“God respects me when I work, but he loves me when I sing.”
Rabindranath Tagore
Learning to sing is a journey that varies widely from one individual to another. While some may develop their vocal skills quickly, others might find it takes more time and consistent practice.
The length of time it takes to become a decent singer will depend on a variety of factors such as:
- your starting point
- how often you practice
- your personal goals
- your musical background
- your natural singing ability
- the quality of instruction you receive
Whether you're aiming to belt out tunes on stage or just want to sing your favourite songs, knowing what to expect can help you along the way. In this article, we’ll break down what affects your singing journey and share some tips to help you get there faster.
How many years of singing lessons do you need to learn to sing?
Did you know that many of the most famous artists like Beyonce started their vocal training from a very young age and still continue to hone their craft today?
Becoming a decent singer doesn’t happen overnight.
If you want to reach a professional level of singing, then a realistic time frame could be anywhere from 5 to 8 years; becoming comfortable and confident with your voice will probably take at least three to four months of consistent singing training.
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There are many factors to consider when evaluating how long it takes to learn how to sing, including how long it will take to improve your pitch, master vocal range and control, and sing a full song. You can’t master a technique with just one video or guide—it takes years, not weeks or months.
So, first things first, you need an auto-evaluation to calculate in your own case and according to your skills, motivation and knowledge, how much time it’ll take you to successfully dominate the ability to sing.
The first steps to learn to sing
Start with learning the technique, then develop a plan based on your abilities and goals.
Even though some people have a natural vocal gift, mastering the fundamentals of singing takes time for everyone. Professional singers spend years perfecting their voices, though basic training may take three to four months.
🏃🏻♀️ Believe it or not, singers are considered by many as professional athletes 🏃🏻♀️
💪🏻One foundational concept is physical exercise—your body needs to adapt to specific vocal exercises. 💪🏻
🎭If your life involves other artistic activities like theatre, sports, ballet, or yoga, you’re already a step ahead in vocal training. 🎭
One of the main goals of singing is to achieve synergy between voice and body movement. This is why posture is key to building the foundations of singing. The next goal is to project your voice and balance your vocal strength.
Patience, motivation, and discipline are the key factors in learning how to sing.
A simple exercise to get started in singing is to define the posture of your jaw. Do you know how to do it?
Can Anyone Learn to Sing?
Yes, anyone can indeed learn to sing. While some people may naturally have more talent or even a musical background, everyone has the potential to improve their singing with practice and the right guidance. Here are some key factors that can help anyone learn to sing:
| What do you need to sing? | Tips to practice |
|---|---|
| Proper Instruction | A good vocal coach can provide personalised feedback and techniques tailored to your voice, helping you develop proper singing techniques, such as breath control, pitch accuracy, and vocal tone. |
| Regular Practice | Like any skill, singing requires consistent practice. Regular vocal exercises and singing practice can help strengthen your vocal cords and improve your overall singing ability. |
| Understanding Music Theory | Learning the basics of music theory, such as scales, intervals, and rhythm, can greatly enhance your ability to understand and perform music accurately. |
| Ear Training | Developing a good ear for music helps you to stay in tune and recognise pitch and harmony. |
| Patience and Persistence | Progress in singing can take time, and it’s important to stay patient and persistent. Celebrate small improvements and keep working towards your goals. |
| Confidence Building | Singing is as much about confidence as it is about technique. Building your confidence through practice and performance can help you become a more expressive and effective singer. |
How Long Does It Take to Learn to Sing in Tune?
You might be wondering what this means. Learning to sing in tune is a process that varies widely from person to person.
Generally, for most new singers, it takes at least several weeks to a few months of regular practice for them to develop a reliable sense of pitch.
Some people may naturally have an excellent sense of pitch, particularly those who have had some musical training, or who play another instrument.
For others, it may take a little longer to learn the basics. If you’re in the latter category, don’t get frustrated - learning to sing in tune isn’t a race and you’ll get there in the end with enough practice.
