Singing for fun (and free)?

Question

My inability to sing has made me increasingly bitter over the years, and I've reluctantly decided to try and do something about it.

I was wondering if there are any exercises I can practice at home to help me sing within my range. I know professional lessons are the best route to go, but as a college student I don't exactly have the cash to drop on those. Besides that, I sing like a strangled cat, and I'm not sure I want to drop hundreds of dollars to find out something I already knew.

Any advice, singers of the Yahoo world?

Answer 1

I don't know about free... if you're at a campus with a music dept. there are bound to be some singing people around. Tack up a help notice on their bulletin board, and I'll bet you'll get another starving student to contact you. Better yet, what's your subject, and can you barter instruction?
As far as self-help goes, may I recommend a couple of books to you?
By Richard Miller. Either Training the Tenor Voice, or Training the Soprano voice ( I don't know if you are m/f?). Probably available at your music dept library.
By Kirsten Linklater, Freeing the Natural Voice. probably available at the theater arts dept library. as it's mostly for actors, but has many understandable tips for singers in there as well.
By Dr. William Vennard
Voice: the mechanism and the technique. Published in the late 60s, still considered by many to be the definitive work on the subject. Easily readable, ( he's not above a pun or two) and state of the art for its time.
Meanwhile, an ABC of singing: Breathe from your belly. You know how to do this, because it happens when you laugh. It's a question of paying attention to it for EVERY breathe you take as a singer. Let those muscles just stay sturdy and solid while you sing.
Keep your throat and lower jaw loose. You know how to do this, because it happens every time you start a yawn. Try it in slow motion, and feel how open and easy your throat becomes at that beginning stage . ( A full yawn is no good, other elements take over, and it's not meant for singing) Now do it in front of the mirror, eyes open, please, and see how open you are. Keep it that way when you sing, and bid good-bye to the strangled cat.
Don't freeze up. Don't think, OK, I've got the belly muscles tight, and the jaw muscles loose, so I'm just gonna stay like this forever. We are living creatures. Whether we realize it or not, we are changing every second, so we have to remain that flexible when we sing as well. So, your attention has to become focused on these activities, so that you are absolutely sure of what you are doing at any time.
You wonder why the old-fashioned opera singers just stood there and sang? It wasn't they were bad actors ( well, ok some of them were horrible) but that they were concentrating so intently on what their voices were doing that they had no time to run or jump around. The folks that can do both at the same time- well, what's the price they pay for it? Are their voices in such great shape that they could do without a microphone?
'tany rate, go find some people to talk to about this, real time. Check out the choir situation at your campus, and if they are too high-falutin' follow the other advice listed and find a non-audition community chorus to start out with. You'll learn quite a lot in a very short time, if your interest is really there.
Best wishes, andkeep on singing

Answer 2

If singing is your passion no one can stop you from becoming world-class singer. The voice is god-gifted but singing is a skill that can be learned.

If you can't afford a vocal coach the best option is to attend an online program.

This is the best-selling site that teaches how to reach new heights with massive control. It's a collection of tips, tools, video tutorials that will really help you to improve your singing voice.

Here is the link: http://howtosing.toptips.org

Answer 3

Singing is something that everybody can learn and improve. Of course, some are more naturally skilled than others, but even a poor voice can be overcome by dedication, practice, and more practice. Even if you're content to sing in the shower, there are some things you can do to improve your voice. This is probably the best online course to improve your singing skills https://tr.im/GrXol
Your golden voice will be ringing out in no time!

Answer 4

Get some songs that don't reach up too high but inspire you the most and just sing in the privacy of your home.
Singing over and over again with the music will help you develop a sense of confidence.
And unless you are a person who cannot sing because of loss of voice or some other problem then you should be able to sing, it's just some people have to find the style that compliments their special sound.

Answer 5

Maybe go ahead and join a non-audition choir. You will at least be singing and the more you sing, the easier and (hopefully) better it will get. Many colleges or communities have "community choirs" which anyone can join and they meet maybe once a week. Nice, free way to start!

Answer 6

Practice scales. You really can't make yourself sing good. But, just try to practice singing from as low as you can to as high as you can. Instead of singing songs, do excirses with note ranges.

Answer 7

listen to a recording any artist that you like, try to sound like that person,and keep at it! thats how i learned to sing!