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Reasons to learn classical singing

When you hear the words “classical music”, what do you think of?
Many people would probably picture 18th century men in ornate suits with white wigs and women in gorgeous dresses playing the piano and dancing in an old-fashioned way. And for classical singing, they might mention their grandparents dressing up for the opera.
Classical music, not to mention classical singing, is seen as a cold, artificial style of music, outdated and strange. An art form that is dying and does not fit into our modern society.
In this article I would like to prove this wrong. You will see that classical singing is still worth considering, and how you can benefit from it. There is more to classical singing than just people dressed up in opera costumes.

1. It is healthy.

Something that applies to all styles of singing, but especially classical singing, is the benefit to your mental and physical health. Singing releases endorphins, which reduces stress and calms you down. It gives you a space to express and process your feelings.
Because classical singing involves a lot of breathing exercises, it is good for your stamina, lowers your blood pressure and even trains your stomach muscles (which means that singing and making music counts as at least a small part of your daily exercise!) You will also gain a high level of coordination of the hundreds of muscles that make you create sound.

2. You learn a lot.

Marius Masalar – https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1507838153414-b4b713384a76?ixlib=rb-4.0.3&ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&auto=format&fit=crop&w=870&q=80

Classical singing will improve a number of skills that you will need in other situations. Probably one of the first things you’ll learn is how to read music – but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to remember the melody and lyrics you want to sing: your memory will improve because you’ll have to learn by heart what you want to sing. And a good memory is useful in any context. Training your voice and pronunciation will also develop your ability to speak in public and communicate with others, and when you perform in front of others, for example at an audition, you will need to step out of your comfort zone and gain more confidence. These are all skills that you can use in any kind of presentation or meeting. Of course, such extensive musical training will have a positive effect on your musicality, such as your sense of rhythm and your ability to hit the right tune. Finally, it will improve your analytical skills by requiring you to read, understand, interpret and phrase music.

3. It is perfect for exploring a healthy and variable way of singing.

Many singing teachers and vocal coaches consider classical vocal training to be the perfect foundation for any style of singing. You will learn how to use your voice in a way that is efficient, enjoyable and healthy. By slowly practising the correct breathing and sound technique, you will gain a great degree of control over your voice. Not only will this improve your vocal range and flexibility, but vocal warm-ups and exercises will also help to reduce the risk of vocal injury. This is an important aspect to consider – if you don’t know how to treat your voice well and what is harmful, your voice can be ruined forever.
All in all, classical voice training broadens your singing abilities and is a good way to start if you are completely new to singing. Many teachers will also encourage you to apply your knowledge to other styles of singing, such as jazz, and help you to feel comfortable exploring different types of singing.

4. You will gain a lot of historical and cultural knowledge.

Classical singing can be very educational. Whether it is music theory or history, you will discover many fascinating stories behind music in general. Learning how music works and how and why it is structured will allow you to look at any piece of music, whether it be a pop song or an opera, in a completely different way. Your perception of the world of music could be changed. And yes, of course, 18th century men in ornate suits with white wigs and women in gorgeous dresses are also part of classical music – its origins go back centuries. But I promise you that learning about the socio-political background will change your perception of classical music. The great ideas behind the music that have influenced our history, and their results that you can still find in our modern society, are worth learning about. Ideas from the Age of Enlightenment, such as equal rights, can be found in the music of several different composers and are fascinating to explore.
Another unique feature of classical music is the use of many different foreign languages, which you might even learn a little. Italian, French and German are often used in arias and lieder. Not to mention the beautiful and famous poetry used in masterpieces such as the Ode to Joy.

Omar Flores – https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1610254449353-5698372fa83b?ixlib=rb-4.0.3&ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1048&q=80

5. You can connect with others.

Classical choirs are a great way to make friends. Making music together will take you on a journey of highs and lows and definitely improve your teamwork skills! And performing Handel’s Messiah together is an unforgettable experience.

6. Classical music is still relevant.

Contrary to what you might think, classical music is still present in our everyday lives. It can be heard at weddings and funerals, in TV shows and movies. The Emperor’s March, for example, has become instantly recognisable – the famous theme from Star Wars has become part of our pop culture. And national anthems show how much music can symbolise and how important it can be even for politics. In addition, there are popular singers who try to bridge the gap between classical and modern sounds – the relatively new genre of operatic pop combines classical singing techniques with contemporary tunes. For example, you may have already listened to Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli’s famous duet “Time to say Goodbye”. As you can see, classical music is a timeless style of music that is still valued today.

In short, classical singing is a valuable style of singing. Even if you are not particularly interested in classical music, it will broaden your knowledge of music and teach you a lot about your singing capabilities. It is an opportunity to open up a whole new world of music and cultural education, while having a lot of fun at the same time. It’s worth a try!

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