Experts in music education often recommend a multifaceted approach when learning to sing a new song, combining specific techniques with a structured practice routine.
Tips for Learning to Sing New Songs
When learning a new song, you may encounter challenging sections or transitions. Here are some strategies that are generally considered effective anytime you’re faced with learning to sing a new song:
Choose the right song for you:
You should choose a song that suits your ability, musical style, and challenges you to gain experience and to help grow your instrument.
Ultimately, the right song for a singer is one that showcases their vocal abilities, connects with them emotionally, aligns with their preferred genre, engages the audience, and allows for growth and development. Careful consideration should be given to these factors to ensure the best possible performance and artistic fulfillment.
Stepping outside of your preferred genre, i.e. if you’re a country singer, learn to sing r&b, or if you are a jazz singer, try to learn a rock song, etc. can help build new capabilities, open new sounds, and overall strengthen your voice.
Listen to the song performed by your favorite artists:
Start by listening to the song multiple times. Focus on different elements such as melody, harmony, rhythm, and dynamics. This gives you an overall sense of the song and helps in deciphering structural components like verses, chorus, and bridges.
This is a great way to hear the song and absorb the song. It’s also a chance to hear your favorite artists and their interpretation of a song for inspiration for techniques you want to apply in your version.
Example: Riptide by Vance Joy: Covers by Taylor Swift and Grace Vanderwaal
Read the lyrics while listening to the song being performed:
This technique helps to start memorizing the lyrics. Sometimes when you listen to a song, the lyrics may not be 100 percent clear, but you can be confident of the lyrics when you are reviewing them.
By listening to the song while you are reading the lyrics, it is making a deeper connection and helping to absorb the song so you can internalize it more.
“Lyrics often contain metaphors, symbolism, or emotions that might not be immediately apparent solely through listening. By reading the words in conjunction with the music, you can analyze and interpret the lyrics more effectively, enabling you to convey the intended message and emotions when singing the song…” offers Katrina Pfitzner.
By reading the lyrics while listening to the song, you build a strong association between the words and the melody. This helps you understand how the lyrics fit into the overall musical structure, including phrasing, rhythm, and emphasis. It allows you to grasp the intended mood, dynamics, and delivery of the song.
Start learning a new song with sheet music:
If you have the ability to read sheet music or have a coach or teacher who can play the melody while you are learning the song, this will help to provide accuracy to your pitch and stability in the melody. By hearing the melody played independently on the piano first and then singing along while the melody is accompanied on an instrument, you can be confident that the notes you are singing are correct.
**Note, sometimes this is good if note for note accuracy is important. Keep in mind though that some of the best renditions of a song are ones that stray from the original melody, so this technique should be applied when note accuracy is necessary.
Learn to sing the song one section at a time:
Divide the song into manageable sections. Isolate certain parts of the song to get started.
Start by mastering the chorus of a song, then a verse, then another verse, then the bridge. Once you know sections of the song, start putting them together (i.e.: the first verse, and first chorus). Slowly work your way through each section, then put all of the sections together until you have performed the entire song. The same way you learn to sing, the way all singers master pitch, or learn advanced math.
Instead of attempting to learn the entire song at once, focus on one section at a time. This strategy, known as chunking, makes the learning process less overwhelming and helps improve memory retention. Chunking aids in developing muscle memory, particularly for complex vocal patterns or instrumental accompaniment. By repeatedly practicing a small chunk, you allow your muscles to learn and internalize the movements required for that specific section.
As you master each chunk, you develop a sense of accomplishment and confidence. The smaller, achievable goals provide a sense of progress, motivating you to continue learning and practicing the rest of the song. This incremental success builds confidence in your ability to learn and perform the entire piece.
Record yourself singing a new song:
Recording and listening to your playing can highlight areas needing improvement and provide an objective perspective on your performance quality.
You should record yourself in rehearsal just as much as you should in performance. This gives you a chance to review yourself and provides you with an accurate representation of your performance. When you are actively performing, you are focused on the song and being in the moment.
By recording your performance you can hear how the performance sounds to an outside listener.
Identify challenging passages or techniques and give these extra attention. Practice them in isolation before reintegrating them into the context of the song.
Regularly practice your new songs:
Consistent practice is key. Set aside dedicated practice time daily, even if only for brief sessions. This reinforces muscle memory and aids in gradual mastery of the song.
Vocal flexibility and control: Learning new songs challenges your vocal range, agility, and control. It exposes you to different vocal techniques, styles, and genres, requiring you to adapt and develop new skills. A study conducted by Sundberg, et al. (2002) found that regular practice of diverse repertoire positively impacts vocal range, control, and flexibility.
Learning new songs stimulates various areas of the brain involved in memory, auditory perception, and motor control. Brain imaging studies, such as the work by Herholz et al. (2012), have demonstrated that engaging in music learning and practice results in structural and functional changes in the brain, enhancing cognitive abilities such as memory, attention, and problem-solving.
“The auditory system is of course critical for music, and it is hence one of the systems that is most altered by musical training” Sibylle C. Herholz explains.
A study by Gabrielsson (2003) suggests that learning and performing various musical pieces contribute to the development of expressive musical communication skills.
Engage with the music through analytical listening
One often overlooked technique for singers to overcome learning a new song quickly is to engage in active listening and analytical listening.
Active listening involves giving your full attention to the song while critically analyzing various elements. Here’s how it can help:
- Melody and structure: Pay attention to the melodic contour, intervals, and patterns within the song. Identify the hook, chorus, verses, and bridge sections. Understanding the song’s structure helps you anticipate what comes next and aids in memorization.
- Rhythm and phrasing: Listen carefully to the rhythm and phrasing of the vocals. Notice where the emphasis lies, how phrases are grouped, and how they align with the underlying instrumentation. This awareness allows you to accurately reproduce the rhythm and phrasing when singing the song.
- Dynamics and emotions: Observe how the artist conveys emotions through changes in dynamics, vocal techniques, and expression. Listen for moments of intensity, softness, or dramatic pauses. By understanding these nuances, you can deliver a more authentic and emotionally compelling performance.
- Vocal techniques and ornamentation: Analyze the use of vocal techniques, such as vibrato, runs, or breath control, within the song. Take note of any vocal ornamentations or stylistic choices employed by the original artist. This awareness helps you incorporate those techniques effectively into your own voice and sound.
By actively listening and analyzing a new song, you go beyond mere enjoyment and immerse yourself in the artistic choices made by the original artist. This approach allows you to deconstruct the song, understand its components, and internalize them more effectively. It enhances your ability to replicate the song accurately and add your own interpretation, resulting in a more polished and expressive performance.
Ask for feedback:
Play for peers or instructors to gain constructive feedback. They might offer insights or solutions to challenges you hadn’t considered.
Perhaps consider working with a vocal coach or, if you aren’t already, think about taking voice lessons, where someone can provide 1-to-1 feedback and guidance. They can identify areas where you may need improvement and suggest exercises to help you overcome specific challenges.
A trained instructor can also teach you proper vocal technique, which is crucial for singing any song effectively.
Remember, regular practice is essential for mastering a new song. Breaking down the song into manageable parts, experimenting with different techniques, and seeking guidance when needed will help you develop the skills and confidence necessary for singing a new song accurately and expressively.