To improve your singing skills rapidly, try to start by familiarising yourself with some of the basic pitch-matching exercises.
One way you can practise these skills is by playing a note on an instrument or tuning app and attempting to match the pitch with your voice. Ask your tutor for help if you're unsure of how to do this at properly.
Similarly, singing scales and arpeggios is another great method for improving pitch accuracy as well.
Famous singers: how practice and guidance has helped them to develope their talents
Find out how many lessons you'll need to learn how to sing.
Find out more about learning to sing.
Do You Need to Study Music Theory?
While it’s not absolutely necessary to be an expert in music theory to learn how to sing, having a basic understanding of it can help you reach a higher level. Why?
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Alternatively, individuals in Edinburgh can benefit from singing lessons edinburgh if they are looking for professional local guidance.
Well, music theory helps you understand how songs are put together, making it easier to spot patterns, harmonies, and rhythms.
It can also make learning new songs a bit simpler and help you sing them correctly too.
Although singing tutors will sometimes touch on the basics of music theory, they generally focus more on vocal techniques and exercises, especially at the beginning.
While many top singers like Bruno Mars and Adele know a lot about music theory, plenty of other successful artists have made it big without being experts on the topic.
At the end of the day, while music theory is useful, your unique voice and creativity as an artist are what truly matter. In fact, many singers learn by ear instead, imitating their favourite artists and developing their own sound through years of experimentation and constant trial and error.
Instead of enrolling in music theory lessons, why not check out one of these alternatives instead:
- Elocution classes
- Private singing lessons
- Group classes
- Music courses
- Vocal technique classes
- Singing workshops
- Choirs
Discover the best tools and resources for learning to sing.
Vocal technique: basic information for beginners
If your intention is to learn to sing from zero, we assume that you know that the theory of vocal technique is an essential part of training. What elements should you learn in your first classes to know that you are on the right path?
Tuning and intonation: it is about knowing how to use your instrument (voice) well, and reaching the notes correctly. By educating your ear, you will know how to distinguish whether or not you are in tune and regardless of your range or extension, you can sound good if you give the right notes.
Breathing: it is the process where you get air, it is essentiall to know how it works to be able to sing, it is the support of our “instrument”.
Support/Resistance: The air you get in breathing is subsequently transformed into a sound, but it needs control. In this process, the impulse that the air takes to exit is called support, and the way in which we resist and control the exit is called resistance. The transformation that occurs to the air in this process results in a sound.
Phonation: basically, transforming air into sound. It is the part where you gather the previous pieces of the process; after the air has been processed, we have a sound to transform.
Resonance/Vocal Placement: resonance is how you treat the sound produced in phonation depending on the genre you’re singing. Resonance is the rebound that the sound has in one of our cavities (nasal, facial) to take another shape, and that shape depends on the objective of the song.
How can I learn to sing if I don't have much time?
Singing is a discipline that requires dedication, so at least 15-20 minutes a day are necessary. The first thing would be to see within our routine what we can sacrifice to dedicate ourselves directly to singing and know if we will dedicate them to mechanical, artistic exercises or to the action of singing directly.
minutes per day
Daily training and learning to sing takes many hours, but you can do it while performing other tasks, there are even techniques for silent practice.
During the day, you can even take advantage of moments with just your spoken voice. When speaking you can start doing exercises to improve articulation, play with intensity, color... the correct exercises will help you improve without hurting yourself (pay attention to that!).
The changes of a daily practice - even if it is brief - are clearly visible after a few weeks.
How Can You Improve Your Singing Skills Quickly?
Improving your singing skills quickly will take a lot of dedication, the right techniques, and consistent daily practice. Here are some tips to help you on your journey:
- Sing Every Day: Try to make singing a daily habit. The more you practise, the better your voice will get.
- Watch Online Singing Tutorials: There are hundreds of amazing singing tutorials online, many of which are completely free.
- Join a Singing Community: Becoming part of a singing community or local group can help keep you motivated. Whether it’s a local choir or an online group, sharing your progress with others is super encouraging.
