Why Every Musician Should Be a Singer Too - Music Performance

[@MusicMattersGB]

Learn Music Online - Check out our courses here! www.mmcourses.co.uk/courses

[@joebloe9901]

Singing is an absolute must for any musician. In college they made all of us musicians master singing, even if your voice was horrible like mine. We would sight-sing everyday. In composition class we had to sing every line of music that we wrote. The whole point of this was to make us good musicians. The sight-singing taught me to make my instrument sing. Singing also taught me to hear any piece of music and write it on paper. It greatly enhances your theory, aural perception, and mastering your instrument. It also helps you to understand how to backup a singer on stage, not just harmonies but to actually HELP the singer to sound better with your instrument as well. I cannot say enough about singing. Great video.

[@MusicMattersGB]

Absolutely

[@jenniferbate9682]

But to me as a musician, singing was always there…piano is my first study, but all my life, singing has been my most natural way of expressing my inner musical feeling.

[@sideman7117]

Well said

[@MusicMattersGB]

Completely

[@frankspears4597]

Before the pandemic, there was a singing group at work (nhs). I came more alive, my mood improved and felt relaxed for an hour before returning to work.

[@MusicMattersGB]

Singing really lifts the soul.

[@jayducharme]

You're correct: in my freshman year, the chair of the college music department told me I had no musical talent and should forget about singing. Fortunately, I didn't listen to him and kept on caterwauling. Eventually, I improved and found to my surprise that singing helped me with composing. So I'm glad I kept at it. The way I learned pitch, BTW, was to get a pitch pipe, pick a note and then hum that note into it. I could clearly hear the varying beats as my voice drifted off pitch, and could adjust my voice accordingly.

[@MusicMattersGB]

Thank goodness you didn’t take note of that ghastly advice!

[@randolphmitchell6851]

Great video! In my experience in the US, singing for the general population has dropped off dramatically in, say, the last 50 years. We used to sing in school, sing in the movie theaters (follow the bouncing ball!) and sing in church. People would gather around a piano at parties and sing. Today, there is hardly any group singing. Even at churches, songs written for professionals are presented by bands and are often pitched well beyond the range of the average person, so there is little congregational singing. This is a sad loss! I am part of a small group that goes around and sings hymns at nursing homes. You can actually see some of the benefits you talked about being realized in the residents as they join. I would love to see more singing in our part of the world!

[@MusicMattersGB]

Absolutely

[@violinstar5948]

As a violin teacher I have always included singing because it improves intonation and pitching of notes aswell as learning challenging rhythms.

[@MusicMattersGB]

Absolutely

[@stevewilson9790]

Brilliant video as usual. I began my musical journey as a trumpet player, but my music teacher initiated my love of singing by asking me to sing just one note. That note was part of a chord with 3 other brass players singing the harmony(acapella.) We were in a huge hall and the sound of that single chord changed my musical life. The teacher believed that all instruments are capable of beautiful music, but only the voice is capable of beautiful music AND words. She taught us intervals by comparing them with songs we knew. Somewhere over the Rainbow = octave, Auld Lang Syne =perfect 4th etc.

[@MusicMattersGB]

Tremendous musical testimony

[@stevewilson9790]

In support of singing's health benefits, I just wanted to mention a lady in our choir. She had a serious lung problem and needed 3 therapy sessions each week. Since joining the choir, she now has just one therapy session. Just before my father died aged 90, he was the only patient on the ward who didn't have an oxygen mask. The doctor actually asked why dad's lungs were so well developed. (Dad sang tenor in a choir all his life. He also played bass tuba in a brass band.)

[@carlstenger5893]

Excellent video. I had the very good fortune to start my musical journey as a member of a world class boys choir. With 90 minutes of rehearsal 5 days a week, we learned a lot about all aspects of music. Unlike Great Britain, the United States does not have a large contingent of choir singers versus sports fans, more's the pity. All the arguments you offered are one hundred percent accurate and true. I hope than most (if not all) of your viewers will take your advice to heart and leap into the world of singing. Thanks!

[@MusicMattersGB]

😀

[@tortoiseperson]

Great video! Singing can be really cathartic and excellent for mental health as well as so fulfilling. I honestly think singing saved my life at a time when I extremely unwell.

