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3 Easy Songs for Beginning Voice Students

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Learning to Sing

When you study voice it's important that you find easy songs for beginners to sing. If your songs are easy it will allow you to focus on your technique.

When you take voice lesson it is traditional to sing opera songs and art songs. Singing opera normally requires you to learn how to sing intricate passages that the average pop song doesn't have. If your main interest is in singing pop or rock songs it is natural to think that opera is a waste of time. However, learning to sing opera is the best way to develop your voice.

If you can sing opera you can sing almost anything. I've had a teacher who compared singing a pop song to riding a bicycle and singing opera to driving a BMW motorcycle in a race.

Still Not Convinced?
Ok, Then. Try Musical Theater
The Songs

Gia il sole del Gange (Opera)
Cabin (Art Song) - The song starts at 4:01
Leaning on a Lamppost (Musical Theater)

Still Not Convinced?

If you are still not convinced that you should learn to sing opera then think about this. If you study opera while other people don't you will be better at singing than them. If you are better than competing singers in your area you have the ability to obtain better gigs then them. Opera and Art Songs are likely to be in languages are not familiar with. This will help you improve your pronounciation of the lyrics. Good enunciation is vitally important when it comes to realising the emotion content of a piece. Without emotion your performance will fall flat and the audience will not care to hear you.

Ok, Then. Try Musical Theater

For those who still do not believe me and insist that singing opera and art songs are a waste of time. Then at least consider singing musical theater songs. Musical theater is what the songs from broadway musicals are known as. They are not as difficult as opera. They are very similar to pop and rock songs, but if sung properly require you to learn many of the techniques of opera. In some ways musical theater songs are better than art songs because they require you to act some. Any time you sing you should do whatever you can to get the audience to feel what your character is feeling.

The Songs

Now that you know what types of songs are appropriate for studying voice allow me recommend a few. I am going to recommend one of each type of song and I will also give you a bit of background.

Gia il sole del Gange (Opera)

"Gia il sole del Gange" by Alessandro Scarlatti "Gia il sole del Gange" is an italian aria. It is from his opera L'honest negli amori which he wrote in 1680. The song is about the sun rising over the Ganges river.

Cabin (Art Song) - The song starts at 4:01

"Cabin" by Tennessee Williams and Paul Bowles. "Cabin" tells the story of a love affair that has gone bad and is now in decay. It has a beautiful haunting melody that when combined with the lyrics can cause chills.

Leaning on a Lamppost (Musical Theater)

"Leaning on a Lamppost" by Noel Gay. "Leaning on a Lamppost" is from the musical Me and My Gal. This song was not in the original play. It was added when the play was revived in the 80's.

This video is of George Formby singing the song. It's not in the style you will need to use, but it does give you an idea how the song goes.

Buy the sheet music

A Final Word

Always be sure to use the proper technique every time you sing. Make sure you treat your practice sessions like they are performances. This is a good way to make sure your singing is constantly improving. I hope your vocal studies go well and your love of singing grows.

Comments

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RinchenChodron Apr 1, 2012 @ 6:15 pm | delete

I love to sing - learned in the shower and commuting in a car all by myself - breath work seems like the basis.

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bloomingrose Apr 1, 2012 @ 5:12 pm | delete

We loved the songs but were intimidated by the opera song!

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scarlettohairy Mar 19, 2012 @ 1:39 pm | delete

I can't carry a tune in a sack but would love to be able to sing!

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LaraineRose Mar 18, 2012 @ 4:07 am | delete

I gravitated to this lens as I used to sing in public. Now I croke in public since my thyroid quit. There is nothing I quite as much as listening to music .. any kind.
Angel blessings.