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Have you always dreamed about singing, but don’t know where to start? If you’d love to improve your vocal skills, but can’t afford to take lessons, we’re here for you. In this article, we’ll give you tips for getting your voice in tip-top shape, plus show you different ways to learn how to sing.
Things You Should Know
- Learn warm-up exercises that help you take deep breaths so you can make rich, resonant sounds.
- Sing the highest and lowest notes you can hit to find your vocal range.
- Exhale steadily as you sing so the sound comes from your chest instead of your throat or nose.
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Exercise your body and stretch your vocal cords to prevent injury. Vocal experts recommend moving your body around to get the blood flowing before you do vocal warm-ups. By stretching your vocal cords, you keep them loose so it’s easier to make sound.[1]
Plus, if you warm-up your vocal cords, you’re less likely to injure them. Here are a few simple warm-ups to get you started: [2]
- Exhale completely, relax your stomach muscles, open your mouth, and let all the air back into your lungs. Repeat this, and make an «sss» or «fff» sound when you release the air. These sounds exercise different vocal cords.
- Hum or sing high notes, alternating with low notes to help stretch out your voice.
- Exhale as you tilt your head down to 1 shoulder. Then, breathe in as you bring your head back up. Repeat this in the opposite direction.
- Practice singing a short, 5-note scale. Go slowly and really focus on clearly singing each note.
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Stand straight and tall so you can make the best sounds possible. It’s hard to produce clear rich sounds if you’re hunched over and your lungs can’t expand. Instead, plant your feet and imagine that a string is pulling you up from the top of your head. Keep your knees loose and bring your shoulders down. Try to release all tension from your muscles.[3]
- Keep your head level so you stare straight ahead and your chin doesn’t jut upward.[4]
- If your muscles are tense, it’s hard to produce a deep beautiful sound. While improving your posture for singing might feel strange at first, if you practice, you’ll get used to relaxed, but good posture.
- Keep your head level so you stare straight ahead and your chin doesn’t jut upward.[4]
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Your vocal range reveals the notes you can sing between a high and low point. Most people have a range of around 1 to 2 octaves. To find your vocal range, drop your voice and sing or hum the lowest note you can—hold the note for 3 seconds. Then, bring your voice up until you reach the highest note you can sing or hum and hold the note for 3 seconds. The span of notes in between your highest and lowest notes is your vocal range.[5]
- Download apps like Vocal Coach or Swiftscales to help you find your range. You could also sit at a piano and match your highest and lowest notes using the keyboard.
- Keep in mind that your range might vary a little bit from day to day, especially if you’re ill or tired.
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Sing scales starting from your low point to your high point. In order to sing higher without your voice cracking or to sing lower more comfortably, practice singing your highest note before going down the scale by half notes. Then, glide your voice back up. Repeatedly singing your scales can expand your vocal range over time.[6]
- You can use any word to sing your scales or go with the classic «do-mi-sol-do-sol-mi-do.»
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Stop your voice from cracking by improving your breathing for high notes. Start by opening your mouth and throat wide as though you’re yawning. Don’t try to sing louder—just breathe steadily as you aim for high notes. It might help to imagine you’re jumping on a trampoline as you hit the high note.[7]
- Again, singing your scales also goes a long way in helping you hit the high notes.
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Create deep resonant sounds when you sing from your abdomen. If your sounds are mainly coming from your throat or nasal cavity, focus more on filling your body with sound. Place a hand on your abdomen and try to engage your lungs as you sing. This really helps your sound resonate and become clear.[8]
- Your chest should feel like it’s gently vibrating as you sing.
- Remember, try to keep your body loose and relaxed so you’re not holding tension.
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Do breathing exercises to support your voice and prevent gasping. It’s no surprise that singers who can breathe deeply and consistently get better mileage out of their voices. For a simple breathing exercise that you can practice anytime, open and close your jaw as though you’re a fish out of water. Flex your facial muscles a few times and take a few deep breaths. Let the breath fall to your belly before you steadily exhale.[9]
- To challenge yourself, time your breathing—breathe in and see how long you can hold the breath. Then, steadily release the breath for the same amount of time. With practice, this strengthens your lungs.
- To exercise different muscles, make a hissing sound as you exhale.
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Join a choir to pick up useful singing skills. While singing lessons are great, don’t worry if you can’t afford them. You can gain valuable singing skills by joining a local choir or community chorus. Plus, you’ll make connections and develop friendships with people who are also passionate about singing.[10]
- If you’re looking for individual feedback, record yourself singing a song and upload your video to YouTube. Then, read through the constructive comments to find ways to improve.
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Taking several slow deep breaths can steady your voice if you’re nervous. It’s totally normal to be a little anxious when you start singing in front of other people—even your friends or family! To sing without a shaky voice, breathe in deeply and slowly let it out with a hissing sound. This gives you great breath support and slows your oxygen intake to calm your nerves before you perform.[11]
- Remind yourself to take deep breaths whenever you notice your breathing become shallow and fast.
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Try singing along to a song that you like with a voice recorder nearby. Make sure the music is quiet and your voice is the real thing that the recorder picks up. After you’re done singing, check if you are singing on key. Also, listen to find out if you’re articulating the words.[12]
- If you’re worried about performing a song, focus on memorizing the lyrics and getting the tune down before you work on your singing technique.
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Practice singing every day to develop your singing skills. Make time to warm up your vocal cords, do breathing exercises, and practice singing songs. If singing becomes part of your daily routine, you will notice an improvement in your skills![13]
- If it helps you practice, set a goal for yourself like singing at your school’s talent show or performing a song for your parents.
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Drink water and rest when you’re sick. Make it a habit to have your water bottle close by and drink from it throughout the day. Water produces mucus that loosens and lubricates your vocal cords. If you’re not feeling well, give your vocal cords a break and take some time off from singing until you feel better.[14]
- Avoid drinking dairy products or thick drinks like smoothies right before you sing
- If you use cough drops for a sore throat, avoid ones that contain menthol since it actually causes throat irritation.
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Question
How do I stop my voice from shaking when singing?
Amy Chapman MA, CCC-SLP is a vocal therapist and singing voice specialist. Amy is a licensed and board certified speech & language pathologist who has dedicated her career to helping professionals improve and optimize their voice. Amy has lectured on voice optimization, speech, vocal health, and voice rehabilitation at universities across California, including UCLA, USC, Chapman University, Cal Poly Pomona, CSUF, CSULA. Amy is trained in Lee Silverman Voice Therapy, Estill, LMRVT, and is a part of the American Speech and Hearing Association.
Singing Coach
Expert Answer
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Question
How do I find my vocal range?
Amy Chapman MA, CCC-SLP is a vocal therapist and singing voice specialist. Amy is a licensed and board certified speech & language pathologist who has dedicated her career to helping professionals improve and optimize their voice. Amy has lectured on voice optimization, speech, vocal health, and voice rehabilitation at universities across California, including UCLA, USC, Chapman University, Cal Poly Pomona, CSUF, CSULA. Amy is trained in Lee Silverman Voice Therapy, Estill, LMRVT, and is a part of the American Speech and Hearing Association.
Singing Coach
Expert Answer
Support wikiHow by
unlocking this expert answer.Warm up your voice, then hum down and drop your voice as low as it can go. The lowest note you can hum that still sounds clear is the bottom of your range. Then, hum up as high as you can go. The highest note that you can hold for 3 seconds is the top of your vocal range.
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Question
How do you stretch your vocal cords?
Amy Chapman MA, CCC-SLP is a vocal therapist and singing voice specialist. Amy is a licensed and board certified speech & language pathologist who has dedicated her career to helping professionals improve and optimize their voice. Amy has lectured on voice optimization, speech, vocal health, and voice rehabilitation at universities across California, including UCLA, USC, Chapman University, Cal Poly Pomona, CSUF, CSULA. Amy is trained in Lee Silverman Voice Therapy, Estill, LMRVT, and is a part of the American Speech and Hearing Association.
Singing Coach
Expert Answer
Support wikiHow by
unlocking this expert answer.Try humming or singing as high as you can, then slowly go as low as you can. Keep singing up and down your range for a few minutes. High notes expand your vocal cords, while low notes shrink them, so this can help stretch out your vocal cords to make them more pliable.
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Pay attention to your breathing throughout the day and correct your posture if you find yourself hunching forward.
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Avoid smoking since smoke damages your lungs and voice—you need both to be in great shape for singing!
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If you’re singing for a long period of time, don’t forget to take occasional breaks and keep drinking water.
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References
- ↑ Amy Chapman, MA. Voice & Speech Coach. Expert Interview. 18 October 2019.
- ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sing/learning/warmingup.shtml
- ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sing/learning/basics.shtml
- ↑ Amy Chapman, MA. Voice & Speech Coach. Expert Interview. 18 October 2019.
- ↑ Amy Chapman, MA. Voice & Speech Coach. Expert Interview. 18 October 2019.
- ↑ Amy Chapman, MA. Voice & Speech Coach. Expert Interview. 18 October 2019.
- ↑ https://courses.lumenlearning.com/atd-monroecc-voiceclass/chapter/basics-of-singing-2-warmups-and-practice-technique/
- ↑ https://vocalist.org.uk/breath-control
- ↑ Amy Chapman, MA. Voice & Speech Coach. Expert Interview. 18 October 2019.
About This Article
Article SummaryX
If you want to learn how to sing, practice singing a series of vowels, letting your voice come from your diaphragm, or deep within your chest. If you want to practice a song, try singing along to a song that you like with a voice recorder nearby. Make sure the music is quiet so the recorder can pick up your voice, then listen to the recording to see if you are singing on key and articulating your words. To learn more about how breathing exercises may help you become a better singer, keep reading!
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December 11, 2022
Sing and Learn! 21 English Songs for Learning Vocabulary and Grammar
Did you know that Beyoncé and Adele are excellent English teachers?
Can you believe that famous old songs by Michael Jackson, The Beatles and Elvis Presley are perfect for learning English grammar?
Today we’ll look at—and listen to!—21 great English songs that can help you learn English.
Contents
- How to Learn English with These Songs
- Songs for Learning English Vocabulary
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- 1. “Friday I’m in Love” by The Cure
- 2. “We’re Going to Be Friends” by The White Stripes
- 3. “You’re My Best Friend” by Queen
- 4. “I’ve Been Everywhere” by Johnny Cash
- 5. “Just a Girl” by No Doubt
- 6. “Bad Luck” by Social Distortion
- 7. “Black or White” by Michael Jackson
- 8. “Don’t Mug Yourself” by The Streets
- Songs for Learning English Grammar
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- 9. “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas
- 10. “Since You’ve Been Gone” by The Outfield
- 11. “And She Was” by Talking Heads
- 12. “Summer of ’69” by Bryan Adams
- 13. “Ready to Run” by The Dixie Chicks
- 14. “We Can Work It Out” by The Beatles
- 15. “Always On My Mind” by Elvis Presley
- 16. “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran
- 17. “If I Were A Boy” by Beyoncé
- 18. “If It Hadn’t Been For Love” by Adele
- 19. “Hope You Never” by Tom Petty
- 20. “Stressed Out” by Twenty-One Pilots
- 21. “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
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How to Learn English with These Songs
There are two main ways you can use this article and the songs here to improve your English.
