Ask HN: I'd like to learn vocals, any suggestion on how I can do this?

I’m a professional musician in NYC. I perform and record classical and “jazz” and compose music. I learned to code a while ago too. Here are a few vocalists who “taught themselves” how to sing: Chet Baker, Stevie Wonder, Ella Fitzgerald, Sheila Jordan, Blossom Dearie, Bob Dorough, James Taylor, Nelly McKay... even Barbara Streisand. (at first) I’d say all great singers play an instrument well, but Ella and Sheila didn’t, nor did Barbara. What do you like to sing? What do you want to do with it? Since you didn’t say “opera” and you called it “vocals”, I’m guessing you like pop or jazz or singer/songwriter stuff. If jazz, who is your hero? If they are alive, call them up for a lesson. I promise they will love to teach anyone with enthusiasm. I know, because I know this crowd of vocalists well. Where do you live? Looking past these times, it would be great for you to just go out and sing with a band every week. Every city has such a thing and it is usually a supportive group of people. Singers are great for that. But most impirtantly— apart from opera— there is no wrong way. we have mics now. Don’t worry about doing something “with bad habits”. The only important bad habit to avoid is to not try for fear of doing something wrong. I promise that there is no wrong if you listen, embrace mistake making and experiment with relish. That is how any great singer or musician does it. You don’t “need a teacher” but it’s fun to have someone to check in with. Better than a teacher— pick some songs you love, learn them and find a fantastic, professional accompanist who will play them with you once a week. (guitarist, bassist, or pianist— even vibes— a comping instrument, not a melody one)I could recommend actual people if I knew where you were. Just listen hundreds of times to great vocalists singing the same song. For example: How Deep Is The Ocean— Sheila Jordan, Chet Baker, Ella, ... anyone you love and imitate exactly how they sing it— note for note, bend for bend, even the scatting parts- especially those. Get the phone app: The Amazing Slow Downer and loop sections so you can sing exactly like them. This builds your ear and your technique. Obviously, you don’t want to sing the song like they do at all, but you want to learn from them. For more current singers—I’ve been digging Natalia Lafourcade recently, her phrasing is impeccable and natural. Nelly McKay is also such a natural singer- her If I had You is so perfect. Just put a little set together w a friend and go outside (10 ft apart) and sing to people walking by. That’s better than any teacher. I wish you great fun and encourage you to get singing ASAP! Cheers!

You may want to check this out- online classes from Berkeley- I saw that you were nearby... https://cjc.edu/workshops/ I know Kate McGarry and have heard Dena DeRose teach many times- both phenomenal singers and teachers of singing. Both classes look interesting! You could also email Kate or tweet to her to see if she might know a good accompanist or vocal teacher or if she herself does lessons outside the music school.

There is also SFConservatory, but I don't know the whole faculty there.

I'm in show biz, so here's some pro advice:

- decide if you have the confidence to sing or not. (Some intrumentalists don't.)

- after you want to sing, get a vocal coach. Singing for a career is the hardest musician job. Your whole lifestyle needs to accommodate your voice wrt food, rest, recovery. If you can't afford a coach, watch some intro Youtube videos and practise for a few couple months.

Here are the problems:

- every vocalist you know has had vocal cord surgery. Even Band-maid. Bon Jovi had a nightmare of vocal problems.

- because they yell at the mike, instead of talking to the mike musically, and letting the PA amplify it. At the turn of the 1900s, this was well-known. Somehow that fact was lost in the 1960s until today.

Seriously, get a coach or you will destroy your vocal cords and prematurely end your career. The stress of deciding if you and your band can perform the next booking or not is shattering.

(There's a video of Justin Bieber on Youtube talking to his mom and manager backstage about throat problems and what to do next, with 20,000 paying, screaming fans outside waiting. Talk about stress.)

You don’t need a teacher. Seriously. The teacher thing is not the mindset you seek. Or rather, your best teachers are the great musicians you listen to over and over and admire from recordings and from your life. Jerry Reed had his own very strange way of playing guitar- it was so cool, Elvis hired him to play guitar on a record because he could not reproduce it.

So you have taught someone to change the tone/quality of the voice they were given to the point where ppl pay to hear them sing?

A great To distinct singing voice like Kelly Clarkson, Norah Jones, Karen Carpenter, Louis Armstrong, Barbara Streisand, Robert Plant, Allison Kraus, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion and many other popular singers is a innate or god given talent. No vocal coach is going to change that...they can help your pitch and breathe but they can't change your tone/quality of voice that compels people to want and or pay you to hear you sing!

I started vocal lessons 9 months ago to improve my singing. I'm no expert but I'll share a little advice.

Try out a handful of teachers and choose someone who matches your goals and levels.

Try to practice little and often. Don't overdo it.

Expect progress to take a long time. Of the order of years.

Good luck.