Can Voice Lessons Truly Make You a Better Singer?

Every so often, we find ourselves humming to a tune or belting out lyrics of a favorite song. It's undeniable - music touches our hearts in a manner few other things can, and the act of singing amplifies that connection exponentially. Now, you may wonder, can I amplify my singing prowess? Can voice lessons really make me a better singer? As seasoned instructors at Expressions Music Academy, we're here to share an emphatic 'Yes' and delve into how that happens.

FINE-TUNING YOUR VOCAL TECHNIQUE

Just as a guitar needs the right strum or a piano the correct stroke, your voice, the most intimate instrument you possess, calls for technique and practice. At the heart of voice lessons lie insights on breath control, posture, vocal range, and resonance. By grasping these techniques, you can master your vocal apparatus, offering a sound that is powerful, controlled, and truly your own.

AMPLIFYING VOCAL STRENGTH AND STAMINA

Think of your voice as a marathon runner. It needs strength and stamina, achieved through relentless training and conditioning. This is exactly what voice lessons offer - a gym for your voice. With targeted vocal exercises and warm-ups, you build strength in your vocal cords and the surrounding muscles, letting you sing longer and stronger, minus the strain.

PERFECTING PITCH ACCURACY

A tune slightly off can derail the most soulful melody. And for singers, pitch control can be a constant wrestling match. Voice lessons act as your personal coach, honing your ear and helping you perfect your pitch through specialized exercises and insightful feedback. The result? A vocal performance that is pleasing, polished, and pitch-perfect.

EXPANDING YOUR VOCAL HORIZONS

High notes, low notes, and all that's in between – singing spans a spectrum. A good voice lesson can be the key to unlocking your full vocal range. With an expert vocal coach guiding you, you'll discover techniques that can deepen your lower range and skyrocket those high notes. You'll be exploring a wider range of music styles and genres with newfound ease and confidence.

ENRICHING YOUR VOCAL TONE AND QUALITY

Each voice carries its own unique timbre, much like a fingerprint. Voice lessons can help you find this natural tone and enhance it. By learning about vocal placement, resonance, and vowel modification techniques, you'll create a sound that's richer and more resonant. Over time, this develops into a distinct vocal quality, setting you apart from the rest.

SHARPENING YOUR ARTISTIC EXPRESSION

Singing isn't simply about getting the notes right. It's about expressing emotion, telling a story, and forming a bond with your audience. Voice lessons foster artistic expression by focusing on song interpretation, dynamics, phrasing, and storytelling. You'll learn to weave emotion into your performance, resonating with your audience on a deeply personal level.

MASTERING PERFORMANCE ANXIETY

Stage fright - that beast we've all grappled with. Voice lessons offer a safe, supportive space to overcome performance anxiety. Through performance-centric exercises and constructive feedback, you'll learn to control your nerves, project your voice confidently, and form a real, emotional connection with your audience.

Voice lessons are more than just an investment; they're a launchpad for aspiring singers at any stage of their musical journey. By honing your technique, developing strength and stamina, sharpening pitch accuracy, expanding your range, enriching your tone, and refining your expression, you can truly harness your singing potential. Whether you're aiming for the big stage or singing your heart out in the shower, voice lessons will undoubtedly make you a better singer, fulfilling your musical aspirations.

So, take that first step. Seek out a reputable music school or vocal coach. Embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and musical growth. Your voice is waiting to be heard!

Let's Create Your Melody at Expressions Music Academy

At Expressions Music Academy, we don't just instruct; we inspire. Imagine our talented vocal coaches as your personal craftsmen, eager to help chisel your raw talent into a masterpiece. Steeped in passion and experience, they're fully committed to unlocking your potential, polishing your skills, and supporting you through each challenging cadence.

Your journey with us is never one-size-fits-all. We provide customized coaching, fine-tuning our feedback to your unique needs, and equipping you with the necessary tools to bring out the power and finesse in your voice. We don't just overcome challenges; we transform them into opportunities for growth.

Are you ready to compose your own musical narrative? Contact us today and let your voice take flight with the coaching of Expressions Music Academy. Start a new chapter in your musical story that is filled with discovery, growth, and the unending joy of singing. Your voice is an instrument awaiting its symphony; let's create that melody, together.