If you want to learn actively, you can listen to the songs while following along with the lyrics. Each song in this article includes a link to the video and the lyrics for that song. If you’re in the vocabulary section of this article, you can make a list of any new words you find, focusing especially on the target topic for that song. And if you’re in the grammar section of this article, you can notice when the songs use the mentioned structures and then follow the included links to do more exercises to practice the structures.
Some programs make this simpler. FluentU, for example, has interactive, dual-language subtitles that allow you to click on unfamiliar words for instant definitions. The program’s library of English-language clips has a specific section for music videos.
You can also simply listen to the songs without taking any notes. You won’t exactly “absorb” the English vocabulary and grammar structures automatically, but you may be surprised how much you can learn just by passively listening to songs. And if you hear something that catches your interest, you can always return to the song later on to find more information about the words or structures.
But no matter how you use these songs, you’ll likely find that learning English with music is a fun way to improve your English skills.
I’ve tried to choose songs from many different genres and years, so I hope there’s something that you like.
Let’s start with some songs that can help you increase your English vocabulary.
Songs for Learning English Vocabulary
Obviously any song that has words can help you increase your vocabulary in some way. Here I’ve chosen a few songs that are useful because they include specific types of vocabulary. For each topic, I’ll include the song as well as some comments about the vocabulary.
1. “Friday I’m in Love” by The Cure
Topic: Days of the Week
Video | Lyrics
One of the first things that most people learn in a new language are days of the week. If you can’t talk about the days of the week, it’s almost impossible to make plans or to talk about your routines.
Whether you think the days of the week are easy or hard to learn, you can still enjoy this classic ’80s song by The Cure. Some of the lyrics are a bit confusing (at least for me), but at least the days of the week are in the correct order so you won’t get them confused!
Generally the days of the week aren’t especially difficult to learn, but some of my students do have difficulties pronouncing “Wednesday” and “Thursday,” and they often confuse Tuesday and Thursday because they look similar.
2. “We’re Going to Be Friends” by The White Stripes
Topic: School and Childhood
Video | Lyrics
This song is a reminder of what it’s like to be young and innocent.
It has a really simple sound and the lyrics talk about things that children do at school. For example, it talks about learning how to spell, and it also mentions things like books, pens and uniforms.
The video for the original version of this song (shown above) is okay, but it just shows a guy (Jack White) playing guitar while a girl (Meg White) rests on a sofa.
If you want a video that’s a bit more visual, check out the Jack Johnson version of the song with a fan-made video that has a lot of pictures of the vocabulary in the song.
3. “You’re My Best Friend” by Queen
Topic: Friendship
Video | Lyrics
There are probably millions of love songs, but there seem to be fewer songs about friendship.
Well, even though this song has “best friend” in the title, it’s more about a romantic friendship.
In the lyrics, Queen’s singer Freddie Mercury sings about how sometimes things get difficult, but his friend is always there to help him when he needs it. It’s about faithfulness (being consistent and staying together with someone). Freddie sings that his friend has “stood by” him “in rain or shine,” which is another way of saying that they supported and helped him during bad times (rain) and good times (shine, sunshine).
So, this song is a nice reminder about what friends should do for each other.
4. “I’ve Been Everywhere” by Johnny Cash
Topic: Places and Geography
Video | Lyrics
Johnny Cash was a singer known for singing country songs about criminals and people who had difficult lives. Johnny didn’t actually write this song, but his version is the most famous one.
In it, he tells a story from the perspective of a hitchhiker (a person who tries to get a ride on the side of the road). A truck picks up the hitchhiker, and the hitchhiker then tells the driver about all the different places he’s been.
The lyrics are really fast, but that’s part of the fun. He lists around 100 cities, states and countries, and you can see how many you can understand. The vocabulary for different places is interesting, but it’s also good because you can notice how he rhymes different place names (for example, “Oklahoma” rhymes with “La Paloma” and “Colorado” rhymes with “Eldorado”).
5. “Just a Girl” by No Doubt
Topic: Gender Relations
Video | Lyrics
First of all, the word “gender” basically refers to being “male” or “female” and the typical characteristics of each .
There are many different songs about how society treats men and women differently.
Pink’s song “Stupid Girls” is a good related song, and Lady Antebellum even has another completely different song that’s also called “Just a Girl.” And Beyonce’s song “If I Were a Boy” is excellent, but we’ll be talking about it later in this article. But personally, this No Doubt song is my favorite one to use in classes when we talk about gender issues.
In this song, Gwen Stefani (the singer) sings about how she’s frustrated because society thinks that women are weak and that people treat women like they’re helpless. She uses good vocabulary to express that frustration, saying that people stare (look at her continually) at her like she’s in captivity.
Another good phrase to notice is “I’ve had it up to here.” That means that you’re completely tired and frustrated, and you’re not going to accept a situation anymore.
6. “Bad Luck” by Social Distortion
Topic: Superstitions
Video | Lyrics
I’m always surprised at the conversations we have in class when we talk about superstitions. It’s an interesting cultural topic, and there’s a lot of good vocabulary related to superstitions.
Of course, there are also other songs about superstitions, including “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder and “Superstitious” by Europe. The Stevie Wonder song’s lyrics do talk about some things related to superstitions, but the Europe song is more about how the singer is not superstitious.
The lyrics for this song focus a bit more on luck than on superstition, but there’s still a lot of good vocabulary. The singer talks about how he always loses in poker, pool and life in general, and he mentions superstitions like black cats, broken mirrors and how he always “sings the blues” (which means that he’s always sad).
7. “Black or White” by Michael Jackson
Topic: Tolerance
Video | Lyrics
I’ll admit it: I’ve always liked this song—the Michael Jackson album “Dangerous” was the first cassette I bought with my own money!—but I never really understood the lyrics until recently when a student played the song in class.
The message is clear. It doesn’t matter if you’re black or white or any other color. We’re all equal. The lyrics are a bit difficult to understand (even for a native speaker like me) but the message is maybe a bit more obvious when you watch the video. There are many helpful images that will improve your understanding in the video.
If you can tolerate the first two minutes of the video, then the song starts and it shows Michael Jackson dancing and singing throughout the world with all kinds of different people. At the end of the video, it shows people morphing (transforming) into people with different skin colors and genders.
It’s a nice message about how, even though there are many physical differences in people throughout the world, we’re still all equal.
8. “Don’t Mug Yourself” by The Streets
Topic: British English Slang and Pronunciation
Video | Lyrics
The song “Don’t Mug Yourself,” and basically anything else by the rapper called The Streets, is really British, at least to my American ears. But that means it’s a good example if you want to hear and see more about the differences between British English and American English.
In the song, the singer talks about how he’s going to call a girl he likes, but his friend is warning him that he shouldn’t mug himself (do something to make himself look foolish or stupid).
It’s interesting to hear the pronunciation, and there’s a lot of good slang and vocabulary in the lyrics, but just be aware that there are some bad words.
Two (clean) words that are common in British English, but not American English, are the words “fancy” for “like” (when you like a person romantically) and “oi” (an expression to interrupt or get someone’s attention).
Songs for Learning English Grammar
Just like in the vocabulary section above, any song that has words will also include grammar.
But what if you want some more examples of specific structures that you’re learning in class? If that’s what you need, you’ve come to the right place!
For each song, I’ll include the name of the grammatical structure, some links to explanations of the structure, and a few examples of how the song uses that structure.
9. “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas
Structure: Present Simple Tense
Video | Lyrics
You probably already know the present simple tense (also called “simple present”). It’s one of the first structures most people learn in English, and we use it to talk about things that happen commonly or frequently in the present or to talk about characteristics of people or things. If you want to review it, English Page and the British Council’s Learn English site both have good explanations and examples.
This song is about how we can’t control life or death, and eventually, everything turns into dust. Almost all of the lyrics are in present simple, but some clear examples are lines like:
- All my dreams pass before my eyes
- Don’t hang on, nothing lasts forever
10. “Since You’ve Been Gone” by The Outfield
Structure: Present Perfect Tense
Video | Lyrics
This song is about a guy who misses someone who left, and he sings about what he has been doing since that person left.
This song is also great for learning an English tense called “present perfect.”
We use the present perfect tense to talk about things that started in the past and are still happening now. It’s common to contract the subject (like “I,” “you” or “we”) and the verb “have” (for example, saying “I’ve” instead of “I have”) and that happens a lot in this song’s lyrics.
Some examples of the present perfect in this song include:
- Since you’ve been gone
- I’ve just been fooling around
- You’re not the only girl I’ve ever had
There are some good reviews of this grammar structure on English Page and the British Council page. There are also some other great songs that use this structure, such as U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.”
11. “And She Was” by Talking Heads
Structure: Continuous/Progressive Tenses
Video | Lyrics
There are actually a couple different continuous (also called “progressive”) tenses in English. There are continuous tenses for the past, present and future, and there’s also the perfect continuous for the past, present and future.
That gets complicated, so I chose a song that mainly uses the present continuous (with a form of the verb “to be” in the present and a verb ending in -ing) and the past continuous (with a form of the verb “to be” in the past and a verb ending in -ing).
If you want to review the present continuous, check English Page and the British Council, and they also have explanations for past continuous here and here.
Some examples of the present continuous in the song are:
- She’s making sure she is not dreaming (two examples)
- Now she’s starting to rise
And some examples of the past continuous are:
- She was lying in the grass
- The world was moving
- She was drifting through the backyard
12. “Summer of ’69” by Bryan Adams
Structure: Past Simple Tense
Video | Lyrics
We use the past simple tense to describe things that started and finished in the past. In other words, these are completed actions. Here’s more information on English Page and the British Council’s page. The past simple is one of the first things that intermediate students learn because it’s so common.
The main difficulty that many students have is remembering the past forms of the irregular verbs in English. If you’re not sure what those are, regular verbs end with an “-ed” in the past forms, but irregular verbs have many different forms in the past.
There are charts of most of the irregular verbs in English, but you just have to just practice them and memorize them over time. Fortunately, there are also some tricks to help you learn irregular verbs.
In this song, Bryan is remembering the past and what he and his friends did when he was younger. Some of the song is in the present but a lot of it takes place in the past.
