Music Singing lessons

Voice teachers only concentrate on producing an operatic sound. I’m interested in pop and rock, so lessons are not for me.

MYTH. It is certainly true that some voice teachers concentrate on the classical sound. However, many successfully teach pop, rock, musical theater, R&B, metal (yes, scream-singing is a difficult, but learnable technique) and every other style out there.

Children should wait till puberty till they begin voice lessons. Anything earlier than that can damage their voices

MYTH. While children should not work rigorously to extend their range before puberty, kids should absolutely start voice lessons early. Think of it this way: if your child shows interest in singing, she or he will sing, regardless of whether signed up for lessons. Wouldn't it be better to form good habits and healthy technique early? The Pennsylvania Academy of Otolaryngology has this to say about childhood voice lessons:

“Voice abuse during childhood may lead to problems that persist throughout a lifetime. It is extremely important for children to learn good vocal habits, and for them to avoid voice abuse. This is especially true among children who choose to participate in vocally taxing activities such as singing, acting and cheerleading. Many promising careers and vocal avocations have been ruined by enthusiastic but untrained voice use. For children with vocal interests, age-appropriate training should be started early.”

I can't carry carry a tune. I'm hopeless and tone-deaf.

MYTH. Only a tiny fraction of the population is actually tone-deaf. There's a lot of coordination and muscle memory that goes into singing. A lack of visual and auditory feedback makes it even harder to develop this coordination. There's nothing magical about learning to sing. It's all about diligence and practice, and almost everyone can learn.

Old dogs can't learn new tricks. I didn't start lessons as a kid, and now it's too late

MYTH. There is nothing physical or mental standing in the way of your learning. Adults can make astounding improvements just like kids if they practice diligently and regularly.

Belting is bad for you, and it should be avoided at all costs. Singers should only sing in their head voices.

MYTH. It is true that pulling your chest voice too high can be damaging, but healthy belting exists. Learning to sing in your mix, a combination of chest and head voice, is a healthy, safe form of belting that will not damage your vocal cords. It is used by such singers as Carrie Underwood, Lea Michele, and Sara Bareilles.