Book singing lessons near me in New Plymouth

Vocal styles and how we use them to learn

If you would like to learn how to sing, one of the first things to keep in consideration is style. Style can offer you a clue as to what type of singer you would like to be. For example, there is a great difference between learning how to sing Hip-Hop like Eminem and learning how to sing Pop like Sia; not just the style of music they sing, but how they sing it. Another great difference would be your range: for example, David Bowie has a baritone range while Michael Jackson has a tenor range, but both of them can be considered Pop artists. So range is another important aspect to consider.

If you already have an inclination to singing, then probably you know in which songs your voice fits well and in which songs it does not. If you are taking lessons, your teacher can then deduce from the song you like so much and that you love to sing effortlessly its vocal line and therefore your range. But people can expand their range as they progress in their vocal practice, so do not be discouraged if you have not found a song that you can sing from beginning to end with no effort.

Back to styles: once you have found your range, then it is time to take a look at the style you are interested in. Probably you know this already because you tend to gravitate towards a specific style of music, like Soul music for example. Knowing the style you are interested in and the one you tend to enjoy the most is a great starting point because now you and your teacher can start tackling every technique that might be specific to that style. In vocal practice there is a basic technique and then a specific technique that addresses the aspect of the music style you are interested to learn. From phrasing to range, from licks and scales to rhythm and accents, all of these aspects are what make the music style and the singer that you like sound the way they do.

So start your singing lessons with the music style you would like to learn already in mind. It will give you a road map to your progress and you will have a clear goal in mind. Your practice then will feel more interesting and you will be more motivated to practice every day.

Learning music in New Plymouth

New Plymouth city located in the Taranaki Region is the home to one of the most important - perhaps the most important - music festivals in New Zealand. WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) is an internationally established festival that brings together artists from all over the globe to celebrate music, arts and dance. During three days the people of New Plymouth, families, older and younger from any generation are invited to partake in this amazing event that is held annually. The Festival offers multiple stages, onsite campground, workshops, DJs, retail and food stalls from around the globe. If you are learning music and you would like to get inspired in your community, New Plymouth and the WOMAD festival is the place for you. And if music is your passion and you have the desire or you are already diving into writing your own original music, who knows maybe one day we will see you performing on one of the stages at the festival!

Find the perfect music teacher for you

Superprof is a great platform for finding the right teacher for you. The platform has thousands of music teachers and music instructors across New Zealand. On our website you can find a wide variety of teachers dedicated and specialised in different instruments, music styles, training and level. Whatever your desire is, you will be able to find the right match for you. Prices generally range from $20 to $50 per hour and most teachers offer their first lesson for free. Teachers offer as well the option of having lessons at the student’s home, their home or online, which lately has become more and more a viable form of exchange between teachers and students. If you are looking for classical training, or you just want to learn a few songs to sing and play along; if you are advanced and want to reach a next level or if it is the first time you’re laying down hands on a musical instrument, Superprof will give you the chance to find the perfect music teacher for you.

The benefits of learning music with a private instructor

Learning music is a common dream for many people. That’s why now more than ever there is a great offer of tools, apps and videos that can help us in our quest of learning music. However, when it comes to picking up an instruments and laying hands on it, whether it is pressing down a key or bowing a string, you may soon realise that your relationship with the instrument that you’ve chosen comes with specific challenges to you, challenges that apps and videos may not be able to address properly or at all.

This is why learning with an instructor is so important. The benefits are several, but primarily we can focus on two: discipline in your practice and music lessons tailored to your needs. Lessons are usually one hour per week, but learning a musical instrument will require a brief, but consistent practice from your part. Then, students and teachers can review what was practiced during the time between their lessons and address concerns and questions that might have arisen. And students under the tutelage of teachers who they meet on a weekly basis may have a better chance of having a consistent routine, only due to the fact that they are engaged in a weekly session with an instructor. Because of it, progress and improvement may come at a consistent rate and your experience learning music may be a very pleasant one as you can witness your abilities and skills expanding steadily.

Learning with a teacher is a personalised experience as well. The teacher will address the challenges and difficulties that are specific to your relationship with the instrument, or any other aspect of music for that matter. The teacher will guide you through what he or she will consider to be the better path for your improvement. And he or she will pinpoint the mistakes you may be making in order for you to correct them, as well as the improvements that you might have made that week so you may continue practicing feeling motivated and with a purpose. But learning with a teacher is also a human experience; learning with another person with whom you can communicate, ask questions, bring out your concerns or just someone to whom you can explain in great detail the challenges that you encounter as you learn music. Not to mention the fact that you are learning someone with whom you can have fun, laugh and enjoy each class, it is something that can only be found in the teacher-student relationship.