It is up to you to learn how to sing, whether you take voice lessons or study singing at a university. No matter the situation, you are the one who ends up applying information given to you by others. If you cannot afford to take voice lessons, then you may be able to teach yourself to sing through observation. If you do study voice formally, then you should already know that watching people sing can be a vital part of learning how.


Recorded Videos: Learning by watching a master versus a less experienced singer is one valid way to gain knowledge and much easier to do these days with easily accessible videos on-line. However, be sure the video is not dubbed, as most professional, popular music videos are. Also be aware that if the singer is using a microphone, their sound may be electronically manipulated. Usually you can tell by whether the voice sounds natural or not.

Live Performances: The best way to learn through observation is to watch a singer in person, and acoustic singing is the best to learn from. You do not have to spend a fortune to see people sing. Many local colleges, universities, high schools, and private voice teachers put on free student recitals. Singers may also host music time for children at local libraries or in communities. Some great singers volunteer to run sing-alongs at nursing homes. Churches often hire professional musicians and though a plate is often passed around, donations are optional.

Do not assume a more prepared recital is more beneficial, sometimes casual performances are an even better way to observe how singers create sound.

What to Watch: A singer’s body is their instrument. How they use it will affect their sound either positively or negatively. Observing how movement affects tone quality can inspire you to apply new or old concepts to your own singing. Below are some aspects of the singer’s instrument you may want to take special note of. This list is not extensive and should be used merely as a starting point.

1. Posture: Look at their neck; does the singer’s ears line up with their shoulders, the shoulders with their hips, and hips with their feet? Is their back swayed? Are their feet apart or stuck together? Does their tone quality change if they sit up more or when they move in a certain way?
2. Jaw and Mouth:How wide do they open their mouths, and how do they move their mouth? Does the singer’s smile affect their tone quality? Notice the difference in the sound when mouths are more rounded and vertical.
3. Adam’s Apple: Especially when the Adam’s Apple or larynx is more prominent, note whether it rises or stays down when the singer breaths before each phrase. Does it change position at the onset of sound? Does the larynx go up when high notes are sung and go down for low notes? How do all these considerations affect the vocal sound?
4. Expression: In addition to watching the singer’s body for how they shape their instrument, you should note how they express music. How does a singer do it effectively? What gestures or facial expressions do they make? When they are more “into the song,” do they sound better?

A Note on Imitation: When listening to others sing, it is best to appreciate their distinctive voices as unique. No two people are alike and neither are their voices. If you try to sound like someone else, then you will end up doing it badly. Your voice is yours. Learn from great singers, by seeing what they do with their bodies or how they express the text. Do not try and become them.