DIY Voice Lessons

You can teach yourself professional singing techniques at home.

If you find yourself singing in the shower every morning and having big dreams of becoming the next Elvis, Beatle or even Backstreet Boy, you don't need to pay a vocal coach to teach you the secrets of how to improve your singing voice. Those wanting to stretch their vocal muscles can now study whenever they want, and learn new singing techniques at their own pace. Lessons can be taken online, on a television or with tools around the house.

Things You'll Need

• Internet access
• Video game console
• Tape recorder
• Instructional DVDs

Instructions

1. Take advantage of free user-posted singing lesson videos. Websites such as YouTube and Fliiby.com have a wide range of short video clips that gives tips and teach professional techniques for singing.

2. Playing singing-related video games can help you improve your voice. Rock Band and Disney's Sing It are good for singing amateurs who want DIY voice lessons. Rock Band games score the accuracy of your singing tone, and Disney's Sing It allows players to learn from a professional, in Pro Mode.

3. Record yourself. A good way to improve your voice is to record your singing and then listening to what needs improving. You can even compare your voice to a popular singer's by playing the recording as you listen to their professionally recorded song.

4. Learn from instructional CDs and DVDs. Professional voice coaches, such as Brett Manning and Roger Burnley, who have taught voice lessons to the likes of Brandy, Keith Urban and Dee Dee Warwick, have been teaching the stars to sing for years and are offering students the chance to learn at home with their singing lesson CDs and DVDs. Brett Manning's Singing Success Course consists of over 300 audio files, and Roger Burnley's Singing Simple comes with almost four hours of singing instruction.

Tips & Warnings

• Have friends and family listen to your singing so you can receive friendly critique.

• Practice every day to notice a significant improvement.

• Avoid straining your vocal cords by singing too high or too loud.

References

• YouTube: Singing Lessons
• Fliiby.com: Learn to Sing Better
• Rock Band: The Beatles
• Disney's Sing It
• Brett Manning's Singing Success
• Roger Burnley's Singing Simple

Resources

• Songwriter.com - Vocal chord strain