How to learn music, continued 

MUSIC - poi la musica

I don't have a piano!!
If you do not have access to a keyboard, never fear! There are many apps for pitch sources, AND this handy little online piano. 

But I'm really bad at piano!
1. If you have access to a keyboard at all, you should take advantage of it. There are online and in-person resources for learning how to play, and it is a skill that will serve you well, especially if you plan to teach music. I'll post some suggestions for practice patterns for singers soon! 

2. Use online notation software (like MuseScore or Noteflight) to your advantage! If you spend the time carefully inputting your melody *with correct pitches and rhythms*, you can build yourself a practice reference that will play for you (with the bonus of knowing your music that much better for having copied it all into the notation software!) 

I'm not ready to sing words yet...
No worries! Keep working on that separately.
Practice singing on vowels that are easy for you - for some folks that's [i], for some it's [a], others like [u] (remember the IPAChart...)
Try a range of vowels so you don't feel stuck - language uses many sounds!

Okay I know my melody and rhythm, and I can speak the text. Now what?
Speak the text in rhythm first - that will clear up many issues later. . .

Then, try singing some of it! There are lots more details to this, but this is where your teacher and you can strategize. 

Some folks who are working on legato singing find success singing "only the vowels" of the piece - taking away consonants and focusing on an unbroken, consistent sung line. (I'll post an example of that soon)

Some folks find that rhythm becomes very difficult once text is added in - go back to speaking in rhythm to re-solidify that before re-incorporating the melody. 

But I don't have a pianist*!
Bummer! Pianists are the best. . .but they're not usually available for every practice session. (Especially right now, which is still a time of isolation from others in live-music making, especially as aerosol-producing singers!)

Use your internet search skills - "composer name song accompaniment" will help you find what's available on youtube. Hopefully in your key!

Certain paid apps - like Appcompanist - have many songs available, in various keys, and give you the option to vary your tempo! 

Otherwise, ask your teacher for suggestions - pianists may be willing to record your piece for you to practice, until it is possible to get together in person to work together again.

*I prefer to use the term pianist, or collaborative pianist, rather than the outdated term "accompanist". If they're playing song repertoire, their part is important too - not subservient to the singer!

​Back to the resource list