Can I learn how to sing using the Internet?
The short answer to this is yes, it’s possible, but its also highly improbable.
I’m considering my answer whilst sheltering from the summer rain in a bar with a gorgeous beer in Normandy. I have learned, or relearned rather, this language via the internet so how far has my internet French got me?
Well, it’s got me started I suppose. I often feel uncomfortable and there are doubtless hilarious faux pas in my communication but I am able to communicate and there has been definite improvement throughout the trip. Screwed up faces, expressions of bewilderment and sheer comedy (almost all schadenfreude) offer me constant feedback and redirect me to some semblance of growing confidence or, more commonly, redirect me to further study.
The biggest factors in my progression have been the courage to try due to the knowledge and the ears and eyes to watch, listen, analyse, regroup and re-learn from the resources I was using on line; plus my new invaluable resource – first language inhabitants. Total expert immersion where accurate correction is available for free!
I have used the Internet as part of my armoury and it has done me a significant service which has allowed me to butcher the language with confidence. As a singer, can I use the Internet as a source of knowledge and also as a training ground where I can attain feedback from neutrals who will nudge me back on track with appropriate, accurate feedback? It worked to an extent with Language skills. Can it work with the voice?
Obviously, this process will similarly involve much trial and error and gross embarrassment. How long will it take? Is it safe? Are there plenty of people around who can guide me back to where I need to be via accurate feedback? If only it was that simple!!!!!!
The issue is this, the gargantuan overwhelming majority do not have accurate knowledge of the voice. This renders both 99 percent of teaching and 99 percent of feedback either irrelavent (best case scenario) or harmful/misleading (most common outcome). This means much instruction (which gets us started) is wrong and much feedback (which helps us correct our output) is wrong.
Hold on a minute!!! We do have 1 percent to aim at!! Yes, not great is it? But, it does exist. It can be useful and teachers should feel confident to redirect students to good and bad examples to enhance understanding, independence and fun!!!! I say fun because some examples are hysterical!!
The only way to understand the 1 percent you need to find is to either be very knowledgeable or be incredibly lucky. Just like me now, it continues to rain, which totally disagrees with the weather forecast, so now the only sensible option is to have another beer. This ‘life win’ is not calculated meteorological expertise, it is sheer luck!!! I’m not knocking it though!!!!
If you feel lucky go search and whilst you are at it why not;
Fix your brakes via YouTube
Cut your own hair using a blog, a mirror and a pair of scissors
Do your own dental surgery just using Google and some garden implements?
Caesarean Section?
Flying a 747???
Or, perhaps not. Singing is an incredible art-form and part of the reason we love it so much is because of its complexity. Don’t underestimate it or yourself and don’t expect it to be easy. It isn’t. Pyramid selling knowledge knock offs are to be ignored. Looking at this lovely beer I’m reminded of the beer I brewed with my friend, how we used the Internet and how awful it tasted!!!!!’ Beautiful, brilliant things are complex and singing is no different. A good teacher will make the complex simple and give you access much quicker than a 1000 Internet searches!!!
Use the Internet to get you started, inspire you, and to generate intrigue/inquiry. Don’t use it exclusively as a training tool, use it in conjunction with a knowledgeable trainer who can guide you efficiently to success.
The problem is, how do I find a good singing teacher and why do only one percent of people know what they are talking about? I’ll be talking about this in my next blog.
In the meantime, here are some good people to have a look at, I’ve also highlighted a good place to start in looking at their work:
Tom Burke – voice studio (drop that jaw tension) – Video
Ingo titze (the voice is like a car) – Video
Dane Chalfin (don’t attach support to pitch) – Video
Janice Chapman – primal sound – Video
Andy Follin – ‘Stop hurting yourself’ – Blog