Singing Lessons or Choir – Which One Is Right for You?
Do you dream of taking singing lessons, or singing in a choir? If so, consider this…
I was recently talking with a friend in her 60s who told me that she was considering auditioning to join a choir. She explained to me, “My voice is getting weak. I just don’t have the power I used to have. Do you think that singing in a choir will help me with that?”
I answered with a bit of hesitation, “Yes… maybe.”My friend, who knows I am careful when I answer questions regarding health and music, responded with a laugh, “Only ‘maybe’? But singing in a choir is supposed to be so good for us!”
Choir Singing Can Improve Your Health
She is right about that. There is strong evidence from good studies that singing in a choir brings with it huge benefits, especially for those of us who are over 60. One well-regarded study from 2021 notes that: “In older adults, regular participation in community-level choirs can reduce anxiety, depression, and loneliness; improve self-evaluated quality of life, physical health, and interest in life; and increase general activity.”
That’s a pretty impressive list of possible improvements to an older adult’s life. Add to that the deep joy of creating beautiful, meaningful music with others, while breathing in sync with them. How could this activity not enhance your life?
But if you are looking for very specific changes in your voice, or if you have a need for unique musical expression, then singing lessons may be more beneficial to you than joining a choir, at least as your first step. Let me tell you why.
Singing Lessons Are About You
When you take a singing lesson with a good teacher, you enter a magical world that is quite different from that of the choir. Choir experience is about the group in harmonious action together. A singing lesson is about you, and only you.
For instance, my friend who has found that her voice has lost power may find that certain vocal exercises will gradually increase the power in her voice. A voice coach will listen to her singing through various exercises (or songs) to see if there is an imbalance in how she is using her voice.
Is it a problem with the vocal cords themselves? This is something that is tricky to address. If there is damage to her vocal cords, she may need to see a throat doctor and/or commit to a period of vocal rest.
Or is the lack of vocal power a misunderstanding about the muscle co-ordination required to sing? Is she breathing well? Perhaps she will need a good explanation about how at least some of her power can come from using the ring or twang aspect of resonance in her face.
What Is Your Specific Need?
As you can see, each of these issues is very personal and individual. My friend may find that once she has solved at least some of her power issues, she will feel more confident about going to a choir audition.
Lacking that vocal understanding, my concern for her is that she may “push” hard on her throat and strain her voice in order to get the kind of power that her conductor may require.
But singing is a mysterious act in many ways. While we know quite a lot about the mechanics of the voice, there is clearly a deep boost of wellbeing that comes from making music together. And we cannot measure that. Some of my friend’s vocal troubles may well be solved just through the sheer joy of musical camaraderie.
Finally, there are those singers who have a need for very personal expression through songs.
Is Self-Expression Your Goal?
One of my students who is now in her 50s, dreamed as a child of singing songs from music theatre like, Cats, Les Miserables and Cabaret. But her young voice was not able to produce the powerful belting sounds that some of these musicals require.
Her goal now is not to become a solo artist, but to find out if she can, at this point, learn to use her voice in this way. This kind of vocal ambition requires the quiet concentration of private lessons. It’s a one-on-one kind of process.
Still, as a person who relishes community activities, this student also finds joy in singing with a big, glorious choir.
So, singing lessons or singing in a choir. Or both? What is right for you, at this time?
Let’s Have a Conversation:
Do you have a strong desire to sing? Is the choir experience right for you? Or are you more drawn to singing lessons? Or would you consider doing both?
Tags Creativity
I too love singing but don’t know how to start. It’s difficult to get a teacher here in my place to start lessons.
I do want to sing as a hobby.
Hello Freda, I will send you a message privately with some suggestions about getting started with singing lessons. Thank you for your response here!
My church discontinued our choir for 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. In 2022 they reopened the choir, but only if you were vaccinated. I took the vaccine and developed some severe health issues from it so I received an exemption from boosters from my doctor. However, the choir director refused to let me back into the choir. His claim was that I would pose a serious health risk to all the other members. He claimed that singing together was as almost as close as sexual contact. So no choir for me in 2022 either. After almost 3 years of not singing regularly (I still sang in the congregation) I could see a definite change in my voice and not for the better. My speaking voice even changed. It was getting weaker and sort of squeaky. I needed to sing regularly. I almost changed churches but in December of 2022 the choir director decided to quit. In January I was permitted to rejoin the choir. What an incredible joy. I have now been singing for a couple of months and my range and timbre is returning and even my speaking voice has gotten stronger. I highly recommend regular singing to keep your voice active and vibrant. Unfortunately, some of the other members of the choir agreed with the former director and don’t want to be anywhere near me when I sing even though I am in good health and would not ever come to practice or performance with any illnesses. So even though I sing high soprano I am grouped with the male singers who don’t seem to mind standing next to me while singing.
I’m sorry to read about your difficulties in getting back to singing, Barbara. But very happy to read how much choir work has improved your voice! I encourage you to keep singing, even with your current placement in the choir. Those male singers must be very appreciative about having a strong melody line right there beside them!
I wish you the best!
Barbara Lewis
I am 69 and always wanted a career singing on Broadway or performing. It would definitely be lessons for me fo that cathartic experience I think you can only get singing alone. I’m too old for American Idol, but still fantasize about AGT.
Oh my Lynne. If you still have a strong desire to sing, I encourage you to reach out to a teacher in your area. Or even take a few online lessons. Perhaps you can do more than fantasize about singing – you can sing with your own fine voice!
I took up singing with a local choir when I retired from a busy hotel/ restaurant business. The benefits from it were amazing, Deep breathing exercises, the social elements and wonderful choral music to sing gives
me a joy which not even a dismal winter in Uk can spoil.
At this moment I am in Australia where I am going to move to live with most
of the family out here, and the first thing I sourced was where was a good
local choir to sing with. It’s so important to me.
i would advise just a few singing lessons to give you confidence before you
join your choir and then just enjoy………
Thanks for such a joyful response, Marion. Wonderful that you have found so many benefits from singing in a choir. You will have many more sunny days in Australia than in the UK, no doubt!
My best to you.
I wish you great singing.
Barbara
Hi Barbara, So nice to see you here! You and I have connected again..❤️Eager for your new zoom meetings if I can make them😘
Thank you, Susan. Yes! I am currently working out how those meetings can best serve each person. I will get back to you about it! Wonderful that you are interested! Talk soon! Best, Barbara.