[@MusicMattersGB]

That’s great testimony

[@TheStobb50]

Singing is always something I’ve had a problem with I’m an amateur musician and songwriter my work has been severely hampered by my terrible voice I’ve tried all kinds to improve it where it has improved but it is nowhere near palatable to the ear. And to make things worse I have a cousin who is a top opera singer I think he got my share. Thank you I love and appreciate what you do

[@MusicMattersGB]

You have talents that contrast with those of your cousin. Celebrate them.

[@rethavanzyl5499]

Great video!!! Thanks Gareth. I wish I could get schools to all have singing time again. The kids are not singing anymore and it is audible when they do. I hope many people will be inspired by this video to start singing again.

[@MusicMattersGB]

Wouldn’t it be great to get the whole world singing? It would transform humanity.

[@Mezilesialan]

Thank you Gareth for this interesting talk. I am teaching children to play guitar by ear. We hear the song. We sing the song. Then we play the Melody, phrase by phrase. Frere Jacque. Drunken sailor etc….. The children love it and so do I. Alan

[@MusicMattersGB]

That’s a fantastic way to go about learning.

[@thepianoplayer416]

A lot of Pop musicians including Elton John, Billy Joel, Paul McCartney, etc. are both singers and play an instrument like a guitar or piano. On the other side of the coin, there are professional singers but play no instrument. Some don't even know basic music theory. Many people listen to music on radio & recordings all the time. Not many including those who took lessons (piano, violin, etc.) feel comfortable playing or singing in front of people. Every year around Christmas the movie "Sound of Music" from the 1960s featuring Julie Andrews & Christopher Plummer would be aired on TV. Some in the family would record the music off the TV with whatever means available. The songs are memorable and easy to sing. Getting relatives to sing in a holiday gathering would be next to impossible. I have a few friends who sing in a church choir. One would host a party in December getting everybody to sing Christmas carols & holiday favorites. I usually avoided singing by playing violin to accompany the pianist.

[@MusicMattersGB]

😀

[@CalebePriester]

It's been like two years since I started learning the intervals. I started learning ascending melodic intervals. Then I realized I also needed to know how to sing descending melodic intervals, right? So I started working on those. Now I always manage to guess melodic intervals 100% right. Melodic intervals are not hard, especially when you have songs to associate them with. For instance, I associated the perfect fifth with the opening theme of Star Wars and the major sixth with the love theme of Star Wars. Descending melodic intervals were harder for me, I had to sing them and then invert then to be able to guess, but with practice I managed to be able to know them without inverting them. After that I started learning harmonic intervals. At first I had a bad time with them, but with practice I got better. I did like 50 exercises every day and with time I got better. I can't tell them all the time with 100% accuracy, but I always manage to be around 85%. After that I started to sing, and whistle, the major scale and then the minor scale. Then I did think I might as well learn how to sing all the seven modes, right? I should be able to sing them, they just start at different points so if I know how to sing the major scale then I should know how to sing all the seven modes, right? Now I'm working on major chords, minor chords, augmented chords and diminished chords. At first I had a bad time differentiating between augmented chords and diminished chords, but with practice I got better. I started in root position and worked my way into first inversion chords. After I get really good at then I will add second inversion chords into the mix. I also train seventh chords, but only in root position. I still mess up half dimished chords and fully diminished chords, sometimes I get them wrong, but I'm getting better. I also started trying to differentiate between sus2 and sus4 chords. I'm having a bad time with those, but I know with practice I will be able to differentiate between them. And after that I will start inverting them as well. My music teacher always said to me that I should sing, but I would not listen to him and now I see that he was right. Sometimes we don't have our instruments near us and we should be able to sing and use our voice to make music. I just wish I had realized that sooner haha By the way, I use this website to train perception, it's called teoria dot com, it's free!!

[@MusicMattersGB]

Always good to take a systematic approach

[@AlejandroRodriguez-ob4ow]

A great video. I am totaly agree with you sir, because it has been a great help for me. Greetings from México. Congratulations to your work..!!!

[@MusicMattersGB]

That’s great and thank you.

