The human voice is an incredible instrument, ranging all the way from the softest whisper to the most powerful of soaring melodies. We all possess a unique voice, and for some singing seems to come naturally. For many others however we feel like our singing abilities are mediocre at best, and so a perceived divide is created between those who can sing, and those who can't.
Are some people really “tone-deaf”? Is singing an innate talent or is it simply a skill that can be practised like any other? In this article we explore these questions and try to answer definitively, can anyone sing?
Childhood singing: A Lost Opportunity?
When we are in childhood we tend to sing more regularly than when we are adults, School assemblies, church gatherings, birthday parties, and family activities all provide ample opportunities to sing. As we grow older we are engaged in less activities that have us regularly practising singing, and so by the time many people reach adulthood, singing is no longer a part of their lives.
There are many reasons for this change, but the most impactful is that we tend to become more self-conscious as we grow up, particularly in our teenage years. This self-consciousness subdues our enthusiasm for singing and makes us more pressured to conform to the social norms of everyone around us. Because of this pressure to follow social norms, If we’re not in an environment where singing is encouraged or valued, we may begin to shift our interests toward other activities—sports, video games, or other more “socially accepted” hobbies. As a result, many of us lose the opportunity to practice and refine our singing skills.
Cultural barriers: Environment Matters
As well as these social pressures, there are also cultural reasons why singing may come easier to some than others. Depending on your background, upbringing, and the culture you are raised in, music may have played a small or larger role in your childhood and early development as a person.
People from a more religious background may often be more regularly engaged in singing than people who aren't from these backgrounds. This means they have more exposure to practising singing and more opportunity to develop any innate talents they might possess, leading to certain groups being overrepresented in singing, gospel, choral music etc.
Confidence: The Key To Unlocking Your Voice
One of the most significant factors that influence our ability to sing is confidence. We have talked about the role of singing in childhood, and the concept of being “exposed” to singing. Why this exposure is so important is that it allows us to develop our confidence in our singing abilities during formative years, which is something that we can then carry through the rest of our lives. Without this early exposure and practice, it is much more difficult to find the confidence in yourself to truly sing your full potential.
Why do we need this confidence? Well singing is risky business. You are putting yourself out there, exposing your soul to the world and allowing yourself to be fully seen. Singing takes bravery and the willingness to sing in public is something worth commending, even if the performance isn't that great. You can use Controllavoice to help you build confidence and learn to sing. You can upload your voice to controllavoice and use it to make new cover versions of your favourite songs. This allows you to “audition” and hear how your voice would sing certain songs, helping you to get used to the sound of your voice and build confidence in yourself.
We are all familiar with the cliche of singing in the shower, but there is also some truth in the idea. When we are in the shower, we feel safe, isolated from any prying ears and judgement, we can truly open up and allow the music to pour out from us. We feel comfortable and safe when we sing in the shower, and so we must try and recreate this feeling as closely as possible to be comfortable singing in different scenarios. As our confidence grows, our abilities as a singer grows with it, allowing us to push ourselves and further develop our singing technique.
As well as the importance of self-confidence in singing, it's also very helpful to learn in a safe and encouraging environment, receiving kind words of positive encouragement. This can come from a trusted friend, peer or potential vocal coach. We recommend working with a vocal coach if you have the budget as they will help you to build your confidence and grow your singing talents most effectively.
Exposure - Singing should not be an occasional activity but something you engage in regularly. Whether you’re singing in the shower or humming to the radio, the more you expose yourself to singing, the more comfortable and capable you’ll become.
Confidence - Building your confidence is probably the single biggest thing you can do to improve your singing ability, but it is also the most difficult thing to do. You can build confidence by practising on your own in a safe environment away from judging eyes and ears. Once you feel comfortable you can join a choir group to gain experience singing in front of people, whilst not having the spotlight fully on yourself.
Practice - The final ingredient is practice. Once you have found your confidence and have overcome any fears of singing in front of people, you can then begin to engage in deliberate practice to develop and train your vocal abilities. You can also begin to seek out feedback from others and incorporate this feedback into your vocal progression.
In answer to our question of can anyone sing? No, not everyone has the right combination of raw talent, listening skills and dedication to be able to sing to the highest level. However, through careful practice and an open mind to feedback anyone can learn how to improve their singing skills, and feel confident in their abilities.
Comments