Some examples of the simple past that have regular verbs are:
- That summer seemed to last forever
- We needed to unwind
And some examples of the simple past that have irregular verbs are:
- I got my first real six-string, [I] bought it at the five and dime
- We were young and restless
- When you held my hand, I knew it was now or never
13. “Ready to Run” by The Dixie Chicks
Structure: Future Tenses
Video | Lyrics
There are several ways to talk about the future in English. We don’t have time to go into a lot of detail about all of them here, but the most common ways are:
- The future simple (“will”)
- The future continuous (“will” and an -ing verb)
- The “going to” structure (a form of “to be” plus “going to” plus a verb)
- The present continuous (which we’ve already talked about), if we include a future time word
I chose “Ready to Run” by the Dixie Chicks because it uses a few of these forms, but I’d also recommend “The Land of Hopes and Dreams” by Bruce Springsteen.
Some examples of the future in “Ready to Run” are:
- I’m gonna be ready (the “going to” form, which is informally pronounced “gonna” sometimes)
- I’ll buy a ticket to anywhere (future simple)
14. “We Can Work It Out” by The Beatles
Structure: Modal Verbs
Video | Lyrics
Modal verbs (also called “modal auxiliaries” or simply “modals”) can be tricky, mainly because they can mean different things.
Briefly, a modal verb is a word that you put before a verb to indicate things like possibility, obligation, permission, etc. Common modal verbs are can, will, must, may, should, need to, have to and might, but there are others. The British Council has a good explanation and if you want some exercises you should head over to English Page.
Because they’re so essential, almost every song has at least one modal verb. One I like to use in classes is “We Can Work It Out” by The Beatles. Some examples of modals in that song include:
- Do I have to keep on talking till I can’t go on?
- Our love may soon be gone
- We can work it out
- Only time will tell if I am right
15. “Always On My Mind” by Elvis Presley
Structure: Perfect Modals
Video | Lyrics
Now we’re starting to get into the more complicated English grammar structures.
Perfect modals (also called “past modals”) use a modal (like in the previous section) but we use them to talk about the past. Basically, you’ll need to use this structure:
- a modal + “have” + past participle
There are more explanations at Learn American English Online and Espresso English.
Since many songs talk about the past, a lot of songs have perfect modals. One of my favorites is “Always On My Mind,” which was made famous by Elvis Presley. Some examples of perfect modals in the song are:
- Maybe I didn’t treat you quite as good as I should have
- Little things I should have said and done, I just never took the time
16. “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran
Structure: Conditionals
Video | Lyrics
We use conditionals to talk about possible actions and the results of those actions. We usually divide them into four types:
- Zero Conditional
- First Conditional (also called “present/future real”)
- Second Conditional (also called “present unreal”)
- Third Conditional (also called “past unreal”)
Conditional sentences usually have two parts: a condition and a result.
These can get complex, so this section will be basic so it doesn’t get confusing. You can always read more about conditionals and do exercises at English Page.
We use the first conditional to talk about real possibilities, usually in the future. Normally, the condition is in the present tense and the result is in the future.
When talking about this in class, I like to use the song “Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper but my students especially like “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran. In this song, Ed sings to a person he loves, wondering how things will be in the future. Some examples of the first conditional in the song are:
- When my hands don’t play the strings the same way, I know you will still love me the same
- When your legs don’t work like they used to before […], will your eyes still smile from your cheeks?
17. “If I Were A Boy” by Beyoncé
Structure: Second Conditional
Video | Lyrics
We use the second conditional to express unreal (imaginary) possibilities and results about the present. It a bit confusing because the condition is in the simple past and the result uses “would” plus a verb.
For example, you could say “If I were tall, I would be uncomfortable in my small car.” In this example, the reality is that I have a small car and I’m not tall; I’m just imagining a different reality.
A really great song for this “If I Were A Boy” by Beyoncé. She imagines what she would do if she were a boy and how society would treat her differently. Basically, the entire song is a big second conditional sentence, but some examples are:
- If I were a boy, I think I could understand how it feels to love a girl
- If I were a boy, I would turn off my phone
18. “If It Hadn’t Been For Love” by Adele
Structure: Third Conditional
Video | Lyrics
The third conditional is used to talk about actions in the past—but it’s unreal, meaning that we’re imagining different conditions and results that didn’t actually happen. This structure is pretty advanced, and it’s one of the trickiest things for my students to learn.
Adele’s song “If It Hadn’t Been For Love” (the original version by the Steeldrivers is also great) uses this structure to talk about a woman who killed her lover. She’s singing from jail, talking about how and why she killed him. Almost the whole song is in third conditional, but you can see examples in these verses:
- [I] never woulda hitchhiked to Birmingham if it hadn’t been for love (“woulda” is an informal way to say “would have”)
- [I] woulda been gone like a wayward wind if it hadn’t been for love
19. “Hope You Never” by Tom Petty
Structure: Hope Phrases
Video | Lyrics
There are many different ways to talk about hopes, wishes, dreams and desires in English. I put this section after the conditionals section because normally we talk about hopes using the first conditional and we talk about wishes by using the second conditional.
I know, it’s strange because the words basically mean the same thing, but grammar is just weird sometimes.
One common way to talk about hopes is to use two names or subjects. In that structure, the first person is doing the hope and the second person is the topic of that hope. For example, I can say “I hope I pass my exam.” I can also say “I hope she passes her exam.” Notice that in both of these, the verbs are in the simple present.
A good song that uses hope phrases is “Hope You Never” by Tom Petty. It’s a sad breakup song but it has some good hope phrases like:
- I hope you treasure your independence
- I hope you never fall in love with somebody like you
20. “Stressed Out” by Twenty-One Pilots
Structure: Wish Phrases
Video | Lyrics
There are also different ways to talk about wishes, but a common way is very similar to the hope phrases in the last section.
We can have two people, and the first one makes the wish and the second one is the topic of the wish. The biggest difference is that wishes are unreal (or impossible), so you need to change the second verb to the past tense to indicate it’s unreal.
That may sound a bit confusing, but you can see many examples in the song “Stressed Out” by Twenty-One Pilots:
- I wish I had a better voice that sang some better words
- I wish I didn’t have to rhyme every time I sang
- [I] wish we could turn back time to the good ol’ days
21. “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Structure: Reported Speech
Video | Lyrics
I said earlier that third conditional was one of the hardest things for my students, but reported speech may be even more difficult. Reported speech (also called “indirect speech”) can be confusing, but you can find a complete explanation of how it works at English Page, which also has exercises.
The thing to remember with reported speech is that you’re repeating what someone else said. In other words, you’re reporting that person’s speech. To indicate that we’re using reported speech, the most common thing to do is to move the verbs into the past.
Again, it can get a lot more complex than that, but the song “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd is one that I use with my students to practice reported speech. In the song, a man describes a conversation he had with his mother. For example:
- Mama told me when I was young, “Come sit by me, my only son, and listen closely to what I say, and if you do this, it’ll help you some sunny day.”
This is direct speech, but if we change this line from to reported speech, it looks something like:
- His mother told him when he was young to go sit beside her. She told him to listen closely to what she said and that if he did that, it would help him some sunny day.
Even though the song is in direct speech, it’s a good activity to practice making reported speech sentences.
Now that you have all these song ideas, all that you need to do is to turn up the volume and start learning.
Have fun!
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How to Learn to Sing: Exercises and Tricks for Any Voice
Before learning to sing, you need to decide what it is for. Because singing in different styles is different in much the same way as driving a truck is from kart racing. Generally speaking, there are two main schools: Old Italian and Western. Italian is a classical vocals, it is almost impossible to learn it on your own at a good level.
Plus, the classics are highly specialized: you can only sing what is intended for your range (tenor, baritone or bass). You cannot change the tonality of the piece and even the power of the sound — just as Tchaikovsky or Wagner wrote, so they wrote it. Western is more about pop and rock, which means it is suitable for karaoke or a rock star career, if you have something in mind.
Learning folk vocals on your own is almost certainly to break the voice: there is a more active and abrupt beginning of the sound, which means that the load on the vocal cords is very high.
Swim
First, it’s just helpful. Secondly, while swimming, you can hum something, and then be surprised to learn that you did one of the best vocal exercises. When swimming, the abs and diaphragm are strained, and these are exactly the parts of the body that should be loaded with proper singing. Therefore, swimming with a song reinforces the correct intercostal-diaphragmatic type of breathing.
Bend over
When bending over, inhale deeply and quickly through the nose, and when straightening, exhale slowly. This will teach you the correct breathing rate while singing.
Hug yourself
Extend your arms, bent at the elbows, in front of your chest parallel to the floor. Now hug yourself sharply while inhaling sharply. This exercise develops the lower lungs, which singers desperately need in their work.
Snort like a horse
Or like a jockey when he says «tprrrrruu.» That is, let the air out of your mouth with force so that your lips quickly and funny splash against each other. With this sound, the ligaments close correctly. Conceived by famed educator Seth Riggs and taught by all the greats from Michael Jackson to Hvorostovsky, this exercise helps develop range. If, for example, some note is not given, you must first sing it with such a snort, and then try to take it as usual.
Moo
Wake up in the morning, hum some melody. First, your friend will consider you eccentric and creative, which hasn’t bothered anyone else. Secondly, you train your vocal cords in this way and learn to better feel your voice, and therefore, to use it.
Relax
Before a vocal lesson, do a stretch, stretch your neck from behind, shake your arms and legs. Singing is physical labor, and if the body is tense somewhere, especially the neck, then at high notes there is a squeeze in the throat immediately. If you watch the performances of the artists, you will notice that they often strike a high note along with some action — for example, toss their hat aside or clap their hands. This is because after a short, sharp action, relaxation immediately follows and muscle clamps are released.
Improve your hearing
Even if Shufutinsky stepped in your ear, your ear for music can be developed to an acceptable level. Get yourself a piano or at least a simple keyboard synthesizer. You take a note and try to get in unison with it. Then another. If you are hard of hearing, whether you hit it or not, record yourself on a dictaphone and correct it.
Sing along
This is necessary to prepare the bundles for work. You can chant by «kicking a horse» a simple melody or by doing the exercise described above to develop your hearing. You can hum the notes from the lowest you can play to the highest. Or in the same way, from the bottom to the top note, sing «ma-me-mi-mo-mu» and then from top to bottom «mi-me-ma-mo-mu». At the same time, you will practice diction.
Choose a sample
You need some pretty simple songs, better in English. For example, Brian Adams, Limp Bizkit, Metallica will do. In English — not out of snobbery, but because Western singers usually have a more correct technique for sound production.
Then you learn the text and start singing along with the plus, that is, together with the performer. Your task is not to sing perfectly, but to feel how you sound and copy intonations. Bands with a harsh sound, such as Korn, should not be taken at this stage in order to avoid ligament injuries.
