Can male and females sing the same songs? I am startng singing lessons with my friend who is a boy so was wondering if it is possible for us to sing the same songs for exams?

Help please

Catherine

There are a whole load of songs that can be sung by male or female voices. However, depending on your respective ranges, you might need to learn the songs in different keys though.

The only real exceptions are songs from opera (which will have been written for a specific male or female character). Also, check out the words. If it's a love song it might be aimed at a boy or girl, and one or the other of you might not feel right singing it.

When you come to doing exams, the ABRSM exam syllabus will help you in its published lists. They say "Songs may be sung in any key, published or transposed, (except those specified for a particular voice in List A). Songs which may be judged to be more appropriate to either a male or a female voice are marked (M) or (F) respectively." (The sentence in brackets is only included for grades 6-8).

Starting with a friend sounds like a really good idea - you'll both be able to encourage each other. Also, have a go at a few duets. This will help both of you develop your musicianship no end, as well as being fantastic fun.

Good luck and go for it!

Thank you your post really helped me

I agree - I'm 12 and my singing teacher always checks the words of the songs very carefully because she thinks that a song should fit the age and sex of the singer at least approximately.
. A lot of the pieces on the list are TOOOOO soppy All about true loves or flowers and yucky stuff like that
It is often quite hard to find a song for a boy treble that is suitable. I haven't started looking at what is in the grade 6 selection yet.