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Original poster

Can *anyone* learn to sing?

22 replies

TreacherousPissFlap · 27/05/2019 21:40

Or at least carry a tune!

DS is 15 and really musical, always has been and we've been told on many occasions that he has a natural flair for it. Instrument of choice is the electric guitar, he's part of a band, plays fecking hours a day and has recently made tentative steps into song writing.

The problem is that he cannot sing a note, I mean literally not a note. Musically he has a good ear (can tune by ear etc) but vocally it's exceptionally grim.

A brainwave occurred when he thought that he could use the "skills" section of the DoE to learn to sing. In principle we're ok with this, in practice how likely is it to happen? And how do we go about it?

OP posts:
Original poster
TreacherousPissFlap · 28/05/2019 08:03

Hopeful bump Smile

OP posts:
marvellousnightforamooncup · 28/05/2019 08:07

Can he sing in tune but badly? I imagine it could improve if by learning to breathe right but who knows by how much? If he has a limited range he'll have to write songs to suit like Madonna.

smallinthesmoke · 28/05/2019 08:16

I would definitely give it a go.
My DH was the world's worst singer. When he sang e.g. hymns at funerals, it was absolutely awful. He surprised the hell out of me by booking a few private 1-2-1 lessons. Rather sweetly he was then able to sing Somewhere Over the Rainbow Blush He is never going to be great singer tbh but practice and advice on breathing technique etc really helped.
I do think in life also that it is a bad principle to write people off as NEVER being able to do something. Give it a try.

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Music
SpinachnRicotta · 28/05/2019 08:22

If he can tune by ear - that's a reasonably rare skill across the whole population - then absolutely he can learn to sing.

But no, not anybody can learn to sing!

JaffaCakesAreAMealInABite · 28/05/2019 08:27

I would love to hear a professional’s answer on this one. I can’t sing well at all. It’s a weird one - if there’s no music and it’s a tune I know well (like an old hymn or kids’ song from my childhood) then I can make a decent (as in: not horrific) stab at it. However, the minute I have to sing along to music I am totally tone deaf and flat. I have grown up in the Christian faith and church has always been a huge part of my life so weekly communal singing is kind of unavoidable. Even now, at 40, I really don’t like it. I love singing, but hate doing it in public because I know I’m out of tune. I’m not musical at all however. (totally failed at piano, flute & recorder as a child/teen.)

But... DS & DD1 are both quite musical. DS plays guitar and the school have told us he has real innate musical ability. DD plays piano and loves to sing. DS cannot sing a note in tune (he’s like me), and while DD can sometimes carry a tune, it’s really not great at all.

I do worry that I have somehow taught them to sing badly. I’d love them to learn to sing (heck, I’d love to learn to sing!) but don’t know if it’s actually possible. (And would also hate to make them feel crap for having to be taught something that others can do naturally.)

PaquitaVariation · 28/05/2019 08:30

So long as he’s not tone deaf (and that seems unlikely given he can tune by ear) then yes, anyone can be taught to sing.

Teacakeandalatte · 28/05/2019 08:30

Yes I think if he is musical he could learn but I don't think everyone can. You need to be able to hear if something is in tune and have a reasonable voice.

grumpyyetgorgeous · 28/05/2019 08:32

Yes anybody can learn to sing better, it's a skill you learn like any other. That's not to say that he'll be a fantastic singer at the end of a block of lessons, but with the right teacher he should definitely improve.
Years ago now I knew a singing teacher who set up a choir exclusively for people who had believed all their lives that they couldn't sing at all..... they actually sounded pretty good.

LuluBellaBlue · 28/05/2019 08:35

Yes!! Me!
I was an AWFUL singer - I mean terrible, really!
After only a few lessons with this man I could sing a song (in tune!) and now love singing Grin - I even sang a karaoke on holiday on my own.
totalvocal.co.uk/sheridan-coldstream/

babysharkah · 28/05/2019 08:39

I was / am a terrible singer but singing in school choir (took two attempts to get in!) taught me to be able to match my voice to others so yes I think pretty much anyone can be taught, unless actually tone deaf.