Matthew Bellamy also needs to grow up.
Hold on to your gender
Boys should imitate boys, girls should imitate girls. And there is no intolerance here. It’s just that if an experienced singer understands that Rihanna needs to sing like Phil Collins, and Seal sounds like Shade, then the aspiring singer will easily be knocked down by the sexual inconsistency. When you learn, then you can sing whatever you want. Well, except for Zemfira, who has all the songs from the first, female, face.
Improvise to the backing track
Having learned to more or less copy a singer, start a backing track — recording a song without vocals — and sing to it. Again, the task is not to sing perfectly, but to develop skills and musical thinking. To do this, improvise, add your own, mumble in a recitative, insert additional musical phrases — the main thing is to match the tone. And record it on a dictaphone: a singing person often does not hear himself correctly.
Pick a tonality
Your key is the range in which you are comfortable singing. If the song does not suit you in key, take the backing track to a recording studio, where they will rewrite it in the desired key for you for one hundred and fifty rubles. Or go to xminus.me — there you can remove the voice from the song to make a backing track, and change the key.
Source: https://www.maximonline.ru/skills/_article/become-singer/
How to Learn a Song in a Foreign Language | Language Heroes Library
Have you ever performed a song in foreign languages? Or maybe you really want to do this, but do not know how to approach an unfamiliar text? For example, I really like to sing in different languages, and it is thanks to music that I now know not only Russian, but also a number of other languages.
In this article I will try to give tips that will help you learn a song in a foreign language, and I really hope that this information will be useful to you.
First meeting
Let’s say you decide to perform a song in a language you don’t know at all. The first thing I will advise you to do is read the translation of the text.
Yes, it does not always accurately convey the original, especially in the case of opera arias and classical romances, but it will give you at least a rough understanding of what you are going to sing about.
Otherwise, sometimes in modern music it happens that the melody is beautiful, and the text is meaningless, and, having understood it, you will think: do you really want to sing this particular song.
It will also be great if you get to know the grammar new language: you can, for example, listen to a few podcasts for beginners or watch the first lessons of a course.
This will help you find more meaningful words in the text, and then, it’s just interesting — at least a little bit to touch the new language. Here you take a song in Norwegian, and with it you will learn a dozen basic phrases and be able to say them.
This is great! Can you imagine how proud you will be when you see the word that you encountered in these initial lessons in the song lyrics? Believe me, such a situation is very possible, and in 90% of cases this is exactly what happens.
If you are even a little familiar with the language in which you decide to sing, try translate the text yourself… Yes, you will need a dictionary, and the translation may take some time, but after such work it will be much easier for you to remember the text.
And, of course, your vocabulary will thank you too, because it will be replenished with new vocabulary that you will most likely never forget. For example, I sing quite a lot of works in German and almost immediately I can tell in which song I first met this or that word, and even remember the line with it.
There are songs in which some grammatical structure is very often found, and then the learned text will help you to learn it better.
Phonetics
Pronunciation is, in my opinion, the main problem of Russian performers singing in a foreign language. I cannot listen to classical works performed by the overwhelming majority of our young opera singers and student vocalists, because in whatever language they sing, they have absolutely no knowledge of phonetics.
Yes, and with a pop song, in principle, the same story — here the only exception can be English. With Italian, wherever it went — it is still easier, but with French and German it is in general a disaster. In foreign conservatories, there are special diction classes for these purposes, but we will probably not reach that soon.
I believe that in order to perform a foreign song, you need at least a little knowledge of the pronunciation rules, so the next stage of our work is acquaintance with the phonetics of the language… You can say that there is Russian transcription for many popular song texts, but I do not recommend using it, because it distorts the real sound very much.
Of course, if you have a language with a non-standard alphabet, the official Latin transcription for it will help you — you don’t need to learn Chinese characters for the sake of one song, this is too costly. If you don’t want to immerse yourself in phonetics, you can try to imitate the performer by singing the song with him countless times.
But I’m still in favor of a more detailed study of the pronunciation.
I do not force you to take a full phonetic course (although, if you have the time and desire, you can do this too), but if you open some domestic textbook and go through at least a few first lessons in phonetics and get acquainted with the reading rules, for the first time it’ll be enough.
And most importantly, you yourself can read the lyrics of the song you need. And if you want to continue singing songs in your chosen language, your phonetic skills can be improved. You can listen to recordings of native speakers to get used to the sound of the language.
When you learn phonetic rules, look at the lyrics of the song and look for examples of them in it — this way you will quickly remember both the rules and the lyrics.
It should also be borne in mind that in most languages there is stage pronunciation — it is used when reading poetry, in singing or in the speech of actors in the theater.
It does not differ much from the standard phonetic norms, but there are nuances that make singing easier: for example, the French grassed r is not so easy to sing, especially at high notes, therefore, when performing classics, it is replaced by our native Russian «r»; the same situation with German; tones are ignored in Chinese songs, otherwise it would be impossible to sing.
If you type “diction for singers” or “pronunciation for singers” in a YouTube search and write the language you are interested in in English before that, you will see a fairly large number of videos on the vocal phonetics of this language.
I often have to correct the pronunciation of students, and I can indicate major mistakeswhich they admit when singing in different languages.
В italian it is the lack of distinction between single and double consonants, as well as the softening of the consonants D and T before I.
В German our guys love to turn Ö and Ü into Russian Yo and Yu — it’s much easier to sing them; it takes a long time to form the habit of not swallowing consonants at the endings of words and to make a hard attack where possible.
French is considered the most difficult to sing among the main languages, and here the main problems are nasal vowels and E in the endings of words that we do not pronounce in colloquial speech, but in singing it turns into a special sound. In general, it takes a lot of time to correctly sing and pronounce all the French vowels, but it’s worth it.
Memorizing the text
When you have more or less figured out the phonetics of the language, you can go directly to the text of the song. I propose to divide the work with him into three stages:
1. Reading text slowly — so that every sound can be clearly heard (if the reading rules are not yet firmly remembered, you can peep at them). This procedure is best done several times a day. If it is easier for you to learn by ear, you can record your reading on a dictaphone and periodically listen to it, repeating what you heard.
2. Trying speak the text in the rhythm of the song, when we can read the text without hesitation. I think by this time her music will already sound in your head. You can listen to how the texts are read in this way here: http://vocal-box.ucoz.ru/load/minusoi/10-5. Yes, there are classic arias, but I did not find such a resource for pop songs.
- If the tempo of your song is slow, you can speak the lyrics while listening to the original.
- If you have a fun and lively song, you need to learn to speak the words at a fast pace. To do this, try to read the text like a poem — it should already become almost familiar to you, because you can read poetry in Russian calmly))
This is the state of mind for our foreign text. At some point, it will seem to you that it is easier to sing than to read a verse, and you will be right, but you have to get used to this too.
3. After you have thoroughly worked with the text, add a melody… First, sing the song to the original, because the performer’s voice will support you, and if you forget the words, it will prompt them to you.
When you are confident in your abilities, try singing along with a backing track.
Just do not worry if it does not work out right away — you will need some time to get used to the accompaniment and to the fact that no one else sings along with you, and all the responsibility lies with you.
According to this scheme, you can work out both the whole song at once, and each separate verse. If you want to see the result as soon as possible, then first bring one verse to automatism, and when you can sing it confidently, move on to the next. One verse will not take as much time and effort as the entire text.
If learning the text separately from the melody seems boring to you, you can try to memorize both together, but this method will require much more concentration from you. I would not recommend doing this if this is your first song in an unfamiliar language. But if this is the foreign language that you know, this method is fine.
Useful links
Now I would like to provide some links to resources that can help you. They are especially useful for those who perform the academic repertoire.
- www.lyrsense.com — there are lyrics of all genres in many languages, as well as quite decent translations into Russian.
- http://dictionpolice.com/ – подкасты и статьи о произношении в пении на разных языках. Основаны на текстах оперных арий и романсов, но, послушав их, можно неплохо разобраться с базовыми принципами и застраховаться от типичных ошибок.
- www.lieder.net is my dearly beloved text archive. Here you will not only be shown the text of the requested song, but also all the authors who have ever written music to it. There are translations in different languages, for example, from German to Italian or from French to Dutch. In general, this is what you need for real language heroes.
Conclusion
Now you are ready to sing not only in Russian, but in any other language as well. And who knows, maybe someday we will create a collection of songs in different languages of the world performed by the readers of our blog!
Source: https://lhlib.ru/kak-vyuchit-pesnyu-na-inostrannom-yazyk/
How to learn to sing beautifully
I hear this question constantly from my family and friends, students and listeners after the speeches. And during the practice of teaching vocal, I realized that the answer largely depends on the musicality, the subtlety of the perception of music by each individual person.
That learn to sing beautifully, you need to know the basic rules.
Regular classes
Whether you are studying with a vocal teacher or learning to sing on your own, the most important is the system. Regular practice, ideally every day, will bring quick results, provided you practice the correct technique.
How to learn to sing in 1 day? Such queries in search engines are comparable only to the question of how to learn English in 1 day. That’s funny. Of course, there are gifted people with a natural form of voice, but you also need to work with such singers, stylistically, on intonation, a sense of rhythm.
Working on vocal exercises
There are different techniques for staging a voice, but for all musicians, an important rule in mastering a musical instrument is to work on exercises. It allows the vocalist to perfect the technique of performance. The voice is also an instrument, and in order to masterfully master it, you just need to practice the exercises. They are the key to your voice.
Closed Sound Pre-Chorus
If you are a beginner singer or have been singing for a long time, but your voice lacks volume, then classes with a closed sound are necessary. To do this, you need to sing the exercises without opening your mouth, imitating a sound similar to the moo of a cow.
It is best to start with short exercises. With the right sound production, the voice will sound free, flighty, like a trumpet.
The closed sound allows you to form the correct vocal position, muscle tension during such chants is minimal, and due to this, the entire load falls on the breathing.
Everyone can learn to sing beautifully
I believe that dreams are not just born in a person’s imagination, and if there is a need to sing, then there will also be strength for creative realization. Beautiful singing, like a breath of fresh air, always cheers up not only the listeners, but also the performer, therefore constant work on the voice is very important for the singer.
This is a kind of addiction, when without music and without singing, you can no longer live. The mood instantly lifts, and the singer grows wings. You can learn to sing beautifully, the main desire and purposefulness, everyone dreams of singing like a bird, and this desire can be realized, for this it is better to turn to a competent vocal teacher.
The lead singer of the Helen KISS Band has been teaching vocals for 8 years, if you don’t know, how to learn to sing beautifullythen come to class at Helen KISS vocal studio.
