Wanting to sing is always a personal choice, but figuring out whether it’s right for you beforehand can often save you a lot of time, money, and investment. Sometimes, it might not align with your goals or lifestyle, so it’s always worth weighing the upsides as well as the downsides.
Here are some of our thoughts to help you with this decision:
You love singing anyway
One of the biggest signs you should learn to sing is if you love singing anyway, even if you’re not a great singer yet. If you’re the type of person who’s always singing songs in the shower or while driving and it brings you happiness, then it’s a good sign that going for professional voice lessons is a good idea.
Singing is a feel-good activity because it releases various endorphins, like serotonin and dopamine. These improve your mood and reduce stress. It’s a great way to feel better without using any equipment or having to even spend any money on anything.
Look back at a typical day and ask yourself how many times you naturally sing without even thinking about it. If it’s more than two or three times, then it’s probably a good idea for you to take it up as a hobby.
You want the wellness benefit of singing
Another reason in favour of learning how to sing is when you want the wellness benefits. Singing is actually a bit of a workout for various parts of your body, including the lungs and diaphragm. It also forces you to adopt a better posture and breathing control. Studies show that people who sing often have:
- Better mood and less depression
- Reduced pain perception
- Sharper memory
Group singing may offer additional benefits – being with other people and doing it socially creates a sense of community and reduces loneliness. These activities are particularly important in today’s culture where more people live isolated lives away from their families. Choirs and other singing groups often offer emotional and physical well-being support.
You want more confidence and self-expression
When you are testing your voice to the limit, it can also help you gain more confidence and enable greater self-expression. Going for lessons means more than just being able to sing better at home. It can also boost things like your communication skills and your willingness to speak in a group.
For some people, learning how to sing is a matter of personal growth. It’s something that can support them for public speaking or performances when they need to express themselves fully. Springing builds a sense of self-reliance that may be challenging to find through other hobbies.
You have career or performance goals
Sometimes it makes sense to start singing just because you have various career or performance goals. Joining a choir, for example, requires you to be able to sing at a high level, especially if you’re going to be asking audiences for money.
You may also need to learn to sing to audition for musicals or pursue music seriously by yourself. The more lessons you get, the easier it will be to hit the high notes and stay in range. You can also learn how to sing without inducing vocal damage, which is important if you’re going to be doing it regularly.
Training your singing voice for a specific goal often helps you stick to your practice more consistently. It turns it into a short-term adventure, into a long-term part of your lifestyle. When you have a North Star, dedication is easier.
You’re curious
Another reason to learn singing is simply because you are curious. If you want to find out what your voice can do, regular practice of 10 to 30 minutes every day is often enough to bring you up to a high level.
These days you can get singing lessons which are convenient online or in person. These vary according to your maturity and level of skill. Most people see results when they start slow and then snowball their results. Over time you should see measurable improvements, and it’s never too late to build skills as long as you can train your voice and you don’t have any conditions that prevent you from using it properly.
You have time in your life
Of course, learning to sing isn’t a top priority for a lot of people. If you have other commitments like family or a demanding work schedule, then learning to sing can seem a long way down the list.
By contrast, if you have three evenings, then all you really need to learn how to sing properly is 15-30 minutes of daily practice.
Unfortunately, singing progress can feel slow at first, which can be frustrating. However, over time you’ll develop muscle memory and break some of your bad habits. Eventually, it’ll become something you enjoy and that actually relaxes you in the evening. Once you’ve built sufficient skill, it’s something that you want to go back to all the time, further building additional skills.
You have the budget and resources
The budget and resources required for singing is usually pretty low, if not rock bottom. You don’t need a lot of equipment, and you can even train online.
Of course, if you want to get real feedback and expert direction, then going for voice lessons is a must. But, often, you can also learn to sing with apps, or even get the basics on YouTube.
You should still consider dedicating some money to learning to sing, but once you’ve made the initial outlay, the cost is often manageable.
The bottom line is this: if singing is something that brings you a lot of joy or health benefits, then it’s worth pursuing. If it’s something that you enjoy doing and listening to, then try exploring a free resource that teaches how to sing or go for your first lessons. You should understand after a few hours of doing it whether it’s the right thing for you. Don’t give up immediately if you find it hard. Keep going and see where it leads you. That’s part of the fun.