What to Know About Coming Back to Your Instrument After High School

At Expressions Music Academy, we firmly believe that music is a lifelong journey. And like any journey, you don’t always make consistent and linear progress, and that’s okay.

That’s why one of our favorite things to do is help people reconnect with instruments they played in high school or earlier in life. It is never too late to learn a musical instrument even with zero experience - doubly so if you have previous experience, even if that was decades ago.

So here are a few things you should know if you want to relearn your instrument after high school.

Warm-Ups and Routines Are Important

Playing scales and warm-up exercises are obviously not as much fun as just jumping in and playing your favorite pieces, but they ARE important. When relearning an instrument after high school, it’s tempting to think you can just pick it up, knock off some rust and play like you remember.

Certainly your muscle memory WILL eventually return to you, but first you have to establish a playing routine like you used to have. Warm-ups are a great way to not only help shake off the rust, but also put you in the right mindset for playing and practicing.

This is especially important for wind instruments where warm-ups can help you with proper breathing and air support.

Learning a musical instrument at any stage is a process of building up to improvement and growth, not starting at the top.

Practice Well by Starting Slow and Using Tools

In a similar vein as getting into the right mindset by warming up and getting back into a playing routine, you should also make sure you’re practicing your musical instrument efficiently.

Even at the peak of your playing ability, you still had to practice. That’s not something you had to do just because you were young, it’s a process that every musician at every level has to do, from amateur to international superstar.

So don’t trick yourself into thinking that you’re “too old” to practice your instrument, or that it should come naturally because you used to play. Practicing is normal, and as long as you’re going to do it, you may as well do it right.

One of the most tried-and-true methods of musical instrument practicing is to play slowly. Trying to play a piece at full tempo before you’ve practiced makes it difficult to address trouble spots and tends to create bad muscle memory. What you want to do is create good muscle memory by playing pieces slowly and accurately, then replicating that success a little faster until you’re at full tempo.

Tools like a metronome and tuner can help keep you honest while you’re practicing your instrument as well and make it easier to stop yourself from the tendency to rush.

Don’t Get Discouraged

While it is absolutely possible to learn your musical instrument again and become as good or even better than you were in high school, don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t happen immediately.

Not only do you have to practice to regain some of that ability, but it’s also important that you don’t compare yourself too harshly against the past. Playing an instrument in high school is a wonderful experience for those who did it, and it tends to give us rose-colored glasses about what our talent level was at that time.

That’s not to say you weren’t talented in high school, of course! But you probably weren’t perfect. And you’re probably not going to be perfect when you pick your instrument back up either, and that’s okay! Music isn’t about being perfect all the time, it’s about the joy you feel when you improve and make music that makes you happy.

So when you’re relearning your instrument after high school, try not to think about whether or not you “used to be better.” Instead, enjoy the music you’re making in the moment and appreciate every small bit of progress you make.

It’s Never Too Late For Lessons

We said it before and we’ll say it again: it’s never too late to enjoy music. At Expressions Music Academy, we teach students of all ages and skill levels to enjoy what music has to offer at every stage.

If you’re coming back to your instrument after high school and want to recapture the magic of making music, contact Expressions Music Academy today about affordable, fun, and effective private lessons to get you back into playing shape!

What Musical Instrument Should You Play?

It’s fairly common to have these two feelings in lockstep with each other: “I want to learn a musical instrument,” alongside “what should I learn to play?”

Don’t worry, that’s not just you! The desire to make music is a strong feeling in lots of people, but not everybody knows exactly how they want to approach it.

There’s no 10-question test you can take that will automatically match you up with the perfect instrument, but there are some things to consider! Keep these factors in mind when deciding to learn a musical instrument.

Physical Requirements

Learning a musical instrument isn’t as physically demanding as, say, playing a game of basketball. But there are still some physical aspects of certain instruments that you should be aware of!

Some instruments are heavier and more unwieldy than others - bass instruments like the tuba, euphonium, and double bass are sure to pose a challenge if you’re not prepared for them!

Of course, those aren’t exactly the most popular instruments to play, but some very common ones have some things to look out for as well!