Source: https://helenkiss.ru/kak-nauchitsya-krasivo-pet
How to sing in a foreign language
Let’s be honest: you’ve heard at least once in karaoke cool performance of a foreign song? If so, you’re in luck. I am among such lucky ones, therefore, having the opportunity to compare «class» and everything else, I decided to touch upon the topic of how to sing foreign songs in karaoke.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEPlc243uk8u0026list=RDiEPlc243uk8u0026start_radio=1
Start over. Why do we do it at all? There are many options, and different ones:
— well just good song! All my life we dreamed of singing it — it doesn’t matter if you can’t pronounce half of the words. Nothing, you can, for example, murmur :);
— Well not found you are in the catalog of Russian-language songs nothing worthwhile (even after looking at 56 pages), let down, so to speak, the national stage «under the monastery»;
— you are good you know a foreign language (or think that you know well) — it’s a sin not to shine with knowledge!
Perhaps these three reasons are the main ones. Let’s leave aside options like «this is my boyfriend’s favorite song, I will sing it so that the listeners will sob with delight, and he will admire and make me an offer of the right hand, joint property and» all-inclusive «annual trips to the Maldives :).
Further I will carry a complete «ad-libbing»: the opinion is exclusively mine, based on personal observations and even sad personal experience. So, 90-95% of singers singing karaoke in a foreign language do it poorly… That’s it, I said it. Even those who usually sing well in their native language are most likely to sing poorly in a foreign language. Well, okay, so-so.
Let’s move from sad to useful: how then to sing good? There are two options:
1. Sing it cool!
No, I’m not contradicting myself. If you sing in public in English, then do it in such a way that everyone sheds tears of delight. Or at least they said wow. What is needed for this:
— the ability to sing in principle;
— good knowledge of the language, sufficient to understand the text of the song almost literally (you must admit that it turns out «not comme il faut», when the singer unknowingly breaks words into syllables with pauses and breaths, places vocal accents on words that do not fit the meaning, etc.);
— musical and linguistic «ear» — this means that you hear the music of a foreign language, are able to copy it correctly, in general, sing the way native speakers sing.
Hard? And how! There is only one way out: study, study and study again! And a spare one: while you do not know how to refrain from «foreign tours».
2. Burn!
If you can’t sing well in a foreign language, you can do it fun :). For this it is enough:
— a cheerful company, ready to support your «experiment» with a hoot and sing along in the same sad English (Italian, French) as yours;
— a good song — either very widely known (so that you know the text well even without understanding the meaning), or a very rhythmic, positive, in general, “downhole”;
— a sense of humor and self-irony (these useful qualities help not only in vocals, but also in any life situations, if we are not «on horseback»).
More tips and secrets for beautiful vocals and successful performances are in my free of charge a book «How to learn to sing well in karaoke in 14 steps»!
And what is output? Is it almost impossible to sing well in a foreign language? Between us, I think it is. To sing like a carrier, you need learn to sing as a native speaker, because the technique of sound production is different for each language.
And yet, the same 5-10% remain. And there is no greater pleasure than listening to «I will always love you», «Let it be» or «Only you» performed by such singers, and then — to say «wah»!
Source: http://alenavoice.ru/karaoke/lasha-te-mi-kantare-ili-kak-pet-na-inostrannom-yazyke
How to learn to sing | Private music school «Maestro of Music»
Singing is a skill based on muscle memory. Singing is also a continuation of human speech, in order to learn to sing beautifully and become a singer, you need to master the correct breathing, learn to sing strongly, always hitting the notes.
In order to become one of the great singers, you need to constantly practice, only constant practice can teach musicality, without which it is simply impossible to become a singer.
When vocal art is subdued, it comes to the understanding that singing is a fun activity that can bring joy and delight.
To learn how to sing beautifully and correctly, you need to go through a certain path.
Choosing a method of teaching singing
The first thing to do to learn how to sing is to find an experienced and professional vocal teacher. It is very important to entrust your training to a specialist, otherwise the use of the wrong teaching technique can cause the loss of the singing voice, its destruction.
The right teacher is an investment that, if properly placed, can bring great dividends in the future. When choosing a teacher, it is important to be extremely careful, because today there are often non-professionals who should not be trusted with their training.
It will never be superfluous to ask the teacher what kind of education he has, the diploma of which educational institution he has, what kind of teaching experience he has. This is the only way to find the best teacher and not become another victim of a charlatan who decides to make money on you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbmYF65MHXYu0026list=RDiEPlc243uk8u0026start_radio=1
If the voice is weak, this is most often due to the fact that the muscles are not sufficiently developed or resonators are used incorrectly: hard palate, pharynx, nasal cavity.
Situations can be different in the life of each of us. And if classes with professional teachers are too expensive, do not despair and stop in your desire to learn to sing. You can always find a choir, having signed up where, you can master the basics of correct and beautiful singing. Choral singing will not only help you learn how to sing, but will also help open your voice, make it beautiful.
In addition, you can always start your independent studies, which can be done even at home using video courses. Before choosing one of the video lessons, you should read the reviews and find out if the proposed chant was effective for others, and whether they were comfortable using it.
Determine the vocal range and timbre of the voice
Source: http://muzykalnaya-shkola.ru/novosti/kak-nauchitsya-pet/
Learn English with Songs: Top 10 Songs for Learning English
Everyone loves to listen to music — hundreds of songs are uploaded to phones, players, tablets
We, residents of big cities, spend many hours on the road, where music helps pass the time.
But do we really think that there is always an excellent tool at hand? This is true, because you can learn English from songs or sign up for English courses. Think how much the daily travel to study / work is good for you!
How do you turn music into fun activities and exercises? We will tell you, because we have chosen songs that are good for learning English — you just need to learn how to work with them correctly.
1. Songs for Kids: Andy Henley / Tym King — One Small World
When the level of English is low, do not immediately strive to understand deep texts, even if it is about your favorite band. Did you sing along to your favorite performer only «in your own English»? Get ready to be very surprised when you start to seriously analyze the words. Complex ornate phrases will not be deposited in your head, but rather «load» more strongly and inspire, what good, that foreign languages are not for you.
We advise you to start with children’s songs.
Yes, yes, to you, a confident lady with a personal car, a driver and a perfume from Chanel.
And to you, even if you are a serious and respected businessman in a large well-known company.
Set out to learn English? All means are good, you need to start from scratch, from the simplest.
Hundreds of children’s songs can be found on the British Council website. Teachers and tutors turn to him when planning children’s activities and trust the materials taken from the portal.
Meet the fun, relaxed reggae song we have come up with
2. Audrey Hepburn — Moon River
Have you seen this masterpiece of Hollywood classics, Breakfast at Tiffany’s? It’s hard to believe: the leading actress Holly Golightly, the unsurpassed Audrey Hepburn, was fluent in 5 languages at once! Imagine, the actress could easily speak English, Dutch, Italian, Spanish and French.
Artists in this regard are a real example to follow. Miss Hepburn’s contemporary, actress Ingrid Bergman, also spoke 5 languages. And some of our contemporaries from the acting environment sometimes know from 3 to 7 languages! After all, they have to play a variety of roles, and they come from all over the world.
As for the song, it is quite simple, the words are repeated from verse to verse. Soundtracks from classic films will suggest many new expressions — it is not difficult to remember and use in everyday life, abroad or in a conversation with a foreigner.
Pay attention to old Hollywood musicals — that’s where there are many songs that are easily broken down into phrases and are easily memorized by heart.
3. Frank Sinatra — New York, New York
Frank Sinatra also sang the song «Moon River». Choosing just one song from his discography is a difficult task.
We considered such hits as “I Love You, Baby”, “Let it snow” and “My Way” (the latter, by the way, contains in its name a stable English expression and means “image” or “lifestyle”, the habit of doing everything “ in my own way ”, in a special manner).
The choice fell on a song about the beautiful city of New York. Not lyrical and flowing, but positive and vigorous, to make learning more fun.
The right attitude and personal interest is also an important aspect in learning, do not miss this moment and listen only to your favorite performers.
Perhaps, having just started listening to songs one day, someday you will really go to the «Big Apple» and will not have any problems communicating with its inhabitants?
By the way, in English the city’s nickname sounds like «The Big Apple». Remember it and, if possible, show off your knowledge.
4. Elvis Presley — Love Me Tender
It was not possible to avoid the lyrics. Although Elvis is the «king of rock and roll», his compositions «Can’t Help Falling in Love» or «Love Me Tender» (she was chosen!) — heart stops.
The song is written in the ballad genre. Allows the level of the language — you may well get to know others in this genre. But be warned: they have a long and rather complex text.
From the pros — the following:
- First, you will learn new outstanding vocabulary and, from the context, quickly guess its meaning.
- Secondly, the ballads are performed slowly and measuredly, in a chant, the words are pronounced clearly and clearly, which will help to develop better listening comprehension.
- Thirdly, you will be able to beautifully confess your love, suddenly there will be an opportunity?
When you figure out the lyrics, go to that work of Presley, due to which he became famous: to rock and roll. The task becomes much more difficult: the catchy beat and fast manner of performance are real listening training!
5. Queen — We are the champions
Don’t consider yourself an ardent Freddie Mercury fan? Carefully! After our classes, you risk becoming!
We chose the composition for a reason. It is designed to inspire new feats and achievements in mastering new knowledge. Give yourself a mindset that you will not abandon the study and become a real champion in this matter.
Source: https://www.divelang.ru/blog/useful/uchim-angliyskiy-po-pesnyam-10-luchshikh-pesen-dlya-izucheniya-angliyskogo/
Vocal lessons
Does the soul sing? We understand you! To learn how to sing more professionally, we offer you vocal lessons. We have an excellent teacher — Olga Zaloga — she will help you to reveal your inner potential, develop your hearing and voice, and then you are not far from performing. And the most important thing is that after classes with Olga you will feel more confident and happier (tested on yourself).
About the teacher: Olga Zaloga is a vocal teacher at the Nickname Center. Graduated from the Kharkov State Academy of Culture, music teacher and educator. She sang in the chamber choir of the Kharkov Philharmonic. All his life he has been studying music, teaching experience for 15 years.
Individual and group vocal lessons for children and adults
Age: 7-17, 18+
Vocal training is divided into classes for beginners and vocational training.
The goal of teaching beginners is the initial disclosure of students’ abilities to sing and the creative potential of breathing with a voice, the formation of good diction and musical ear, a sense of rhythm and aesthetic taste.
Classes for professionals are designed for people who are musically prepared. The aim of the classes is to maintain a high level of professional form with a gradual development of the repertoire. In the classroom, students work on the development of:
- voice and singing range,
- speech apparatus and clear diction,
- ear for music and rhythm,
- purity of intonation,
- working on free sound,
- develop all types of memory, creative imagination,
- master the technique of working with a microphone,
- acquire the skills of the basics of acting,
- form the skills of a successful and self-confident person.