- Sing in Front of a Mirror: Watching yourself sing can help you catch or correct bad habits such as poor posture or facial tension.
- Stay in Shape: Did you know that keeping fit can improve your singing? By partaking in activities like swimming, you’ll improve your lung capacity.
- Use a straw: Although it might sound weird, singing through a straw is a superb exercise for helping you develop better breath control.
Will Singing Lessons Help You Sing Faster?
Yes, singing lessons can help you sing faster by improving your vocal agility and technique. Through targeted exercises and proper instruction, a vocal coach can enhance your breath control, articulation, and muscle memory, enabling you to move between notes quicker and accurately.
Here’s some of the advice your singing tutor or teacher is likely to give you during your lessons:
- Warm up your voice: Before you start singing, you should do proper vocal warm-ups to prevent voice strain or injury.
- Listen to yourself: By recording yourself singing, you can play it back and see where you need to improve (or have improved).
- Explore vocal registers: Try experimenting with your chest, head, and mixed voice to further your vocal capabilities.
- Choose songs that inspire you: Avoid getting bored by singing songs you identify with or that evoke deep feelings
- Develop rhythmic accuracy: Spend time focusing on rhythm and timing to sync up better with your favourite songs
- Invest in professional tutoring: Take regular singing lessons to receive personalised feedback, maintain progress, and refine your singing technique.
- Incorporate vocal exercises: Use targeted exercises to improve your pitch accuracy, tone quality, and vocal control.
- Master breath support: Practise proper breathing techniques to maintain consistent airflow and support your sound.
- Learn from other singers: Seek advice and insights from experienced singers to gain new perspectives and tips for improvement.
Don’t worry if you feel nervous when you first start your singing lessons - this is completely normal! Just try to relax and focus on what your tutor is teaching you. As your lessons progress and your singing skills improve, your confidence will naturally begin to skyrocket.
Find out how to tell if you can sing.
How Do You Set Achievable Singing Goals?
If you want to stay properly motivated and make great progress in your singing, setting short and long term goals is super important.
By clarifying what you want to achieve in your singing lessons, your coach or tutor will have an easier time creating lesson plans tailored just for you.
Here's a timeline with some key goals at different stages of a typical journey for someone learning to sing:
| Stage | Timeline | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Getting Started | Month 1-3 | Vocal Warm-ups, Breathing Techniques, Basic Pitch and Tone, Introduction to Vocal Health |
| Building Foundations | Month 4-6 | Vocal Range, Ear Training, Basic Music Theory, Song Practice |
| Developing Skills | Month 7-12 | Intermediate Techniques, Consistency and Control, Performance Practice, Recording and Feedback |
| Refining and Polishing | Year 2 | Advanced Techniques, Stage Presence, Genre Exploration, Regular Performances |
| Mastery and Specialization | Year 3 and Beyond | Vocal Mastery, Professional Training, Recording and Performing, Ongoing Learning |
Here is a list of some of the most popular singing goals for new students:
- Learn to Sing in Tune: Mastering pitch accuracy can help you hit the right notes all the time
- Learn to Sing in Time: Focus on improving your rhythm by practising with a metronome or backing tracks.
- Broaden Your Vocal Range: Learn how to extend your range higher and lower.
- Make Your Voice More Powerful: Strengthen your projection through volume and control exercises.
Hopefully, by now, you know a lot more about learning to sing. Don’t forget that you can find private singing tutors all over the UK and around the world on the Superprof website!
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What vocal exercise should I do every single day? For how many minutes to improve my voice?
Practice daily vocal exercises including breathing, scales, and articulation for 15-20 minutes to gradually improve voice quality and range, while avoiding strain. Stay hydrated for optimal vocal health, and stay tuned for our comprehensive singing guide coming soon (in December) on the Superprof blog with tips and advice and knowledge from a professional singer! 👩🎤
Thank you!
Thank you! 😊