One of the main goals of singing, is to sing beautifully in tune...
"I am tone deaf" is a frequent statement we hear from students starting out in singing, particularly adults.
"You can never teach me to sing in tune, there's just NO WAY, I am absolutely tone deaf" - and we'll both have a giggle!
Singing in tune does not come naturally to everyone - even those who have sung for a long time can come across "pitchy" from time to time. Illness, a difficult song or diving into a totally unfamiliar genre can throw even the most seasoned ear out. Tone deafness however, is in fact an incredibly rare - and actual - condition, formally known as amusia. In my 20 years of teaching, I've only ever come across one person with this condition (and even so, we were able to instil the enjoyment of engaging with music and the process of learning.)
Pitch issues and singing out of tune however can be super common, and it can feel very embarrassing for singers of all levels, and the tough part is it's one of the most fixable parts of singing that indeed, realistically takes time and commitment to correct.
Singing in tune requires two skills:
#1 - First, you must activate, sharpen and enhance your hearing, listening and aural senses
In order to sing in tune, you must first hear and mentally retain a piece of music. Your ears have to really wake up and activate beyond simply listening for enjoyment. At the highest levels of singing, you also begin to notice and recognise nuanced changes and details - and you begin to hone in on this skill even as a beginner.
Many beginners want to sing in tune but aren't bothered (or taught) to first hear in tune.
Many beginners want to sing in tune but aren't bothered (or taught) to first hear in tune.
What you sing is first processed by your hearing system and the memory of the music you are trying to sing has to establish itself in your mind first.
We often refer to this as a "reference tone" or "reference note" - but in practice, it is the art of hearing a whole song (which is a collection of reference notes) and remembering its many diverse details.
Singers - This. Takes. Time. - and repetition. It is also often the MOST SKIPPED STEP of learning.
Notice when you automatically sing along with a piece of music. Do you ever stop to simply listen and study the song first?
Learn to savour the listening, before you sing out.
Yes, it's exciting to open our mouths and sing out with our fav artist...but learn the art of simply listening and absorbing what you hear. Patience is a virtue here that pays off!
#2 - Secondly, you'll combine remembered notes + good vocal control, to sing accurately.
This step is a little like driving a manual car: You have to balance the clutch, with acceleration. It takes a little bit of trial, error and checking for accuracy - even for advanced singers (as often by the time the voice is at a higher level of skill, the songs become more complex, harder and more layered in technique).
This is why exercising your voice is hugely important, because it develops and improves the control you have over your voice. Without vocal control, even if you hear the notes correctly, you will constantly sing the wrong note - which causes frustration and you enter the dangerous "give up zone"...don't go there! It is sooooo fixable.
In short - singing in tune is the by-product of listening really well, establishing the music you hear in your mind, and controlling the voice to replicate and deliver it with accuracy and style.
Go ahead and IMPLEMENT this:
Here's a link to one of our Principal Teachers, the lovely Alisha Mishhawi - chat about pitch on our YouTube channel: Click Here
Step 1: STUDY the SONG and YOUR VOICE - by listening intently
This is the step you need to refine and heighten your hearing skills:
Record yourself often. Set aside any "self-cringe" feelings temporarily, and learning to listen to your own singing with an objective set of ears
Listen to your scales and songs you love. Notice the direction of the music, volume, and the spaces and distance between the notes.
Step 2: IDENTIFY and MIMIC what you hear
In this step, you attempt to sing what you hear - such as a simple song, or a basic set of notes on a vocal scale. Every attempt - no matter how out of sync - is a step closer to singing in tune, as neural pathways are built and strengthened over time and with repetition.
Step 3: MATCH and REINFORCE
This is the last to master, where you begin to hear yourself match the correct target notes of the scales and songs you like.
Matching is the last step - don't focus on this first.
Remember - if pitch is an issue for you - go slow to go fast. Do Steps 1 and 2 thoroughly first, and spend a few weeks there!
Yes...it takes time, but it's not impossible and it simply requires knowledge, the right exercises to target, and a little old fashioned time, practice and patience.
If you're a current student, we look forward to seeing you in studio or online...and hope this helps increase your understanding of your unique voice (and ears!)
Ready to Sing?
If you're not yet a student, we hope to see you when you're ready to begin! Book a FREE Introductory Lesson HERE or JOIN the Singing for Adult Beginners Course Course HERE
Happy Singing,
Dr. Veronica Stewart
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