Singing classes carry an emotional and physical stress, develop the respiratory system and internal organs, develop the articulatory apparatus and speech, develop willpower and endurance, develop an ear for music and a sense of rhythm, non-standard and creative thinking, develop communication skills and self-confidence, and much more and a lot of useful things. We can also help you in preparing for a vocal competition or festival, numbers for any event and recording a song at the studio. Classes are held individually or in a group, lasting 45-55 minutes.
Complex music lessons for children 3-6 years old
Classes are held in a playful and accessible form for children. The set of classes includes:
- singing and speaking exercises,
- musical rhythmic and finger exercises,
- speech therapy games,
- playing noise and musical instruments,
- acquaintance with musical notation,
- musical games and fairy tales,
- listening to music,
- drawing to the music.
In the classroom, students work on:
- development of voice and singing range,
- development of the vocal apparatus and clear diction,
- formation of speech and correct articulation,
- development of ear for music and rhythm,
- purity of intonation,
- free sounding,
- develop all types of memory, creative imagination and attention,
- depict the mood and character of music with the help of elementary movements and facial expressions,
- acquire the skills of the basics of acting,
- form the skills of a successful and self-confident person.
Musical lessons carry emotional and physical stress, develop the respiratory system and internal organs, develop the articulatory apparatus and speech, educate willpower and endurance, develop an ear for music and a sense of rhythm, non-standard logical and creative thinking, develop communication skills and self-confidence, is acquired and the skills of mastering tempo, dynamics, rhythm are developed, timbre hearing, coordination of movements, as well as aesthetic perception of the world are formed and developed. Classes are held in a group of up to 6 people. duration 55 min. The class schedule is drawn up.
Cost of classes
Classes for children:
— individual lessons: 250 UAH / lesson, 225 UAH — if paid for more than 4 lessons
— lessons in a duet: 200 UAH / person / lesson
— group lessons: 600 UAH / 4 lessons
Classes for adults:
— individual lessons: 300 UAH / lesson
— lessons in a duet: 250 UAH / person / lesson
— group lessons: 800 UAH / 4 lessons
To make an appointment, call by phone: 050 679 3997, 096 860 9582 or leave a request for a call back and our administrator will contact you as soon as possible.
Source: https://nickname.com.ua/uslugi/tvorcheskaya-masterskaya/zanyatie-vokalom.html
Today, knowledge of foreign languages is required in every field of activity. In particular, English is in demand. That is why as many people as possible strive to master this language. One of the most effective and less costly options is self-study.
Pitfalls in self-study of languages
For beginners who decide to master the language without the help of a teacher, there are many questions and obstacles. What tutorials and methods should I choose? How to learn to count up to 20 in English? How to keep motivated?
First of all, there is a need for the correct organization of the educational process and maintaining control. Since self-study is most often free-form, there are many factors that are highly distracting. This is why it is important to create a schedule and then follow it closely.
If you are wondering how to learn to understand English, use the following helpful tips:
- materials. Regular listening to audio lessons, watching films or TV series on the original, podcasts — all this helps to significantly improve the listening comprehension of a foreign language. To make the process more fun, choose interesting materials.
- books. This is another effective tool for those who decide to start learning on their own. If knowledge does not allow you to comfortably listen to the speaker’s speech without the help of auxiliary materials, then use the recording test and read it in parallel.
- Vocabulary. It is much easier to comprehend speech by ear if you have a rich vocabulary. Pay attention to colloquial expressions that are especially relevant among young people.
Would you like to know how to learn to sing in English? Try not to just listen to songs in English, but sing along with the singers. This will help develop an ear for music and pronounce sounds correctly. It is advisable to choose simple songs so that there are no problems with the pronunciation of words.
English language training. Rice. 1
Subtleties of translation
So, if you are interested in how to learn to translate, consider several important aspects:
- Pay attention to grammar. The English language has a number of specific rules, neglecting which, you risk distorting the meaning of the source text;
- Idioms and fixed expressions are difficult to translate, so it’s better to learn their meaning additionally;
- If the level of knowledge does not allow you to make a competent translation, use the help of special services or applications;
- When translating, pay attention to the spelling, since it is quite easy to confuse words because of one or two letters;
- Make it a habit to write out from the dictionary all unfamiliar words that occur in the text;
- If your level of knowledge does not allow you to translate complex texts, put them aside. Practice with simpler translations.
Learning to write
Wondering how to learn to write in English? Let’s consider the main components of a competent written speech:
- Punctuation;
- Vocabulary;
- Correct construction of sentences;
- Grammar.
The first step is to expand your vocabulary. This will make your speech much more accurate. Look for synonyms for words, use set expressions, phrasal verbs, and as many idioms as possible. Without knowledge of grammar, it is impossible to convey thoughts correctly. Improving spelling is recommended. The English language includes many similar words that are very different from each other in meaning. By making a mistake when writing a word, you run the risk of greatly distorting the meaning of the sentence.
Source: http://cool-english.com/kak-nauchitsya-anglijskomu/
How to learn to sing at home
Have you dreamed of learning to sing since childhood? — Perfectly!
Composing your own songs and want to perform them live cleanly and beautifully?
— Worthy!
Do you feel the talent and ability to “light” the stadiums with your singing?
— Fabulous!
Or maybe you just want to impress a girl or a guy with a soulful song with a guitar?
— Romantic!
Sing karaoke with your friends sometimes?
— Super!
Or you are a musician, sing in a group, but you feel something is wrong (you do not always hit the notes, there is not enough emotion in your voice, a small range, the voice does not listen to you)
— Professionally! Know!
You naturally have a great voice and ear for music!
Every person from birth has a strong, free, filled with feeling vote! Think of any kid! You, too, were once a small and vociferous child! And a bear that steps on other people’s ears was shot dead in the last century!
World practice shows that everyone can learn to sing beautifully, regardless of your current abilities!
It’s as easy as learning to swim, drive a car, or learn a foreign language! Look, this is what a person who wants to sing usually thinks:
- I have no hearing — I don’t hit the notes
- I have a weak voice — it is unpleasant to listen to me
- I have a small range — I can’t sing high or, conversely, low
- I have no emotion in my voice — I sing monotonously and boringly
I myself had exactly the same thoughts. Moreover, I really had all of the above problems. I sang out of tune, in a thin voice, in a small range, and completely without emotion.
Listen to a piece:
I will not torment for a long time. There was not a single person who could enjoy such singing, including myself. I was always embarrassed to sing in the company and even for myself, because I heard that I can’t do it at all.
I took up vocals, but I still couldn’t solve my singing problems. I felt the clamps, and did not know how to get rid of them! Then I decided that I simply had no talent and musical data.
It’s good that I did not give up at all, and I had the perseverance to move on.
I was looking for ways to tune my voice and learn to sing from scratch, tried everything on myself. And as a result, he began to perform with the guitar, and later, he began to compose and perform his own songs:
Yes, I certainly still have a lot to learn. And I continue my studies. But, you see, there is a difference between what was in the beginning and now. I had a huge disadvantage at the start. No voice, no hearing.
I am sure your situation is better, which means the results will be even better! And most importantly, faster!
Now I understand where my mistake was and why I had to spend so many years. The fact is that on vocal lessons most often do by voice acting.
But if a person starts singing from scratch, besides his voice, he needs to constantly develop an ear for music! It is the hearing that controls the voice while singing.
And for the development of musical ear, there are completely DIFFERENT exercises that are NOT given in vocal lessons!
If you want to learn how to sing from scratch, do two things:
- Practice voice training exercises for vocals.
- Develop an ear for music.
Here’s a plan of action:
- Follow clamp removal exercises
- Follow free sounding exercises and breathing
- Follow exercises to fill the voice with feeling and meaning
- Follow exercises for disclosing timbre colors
- Follow exercises to expand the range of the voice up and down
I call this «voice tuning». You exercise 20 minutes a day for 40 days. And you tune your voice, much like a guitarist tunes his guitar before playing it.
Get a clear methodology and all the necessary exercises on the Natural Voice Revival 2.0 online course.
Online course «Revival of the Natural Voice 2.0»
And when your voice is already in tune, you can learn to sing!
Source: https://goloslogos.ru/blog/penie/kak-nauchitsya-pet-v-domashnih-usloviyah
How to sing in American style? CVT Vocal Technique by Katherine Sadolin
Today we will talk about modern Western vocal technique — CVT. She Complete Vocal Technique
This vocal technique is becoming popular in the United States, and in Europe it is the number one technique among vocal educators and famous American singers. Its creator Katherine Sadolin is an opera singer, educator and researcher of the anatomy of the human voice. In Copenhagen, under her leadership, an institute was created where they teach singing and study physiology vocalists — Complete Vocal Institute (CVI).
There is not enough information in Russian about Katherine Sadolin and her method. Foreign vocal teachers have never come to Russia with this system.
Katherine Brown is a singer and vocal teacher from the USA, one of these “first signs”. At the moment, she is finishing her studies at the Complete Vocal Institute and this summer will come to St. Petersburg with a unique two-day master class on the technique of Katherine Sadolin.
Katya willingly answered my questions about the CVT method and helped me figure out why this western vocal technique is so good.
Read our interview below if you want to know:
- what is the CVT method based on by Katherine Sadolin
- what singing techniques and «effects» are used by Western singers
- what is twang and belting
- how to sing like Christina Aguilera and Stevie Vander
- why oh Complete vocal technique so little information in Russian
- and is it possible to undergo CVT training for an ordinary vocalist from Russia
The first part interview with Katherine Brown about musical life in America, how the singer can find work in the USA and record his album.
— Katya, how did you get acquainted with the Katherine Sadolin technique? Why did you decide to study using this system?
— After moving to the USA, I took vocal lessons from different teachers. One of them was Raz Kennedy, it was he who introduced me to Complete vocal technique Raz Kennedy himself studied in the United States with Seth Riggs, with Joe Estil in Canada, collaborated with Whitney Houston, Sting. Is the personal vocal trainer of the group Metallica.
It was Raz who taught me vocals using the CVT method for about a year, without going into too much detail. Even then, I felt progress. But the real insight came to me when I personally met Katherine Sadolin — I attended her two-day CVT workshop in Oakland three years ago. After that, my world just turned upside down! I studied a lot from someone, using different techniques — but this one completely changed my outlook on vocals!
Left to right: Raz Kennedy, Cathrine Sadolin, Catherine Brown
— What was the advantage of the CVT vocal technique?
— I liked that it is designed for any style of singing, from classical and opera to hard rock and extreme vocals. And, most importantly, it allows you to keep your voice healthy! After completing the master class, I decided to continue studying it at all costs.
