The New Popularity of Singing Lessons

The new wave of television programs that includes “American Idol,” “You’re the One That We Want,” and “Dancing with the Stars” has done a lot to increase the popularity of singing and dancing lessons and studios. Many viewers have been encouraged to pursue dreams they aspire to, and that’s a great thing. It’s encouraging to know that contestants like Melinda Doolittle, who has spent years behind the scenes, finally have the opportunity to show off their true abilities.

Where did that ability come from and could it be found within each of us? It came from a desire to improve on what already exists, and yes, with the right training, many of us have a similar ability hidden inside.

Millions of children and adults take lessons in subjects they would love to excel at. It could be tennis, math, piano, gardening, cooking, sewing, investing—just about anything you can think of. These lessons can be taken with the intent to improve a career, a home, or just how one spends his or her free time. If you are intent on having a singing career, singing lessons are an excellent place to begin. They are also an excellent way to prepare for:

• Auditions for college and university music degrees
• Contests
• Performance auditions
• Studio recording
• The local karaoke night

Another important reason for singing lessons is to correct bad vocal habits. Fiberoptic research shows that serious damage can be done if nodules, cysts, or broken blood vessels occur on the vocal cords because of incorrect performing habits. Especially dangerous are screaming or growling forms of singing. These can leave irreversible damage if left unchecked.

Is a Singing Lesson Right for You?
Singing lessons will not necessarily guarantee a successful music career, but they can't hurt. There are many individuals who have a great voice but need a little assistance to bring out its real potential. Nearly all of the American Idol contestants who make it to the final 12 have had some kind of singing training before auditioning for the show. Some majored in music or vocal performance in college, some took independent voice lessons, some participated in high school music programs.

You might be encouraged to know that some of the biggest names in popular music continue to take singing lessons throughout their careers. Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and many more rely on trusted teachers and coaches to help them sustain the quality of their vocal performance. Josh Groban was discovered by his voice teacher, who later introduced him to high-profile producer David Foster.

While taking singing lessons helps an aspiring career, lots of individuals take singing lessons just for fun or as a way to build their self-confidence. Many parents provide their children with singing lessons to help them learn to express themselves.

Whatever your reason for wanting to learn, there are a number of choices when it comes to taking singing lessons. The most common has been the face-to-face lesson, but CD and DVD options are rapidly becoming popular because of their economical cost.