[@ryanEstandarte]

20:49 Just want to share that in my early days as a chorister, unknowingly I would rehearse my pieces on my way to school or going back home. Sure many people would look at me when I'm doing it in the bus and I do make mistakes. But as I look back at it, it helped me gain my confidence in singing whether they like it or not (as long as I sing in tune).

[@MusicMattersGB]

Absolutely

[@MatthewCastro]

I’m so glad I started singing. I wanted to learn guitar so I can sing with it. I totally agree that musicians should learn how to sing, it’s the instrument we’re all born with we should learn good to use it as well. Dylan and Townes actually really inspired me. I’m going to release a new song I’ve been working on here in a few days on my channel. I just started to learn how to sing last year. Definitely recommend it to everyone.

[@MusicMattersGB]

😀

[@izabelatomaszewska2388]

Yes, you are right, I agree with you 👍👍👍👍

[@MusicMattersGB]

😀

[@sideman7117]

With regard to singing, I grew up thinking you either have it or you don’t. I tried singing in the church choir but I never could find my voice. It seemed that my range fit halfway into one register and halfway into another. Therefore, I concluded I don’t have “it”-whatever “it” is; but I’ve always wanted to sing, especially to complement my guitar playing. I’ll give it another try. Thanks.

[@MusicMattersGB]

Go for it

[@rillloudmother]

i think this because it is how i first started to learn music, humming the note and finding it on my guitar.

[@MusicMattersGB]

😀

[@materdeimusicd.buckley2974]

I totally agree. Lockdown really killed singing unfortunately. I'm trying to pluck up the courage to go back to the singing club I'm in. A group of us meet once a week except for summer. The rule is no instruments. Unaccompanied only. Many write songs. This club has led to much creativity. Some put words to well known tunes, others compose their own melodies. What amazes me is many of these singers have no formal music training. They can't read music. Yet some great songs have come from singers in this group. It also forces me to learn songs that sound good without accompaniment. Keeping the pitch to the end. Practicing at home, checking my pitch. My initial entry to the music university was through doing 2 part Kodaly exercises with a neighbor who was a well known musician. I didn't realize it at the time, but now I understand. I highly recommend Kodaly exercises if you want to improve your ear. People look down on tonic sol-fa, but I love it. It helps learn by ear very quickly. So everyone, listen to this wise Garreth and start singing.

[@MusicMattersGB]

Absolutely

[@kathleencook3060]

Music is Language. Many different languages! Linguistics, ? So very Instructive . I have a very "good ear", bur a "flat voice ". For a female voice I have a very low pitch. Thank you so much..

[@MusicMattersGB]

A pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme. If you value this channel and would like to help us continue to share and develop the content please consider supporting us as a level 1 Maestro by clicking here kzbin.info/door/8yI8P7Zi3yYTsypera-IQgjoin Alternatively you can express your support for the channel by clicking on the Super Thanks button beneath any of our videos. Thank you.

[@viggosimonsen]

You have convinced me. I am a saxophonist. You are a great teacher and motivator

[@MusicMattersGB]

That’s most kind

[@nadasou]

Everyone can sing, not necessarily being a musician who are trained in musical principles, etc. Talking , as in chitchat or in formal speeches, is also a great way to sing though the melody is less prominent. Talking to people, to friends... can convince, can express, can deliver empathy... a powerful tool to communicate, albeit to slander... Mouth and larynx come together is the natural musical instrument, so take a good breath, sing...

[@MusicMattersGB]

Absolutely

[@bassrumblings]

You have convinced me ! I will try to sing the melodies. It is a good idea.. didn't realise how useful it would be for the rhythm of the song.

[@MusicMattersGB]

😀

[@MrCato52]

I love to sing and I use to sing but always had other musicians accompany me. So I became a worship leader in my church after not singing or playing my guitar for 15 years and started focusing more into how others sing and getting their keys 🎹. Now I’m very good at that but I feel that when I try to sing some frase of their song I’m all out of the dynamic of the lyrics. I’m wandering why?

[@MusicMattersGB]

Probably because you’re leading/ directing the singing.

[@sureshjohn5912]

Sir....thanks so much for inspiring us to sing.... I will teach, play keyboard, drums etc.. but never thought of singing... If you ask me why???? I will say, if i hear my voice, i want to slap myself.... LOL... And no interest in singing.... I will teach choir members...and my singing session finished there... But nw I understand the importance of why every musician must be a singer too.. Thanks again Sir... God bless....