Plus for me, it turned out that Sadolin’s vocal technique is structured enough and there is no water — everything is clear and understandable. Great for logicians. According to CVT, anyone can tune their voice as their own individual instrument, while changing it beyond recognition.
There are many new opportunities to try and experiment with vocals. Find the perfect sound for yourself.
— What is the name «Complete Vocal Technique « — Perfect Vocal Technique? What is its «perfection»?
— At first glance, the name “Perfect Vocal Technique” sounds as if this technique of singing is the best, perfect. Of course, one cannot categorically assert this about any vocal technique. Although for me, yes, it is the best!
On the Internet, you can also find the translation «complete» vocal technique, more literal. I don’t really like him. For my upcoming master class, I consulted with the translators and decided to use the term “complete — approx.
), because «Complete Vocal Technique» describes absolutely everything that a human voice is capable of. And it covers all the nuances of working on a voice that are important for a vocalist.
It describes how to extract all the sounds available in singing and add various «effects» to your own vocals.
— What is the peculiarity of the Sadolin method? What are the “whales” of this modern Western vocal technique?
Source: https://ovocale.ru/cvt-ketrin-sadolin-master-klass/
Summer with IH!
We learn English like summer, with pleasure, musically and artistically.
We expand our vocabulary using everything we love: toys, animals, food, shopping or a picnic.
Tongue twisters, chants, melodic songs about Baby Shark or If you’re happy in the art class are memorized by themselves.
Drawing, cutting, gluing, making with your own hands is a beloved occupation, so the names of all kinds of fruits and vegetables, body parts in English remain in the memory forever. Well, then, tired of English, everyone will go to dance their favorite dances!
Duration of 1 module — from Monday to Friday for 3 weeks
8 + years
We start learning English in a fun way, easily overcoming the language barrier and difficulties in communication. At the heart of learning are speech, musical-speech, role-playing games and situations that are natural for this age, during which the studied lexical or grammatical topic is worked out.
goal and result — listening comprehension of English speech, formulating a statement immediately in English without translation, reading short texts, building a vocabulary sufficient to compose your first personal English comic strip, write an email or discuss your favorite activities.
Duration of 1 module — from Monday to Friday for 2 weeks
7-15 years
Stage, success, delight and thunderous applause from friends and parents — all this awaits the artists of the musical SummerTime. Everyone who wants to become a star, learn to sing in English and dance like on Broadway is invited!
Duration of 1 module — from Monday to Friday for 3 weeks
17+ years
Intensive English course from beginner to professional level
The goal of the program is to confidently use English in real life. That is why this course develops key language skills: reading, writing, communication and listening comprehension. General English Intensive is an intensive course that will immerse you smoothly in a language environment to help you:
— communicate fluently and confidently;
-Do not be afraid to use English in everyday situations;
-enrich your vocabulary;
— to strengthen the knowledge of grammar in practice;
-Learn to use colloquial expressions and expressions.
Duration of 1 module — from Monday to Friday during the summer months
1-2 class
We will teach your child to read fluently and write correctly. Special play techniques, speed reading techniques, movement from word to text for coherent speech, the use of visual memory mechanisms, as well as other proven technologies will provide exciting lessons and concrete results, the main one of which is the desire to read.
Duration of 1 module — from Monday to Friday for 3 weeks
1-7 class
The purpose of the program is books from the compulsory school list read with pleasure… The format of the classes is reading aloud and to oneself, expressive reading, reading as we tell, discussing what we have read, arguing about characters and events, and most importantly, compiling a reader’s diary and doing it TOGETHER!
Duration of 1 module — from Monday to Friday for 3 weeks
4 — 6 years
Mathematics and logic, the development of speech and creative imagination, English, Russian and a scientific laboratory, a city of masters and a music and choreography class — all this is included in the Summer program for the Lomonosovs. The atmosphere of the classes is unusual: there is no “wrong” assessment, communication is free, one can doubt, make assumptions, reflect and make “discoveries”.
Duration of 1 module — from Monday to Friday for 3 weeks
6-7 years
«Hooray! To school! I’m already an adult! » This is what children say, who will go to first grade very soon. To ensure that these joyful expectations are not in vain, we invite all first-graders in 2019 to our summer intensive program to prepare for school. The «Going to School» program includes classes in the following areas:
- Reading and speech development
- Mathematics and Logic
- Development of attention and training of all types of memory
Duration of 1 module — from Monday to Friday for 3 weeks
7-12 years
The program allows using Abakus (or Japanese soroban) abacus to master all 4 types of mathematical operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. A child, intensively using both hands for abacus operations, stimulates the work of both hemispheres of the brain, and understanding the basics of digital data recording comes to them not abstractly speculatively, but very specifically through the five soroban bones.
Duration of 1 module — from Monday to Friday for 3 weeks
Have you ever wondered if you could actually learn a new language without having to use the same unengaging resources you had access to in high school? How about whether listening to foreign songs could actually help you learn a language?
Well, according to science, the answer is yes! Gone are the days of unburying dusty old textbooks to take on language learning. These days, one of the most popular ways to learn Spanish is through music.
Learning language through music has become increasingly widespread in the digital age. Besides being scientifically proven to be effective, it’s a fun and creative way to learn. In this blog post, we’ll be sharing with you how music can be one of your best pals on this journey.
We at Lingopie created a a new free product called Lingopie Music which enables you to sing your way to fluency with your most favorite songs. Currently we have only songs in Spanish but soon we’ll add more. You can check out the best spanish songs to learn Spanish here.
Why singing can help in learning foreign languages
Singing can benefit students when learning a language because there are common features to both music and language that allow music to improve and shape language processing.
As proposed by many scientific studies, music and language are intimately connected at the sensory and intellectual levels and share many of the same resources. Moreover, music improves several cognitive skills, especially those it’s closely linked to, i.e. language.
By using scans to delineate blood flow through the brain, neuroscientists like Robert Zatorre, have brought forward some impressive developments in neurological theory that support the hypothesis that of the many cognitive capacities, music and language work most closely together.
It has also been shown that there is a connection between music and verbal memory, which would explain why you get some songs stuck in your head!
Emotions activate our memory processes and, in turn, music evokes strong emotions, making it a more powerful tool for memorization and offering an explanation for earworms!
Even just playing music in the background will help you progress.
How songs help you learn a language
So, now that we’ve seen why it works, let’s take a look at how your brain actually pulls it off!
Using music to learn a foreign language helps you remember words, phrases, and sentences within a real-life context.
Music brings in culture in a very organic way. Song lyrics give you context clues and idiom knowledge, which means that instead of simply using your memory to acquire vocabulary and grammar that you might not even be able to combine into comprehensible sentences, you’re actually able to capture the way in which people express themselves in your target language.
Music is also useful when learning a language because when you sing a song in a foreign language, you will naturally try to reproduce the sounds you hear, which will lead to pronouncing the words correctly.
This supports speaking, pronunciation, and accent. You also learn the intonation, tone, and rhythm, called prosody in literary terms, that make it easier to become fluent.
Prosody helps students in learning a language since it’s how your brain actually picks up on tone, phonetics, and rhythm. This makes music a very powerful tool for memory recall because when you listen to songs, the melodies and lyrics are often remembered together.
It has even been found that learning a foreign language through music helps you develop a better understanding of the grammar and structure of the language in a practical way.
Can you learn a language through music?
Yes. One of the best ways to learn a language through music is to find songs in your target language, sung by native speakers and to listen to them over and over again, while also trying to sing along. You’ll quickly learn the words to the song and their correct pronunciation.
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How many times have you had a chorus stuck in your head? Well, there you go… It may seem obvious now that we’ve mentioned it, but perhaps you hadn’t connected the dots before. As seen above, speech melodies will deeply impact our brains.
Another great way to use music for language learning is to find music videos on YouTube. There are many videos that are made specifically for language learners, and they can also be a great way to improve your understanding. Here’s a great article on how to learn languages on YouTube.
Steps to learn a new language through music
Language learning does not have to be monotonous. You can pick up linguistic information by listening to songs.
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When you’re learning a language through music, playing songs in the target language can help you learn grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Additionally, singing along can help you internalize the vocabulary and remember it better.
When you’re learning a language through music, playing songs in the target language can help you learn grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Additionally, singing along can help you internalize the vocabulary and remember it better.
One way to find songs is to search for them on YouTube. You can also find music from other countries by looking for compilations on Spotify, Amazon, or iTunes.
Here are a few steps to learning a new language with music:
1. Go for the music you like
Choose songs that will be pleasant and engaging to listen to because that’ll keep you interested and motivated.
Language learners will often make the mistake of picking songs purely because of their slow rhythm but by following your musical taste, you’ll have better chances of remembering the lyrics.
2. Read the lyrics
Find a song in your target language, and try to understand the meaning. Find the English translation or a video with subtitles and you will pick up on new words.
Once you have found a song that you like, take a few minutes to listen to it and learn the words. After finding the translation of the lyrics online, try reciting the words along with the music. After a while, you will start to know the words without needing to listen to the music.
3. Get the translation
Understanding the meaning of song lyrics is important to help you learn a new language through music. In fact, it can be a fun and enjoyable way to learn a new language.
Either by translating the original lyrics of your favorite songs yourself or just looking up the translation, you can not only learn the words but also get an idea of the song’s meaning. This can help you better understand culture beyond words.
So, next time you’re feeling adventurous as you learn a new language, give translating song lyrics a try!
4. Break the songs down into “chunks”
When you are learning a new language, breaking the songs down into “chunks” can be really helpful. This means that you listen to the song once or twice in full and then divide it into different parts.
Once you’ve done that, listen to each «chunk» separately then try to recite the words along with the music. After a few repetitions, you’ll have memorized the words in no time!
5. Write down the phrases and words you could use daily
You will learn vocabulary just by hearing songs in your target language but you can also benefit from writing these down in order to help your brain assimilate them. This is a great strategy not only to learn vocabulary but also to apprehend grammar in an organic way.
Moreover, it can help you incorporate them so that you can then practice them in a real-life context.
6. Sing along (to practice your pronunciation)
Don’t worry about being off-key! A student’s speaking will benefit hugely if they sing along to a song. When you sing along you try to mimic the sounds that you hear, which will make your accent less obvious.
You’ll therefore be opening up to a great way to practice your new language skills… You will be mastering your pronunciation! If you’re wondering, yes — there are accent reduction techniques and training.
Learn languages on Spotify
Spotify features that will help you when learning a language through music:
- Spotify lyrics: Spotify provides lyrics for most of its songs. You can not only check pronunciation and see how a given sentence is written but also learn natural, connected speech.
