Can you really teach yourself how to sing without any help? Well, the answer is complicated because it's yes and no.
On the one hand, very technically, rarely does anyone teach themself how to sing. It's actually nearly impossible to do. Everything around us is actually teaching us how to sing because of the world we live in.
If you're trying to "teach yourself how to sing," you probably mean following some cheap or free courses, books, or videos to study in an FIY (follow it yourself) fashion.
But the important thing to remember is that all of this content you are consuming to better your skill is made by another teacher or singer, teaching you how to sing.
So no, no one teaches themself, really. But what about the endless "follow it yourself" options for singing lessons where you can learn how to sing somewhat on your own?
What if you don't even follow a teacher and just follow your intuition when it comes to hearing all types of music in the world to better your ear?
My personal advice is that someone who is looking to learn how to sing as a beginner should try to get a mentor, teacher, or friend/family member to help them grow in their journey as a singer.
I also think that all singers that have passed the stages of being a beginner should always be doing some type of FIY singing lessons, because, in the world of music, you are a student for life.
That's why the answer is so complicated. I am all for and against teaching yourself how to sing at the same time.
No matter what type of FIY training you are doing to better your voice, it's going to be a challenge to go through courses and training moments without getting outside feedback.
Singing courses, books, and Youtube videos offer some STELLAR advice for singers of all learning stages, but they can't give you personalized feedback on what you are doing right or wrong.
You may think it's a good idea to gather some other friends and give each other feedback as you grow, but it won't be nearly as helpful as feedback from a singing professional.
This is the biggest reason that I think beginners should work with a pro. You should be trying to grow as a vocalist but relying on vocal techniques that are bad for your body without supervision.
Teaching yourself how to sing from the start or without structure is an easy way to miss out on some key fundamentals in the world of music. Music has a lot of rules that make it so much easier to get accustomed to once you get taught the basics.
Getting help from a pro that can regularly communicate with you is a good way to fill in the gaps you may have when going through an FIY course or if you are trying to learn all on your own.
If you have a date and a time to meet with a teacher, mentor, or choir director, that perfectly holds you accountable and keeps you much more consistent than you would be on your own.
There are a lot of times people who absolutely love singing just don't feel like practicing or going to a rehearsal. But a teacher will always expect it from you and grill you if you aren't doing your job, which is great (even if it doesn't sound like it).
There are so many people who buy or subscribe to a singing course or channel with all of the intention of completing it, but never get the push to really see it all the way through. Many people don't even start, even though they want to in theory.
Video and book content writers may be able to try and push you to keep going through their prerecorded content, but learning ALL on your own by just listening to music on your own is a risk!
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Studying music and vocal techniques on your own is a huge way of saving when it comes to cash. Singing lessons are very worth it and all, but they are also quite a bill to pay, so it's not accessible to everyone.
Prerecored lessons can range from $20-$200 total on average, while private or group lessons can range from $20-$200 per hour. Yeah, that's a huge difference right there.
Learning with Youtube or just by following your favorite genres and artists could very well be free, and who doesn't like free things?
If you're an intermediate or advanced singer, you can come across some absolutely epic advice and techniques that you didn't hear while in music school or with your private voice lessons.
In rare but some cases, you can learn tons of stuff from Youtube, a paid course, a book, or a combo of all three and actually turn out to be pretty damned good.
You could even explore other genres of music to expand on your own music knowledge and vocal techniques, which I recommended that all types of singers do no matter where they are in their journey.
The good thing about learning how to sing through your own research and practice is that you can do it at any time you want to at your own pace, which is a big key for adults.
Some people don't have the time to go to a lesson multiple times a week or even every week because of how hectic life can be, and we all know it.
On the other end of the spectrum, some people with time on their hands might want to speed through some knowledge and practice in order to get better at singing at a faster pace than most would go.
The one thing to remember here is that no matter how excited you are about learning how to sing, you don't want to overwork your voice, so don't go too hard!
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As a session singer, writer, and producer that has worked with over 300 clients to provide high-quality jingles, singles, and features, Yona spends her time creating and marketing new music and helpful resources for creators. Check out Yona’s latest releases on her Spotify, her Youtube and share if you like it!
If you are in need of singer, songwriter or song producer services, see what Yona Marie can offer you on her services page.
