Singing lessons for kids – here’s what parents should know
Does your child enjoy singing, or do you want to encourage them? Are you wondering if it’s too early, too late, or advisable to start with lessons in general? This article provides answers to the most important questions so that you can form your own opinion.
At what age should your child start taking singing lessons?
Numerous casting shows on television illustrate just how it is done: At the tender age of 5, little prodigies already have voices like the most famous singers. But let’s be honest – that’s more of an exception and usually the result of questionable ambition on the part of the parents. The best time to start individual singing lessons is at the age of 12. Very young singers may be able to take individual singing lessons as early as 8 to 10 years of age. Therefore, lessons should not only be based on the physical level of the student but also on their mental maturity.
Here, we’re discussing actual private singing lessons. Early singing ability and enjoyment are common among children. Parents that love music will sing along with their children from the very start. This begins with lullabies and later can go on all day, if possible.
How do I know whether my child is talented?
As parents, you shouldn’t focus too much on talent. Because, contrary to popular belief, unmusical people don’t exist. However, singing – just like painting – is often discouraged. You might have noticed that small children frequently sing imaginary songs to themselves all day long. This is an example of their imagination and can express their current state of mind. Unfortunately, most parents are unsure how to react positively to these early stages. However, the goal should focus on self-expression rather than the creation of meaning.
How could I improve my reaction?
Your child doesn’t necessarily need a reaction to their singing while they’re in their world. However, if your child wants to sing with you, feel free to do so. As previously mentioned, there is no such thing as an unmusical person, so just go for it. These things tend to work best when done naturally. Put on music that both of you enjoy, and sing along.
How else can I encourage my child to sing?
Remember, singing shouldn’t be about pressure or performance. Rhyming and singing are closely related, so if your child enjoys doing finger rhymes with you, it’s a great way to encourage singing. Furthermore, it can provide a first basis for the development of your child’s singing skills. Moreover, you can create an amazing feeling and motivate your child by letting them sing together with other children. Such activities usually take place in childcare when your child reaches the age of 1. Once your child discovers how much fun it is, they will probably join in. This development ideally continues in kindergarten and school.
What about early musical education?
Early musical education and singing lessons are not the same, and they don’t produce tiny opera stars. Instead, the aim is to convey the fun that one can have when making music. Teachers are trained in this area without creating too much pressure on the students to develop their singing skills.
Is singing really so beneficial?
According to scientific studies, singing can have a positive effect on the psyche, as well as blood levels, and even your immune system. Your posture also improves when you sing because if you want to produce solid sounds, you have to involve your entire torso. This is only possible if you maintain a good and straight posture because only then your diaphragm can swing freely.
Studies have shown that singing is good for one's circulation. That’s because just 10 to 15 minutes of singing stimulate your body in a similar way as stretching or light exercise. And so, your lungs, heart, and circulation are trained and strengthened. Singing even has a positive effect on the psyche because the mood is demonstrably improved, as both the happiness hormone endorphin and the reward hormone dopamine, as well as serotonin and adrenaline, are released. The stress hormone cortisol, on the other hand, is reduced, and after just 30 minutes of singing, the release of oxytocin, also known as the cuddle and bonding hormone, begins.
People who sing regularly even sleep better over time. So, it quickly becomes clear that singing has a beneficial effect on health, as long as it’s not about performing, but about having fun doing it.
What is particularly important when it comes to singing?
Anyone can sing. There are some factors you should consider though:
the style: Explore your interests. What genres of music do you enjoy listening to, and what would inspire you to take singing lessons? Do you prefer classical singing, or are you more into pop, rock, or jazz music?
learn about yourself: You’ll notice that your mood has a big impact on your singing. Thus, singing can be a journey to discovering who you are. It won’t take long for you to discover the emotional states that benefit your singing and those that keep you from performing well. We lose our voices when we are sad. In such cases, ease up on yourself and relax. However, when we’re happy, we want to shout it from the rooftops. Consequently, you can sing with great freedom.
find your pitch: The majority of people already possess a solid octave. With practice, you can easily increase this range to 2.5 octaves. The main octave determines if you’re a soprano, alto, tenor, or bass.
stay relaxed: It’s best to sing when you’re not tense, so you should try to consciously relax your face. You can either do this on your own or by gently tapping your face.
the technique: Singing is fun, that much is for sure. However, with a teacher, you can also learn useful methods to preserve your voice and sing healthily.
your breathing: You don’t need as much breath to sing as you might expect. Instead, it’s all about the right breathing technique. Place a hand on your stomach and breathe into your palm to avoid the risk of overexerting yourself.
your body: To sing well, you need your entire body. For this reason, your teacher will ensure that you have a healthy posture that enables you to use your whole body.
your hearing: Being able to assess yourself is one of the basics required to sing. You need to hear if you are singing correctly and to be able to correct yourself, if necessary.
your voice: Your voice is the foundation of your singing, and you can relieve it by drinking water. However, smoking and shouting are both damaging to your voice. Sage drops can help to soothe a scratchy throat.
warm-up: Here, singing is similar to exercising since you need to warm up before starting. To do so, start with very small note sequences and gradually expand them while ensuring that you are not only practicing the high notes. After all, the foundation of singing is depth. If you can master the low notes, you’ll have no trouble with the high notes.
Do I require singing lessons?
The answer is simple: You don’t need to take lessons to sing. You can just get started. However, singing lessons may be a good idea if you also want to give a few performances. Please don’t believe the videos on YouTube and other platforms that say you’ll be a famous star overnight. Unlike a video tutorial, a teacher can give you feedback right away, seeing as they recognize your stance and any potential mistakes when it comes to your breathing. They also know which corrections and improvements to suggest. Therefore, you’ll need a teacher if you want to accomplish specific goals since an online tutorial wouldn’t be able to give sufficient instructions.
Which traits should I have to be able to sing well?
Truth be told: If you want to be part of a choir, you need to be a team player. You should be able to adapt to other people and your hearing is also important since you need to be in sync with the other singers. If you want to perform as a soloist, you should have the courage to do so. And don't fret! Everyone makes mistakes in the beginning. However, you can learn from them to grow and become more confident.
How do I find the right teacher?
The style of music is the most important thing. Therefore, your teacher should be qualified in the genre you want to sing. On our platform, you can search for different styles and choose a teacher. Or get in touch with us if you have questions.
I’m still not sure if singing lessons are for me – what should I do?
Just ask one of our teachers! A trial subscription (3 for 2 lessons) of 30 minutes should help you with your decision. This will give you an idea of whether you can work well with this teacher and enjoy learning to sing.
