hi my name is nicola
this is my 1st post here and im not 100% sure how things work round here
I mean i dont go to a college or anything for singing, i just do my own thing really
ive never thought i was that good, but lately people have been saying im a good singer
I would love to go to a college an study music, cause i also play piano and guitar and well i really think i would enjoy it
but the main question i wanted to ask is how long have you all been singing for?
I only started singing at the age of 13
pls reply

nicxx

Hi Nicola,



I suppose the question really you're asking is, how long have people been either training or studying singing! I've sung all my life in choirs and bathtubs but only took it mildy seriously from 15 (few scattered lessons)and got some professional level training from 19. Now armed with a degree and ATCL I inflict myself on pupils on a regular basis!

Muisc colleges (do you mean a conservetoire like RAM or RCM?) are extremely hard to get into and the standard is cut-throat, requiring lots of training with a good singing teacher. Even with that, there are no guarantees!

There is no limit to when you can start to be any good, look at the exponential rise to power of KatyJay on the forums!

However, that isn't the be all and end of singing! If you wanted to take your singing a bit further on, I'd recommend a singing teacher to help develop your technique and to get involved with a choir or something.

The main trick is to enjoy it....

Hi Nicola

Welcome to the forum.

Like Jazzywench, I've been singing pretty much since I could talk. But I only decided to take it seriously and to have lessons when I was 35 - just under three years ago. I sometimes wish I'd had the chance to do it when I was younger - but that's not the way life worked out.

Jazzywench is right. Your best bet is to sing with as many choirs, folk groups, clubs or whatever style of singing you like best. And, if you can afford it and afford the time, have lessons with a teacher.

My main message (yes, I know I repeat it a lot) is that it's never to late to take your music as seriously as you want to, and that music's for life not just for exams!

Have fun, and hang around to see how everyone else is doing.

cheers

Katyjay

I started at age 11/12 but didn't really get into it till about the age of 13/14

Char's message-If you really want it badly enough, whatever the circumstance it will happen (go for it!!!!!!!)

hi all and thanks for the welcomes

im not sure what RAM or RCM is or what it means jazzywench, to be honest im just starting to think about singing and dont know much at all
thanks for the info though and i will look into it for sure
im thinking of getting a good singing teacher soon, because ive never had one and just done my own thing, which is ok but i need to learn different things

here is a few songs of me singing, its only on a site called pop idol talent box and is for fun, they do not give you the best choice's of songs but ive tried to do the best with what i had.
It lets you do overlays so that gave me the option to do harmonies (something i have only just learnt to do)

i hope you like the songs please give me a honest opinion if you listen

ironic

girl in my mirror

nicxxxxx

ps also have any of you got any things with you singing because i would love to hear please either pm me or post on here if you have

Wow Nicola I love those songs!! Go you!

awwwww thank you so much saxlover

i started lessons proper at 16 so i have been singing for 5 years.

Grr, my computer won't play your tracks!

RAM-royal academy of music
RCM- royal college of music

Both based in London and are by no means the only ones. They focus on performance and hopefully developing your ability to actually go out into the world and be a professional musician. However, unless you have a VERY strong jazz/musical theatre background, the singing courses are geared towards classical training. Plus they cost an arm and a leg. A two year masters course at RAM would have cost me 12 grand in fees alone!!!

Edit: aha, laptop lets me hear it! Right first thing- get rid of the reverb!!!!!! It's horrible and is depriving your voice of the lovely clarity I can hear in places. In my humble opinion reverb is a lazy technique studios use (along with an overdependence on microphones to gloss over a lack of technique) when the singer isn't up to scratch and that is not the case here, so let's hear YOU! There is loads of potential, but you have to strip it back! A teacher could help strengthen your lower notes as well. (Sorry. singing teacher in me takes over sometimes!)
jw

Nic I really liked what I heard, and with your lovely looks as well I think you've got loads of potential. I agree with Jazzywench's comments re. the reverb - you don't need it. I'd love to hear you sing some New Country songs - maybe you'll end up in Nashville some day!

Keep going, and thanks for letting us listen.



Amber
x

PS.
I only started a couple of years ago, and I'm 46!

I can't make them play either

Hi Sarah, what operating system does your computer use? My desktop is Win 98 and wouldn't play but the laptop was XP and played fine. Might have somthing to do with it...?

Hi Nicola!
Welcome to the forums! I hope that you have fun and learn what you need! I sure that I do.
I first starting singing lessons at 12, so I have been taking classes for 2 years now.

Christina

I'm on XP... maybe I'll try again sometime...

I think I've always sung - I've got cassettes of me singing when I was only 5 - and it wasn't that bad! However, I didn't start singing seriously till I was about 11. I sang in various choirs and groups, then as I got involved in music theatre I decided I ought to be able to teach others how to sing, so I had lessons myself when I was about 15.

David

Wow, ur an amazing singer Nicola! u sound really cool, if u ever wanna chat on MSN add me plz!

Wow Nicola I really love all your songs, especially No Matter What You Say
I'd love to talk to you sometime just PM me for my MSN.

Hi Nicola.

I'm 17 and I've been singing in choirs since I was about 9- but only in school choirs and things. when I was 14 I joined my school choir and I have been taking it seriously since then. I started lessons last october and just got a Distinction in my grade 7. I think lessons are a great idea for you, they will help you find out what your voice is really suited to and there are many places you could go to. Like Jazzy Wench and Katyjay say, the RAM and RCM are good but expensive places. There is also the RNCM (Royal NOrthern College of Music) RWCMD ( Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama) but they are more classically geared. Why not look at LIPA or somewhere that may do popular music. It's worth looking for. GOod Luck!



XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXhannabanna36XXXXXXXXXXx

I've been singing for about 6 months and I started just before my 15th birthday.

I started having singing lessons when I was 16 (6 years ago! ), but started off doing musical theatre and eventually moving into classical singing. I'd definitely recommend having singing lessons - it's great to have that feedback from someone who knows what they're talking about! If you're into more pop music, lots of universities now offer degrees in popular contemporary music (I went to Southampton uni, where they had a strong jazz and pop department), or you could maybe think about a college course in music. Or, once you feel really confident, you could simply try launching yourself out there as an artist, setting up a promotional package for agents, record companies etc. Though you have ages to consider what you want to do - just to give you a few ideas as to what options are out there!

hi! i've been singing since i was a toddler, but i don't think that counts... no, i've been doing singing lessons and grades for 5 years, and i choose to do it, i wasn't forced into it.