[@MusicMattersGB]

That’s great

[@stephenbashforth8257]

Hi Gareth, singing - or at least being able to pitch notes and intervals is very useful - if one wants to learn to pay a (jazz, pop) solo (as a way of learning improvisation from "past (or present!) masters" being able to sing the solo with all its nuances is the first route to transcribing / transferring it to your instrument.

[@MusicMattersGB]

Absolutely

[@thepianoplayer416]

A lot of people who play guitar would play songs out of lead sheets without the melody. They'd be playing chords while singing. Piano arrangements of songs including the ones notated as a lead sheet usually contain the RH melody with the LH doing the accompaniment. You can deliberately leave out the melody (top notes) and just play the bottom. Your voice would be singing the melody instead.

[@MusicMattersGB]

😀

[@danielecolla5767]

Years ago I witnesses a youth orchestra workshop with a conductor. The orchestra played Smetana's Moldaw. They played through the right notes but it did not sound right. The workshop conductor went on stage, the first thing she said everybody put down your instrument and sing the music they had in front of them, I saw there was quite a bit of resistance from the musicians ( we are players and not singers) She insisted for a goo 40 minute just to sing rather than playing: After working on singing she said now take up your instrument and play: Well, amazing, suddenly the music became MUSIC. Even the kids and the teachers watching the workshop were amazed as well. All it took to make music was ; SING your part. Since that, even if I am not a singer, I always insisted in learning the music by singing before transfering it to the instrument.

[@MusicMattersGB]

That is brilliant

[@hi-bs1jz]

Such a good video, your channel is so underrated!

[@StratsRUs]

Great video.Well Done !

[@MusicMattersGB]

Thank you

[@The_real_dj_farmer]

The Best of the best thank you sir ❤️💚💛👌🔥🔥

[@MusicMattersGB]

You’re very kind.

[@alandenton2973]

Great video, many thanks. I am definitely going to look at some relevant mm courses to enhance my (very limited) vocal skills...any suggestions. ?

[@MusicMattersGB]

That’s great. You might think about starting with our sight singing courses.

[@evelyneduval6441]

Very interesting and encouraging video! You are lucky in the U.K.(unlike France) to have this tradition of choral music which inspired and developped so many talents (thinking of the Beatles!).

[@MusicMattersGB]

It’s true that there’s a choral tradition in some countries. I’m certainly glad to have been a part of it.

[@kachiyoungsoul9690]

I just realized that a musical staff is a quantized frequency vs time graph

[@MusicMattersGB]

😀

[@sustainablelife1st]

Even my mother, who loves me, howls when I sing. people can be really rude to people who can't sing. I always get made fun of when I sing. Or when I sing around someone who can sing, they always re-sing what I just sung, but in tune - like they are correcting me. So, I don't sing in public. i do in the car or alone at home. But never in front of anyone. When you are constantly humilitated, it shuts you down. I can play the guitar quite well. My ears work, but I can't translate it to sound via my larynx.

[@MusicMattersGB]

Singing in private sounds like the best option

[@patrickwells4014]

I would like to hear on KZbin a lecture titled "Singing, The Basic and True Gateway to Musicianship." and another one following called "How the App is trying to erase the Thousand Year Tradition of Solfeggio and Ear Training."

[@MusicMattersGB]

😀

[@johnries5593]

Assuming the hardware is in good working order, then yes. As a former band director of mine put it, we expect a band to make a much better choir than the reverse.

[@MusicMattersGB]

😀

[@yonat-admoni]

Thank you so much from ISRAEL 🇮🇱 great video!!!🎀✔🙏💥🕎

[@MusicMattersGB]

Thanks for your support

[@rosaliedeneubourg3225]

I've been playing the piano for about 4 years and thought that additional singing lessons wouldn't hurt. But already during the first lessons I realised that it was not for me, because I couldn't cope with these breathing exercises. I just wanted to sing and not learn any breathing techniques, so singing from sheet music remains unattainable for me and I limit myself to learning new piano pieces from sheet music.

