That's my question in a nutshell! I have been taking singing lessons on and off for a few months and my tutor is very encouraging, telling me that I have a good instrument. I can sing at sight quite easily because of my string playing. I am no spring chicken now. How worthwhile is it for me to take regular lessons at my age? I would like to be able to sing solos with my local choir but is that just a pipe dream?

There is no reason why you can't sing solos with your choir!! I don't know your age, but I am 40....and started singing lessons last year and have sung plenty of solos since!! If you have a good teacher, as you are already a musician you should be able to progress quickly...but you do need to practice as it's fitness too.

Above all, have fun!

Yes, I agree. I'm a wee bit *cough* older than Dawnmc71, as she herself can testify. I've sung on and off most of my life, though not seriously, and only ever as something I quite liked to do: I was not really a singer, much more of an instrumentalist, though therefore like you, a good sight-reader.

About 10 years ago I had the opportunity to get back into choral singing with a local choir. It was one of the best things I've ever done. I had no real designs on solos, initially, but am a reliable and confident second sop who can switch to alto if needed. A few solos have even dropped into my lap along the way: a couple of weeks ago I did the Faur? Pie Jesu in our remembrance day service (we sang the entire requiem liturgically).

Do give it a go. Talk to your singing teacher and get some feedback.

I think so - if you have a good teacher and practise regularly. I think it's more a question of how long it takes until you're ready (depending on where you're starting from, how quickly you learn, etc). I started lessons close to a year ago, and went from barely getting 3-5 strangled notes, to often getting a nice tone throughout almost 2 octaves. I'm a long way away from doing any solos or even choir work, but the quality of voice necessary is slowly starting to emerge. I'm not a singing teacher though, and have never sung in a choir - I just think most of us can achieve what we want if we're willing to put in the (focused) time and effort. I've seen it happen with people in many other areas.

"A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams." -John Barrymore

I started lessons at the age of 48, and passed Grade 8 at the age of 53. I've just come back from a singing weekend at Benslow where I was one of the youngest participants. So I don't think it is too late, no.

I'm not sure how old you are? Also, not sure what context you have in mind for 'seriously'?

I'd never sung a note until I was 33 (ahem, I'm now 51...). I had weekly lessons for quite a while but with no view to exams etc. At the time I had no other musical experience, although I could read music fluently.

I started singing with choirs after less than a year, initially with my music teacher's one, then with a 'community' type one which was really well geared to teaching choral singing technique.

I started to attend singing days etc which exposes you to repertoire outside of your comfrot zone and gets your sight reading improving.

I then joined a choral society and a chamber choir - different repertoires and types of events.

I've done music weekends (most recently one on the Bach B minor Mass with period isntruments and another on Handel's Israel in Egypt) and summer schools. These are really good ways to improve - and meet people too!

I would like to sing with a choir like the Halle or RLPO but I don't have the time that would require. I have sung in 'occasional' choirs which some together for one annual big event, which is how I got to sing in a BBC Proms concert at the Albert Hall (Vaughan Williams Sea Symphony).

Taking up singing was one of the best decisions I ever made. I'm a fairly strong singer (I sing baritone) and will happily sing on two to a line (just as well as I'm singing Chichester Psalms on 10th in a small choir with 4 to a part - and this is in 8 or more parts in places!). I lack the confidence though to make the step to singing on my own - I tend to lose the plot at that point.

Not sure if that's of any help? PM me if you would like to discuss further.

This boy treble started singing again age 54. I am now 56, have regular lessons, have sung several solos and have no other musical background apart from being thrown out of music at school for messing about!

Go for it!

Well I am thinking I would like to join a local Choral Socuety once I retire at end March, I'll be 65 then.
Haven't sung in a large choir since Harrogate Choral Society in the 1970's. (that was fun, I was deputy rehearsal accompanist too). Not sure I I can still mange the tenor part though !

The worst thing about learning to express music, on whichever instrument, in maturer years is the knowledge that there is proportionately less time available to one in which to improve, and then to play at a satisfying level - it's certainly no reason though not to bother, especially if things are looking promising as they stand.

We do get arthritis, and therefore stiffer fingers, as we age, and hearing can become dulled, as can sight: the female voice changes after menopause and very late on, both men and women tend to begin sounding slightly quavery when singing or speaking - but, if all's well just now, then it's not too late to take singing seriously. If anything that thought of "this might be time-limited" can act as a spur - I'm certainly racing to get the most out of playing before the worrying knobbly bits over my finger joints take over..

Well, what a fantastic selection of replies! You have all helped me to decide to take weekly voice lessons now rather than occasional ones. I sing in a mixed and non-auditioned choir since October and we are working towards a Christmas Concert. The solos are being sung by members of the choir and I think that I could manage a solo sometime if I work hard. Thankyou everyone. Stradi the singer!

glad we could inspire you....

I have a student who started when he was 69. He's just passed grade 2 at 70 and has sung solo in both of my student concerts

A word of caution as the likelihood depends on the standard in your local choir. Also, they may have members with very good voices who have been working towards singing the solos there for quite a time. They may not appreciate a "Newbie" (of any age) who is taking lessons coming along with no experience of the repertoire and expects to walk into the solo slots.

I would love to sing more solos in my performing choir (30 strong, entry by invitiation rather than audition). I have done a few, but the conductor seems to have his favourites in the ranks and I'm not one of them (I was never his pupil ) so I just enjoy singing the music, which is quite challenging enough, thank you.

Yes, you are far too old to sing seriously; only comic songs are allowed once you are over a certain number Enjoy your new singing

Choirs acquire so many baritones that way

Very true - however, StradiVarious, I do know just the choir for you, though, where newbies are ENCOURAGED to sing solos!

No, never, unless physical reasons prevent it. You can always be a good amateur if you are prepared to put the work in.

It would be different if you still wanted a professional career, clocks are definitely ticking in a very different way there...

You do not state your age. Please be encouraged by the feedback of other forumites who regardless of their age are achieving lots as singers.

Local choirs are not the best proving ground. They often have established soloists. Get the solo parts there and you may be putting somebody's nose out of joint (as I learnt to my cost as a young singer).

By all means take lessons and take pleasure in your achievements. Enjoy every opportunity you get to appear as a soloist, but do not be disappointed if someone else gets to sing all the solos; they may not be better than you, it may just be a case of choir politics.

You can take singing as seriously or casually as you like regardless of age. Your effort will be rewarded with results that you can hear and those who really know will be able to appreciate.