Witchend · 28/05/2019 09:48

DH had perfect pitch, but said he couldn't sing in tune until his voice broke.
His voice is okay now, but nothing special.

Try a few singing lessons and see how it goes.

OTOH I have family members who are tone deaf. They've tried many times but nothing helps.They can even tell they're out

Damntheman · 28/05/2019 10:31

In my experience (professional musician but not a singer) anyone who has some semblance of pitch can learn to sing. You don't need to be able to hit the pitch right yourself, just get in with someone else singing. Some lovely lovely voices I know still need a helping hand with pitch from time to time.

But if the singer has no pitch at all, it's probably a bit of a lost cause. That doesn't mean they can't enjoy singing though. So.. to conclude - can ANYONE learn to sing well? No. Can anyone learn to enjoy singing and screw everyone else's opinion? Absolutely!

Give it a shot OP, he's already musical, he may surprise you ;)

Damntheman · 28/05/2019 10:32

@grumpyyetgorgeous that choir sounds amazing! What a wonderful person to inspire people to feel good about themselves.

Original poster
TreacherousPissFlap · 28/05/2019 11:27

Interesting replies!

Unfortunately he harbours desires to play guitar and sing, I suspect Ed Sheehan won't be losing much sleep over this Grin

In true DS style, he tells a wonderful story about auditioning for a school production and catching sight of his music teacher wincing as he sung his piece. Given that his music teacher is a consummate professional and passionate about inspiring youngsters, I can only imagine how awful it actually was Wink

I'll have to see if there's a singing teacher willing to take him on!

OP posts:
AnotherRubberDuck · 28/05/2019 12:32

Agree, with the right teacher everyone (bar those who are tone deaf) can be taught to sing.
(Someone who is tone deaf couldnt be taught as they cant hear the difference between 2 notes. Actual tone deafness is very very rare though.)

Similar to grumpyyetgorgeous I'm part of a choir with a leader who encourages all who were ever told they couldn't sing (this includes myself) to join. Best thing I've ever done. I'd reccomend her for singing lessons if anyone (in Surrey) is interested.

Original poster
TreacherousPissFlap · 28/05/2019 17:00

Sadly some distance from Surrey another.

It's fantastic to hear such positive stories of supportive choirs and teachers, perhaps DS will make his fortune yet Grin

OP posts:
whingeygingy · 28/05/2019 17:09

Got booted out of choir for awful racket I made_wouldnt have gave a shiny shit but I was asked to join and the only man in the choir brayed like a donkey and nothing said to him🤔

stucknoue · 28/05/2019 17:12

No not everyone, some people have vocal chords that don't allow them to sing. But most people can learn to sing with effort and perseverance

IndigoSpritz · 28/05/2019 18:39

Interesting subject. Michael Crawford is, I think, a good example of a trained singer with not much natural ability. His singing sounds laboured, effort-intensive and expressionless and a little painful to listen to, TBH.

My piano teacher is also a singing teacher. I'm tempted to ask her to assess my vocal ability but I am, admittedly, a coward. I would also be interested to know what my vocal register is. I'd wager somewhere between tenor and baritone.

cantfindname · 28/05/2019 18:46

I think it was Pauline Quirke who learned to sing as a TV challenge. She was as bad as you describe your son but turned out to have a rather nice voice after training.

Give it a try!!

Ionacat · 28/05/2019 18:54

As part of my PCGE in teaching music we had some lectures from leading vocal experts. They said actual tone deafness was very rare - as someone said upthread the ability to hear the difference between one note and another. And that anyone could be taught to sing. If he is struggling to pitch, then find your singing teacher carefully as you’ll need someone who knows what they are doing - perhaps look at the association of singing teachers.

Seeline · 28/05/2019 19:00

Has he always been bad or is it since his voice broke? Some boys find it really difficult to adjust. Definitely find a decent teacher.

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