- Spotify playlists: with viral top hits per country, search through other people’s language learning playlists and make your own. You can use those for your next lesson and cultural/musical discovery.
- Spotify offers many podcasts: you can listen to free lessons in your target language, or just listen to a podcast on any topic you find interesting in the language you want to learn.
Songs from around the world: the best songs for beginners
Improve your linguistic skills by taking a musical trip around the world. Learn about new artists and expand your knowledge of the culture of your target language.
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Students may also find it helpful to begin with nursery rhymes since these usually have translations. Another good option is the alphabet song, which will help in learning sounds.
If, for example, you’re learning any of the languages below, check out the songs we recommend and you might even come across your new favorite song!
Learn Spanish with music
It’ll all depend on your musical taste, but some good songs that’ll help you learn are «La Bicicleta» by Carlos Vives, «Vivir Mi Vida» by Marc Anthony, and «Bailando» by Enrique Iglesias.
You can learn also learn Spanish with audiobooks from beginner to advanced. Want to know the best part? You can find audiobooks to learn Spanish as well as TV shows and movies on Lingopie!
Learn French with music for beginners
Learn how to speak like native speakers! For example, if you’re looking to learn French, some songs that may help you assimilate the language are «La Vie En Rose» by Edith Piaf, «À Coup de Rêves» by Ben L’Oncle Soul, and «Je Veux» by ZAZ.
If you’re still not sold on the idea of learning French, maybe these 13 French movies for beginners will change your mind!
Learn Italian with music
Try learning Italian with «Cose Della Vita» by Eros Ramazzotti, «Un Raggio Di Sole» by Lorenzo Jovanotti, the iconic «Con Te Partiró» by Andrea Boccelli.
By the way, have you thought of mixing language and cooking? Why not try learning Italian with the best Italian cooking shows!? We still don’t have the scientific facts to back up the statement eating improves your language skills, but we know for a fact learning Italian with TV is a lot of fun!
German songs for beginners
For example, «Komm Gib Mir Deine Hand» a German version of the famous Beatles song, “99 Luftballoons” by Nena and «Guten Morgen, Sonnenschein» by Nana Mouskouri are all great to start learning German.
If you want to learn German, try watching the Top 20 German Movies and TV Shows.
Learn Russian with music
If your goal is to learn Russian, try «Higher» by popular singer-songwriter Nyusha, the folk song «Kalinka» by Ivan Larionov, or «What Is Autumn» by rock band DDT.
If taking a look at the Cyrillic alphabet is enough to discourage you from learning Russian, don’t lose hope yet — we’ve got an article for you: How to Start Learning Russian by Yourself in 10 Simple Steps.
Learn Portuguese through music
If in turn, Portuguese is what you’re going for, how about checking out Salvador Sobral’s «Amar Pelos Dois», which was a huge success in the Eurovision contest, or even «A Vida Toda» by Carolina Deslandes and «Já Sei Namorar» by Tribalistas.
If you want to have the confidence to sing and learn Portuguese — and without drinking too much Caipirinha, pick up these Portuguese phrases for travel and you’ll be ready for a night of karaoke!
Conclusion: Learning a New Language through Music
If your goal is to learn a new language, then consider learning through music.
Whether you listen to the same song a dozen times and learn the lyrics by heart or you just play it in the background while doing something else, it doesn’t matter, your brain will be picking up on the rhythm of the language and optimizing your learning.
Of course, it has been shown that using a variety of tools rather than relying solely on one method is a good way to ensure success, but choosing a musical approach may truly be the key to unlocking your linguistic potential.
Sign up for a free trial with Lingopie and take on the world of languages through music!
Congratulations, you’ve made the decision to take on one of the most notable roles in a band: the singer. But before you attempt to reach the extremities of your vocal range like Freddie Mercury, there are a few steps you should consider.
These first steps will get your body and voice ready to start practicing. It’s like warming up before a gym exercise; this prevents you from hurting your voice. Learning how to sing is much more fun when you don’t strain your vocal cords too much in the process.
Follow these tips to improve your singing voice and learn how to sing better. As AC/DC puts it: “It’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock ‘n’ roll.” In other words, learning to sing doesn’t come easy and requires some work. So remember to keep practicing, and soon you’ll be hitting high notes and navigating different vocal techniques with ease.
Control your breath
The most important tool for any singer is, of course, their voice. Your own voice is unique, so take good care of it. With time and practice, you’ll eventually find your own style of singing that suits you the best. One important aspect of singing and training your voice is practicing regularly with the help of breathing exercises and learning breath control.
The first step to maintaining your voice is to breathe correctly. If you take a breath now, does it feel like it’s mainly your shoulders and chest moving up? Whether you breathe like this naturally or not, it’s a very shallow way of breathing and something we want to avoid.
Luckily, this is something you can unlearn and improve your singing in the process. As a singer, you want to use a breathing technique called diaphragmatic breathing.
In diaphragmatic breathing, you use your stomach, diaphragm, and abdominal muscles to provide stability to your core. Not only is diaphragmatic breathing good for improving your overall singing technique, but it is also helpful for relaxing and reducing stress or anxiety. Practice breathing like this:
- Place your arms around your belly.
- When you’re breathing, you should feel your belly, ribs, and back expanding. This is the breathing technique you want to use when singing.
- Breathe in through your nose to your stomach. Feel your stomach expand against your hand. Your chest should remain still.
- Exhale through your lips while keeping your core strong. As you exhale, feel your stomach move down.
- One helpful method is to imagine that the inhaled air flows first all the way down your spine and then expands your torso 360 degrees.
Vocal tension
Now that we’ve got you conscious of your breathing, it’s time to release some tension. We’ll be focusing especially on your throat, jaw, and neck. After singing or doing some singing exercises, have your vocal cords ever felt exhausted and sore? Or does your neck pulse and feel sore like it would after a workout? If this sounds (and feels) familiar, you might have vocal tension.
Don’t worry, there’s something we can do to alleviate this tension and make you feel better. When you sing properly, you will not encounter such pain and tension. To continue with our earlier gym workout analogy, this is like stretching after a good exercise session or workout to help you recover and come back stronger for the next time.
First, stick your tongue out. That’s right. Get it out of your mouth and maybe give it a good stretch by making some circles. You may already feel some tension leaving your jaw and neck as you release your tongue.
As you sing, your tongue should be allowed to rest and not really take part in the process of making a sound. If you still feel like your neck is getting involved in your singing and your tongue is getting tense, try to sing while sticking your tongue out. This might sound and look silly, but trust us, it’s a great way to ease any tension you might have.
Tension in the neck and shoulders
Next, we’re going to relax your neck and shoulders. Many people raise their shoulders and tense their necks while singing. Similarly, many people may clench their jaws when they’re very focused on any activity that requires their attention. Be aware of this next time you’re practicing or doing some vocal exercises and see if this is a problem you’re having as well.
To help with tension in the neck and shoulders, we’re going to do a simple lengthening of the neck.
- Lean your head towards your shoulder and take deep breaths.
- Try to relax and feel the side of your neck lengthening gently.
- You can also think of pushing your shoulder down gently, the one you’re leaning away from. This way you feel the lengthening a bit more.
- Inhale, raise your head back up, and exhale.
- Repeat on the other side.
Proper posture for singing
In addition to relieving tension from the upper body, remember to also check that your posture is good. Learning correct posture is an integral part of becoming a great singer. As with playing any instrument, avoid slouching over and pay attention that your core muscles are providing enough support for the rest of your body.
Stand up with your knees unlocked. You can think about standing in a moving bus without holding on to anything. What kind of strength and support would you need from your legs in that situation? If your knees were locked and your legs were stiff, you would fall instantly. Instead, think of a strong but elastic support from your legs, butt, and back. This leaves your upper body and stomach free so you can do the deep breathing we talked about earlier.
Warm up your vocal cords
The importance of warming up before beginning to sing can’t be emphasized enough. Like muscles of your body, you can hurt your voice and vocal cords with improper preparations and no warm-up. Proper singing warm-up also helps you to expand your vocal range and strengthen your voice. This allows you to sing for longer periods of time without your voice getting tired, for instance.
Here’s how to warm up when you practice singing:
- Stretch your jaw muscles and face. You don’t have to stop there. If you have the time, make sure to stretch your entire body, including your neck, sides, and back. This will work wonders, especially if you’re practicing early in the morning while you’re still stiff after getting out of bed.
- Another way to relax your muscles and stretch is by letting out a great yawn.
- Do breathing exercises regularly. Follow breathing exercises like the one we described above to prepare your body for singing.
- Test the limits of your vocal range. Start producing a voice at the bottom of your vocal range. Then slowly glide to the top of your vocal range, but don’t strain your voice too much. Glide back down to a low note and repeat.
You can find helpful singing warm-up exercises in Yousician by navigating to the Learn → Workouts tab.
Train and improve your singing voice
There are no shortcuts to becoming a great singer, but that doesn’t mean the learning process has to be boring. Try to create a routine from the different exercises we’ve listed. Perhaps you can start your mornings by concentrating on your breathing before getting out of bed or cheer up your neighbors by giving them a demonstration of your vocal range while making breakfast.
The most important thing is to practice whenever you have the time and you will not be interrupted. As you make daily practice a part of your routine, you’ll notice your voice and singing improve in leaps. Even if you’re in a hurry, try to squeeze in at least 10 minutes of singing practice every day.
To start doing those vocal practices in the morning, you might want to know your vocal range. One way to find it is to use a piano or virtual keyboard. Go through the notes to see how high and low you can sing. You can also use our app to find and calibrate your vocal range. This will help you pick the songs to practice in the beginning. Knowing your vocal range and transposing songs to a lower register is especially helpful for male singers and those with a lower voice.
Later you can even check if your vocal range has improved. This is a great way to track your progress and hear the improvements in your singing voice and vocal range. As your vocal range increases, you’ll be able to sing high notes that you couldn’t reach before. Or maybe your goal is to go lower to hit those bassy low notes.
Learn to sing with your favorite songs
You’ve now made your way through a bunch of facts about singing, and are eager to start using your voice now. That’s the spirit. After all, what really keeps one from practicing is motivation, and in the case of singing, motivation often comes from singing the songs you actually like. Sing songs you enjoy to improve your singing voice, and practicing won’t even feel like work. Who said learning how to sing better has to feel like a chore?
Luckily, Yousician has a variety of well-known songs from different genres and artists to choose from. You can also set up the difficulty according to your skills when searching for songs to sing.
So, choose a song that you like and start your journey of becoming a better singer. Soon you’ll be able to sing along to Freddie Mercury’s live improvisation!
Unleash your inner musician with Yousician. We offer thousands of songs, exercises, and teacher-crafted lessons all in one app. Learn more