocal dexterity in front of someone who can offer valuable feedback. This practice and guidance will ultimately help build up your confidence in your singing abilities.^[3]

   1. If you can't find a vocal coach that you feel comfortable with, consider taking online signing classes.^[4] Although online classes don't provide a person to person learning experience, they can introduce you to foundational singing techniques.
   2. Just be wary of online webpages that advertise themselves as singing review sites. These sites are usually scams and peddle products to unsuspecting customers. You should be very suspicious of sites like these.^[5]
   EXPERT TIP

   How to Start Your Singing Career Picture 3

   Amy Chapman, MA

   Voice Coach and Specialist

   Amy Chapman MA, CCC-SLP is a vocal therapist and singing voice specialist. Amy is a licensed and board-certified Speech & Language Pathologist who has dedicated her career to helping professionals improve and optimize their voice. Amy has lectured on voice optimization, speech, vocal health, and voice rehabilitation at universities across California, including UCLA, USC, Chapman University, Cal Poly Pomona, CSUF, CSULA. Amy is trained in Lee Silverman Voice Therapy, Estill, LMRVT, and is a part of the American Speech and Hearing Association.

   How to Start Your Singing Career Picture 4

   Amy Chapman, MA
   Voice Coach and Specialist

   Practice singing every day. You don't want to push too hard, especially when your voice sounds a little hoarse, but you should exercise your voice every day. For instance, each day you might do vocal exercises and warm-ups, then practice your music. That will help ensure your voice sounds clear.

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   Learn to read sheet music. In the music industry, if you want to be considered a professional, you need to be ready to sing whatever someone puts in front of you. This could mean singing off a piece of sheet music. If this happens, you are going to be expected to read and follow along effortlessly.

   1. Prepare yourself now, so you can be ready to go when the time comes.
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   Learn an instrument. Learn to play the piano or guitar so you can be a multi-faceted artist, and perform more independently. Learning an instrument also helps you play underlying notes in songs, which can give your performance a unique addition. It's also a plus to learn an instrument so you only have to depend on yourself to perform, lowering your risk of having last minute performance issues, like your guitarist not showing up.

   1. All in all, figure out the materials you need to pull off a live performance. This will solidify your presence on stage, help create your image, establish your individual sound, and draw in your unique audience following.
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   Do your research. Analyze performances of some of your favorite singers. Look up videos of live performances, and take note of their stage presence. How do they connect with their audience? It may be helpful to watch these performances on mute, so you can concentrate on their movements and expressions.^[6] These might be characteristics you want to emulate in your performances.

   1. It could also be helpful to research your favorite singers and musicians and see how they got to where they are today. What training did they do before they made it big? Who influenced their decision to follow their dream? What obstacles did they face, and how did they conquer them?
   2. Doing some research can provide you with background knowledge about how other people in your position have found success in your anticipated field.