[@MusicMattersGB]

If you want to sing well you need technique. This video is not asking people to become professional singers but pointing out some of the benefits of singing.

[@aleenashafaat2295]

I agree with you..

[@MusicMattersGB]

That’s great

[@bronney]

I gave up arguing with a mate on being tone deaf, if you know it's "wrong" then you're not tone deaf. Tone deaf means you don't know. I kept saying if you're actually tone deaf, how do you tell the difference between a 90s robot's speech and a human speech. It's pitch. You're not tone deaf.

[@MusicMattersGB]

Absolutely

[@scotisland]

Very interesting.

[@MusicMattersGB]

😀

[@bsdiceman]

I am encouraged.

[@MusicMattersGB]

That’s good

[@fnersch3367]

For me, the greatest singer I have ever encountered is Max Van Egmond. He operates at a different wavelength from the rest of the musical world. Still carries me away after a lifetime of listening to him.

[@MusicMattersGB]

Brilliant

[@martinh1277]

Why Every Singer Should Be a Musician

[@MusicMattersGB]

Of course

[@abagatelle]

Great advice Gareth. There are several really good sight singing apps for mobile phones/tablets too.

[@MusicMattersGB]

😀

[@abagatelle]

@@MusicMattersGB 10 months later and I've now been a member of a Choral Society for the past 9 months. It's helped my musical journey no end, so thanks for the encouragement!

[@MusicMattersGB]

That’s great. Continue to enjoy.

[@sheekyking]

Do you have any videos on how to sing? With more details and techniques?

[@MusicMattersGB]

We have covered this in general terms

[@RobManser77]

I would love to sing, but have always really struggled. I can play three instruments, both from written music and improvising, have written my own music, and play for around 1-2 hours a day. I listen for about 9-10 hours a day. This has been the case for about 35 years. Sadly my voice cannot produce the notes that I hear in my head. I hear a C, want to sing a C, but out comes an Eb. 😕

[@markoconnor6746]

If you can do that consistently learn solfege C=la Eb=doh

[@RobManser77]

@@markoconnor6746 Thanks, I'll check that out. I did have singing lessons once, and the teacher got me singing by starting me off humming and with simple intervals. It was starting to work, but I couldn't afford both singing and cello lessons, so after a few weeks chose to focus on the cello. I've not tried soflege, so I'll give that a go.

[@markoconnor6746]

@@RobManser77 Look for the Literate Musician by Andy Mullen on the KZbin Its supposed to be for primary school teachers but as as an adult student it helped a great deal with both rythmn and pitch. Its based on the ideas of Dr. Gordon which in turn seem to be based on Kodaly. principles.

[@MusicMattersGB]

Certainly worth trying different approaches

[@DanieltheTruebadour]

I'm always irked when someone says something like, "The band had four musicians and three singers," as if singers aren't musicians. It doesn't help that people think that, while strumental musicians must study to command their instrument, anyone can sing. Lemme illustrate. When I'd be looking for an empty practice room to practice on my violin, I'd occasionally see my friend Ray Gibbs vocalizing, sweat pouring down his face, driving home the fact that opera singers (Ray went on to sign on as the youngest baritone at the Met) are ATHLETES. The voice is one of the most difficult instruments to study or to teach, along with the violin. You have to exercise, develop muscles, hit a pitch with pinpoint accuracy while singing a run at breakneck speed. You have to be able to pronounce so that the audience can understand you, in at least eight different languages (English (harder than you'd think), Spanish, Italian, French, German, Russian, Greek, Latin and Hebrew, just for starters - I've sung in all of those, plus Japanese and Portuguese, Arabic and Hawaiian, with varying degrees of success). So let me say it once again: Singers are musicians, VOCAL musicians.

[@MusicMattersGB]

Absolutely agree!

[@catsansculo]

A lot of preconceived notions. I was a piano student at the time I was rejected for the choir and for me middle c was everything. My world revolves around middle c but I thought it would sound a lot more important and interesting after I saw your video sir thank you I tried out middle c and it sounds a bit I am sorry to say flat and uninteresting. I pitched it correctly just now but thought this is middle c very low and boring. Any way I have learnt with this not I have to correct the well pitched growl that comes out instead of a note. Thank you also to a commenter who suggested a pitch pipe buying one.

