June 1, 2021

About the Author: Stefan Joubert

Founder of S&C Singing. His belief is that anyone can learn to sing! All you need is the desire to learn and excellent singing lessons!

Learning how to sing as an adult comes with a unique set of challenges. Budding students often question whether it’s too late and if they can manage it alongside work and study. It also requires relinquishing a bit of control and not being scared to sound a little ‘off-key’ or silly as you’re learning. Once you get going, however, you will realise how rewarding learning how to sing as an adult can be. It can really increase your self-confidence, boost your creativity, cognitive abilities as well as opening new possibilities for you as an artist. We would like to share some tips on how you can make the most of singing lessons and unleash your potential as a talented vocalist.

woman singing passionately

There’s No Such Thing as Being ‘Too Old’

You would never tell someone that it’s too late to get in shape or it’s too late to learn a new language. So, how come adults often assume that they’re ‘too old’ to learn to sing? A big part of it is that many vocalists we see in popular music seem to be young people in their teens or early 20s. But that is a misconception. Plenty of artists didn’t achieve stardom until their 30s like Sheryl Crow or Bill Withers, for example. Or even Susan Boyle, who rose to prominence in her late 40s. You also need to remember that many celebrities hide their real age. So, don’t let this misconception hold you back! You can still achieve great things no matter your age, and you may be surprised where adult singing lessons may lead.

What If I’m Tone Deaf?

We throw the term ‘tone deaf’ around very easily, but the fact is it’s a real condition. Congenital Amusia, otherwise known as tone deafness affects around 4% of the population. So, unless this includes you, your pitch can absolutely be learned and developed. It develops through musical training and, while some people naturally have great pitch, we all require training to improve. Don’t let this hold you back – the more you train your ears and vocals, the better your pitch and musical hearing will become.

woman with black background singing

Now That We Have the Most Common Roadblocks Out of The Way, How Do You Learn to Sing as An Adult?

Personal development and learning as an adult can be a bit of a balancing act. You likely have so many commitments already – work, family, education – that there doesn’t seem to be time for much else. And yet, it’s so rewarding to keep growing and developing. It keeps up our confidence, gives us an escape from the everyday and that glorious sense of accomplishment in a pressure and judgment free environment. Here’s how you can make singing lessons a beautiful and enjoyable part of your life…

Establish Your Goals

Are you looking to learn how to sing as a hobby? Would you like to be on stage some day? Maybe there are certain singing styles you’d like to explore like musical theatre or jazz? There are no right or wrong answers here, however, remembering why you’re doing it will keep you motivated even when you don’t feel like it. Your goals can include songs you’d like to learn or more technical and specific objectives like expanding your range, improving your tone etc. Keep these in mind as you progress through your lessons. Be aware that your goals may change later down the line and that’s totally okay. You can keep adjusting your learning process to suit you at all times.

woman with red background singing

Get to Know Your Voice

Too often, we compare ourselves to other vocalists when we may have completely different characteristics. Your voice is as unique as a fingerprint and that’s what makes it so special! Knowing your natural tone and range will help you pick songs that highlight your best qualities. Falling in love with your own sound will help you avoid comparison, which can often be so discouraging to all artists.

Embrace the Process

An important part of learning how to sing as an adult is being able to let go. Every learning process includes making mistakes. That’s totally normal. Your lessons and practice sessions are actually the best time to make mistakes so you can sound incredible when it comes to your performance! Don’t be afraid to feel a little silly and don’t beat yourself up if you don’t sound the way you’d like to straight away. Stay consistent and, before you know it, you will have accomplished your singing goals.

mana and woman singing

Make Time for Learning

Whether you want to be a hobbyist or a professional singer, making time for regular practice is key to seeing some tangible progress. Small, but consistent efforts are better than no practice at all. We would recommend setting aside just 30 minutes a day for singing practice. Remember, this is about your learning, so use this opportunity for a bit of ‘me-time’ and a chance to get lost in music.

Be Kind to Yourself

The learning process tends to change between feeling like you’ve got it and getting that fantastic sense of achievement to hitting another challenge or hurdle shortly after. Remember to be kind to yourself throughout. It’s important to remind yourself how far you’ve come and not to get bogged down with how much more there is to learn. If you’ve started learning how to sing as an adult, you probably already sing better than you did a few weeks or months ago. Celebrate it and use it to keep you going when things seem a little more challenging.

group of friends singing

Find Your Community

Last but not least, you’re an artist now! Which means you can get out there and meet other vocalists and musicians and start building friendships and forming communities. You could join a band, a local theatre production, a choir, attend open mic nights and more. Performing with others or in front of people will give you that sense of accomplishment. You’ll see that the hard work you’ve put in is finally paying off. It’s also a lot more encouraging to keep learning and developing when you surround yourself with likeminded people. You may not have this environment at home, but music is a very social activity and there are always people who want to work together. And the beauty of it is that you can find them anywhere! You can meet people within your local music scene or join music forums and find collaborators online from all around the globe.

Learn with A Qualified Vocal Coach!

A great vocal coach can help you maximise your potential and keep you motivated and accountable as you progress. At S & C Music, we specialise in singing lessons for adults. Our singing lessons have a welcoming, personalised approach in a judgment-free environment. We teach at our stunning premises in Gate Avenue, DIFC, Dubai. S & C Music singing courses cover jazz, classical, musical theatre, rock, pop and blues.

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