Book singing lessons near me in Porirua

Learning to sing: practice is more important than talent

You are interested in having singing lessons but you think that it would be pointless because you are not a natural singer. That might be one of the most common misconceptions that people have before taking music lessons, one that might actually stop people from feeling motivated and reaching out to teachers for lessons. But the truth is that your voice is like any other instrument and just like any instrument there are several things we need to learn and train before we become good at it. But your voice and your singing skills, because they are so inherent to you, may feel like it is either something that you have or you don’t.

Music lessons are there to help you discover your talent, and music is a very complex discipline that involves rhythm, ear training, and notes that are very precise. Some people are naturally gifted in some of those aspects, and some people are not, but that does not mean that people cannot get better and skilful, especially under the tutelage of a vocal instructor or music teacher. For example, someone might be very good at singing the right notes, but might lack sensibility to rhythm and coordination. Others might be very good at rhythm, but not good at  hitting the right notes. Some people might be good at both and some people might be bad at both. This goes for all music training, not just voice.

When you have challenges related to any of these aspects, your teacher can certainly help you to overcome them by exercising that aspect of musical training. For example if you are having a hard time hitting those notes, your teacher might tell you to just try to listen to one note played in the piano and sing only that one single note. This focuses the exercise and simplifies the challenge. Then, you might sing two, three or a scale. Then a chord and so on. If you are having issues finding the right rhythm, part of your lesson might be dedicated to listening to music and tapping or clapping to the beat, then clapping double time, then tapping or clapping a simple rhythm, etc.

Remember that talent is not the most important thing to a musician, in fact it is the hard work that all musicians, from the most novice to the most expert, will spend a considerable amount of time working and perfecting their craft. This has nothing to do with the natural abilities one may have, this has to do with your passion and your desire to improve and to reach that dream moment in which you will shine in your art.

Learning music in Porirua

Porirua is the birthplace of one of the most exciting musical projects in New Zealand: The Virtuoso String Orchestra. This orchestra made out solely of young kids between the ages of 12 and 20, has revolutionised the way that families and young kids relate to classical music. If you are a student of music in Porirua you cannot miss a performance by the Virtuoso String Orchestra. Their repertoire is not just classical but very eclectic, playing also pop songs, Christmas songs and operatic repertoire. This is a very inspirational project that will make you feel that anything is attainable.

And if you are looking for different bands and styles of music in one place and that you as a music student can be part of, then the Kapi-Mana Music Festival is the place for you! This festival allows emerging musicians to have the opportunity to perform for a wide audience and showcase the talents of young music students trying to have the opportunity to perform live with their peers. Porirua is a city that offers plenty of opportunities to the next generation of musicians!

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.

Improve your musicianship by learning music notation

Learning to read music can open the door to a great repertoire of music, but one thing that you may not realise is how learning these symbols and signs and applying them in your playing will improve your musicianship and your expression. First is rhythm and tempo. Tempo is simply the speed to which the piece of music should be played at, and throughout any piece it can change from normal to faster or slower. You could find the word Accelerando, which translates as speeding up or increasing speed. Other examples of this are Rallentando (slowing down), Ad Libitum (play freely), Animato (animated), Più Mosso (more quickly) or Senza Tempo (no tempo or no strict tempo). Other indications such as Maestoso (majestic), Cantabile (easy to sing), or Con Anima (with soul) can be found at the beginning of the piece and they are meant to point out the spirit and attitude meant for the piece. Dynamics is another great aspect of music. The softest you can play a note is called Pianissimo and it is usually abbreviated with a double P (pp). A soft sound is called Piano (p), a not so soft volume or Mezzo-piano (mp). Mezzo-forte (mf), Forte (f) or loud, and finally very loud or Fortissimo (ff) are three levels of loudness for any note or passage. These are just a few examples of how elastic and expressive your interpretation can become by following the different indications of a particular piece of music. Then the goal is to find your unique expression, your unique way of playing the different indications and making the piece your own.