Rewind: Singing
The Musical U Team shares the most powerful lessons from past episodes on singing. Tune in for some tips to free up your voice and build confidence.
Singing
Every musician should be using their voice to train their ears. This goes double if you are “a singer”!
There is a fundamental connection between your ear, your “mind’s ear”, and your singing voice.
You don’t need to be a singer to practice ear training with your voice. If you are a singer, there are particular areas of ear training which can help you improve your skills.
Singing is the best way to improve your ear for pitch, and pitch ear training is the best place for most musicians to start improving their ear. Once you have learned basic control over your voice’s pitch, it becomes a powerful tool for all your other ear training, including relative pitch (e.g. intervals), dynamics and tone/timbre.
Training for Singers
There are several key areas which singers may want to focus on in their training:
- Pitch: accurate pitching of notes, and precise control over variations in pitch (e.g. vibrato) are essential to any singer, and pitch ear training helps develop these skills.
- Relative Pitch: judging the distances between notes reliably and accurately helps you sing melodies which have leaps in pitch, and it makes sight-singing a breeze. Use interval ear training to learn how.
- Solfa: One powerful approach to learning relative pitch skills involves naming each note in the scale. The most popular system is solfa, or “moveable do solfège” and it’s never too late to train your ears with this system.
- Active Listening: If you sing in a band or choir it’s vital that you learn how to listen well to the rest of the music while you’re singing. Blending and balancing your voice with those around you requires this kind of active listening.
Free Course: Learn to Sing
Get The App
SingTrue is the app which can teach anybody to sing. Even if you’re worried about being “tone deaf” or you’ve been told you’re “out of tune” or “off key” when you sing, this fun interactive app will quickly get you singing perfectly!
Solfa
Solfa (or “Solfège”) is a very powerful system for learning relative pitch, by giving each note a name (do, re, mi). It’s never too late to try learning this way, and many of the most capable and proficient singers use solfège to sight-read and perform music.Get started with “Solfeggio and Ear Training”.
Choir Singing
There are extra skills you need to sing in a choir, and most of them boil down to listening skills rather than singing skills. Explore choir singing ear training to find out how you can become an expert choral singer.Learn useful choir ear training exercises in “Practical Listening Skills for the Developing Choir” or get inspired by “The Choir Who Can’t Sing”.
Singing and children
Singing is a popular activity and form of musical expression in childhood, providing a natural entry point to music for many children.Learn about fun ear training for young singers in “Singing and Childhood” and “Rockin’ Rockabye Baby Lullabies”.
Singing Training at Musical U
Inside Musical U you’ll find a set of training modules for developing your voice, from the fundamentals of singing in tune through to developing a good-sounding voice and gaining rock-solid confidence to sing in front of people.
→ Learn more about Musical U membership
Learn to Sing Roadmap
This roadmap will help you learn to sing.
It won’t make you the next X-Factor superstar, but if you’ve ever thought maybe you can’t sing, you’ve worried about singing “in tune”, or you feel you just don’t have a “good voice”, this Roadmap will let you put those fears to rest once and for all.
You’ll also learn to relate singing to the wider world of music. If you play an instrument this will help you relate singing to what you already know and understand on your instrument. If you don’t play an instrument it will help you feel comfortable and confident singing in a musical context, such as with a backing track, a real band, or performing on stage.
Singing Training Modules
Start Solfa
Learn the power of using solfa for your musical training and how solfa syllables can help you with intervals, chords and melodies.
After completing this module: you will understand how to start from the tonic to build and recognise intervals, chords and simple melodies with solfa.
Good Voice
Learn the 16 factors which contribute to having a “good” singing voice, identify which might be holding you back, and discover practical techniques you can use to improve them.
After completing this module: you will understand how to develop a good singing voice.
Match Pitch
Learn how to match pitch with your singing voice.
After completing this module: you will be able to easily and reliably sing back a note you have heard.
Vocal Control
Learn the fundamentals of controlling your voice when you sing, including breath support, accurate pitch leaps, and how to evaluate your own singing to keep improving.
After completing this module: you will be able to produce clear accurate notes when you sing.
Play and Sing
Learn how to sing and play an instrument at the same time, for example to accompany your singing with chords on a guitar or piano.
After completing this module: you will be able to accompany yourself on an instrument while you sing.
Free Course: Learn to Sing
Free articles about Singing
How To Improve Your Singing Voice: The 16 Keys
What does it mean to have a good voice? We cover how to improve your singing voice, and the mindset that you’ll need to get better at singing.
Learning to Sing in Tune, with George Bevan
If you’ve ever worried about being out of tune or off-key when you sing, don’t miss this interview with a man who’s found a solution.
Folk, Frameworks, and Fun, with David Row
Musical U interviews Make Moments Matter’s David Row on the Orff approach, an educational framework that centers the student’s musicality and creativity.
Making Sight Singing Child’s Play, with Dale Duncan
Singing teacher Dale Duncan shares his inclusive and highly effective approach to helping his students integrate pitch and rhythm skills in sight-singing.
How to Learn to Sing in Tune
Discover a simple four-step process you can start using today to go from being tone deaf to easily and confidently singing every note with perfect pitch.
The Secret to “Good” Singing
Singing isn’t about whether your voice sounds “good”, but rather how you feel when you’re singing, and whether you’re getting the tone and emotion you want.
A Cappella for Ear Training: How
There are many aural skills which benefit from focused a cappella listening. Here are some ideas, examples and tips for starting a cappella ear training.
All Things Vocal, with Judy Rodman
Musical U interviews Judy Rodman on her rich career in the vocal world, covering everything from singing professionally to vocal coaching and songwriting.
Find and Make Peace with Your Voice, with Nikki Loney
Full Voice Music founder Nikki Loney talks about what it means to “find your voice”, and answers the burning question: “Should I take singing lessons?”
Singing Is Your Birthright
There is almost a 100% chance that you are not tone-deaf, and are therefore capable of becoming a great singer. Learn about the mental model that can help!
Learning to Rock the Stage, with Kevin Richards
We interview Sir Rod Stewart’s vocal coach on the ins and outs of performance, and the learnable skills that deliver unforgettable shows night after night.
Join Musical U
Musical U membership provides you with dozens of training modules, tools for goal-setting and planning, and a friendly, supportive community who will help you succeed.
Start reaching your true musical potential:
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Ear Training Apps
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