The trombone requires relatively long arms to hit the far positions, and a lot of arm movement to play fast passages, making it one of the more physically demanding instruments you can play (especially for younger kids).

The flute and violin require you to keep your arms up and maintain a solid upright posture while you play.

Any keyed instrument, including the piano, clarinet, and saxophone, will require you to have decent dexterity in your fingers.

And of course, woodwind and brass instruments will require a lot of air support, so that’s something to keep in mind if you have breathing problems.

Of course, you don’t have to be in peak physical shape to play these instruments, and most of these requirements can be easily overcome with dedication and hard work! But when you’re just setting out to learn a musical instrument for fun, it helps to know what playing it will actually feel like. Choosing an instrument that meshes well with your abilities will help start you off smoothly.

Cost

Obviously you don’t need to own one to start learning a musical instrument - in many cases there are student instruments here at Expressions Music Academy for you to start learning on. In addition, student instruments of your own can often be obtained relatively inexpensively.

However some instruments have more costs associated with them than just the initial purchase or rental. Woodwinds like clarinets, saxophones and oboes frequently have to purchase reeds for the instrument, while guitars, violins and cellos need restringings and other maintenance.

Also, some instruments are just plain more expensive than others. That isn’t really a big deal if you’re just looking to take some lessons for fun, but if you ultimately want to have one of your own, just know that a flute is easier to buy - and to keep in your home - than a piano.

Choose What You Like

All of these considerations amount to very little in the face of the single most important factor when choosing to learn a musical instrument: what do you WANT to play?

This is your musical journey, and you are going to learn a musical instrument that you want to hear, to play music you want to play. You don’t have to choose the best physical and financial match if you don’t enjoy playing it, or you don’t like the sound it makes.

If you want to play the flute, that’s what you should do. You like the drums, piano, cello? Play them! Think about the kind of music you love and want to play, and we can teach you to play that music on the instrument of your choice!

There isn’t anything more important to your ability to learn a musical instrument than your own motivation to do it. And that motivation will be highest if you are truly enjoying the instrument you’ve chosen and you’re having fun with your practice.

If you’re not sure which instrument you’re going to take to, no worries! We can help you trial musical instruments to help you along with that decision. Sometimes you won’t know how learning an instrument will go until you get hands-on with them.

Little things like how the instrument feels in your hands, how the mouthpiece fits, how comfortable you are in proper playing posture, these all will contribute to your decision, and you won’t know how you feel until you try them!

So whether you’ve made your decision on learning a musical instrument or not, contact Expressions Music Academy today and let us be part of your first step into making and enjoying music!

The “Right” Age to Start Music Lessons

Whether you’re a parent of a child thinking about music lessons near you, or you’re later in life wondering if it’s too late to start, the same question comes up - “when is the right time to start?”

The answer, of course, depends. While it’s never “too late” to start, there are certain things to keep in mind regarding the type of music lessons you’re thinking about when it comes to younger children.

Here is a short guide from Expressions Music Academy on choosing the right age to start music lessons in your area. Remember that these are general guidelines - not hard and fast rules. The right age to start differs for each individual person.

It’s Never Too Early for the Basics

We call music the universal language, and like any other language, the earlier you start, the easier it will be to retain that information.

Learning to read music, identify notes and rhythms, and general musical expression is the focus of our introductory early childhood music classes, which bring a fun and active experience for children to build a strong musical foundation from as early as 3 years old.

The lessons learned in these early childhood music classes will help immensely if they move into more focused vocal lessons, piano lessons, or string and wind instrument lessons. The value of understanding the basics of music before starting on an instrument cannot be overstated - it’s an incredible jump-start on getting comfortable with any future music lessons!

What is the Right Age to Start Instrumental Lessons?

While you can’t really start introductory music lessons too early, you CAN start instrumental music lessons too early.

The reasons for this are more physical than anything. You can’t expect a toddler to hold a cello, and most 4-year-olds don’t have the lung support or hand strength to play an oboe yet. Because of this, some music lessons for children are more appropriate at earlier ages than others.

