 |
Which Instrument
The Voice: Our first instrument |
 |
 |
At the age of six or seven your child may show that they've got this powerful voice and that's absolutely wonderful but I think it can be easily destroyed by singing very powerful songs at a very young age.
|
 |
| Rita McHugh, Melanie's mother |
|
|
We all sing, and singing is the basis for all music. Babies learn to sing by imitating sounds. If you sing to them they will try to copy you. Many children can sing in tune by the time they start school, and the more they sing the better they get. Some children have a gift for singing, and you may want to consider vocal lessons or training, but it is generally not a good idea to have too much formal training at an early age. The golden rule with singing is: if there's any sign of strain, stop. It's very easy to learn bad habits and very hard to get rid of them!
|
|
| An interview with mother and daughter |
|
| Rita and Melanie McHugh |
|
 |
|
| |
After I have achieved something great in a singing lesson I feel much better within myself.
|
|
| Melanie McHugh, 15 |
|
|
|
|
| Top Tips |
|
- Singing is a great social activity
- Lessons can help to develop technique and posture and breathing
- You do not have to be a great singer to enjoy it. Think back to your childhood - were you told that you could not sing? How did it affect your confidence? Always try to encourage your child.
- Your child should not push their voice, especially at a young age
- They should not compare themselves to other singers; everyone's voice is different
- Self-confidence and determination to succeed will help
- Practice can make all the difference
- Encourage them to take good care of their voice, eat a healthy diet and take exercise
- Learning another instrument, for example the violin, can complement singing lessons
- Find out if there is a choir or vocal group for children at your child's school or in your local area. Local libraries or music shops should have details.
- Some choirs insist upon an audition. Your child should sing a song that suits their voice (you will be able to hear if they are straining), and that they are comfortable with. Ask their teacher or school if you are unsure.
- Your child does not have to read music to join a choir, but as they progress to more complicated pieces it is may become a requirement. Gospel choir leaders usually teach by ear.
- Most choirs teach children basic techniques such as diction, breathing, posture and warming-up to help develop the voice
- Formal singing lessons may be more appropriate for teenagers, when the voice is physically more developed; although it continues to mature after this
- Boys' voices may change gradually or quite suddenly. They may need to be left to settle for a while before it can be decided where the pitch range lies. They won't harm their voices singing through this stage but it may be hard for them to control the sound and, as always, strain should be avoided.
- Listen to: Ella Fitzgerald, Cecilia Bartoli, Luciano Pavarotti, Cleo Laine, Joan Sutherland, Frank Sinatra for an idea of the range of possibilities
|
|
|
|
| Interview Transcript |
|
|
Melanie: I decided to take singing lessons because of the encouragement I was given from the Saturday music centre I attend weekly, and also my school and my family. I recognised that I enjoyed singing, and felt that I should pursue this and music is quite an ongoing process of developing, learning new skills and trying to take that further so I felt that with singing lessons I had the chance to do this. I thought that this would be a very useful opportunity for me.
Rita: For the voice, advice wise, it is like any other instrument: you have to take care of it. You can't push it too much. Eating very good food is one if the most important things, both exercising yourself and the voice. A lot of people may think that sounds silly but there are exercises that you can do, and do not push the exercises too much at a young age because a lot of children think 'Oh I can try this and do this' and whatever. Please don't do that. Go and seek advice if you're going to do anything like that from your tutors, or teachers or whoever.
Melanie: Don't push your voice at a young stage. When I first came into singing lessons I was singing very demanding songs by Celine Dion and Mariah Carey, real belter songs; and my singing teacher awaked me to the fact that there is plenty of time for that when you are older, when you have developed your voice and developed techniques. Give your voice time to change and progress, and then go on to the demanding and challenging songs.
Rita: I suppose the best thing is obviously the development from when she first started to where she is now. And that only comes with practice, practice, practice and good tutoring, good teaching and working with them; but it is wonderful to see them standing up on stage and singing. It's the best thing basically.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Further Reading
The Right Instrument for Your Child, Atarah Ben-Tovim, Douglas Boyd (Weidenfeld & Nicholson, 1995; ISBN: 0575058943)
|
|
Need video help?