[@MusicMattersGB]

Keep at it.

[@alandenton2973]

Please sing the rest of the ice cream song. It was very moving.....

[@MusicMattersGB]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Koopadon]

Hi is whistling is like singing? Thank you for the advices :)

[@MusicMattersGB]

Sure

[@Koopadon]

@@MusicMattersGB thank you for your answer :) I'm less embarrassed by the idea of ​​whistling than singing 😅

[@MusicMattersGB]

Go for it

[@sustainablelife1st]

no. singing involves many more and different muscles, the larynx, and sound making methods than does whistling. A lot of people can hum or whistle, but can't step up to singing words. But whistling is a start. I can whistle like nobody's business, but I can't sing a note in tune. But, it's a start.

[@MusicMattersGB]

A useful starting place for many. Most people find it harder to whistle than to sing.

[@johnries5593]

I'm guessing that those who really are tone deaf aren't likely to take up instrumental music (except perhaps keyboard instruments) as intonation would be highly problematic.

[@MusicMattersGB]

Certainly it’s worth choosing sensibly

[@canman5060]

I can't sing but I can harmonise and counterpointing with singers !

[@MusicMattersGB]

That’s great

[@chilledmoulestr7075]

when i sign, everyone suffer. including me

[@MusicMattersGB]

Oh dear!

[@jenniferbate9682]

It’s important and perfectly normal to have your voice as part of your musicianship. You should not be a musician if your inner ear and feeling from your soul don’t feel natural when singing. If you’re a natural musician, you will have been singing from childhood with parents, friends and in school and other choirs. Singing comes first in life then other instruments, but your voice is your first. In nursery rhymes and then later, any songs that catch the imagination. To me, thiis video is stating the obvious. I’ll go further; you can’t be a musician without a natural singing ability, be it jazzy or classical.

[@RobManser77]

I think (correct me if I'm wrong) that you are confusing a sense of pitch and musicality with an ability to sing. Someone can be a musician and/or composer without being able to play a specific instrument, and that includes the voice. I'm far from the most talented musician out there, but I am a typical amateur in that I play three instruments (clarinet, guitar and cello) and have written and recorded my own music. I used to play live regularly, and can improvise as well as read music. Most of my life has revolved around music for as long as I can remember. However, whilst I can hear pitches in my head, I can't produce pitches with my voice - they come out wrong. Me singing is like someone who can't play the violin trying to play one.

[@MusicMattersGB]

Two very interesting contrasting experiences there.

[@waynethomas3638]

so should all singers be musicians as well?

[@MusicMattersGB]

Sure

[@waynethomas3638]

@@MusicMattersGB and if they cant learn to play any musical instruments should they then not be aloud to sing?

[@MusicMattersGB]

Everyone should feel free to sing. The more the better!

[@nuttysquirrel8574]

No, no, no!!! I have been a subscriber for a very long time, enjoy most of your videos and have learnt a lot over the past years; thank you. However, on this one I will completely disagree with you. I spent 10yrs in HM Royal Marines Band playing the clarinet, violin and saxophone to an excellent standard. But, other than a perfect 5th (Lights Out!!!) I simply cannot sing/hear an interval, nor can I sing in tune. I firmly believe that both perfect pitch, and relative pitch, are a gift from 'above' and cannot be taught. I think we'll beg to differ on musicians singing out-of-tune !!

[@MusicMattersGB]

Thanks for supporting the channel. The video of course was about much more than that. I agree that perfect pitch is a ‘gift’ but relative pitch can be built.

[@superblondeDotOrg]

Reason #1: So you can go to karaoke and totally rock it out and have random listeners give you props later Reason #2: To make spare lunch money by busking on a busy corner while practicing songs Unfortunately the worst lessons I have ever had, ever, were with vocal instructors for teaching singing. Vocal instructors seem generally horrible whether they are working at a lesson franchise, or independent instructor, or even in a university.

[@MusicMattersGB]

Oh dear

[@waynethomas3638]

throat damage does not help

[@MusicMattersGB]

Absolutely true

[@fearlessgaming976]

You were healthy 2 years ago what happened??

[@MusicMattersGB]

I’m much more healthy since shifting weight.