So embarrassed about not singing in tune. Has anyone taken singing lessons as an adult?

[SSSandy]

How did it go? I know I should probably just try it but I feel a bit of a fool TBH doing it.

go for it, it's wonderful to learn to sing
i did it for a while but then had to stop for money reasons
go for it you'll love it

go on, have a go. You may love it! Could you not see if anybody will give you a 'taster' lesson?

yes, my friend took singing lessons recently and really got a lot out of them. She could sing in tune to begin with but just wanted to sing a bit better. What's the worst that could happen? It'll be a lovely thing to do and i bet once you've taken the plunge and had the first lesson, you'll really enjoy it.

Is it possible to learn how to sing in tune, if you can't? I mean can you learn to hear the difference between one note and the next? I'd always thought it was something you were born with. Or not, in my case.

Yes, it is possible to learn to sing in tune. I've taught both children and adults.

Please, please, please just take a deep breath and go for it. Singing makes you feel wonderful!!!

Let me know how you get on! I love music and am a shockingly rubbish singer!

Really? Can you be taught to sing in tune?? I would love to sing, but could empty the Albert Hall in seconds if I were given the chance. But, I can read music and could play an instrument - maybe because I was good at maths and could do it logically rather than through any talent?

Are children born with the ability to sing in tune, or do they learn? I have avoided singing in front of DD in the hope she will pick up something better from the radio.

I used to sing all the time till I had a classical musician as a bf. He told me I was all over the place
and since then I don't DARE sing.

Now when I am somewhere and everyone starts singing, I just mumble or move my lips so I don't put other people off but I would really love to be able to sing in tune.

Find it hard to imagine what a singing lesson would be like. Can't help thinking I would be very self-conscious and feel a bit daft. It would be somehow easier in a little group of adults, less of a spotlight but I don't think there is anything like that around.

Trinity, how did go about finding a teacher and could you sing already - I mean were you just working on your voice or really starting from scratch?

Not really sure about whether children are born, with the ability to sing in tune. It's got me thinking now!

Singing is all about having the confidence to have a go. I mean really have a go - with great gusto. It's about breathing properly and controling how you let that breath out. It's also about listening.

I've always found it more difficult to sing in tune if I'm singing very quietly, so you really do have to just go for it!

Alien - Your dd will love to hear you singing, whether you think it's in tune or not. Choose your favourite song and teach it to her. What a lovely thing to share together.

Thanks Littlefish, I'm feeling all inspired now

SSSandy - Classical musicians are often complete snobs when it comes to amateur music making(sorry to any other classical musicians here - I used to be one too!).

So many people have been put off singing by being criticised, or not chosen for choirs etc.

I have run school choirs for years, and my greatest achievement and pleasure was taking on a choir with 30 chidren in it, and when I left 2 years later, there were 115 children all singing their socks off and loving every minute of it.

Singing is so good for you. It's great for bringing down stress levels, it's good for your posture, it's great for your self-esteem and fantastic for your social life if you can pluck up the courage to join a choir.

This is a great website if you want to find choirs in your area. It gives you details of their rehearsal times, whether they have auditions, or are just free to all etc.

Find a choir here

Go for it! Make my day!

and apparently, the more often you sing to your child, the more likely they are to be able to sing in tune. Even if you can't. Please don't ask where I heard that, coz I can't remember. Think it might have been in a Rhythm Time thing. Anyway, I've been singing like mad to DS despite having a voice like a corncrake. Go on, have a go, and report back to us non-singers.

The best way to teach a child to sing, is by singing to them, without any kind of accompaniment. They can hear the words and tune much more clearly.

Obviously, it's also great to sing along to things together, but I just wanted you to know that it's also fab just to sing to each other!

Thanks Littlefish, I'd love to sing in a choir (nothing ambitious of course!) but they don't take people who don't sing in tune though, do they?

I'm in Berlin so I'd have to hunt about here for something. Think I would need lessons to bring me up to a level where I could join a choir TBH. Unfortunately I don't hear that I sing out of tune so I could severely disrupt rehearsals!

OK you've all talked me into it, I will talk to dd's music teacher about it when we get back from holiday and see if she can recommend anything.

I stopped singing to/with dd as well because I was concerned I'd teach her to sing out of tune.

Get singing SSSandy! Don't worry about your dd. She might help you stay in tune!

Great idea to talk to you dd's music teacher. She's bound to know how you can get started.

The good thing about singing in a choir is that you can gradually build up your confidence. There will be people of all abilities and it's amazing how the sound just kind of melts in together.

How about getting some singing lessons AND joining a choir at the same time!

I always thought you had to be a good singer first - before joining a choir. This is all so interesting. I will see if I can find an English language choir, they might be more willing to forgive me my voice since at least I'd have the right pronunciation!

Found one I can try, their website says:

"our choir is a very international group of friends, who is always pleased to welcome new members. Formal music training is not a prerequisite , just a love of singing"

I'll give it a bash but I think I'll take 1-2 lessons first just to give myself a bit more confidence

Ooooh, Fantastic SSSandy. That choir sounds great! Have a wonderful time.

I'll keep this thread on my watch list, so come back and let me know how you're getting on.

Dh has taught many adults, some came to him with sone degree of talent already, some hardly able to pitch a note.

What is needed to improve is commitment. A lot of people call themselves tone deaf wen actually they are not. Very often people sing flat becasue they are not breathing correctkly and havn't got the right support. I personally have a tendance to sing slightly sharp and it is becasue of something I tend to do with the shape of my mouth.

Ear training is just that, training. The skills can be developed. As with everything it is harder for an adult to learn somthing like that than a child but it is possible.

You may never be the next Kiri Te Kanawa, but you can get a lot of pleasure from singing.

Go Sssandy! It will give you a lot of confidence being in a group to start with, and one on one lessons will also build your confidence. I bet there are loads of friendly groups in Berlin; I used to sing in the HUB uni choir there but you had to be a student.

Most people can basically sing, how well depends on their level of self-confidence and whether or not they've been taught to breathe right and use their voice optimally. But you can get so much out of it (and great to encourage the kiddos as well)... best of luck and let us know how you get on!

Would people recommend taking some kind of lesson on your own or joining some kind of group 'course' / weekend workshop type thing where you might stretch your vocal chords ?

Any London-based suggestions ?

Whatever you fancy really hub! The weekend/course group thing is very sociable and all about developing confidence. Individual singing lessons can be a little more daunting to start with, but you will be able to work on specific techniques such as correct breathing, which as GemmityGem mentioned, is really key to good and tuneful singing.

If you Have you seen the link I posted below to help you find a choir? There are choirs of all sizes in London, from the big ones like the Symphony Choirs, to much smaller, more local ones. What sort of thing do you want to sing? There are some fabulous gospel choirs in London if you're in to that sort of thing.

If you can sight read, some of the big choirs do "from scratch" concerts where you go to one long rehearsal in the afternoon, and then join the choir for a concert in the evening. They tend to be big classical works like Handel's Messiah or Mozart Requiem.

If you're looking for a singing teacher, you could approach one of the Music Colleges and see if they have any post graduate students who give lessons.

Here is the link again.

Find a choir here

Oh, I don't think I want a choir. I'd like to sing children's songs in tune. That would be a great start... and also if I were to sing some piece of crap, catchy pop in the shower it would be lovely if that was a little more melodic, LOL