Beginner Instrument Lessons for Kids

Piano lessons for kids can start around the age of five or six, because the keys of a piano are simple to operate. Starting earlier than that can be more difficult as hand size and dexterity may be an impediment to learning well.

Drum lessons are also good for first instrument lessons because they are easier (and fun!) for kids to understand and play.

Voice and singing lessons are also a great starting point that don’t require children to hold or manipulate anything except their own voice. Singing will be included as part of our early childhood music classes. The most important thing at this early age is to not restrict the kids, but to encourage and nurture their natural curiosity and allow them to express themselves with their creativity and imagination!

Musical Instrument Lessons to Start Later

String and wind instruments are a bit trickier, as the right age to start can vary by instrument. 

Violin lessons can begin as early as 4 or 5, but 6 is generally a good target age if you’re looking for the absolute earliest starting point. Violins can scale down easily for smaller hands without changing the fundamental skills too much.

For wind instrument lessons, there are more things to consider. Flute and clarinet are more difficult instruments to learn, they require more lung capacity and consistent air support. There are potential physical limitations to consider for wind and brass instruments, like fingers needing to be big enough to cover tone holes, or arms being long enough for a trombone slide.

The right age to start flute lessons or clarinet lessons, in addition to other wind and brass instruments, is usually no earlier than 8-10 years old. This is a good age for guitar and ukulele lessons as well.

Contact Expressions Music Academy

At 10 years of age, most children are developed enough to begin just about any kind of music lessons, but as you can see, some music lessons can begin much earlier than that!

And of course, it’s never too late to start with music lessons either. So contact Expressions Music Academy today so we can help you take those first steps on your music journey!

Am I Too Old For Piano Lessons?

It’s something that gets said all the time:

“I’m too old for piano lessons.”

“I should have started when I was younger.”

“I started learning but then never picked it up again.”

We talk to a lot of people at Expressions Music Academy that think it’s too late to start piano lessons in the Metro Detroit and Washington DC metro areas.

But no matter how many times we hear it, the answer is always the same: it’s not! It’s never too late to start piano lessons, no matter who you are! So let’s break down some of those misperceptions.

It’s Not Too Late for Piano Lessons - Celebrate Your Small Wins

Learning to play piano, like learning to do anything else, takes practice and dedication to improve. So yes, obviously you’re not going to start out being Chopin, but that’s okay!

The experience of daily practice and improvement can and should be fun! You may not be going on a world tour after your first month, but the point of adult piano lessons isn’t to be the best in the world, it’s to improve yourself and learn to express yourself through music.

Learning to play a scale or a short piece of music - even learning to read music - is a major step forward that you can feel good about. Start there, and see how far you can go! You might surprise yourself!

Piano Lessons to Learn the Music You Love

The piano is a versatile instrument - you can play just about any song you want on it with enough practice. And believe it or not, many of your favorites may not even be that difficult to learn!

Everybody has different reasons for wanting to take piano lessons - that’s one of the reasons it’s never too late to start piano lessons. Our adult piano lessons cater to your goals - and for many those goals just include learning to play a few songs you love so you can sing along with your family.

That’s a great goal, and one we’re happy to help you get to! We can tailor our adult piano lessons to get you on the track to playing the music you love as quickly as possible. But of course, that’s not the only reason to take adult piano lessons - there are lots of things you can learn for!

What You Can Do After Taking Adult Piano Lessons

Many people think it’s too late to start piano lessons because their opportunities to play or use that skill have all but disappeared. But nothing could be further from the truth!

If you have a piano or keyboard in your home, obviously you can play whenever you want at home. 

But what if you want to perform for an audience? Expressions Music Academy holds recitals and helps connect you with piano performance opportunities and competitions but there’s more you can do!

Community ensembles are always looking for volunteer players if you’re interested in playing with a group. You can play accompaniment parts for your children or grandchildren if they’re learning wind or string instruments, or play for your local church. There are lots of opportunities to perform, even at amateur skill levels!

How big or small your piano journey goes is up to you, but the first step you can take is here. No matter how old you are, right now is the youngest you’re ever going to be. So if you’re interested in taking adult piano lessons, whether to start a new hobby or find a new form of expression, contact Expressions Music Academy today!