Learning how to sing--how difficult is it?

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

I have a pretty good/strong baritone (maybe bass) voice that sees frequent use in the shower, but I don't really know how to sing and have never had lessons. I have played classical piano for years, but I certainly have nothing approaching perfect pitch.

This is something that has mystified me for some time. How does one learn how to sing? I would actually like to try and teach myself. I have no aspirations of performing or doing this professionally. I would like to sing some Gregorian chant like this guy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf1td_BJLDQ (I suppose this is probably rather difficult, and not the thing one should start on). I also love lieder/art song, anything by Bach, and Charles Trenet, Sinatra, Tom Lehrer, and a whole host of others. To show you how not-serious I am, I don't even think I would bother finding an accompanist.

So, I would like to experiment for fun, greatly improve my ability to sing on key, and see where it leads. Any ideas?

[Wakefield]

I have a pretty good/strong baritone (maybe bass) voice that sees frequent use in the shower, but I don't really know how to sing and have never had lessons. I have played classical piano for years, but I certainly have nothing approaching perfect pitch.

This is something that has mystified me for some time. How does one learn how to sing? I would actually like to try and teach myself. I have no aspirations of performing or doing this professionally. I would like to sing some Gregorian chant like this guy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf1td_BJLDQ (I suppose this is probably rather difficult, and not the thing one should start on). I also love lieder/art song, anything by Bach, and Charles Trenet, Sinatra, Tom Lehrer, and a whole host of others. To show you how not-serious I am, I don't even think I would bother finding an accompanist.

So, I would like to experiment for fun, greatly improve my ability to sing on key, and see where it leads. Any ideas?

I can't provide you any useful advice, but I can say I've really enjoyed your post. I guess because it's written with a sort of unusual openness, even naivety to express what seems to be a crazy idea, born in the shower. I loved it.     

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Thanks. In addition to my career as a scientist and artist (www.kevinjcarpenter.com), I also aspire to become this generation's Jack Kerouac (but not its Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau). 

[Wakefield]

Thanks. In addition to my career as a scientist and artist (www.kevinjcarpenter.com), I also aspire to become this generation's Jack Kerouac (but not its Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau). 

Good luck!!!

[DaveF]

The same as with learning any instrument, you can teach yourself (there are plenty of singing tutors available) or pay for lessons - although unlike learning a lot of instruments, even two or three lessons with a good teacher can make a great difference to your technique of sound-production.  I can almost guarantee that, if you've got any voice at all (which you clearly have), then you'll be amazed at the increase in volume and quality that a few well-taught exercises can make.  And there's so much you can do by yourself, notably learning to stay in tune - no-one can teach you that.  It's good, for example, to try to sing a melody with wide leaps in it, then to go back to the piano and see how out-of-tune you've gone.  Work on pitch will help; if you get a feel for how your voice strays from true intonation (99.9% of us go flat) then you can work on correcting that.  Anyway, best of luck.  Looking forward to your first YouTube clip.

DF

[Karl Henning]

One way to test the waters is to find a chorus or choir where volunteers are accepted (perhaps with a low-stress audition), and learn by getting right in there and taking part.

[jochanaan]

Singing seems to be a universal, almost instinctive activity.  Learning to sing well--ah, that's where the difficulties begin.

[Karl Henning]

"How do I use this Auto-Tune jigger?"

[jochanaan]

"How do I use this Auto-Tune jigger?"

Breathe, breathe, breathe!

[Karl Henning]

Good thing I had already swallowed that mouthful of tea!

[jochanaan]

Good thing I had already swallowed that mouthful of tea!