How to choose a song to learn for your singing lessons
Singing students often struggle with choosing a song to learn next in their singing lessons, class, or their own singing practice.
If this is you, I have some suggestions. First, you have to take into consideration two things:
- What do you wanna work on with the song (increasing pitch, training your low voice, etc)?
- Will you perform it live?
Choosing a song to increase your singing skills
Songs are a great tool to work on specific parts of your singing training. For example:
- Expanding high register
- Expanding low register
- Strengthening chest voice
- Strengthening head voice
- Singing in different languages
- Dynamics
- Rhythms
- Musicianship skills
- Phrasing
- Styles
- Sustained long notes
- Exploring specific emotions for your interpretation
And there are many more.
Let me give you an example. Let’s say that I need or want to work on my air support. I could choose a song that has lots of sustained notes, such as this song:
There are lots of long and sustained notes but it doesn’t really represent a huge challenge range-wise, so you can focus on the skills you want to practice (provided that you speak Spanish!)
And remember that a challenge doesn’t have to be impossibly hard! what is a challenge for you RIGHT NOW in a certain aspect of your singing is what we are looking for.
For example: if you want to expand your vocal range, you don’t need to go right away for a song like “Emotions” by Mariah Carey with over 4 octaves! It will just frustrate you and possibly damage your voice. If you can currently sing one octave and nothing more, look for an easier song that will still be a challenge for you right now and make you grow at your pace.
So you will probably have to do some research and have a good listen to various songs to find one that has the challenges you want to face right now. This is a great opportunity for you to open your ears and get to know new songs and artists.
How to choose a song to learn – Choosing a song to perform
Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash
You also want to take into consideration whether you will perform the song live or not. If you are likely to perform it in a live show, I recommend choosing a song that is not too far from your possibilities instead of looking for one with specific technical challenges. The reason is that the more comfortable you are with the song, the better it will sound. And you will enjoy it the most.
I remember one time when a student chose a song that was quite difficult for her at that moment (My immortal by Evanescence). But she really wanted to perform that particular song, and we worked hard on it. When the performance day arrived, she was very nervous! She asked me to skip the hardest part of the song. We agreed that the piano player would play a solo in that part instead of her singing. So it came out nice and everybody loved it. But if we hadn’t been able to do that at the last moment, she would have been there all scared, probably not giving an amazing performance due to her nervousness (which people usually notice and they suffer too…) and worst of all, not enjoying it!
When we choose singing as a hobby or a career, is because we really enjoy it so it doesn’t make sense to have a bad time while doing it.
So if you need to find a song to perform for an event, choose a song that you have already resolved or a new song that doesn’t represent a technical challenge for you so much. In a live performance situation we naturally get more nervous and so controlling the vocal technique is harder. So choosing to perform a song that you still feel insecure about is not a good idea.
Instead, choose a song that doesn’t represent such a huge technical challenge for you so you can focus on interpretation and performance instead without having to worry about getting that high note that is so hard for you right now. Because interpretation and performance are hard tasks too! and they deserve your dedicated attention as well.
Want to learn more?
In Auckland Singing School we provide singing lessons in Auckland – North Shore – singing lessons for adults, singing lessons for teenagers and kids. Singing lessons with a holistic approach in Auckland 🙂 – online vocal programs also available – holistic contemprary singing ❤️
Rockschool vocal exams preparation available – Grades Debut to Grade 8.
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I help people to develop their voice and singing from a holistic approach. I teach vocal lessons in person in Auckland, NZ, and online. Also stay tuned for my new online singing programs!❤️
My greatest passion has always been the voice, music and energy arts.
My personal and artistic journey has led me to understand that the voice and the body are fully connected, and that includes not only the physical body but also the mental, emotional and spiritual body.
Through holistic vocal training you not only learn to become a great singer while taking care of your voice, but you also improve your mental and physical wellbeing❤️
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I am not regular singer but Your article gives me confidence about my singing. Thank you for sharing.