Hey!

Basically, I found out whilst applying to the conservatoires that almost half of applicants are singers. This was quite shocking to me and I was just wondering whether people had any ideas as to why there was such a huge amount of singers in proportion to the instrumental sections and composers.

So, what do you think?

Well, singing's easier than everything else, isn't it?

Only if you don't take it seriously...

Singers still ought to have a grade 8 in another instrument and theory surely... decent A level grade wouldn't hurt either

Singers still ought to have a grade 8 in another instrument and theory surely... decent A level grade wouldn't hurt either......


...and who's to say many of them don't?
Do you reckon anyone who can hold a tune pitches up (hahah) and presents themselves for audition with no firm musical background?
I think not.

My daughter who graduated from a Conservatoire five years ago had a Grade 8 in singing and Grade 8 in flute. She also had grade 6 in theory and Grade 3, at the time of audition in Piano, she now has a grade 8 piano. She also had a B in A level music. Her fellow Vocal Studies at the conservatoire all had similiar threads to their bow.

She is now a professional singer in Europe.

thats seems a little unfair - the voice is as much an instrument as anything else.
if you were to insist on that you would alienate the really dedicated or specialised singers as they are unlikely to have a second instrument to g8 standard.

I completely disagree. I think its silly to say that a singer must have grade 8 in another instrument. Its not like playing the flute or violin where a second study instrument is closely related to the first study instrument. It is not at all necessary for an aspiring singer, or indeed a professional singer, to have a Grade 8 in another instrument. Of course, keyboard skills are useful and many have them, but similarly, many don't and it is most definitely not essential. There are plenty of singers who can't even read music. Singing is hugely about having the right VOICE, not about which other instrument you play. One of the reps at the Welsh College told me when I auditioned there that a girl turned up and sang Somewhere Over the Rainbow as her first piece, then, when asked for her second, told the panel that she didn't know what to choose so she brought her Disney book!!

Ok i wouldn't go that far - I wouldn't advocate a non-music literate to study at a conservatoire.

I'm telling you it happens. Ask around in the chorus at the ROH...you'd be surprised.

and these people are studying at music college? i'm really surprised.

Yes, they have studied at music college and are now professional singers. Told you you'd be surprised.

Lol! Loving the surprise!

Thanks for all your comments, it's quite interesting reading them. To be fair, I've found wind instruments quite related due to all the diaphram activity and since my techniques in singing developed my flute's tone has greatly improved.

That aside, may I pose another question? Do you think that singers ought to have a decent knowledge of music theory, even if they might not "need" it?

Just curious