Can Kids Sing?

 

 I am of the opinion that EVERYONE can sing. After all, some of the most powerful sets of vocal cords I've seen were on infants. (How can something that tiny produce such sound?!) But the real question is SHOULD kids take voice lessons?
   This is a more difficult question to answer. There are definite benefits a child can obtain from voice lessons. These benefits may include: Confidence singing in front of people, diversity in music selection, and basic musical knowledge. I have found that most of these benefits can still be reached by enrolling your child in a good Children's' Choir. But there are certainly times when a child needs more individual attention, and voice lessons can still be an option.
   Here are some things to consider when considering voice lessons for your child:
1- What benefits are you looking for?

• If you want your kid to sound just like Taylor Swift or whoever is their favorite singer, you may be placing your child's singing voice in danger. (see http://songoftheheart1.blogspot.com/2014/09/common-mistakes.html)
• Be wary of what teacher you chose!!!!! You don't want a teacher who will sacrifice your child's unique gift for a specific sound. Many teachers who take children students don't teach healthy methods. Children are very quick to learn; you may find that your kid's sound seems to blossom instantly, but usually that mature sound comes at a high cost to their voice. If you are determined to get your child into voice lessons, make sure you find a teacher who focuses on vocal health.

2- How mature is your child? I find that most children have a very difficult time focusing on things until they are about 11 (depending on the child). Children younger than that either want to play or be entertained.

• Especially for the method I use, I find that an ability to comprehend basic anatomy is vital. Young children mostly have these concepts go right over their head.
• Also the body sends out hints and clues as to whether or not you're singing right. Children have a hard time recognizing and understanding those hints. They usually aren't self-aware enough.

3-I find that most young children sing naturally in a healthier voice than most adults as long as they are comfortable. As they grow older several factors make them start to tense and sing more unnaturally. Some of those factors include:

• puberty (ah, that glorious time of upheaval of EVERYTHING!!!)
• Peer pressure to sound a certain "cool" way
• The cultural image that makes it appear that to sing high, low, or loud means more tension/pressure
• Fear of cracking

Really our American culture teaches people that they CAN'T sing. They are just not "talented" in that way. It's as prevalent as the lie that women have to look a certain way in order to be beautiful. The way popular media encourages people to sound actually damages beautiful voices and cripples vocal cords in the same way that popular media encourages anorexia and bulimia and other ways of fitting the mold that not only warps the body, but also the mind. Usually the two lies go hand in hand.

   So to sum up: Should children take voice lessons? In many cases I would say it is not necessary, and it can certainly be dangerous. Usually I recommend that children younger than 11 should be enrolled in a children's choir. But I have no problem giving a few voice lessons to children younger than 11 to see if they are ready, if the parents feel strongly about getting their children involved in voice lessons.

For more on this subject, see also http://songoftheheart1.blogspot.com/2014/10/what-can-i-do-to-prepare-my-child-for.html