“I’ve always felt music is the only way to give an instantaneous moment the feel of slow motion.”
This quote from American pop singer and songwriter Taylor Swift describes how music is a great way to deal with your feelings and experiences: It helps us relive events, process them and understand ourselves. Pop music, from Taylor Swift’s country pop to Lady Gaga’s electro pop, deals with issues we can all relate to. Are you considering learning to perform famous pop songs? If so, here are some reasons why you should definitely give it a go.
An easy start with the opportunity to grow and develop your skills
We are surrounded by pop music every day, on the radio, at parties, festivals, in commercials or videos. We all know some pop songs by famous artists, have the catchy tunes stuck in our head, and maybe even our favourite songs are pop songs. Pop music is captivating because it has melodies that are easy to dance or sing along to. In many pop songs, the harmonies are not too complicated and the format consists mostly of verse and chorus repeated a few times. All of this makes pop singing relatively easy to learn. Especially if you want to accompany yourself on guitar or piano, pop music is a great choice with its often easy-to-learn chords.
Despite the easy start, pop singing also offers the opportunity to learn a lot of new skills. Because it includes difficult techniques and advanced singing methods such as belting, you have the opportunity to make great progress with your singing capabilities. You can even go further and start writing your own pop songs – it’s the perfect genre to get started as a songwriter.
Making music together
Because of its popularity, it is quite easy to find other people to make pop music with. Many people like and know pop songs, so it is a lot easier to find a band or singing group compared to other styles. Also, many choirs sing pop music, and your family or friends might be open to pop karaoke.
If you want to learn, you can find lots of different tutorials on the internet, including many YouTube videos. However, there is always the option of taking lessons from a professional singing teacher. If you are afraid of hurting your vocal cords or just not sure how to start, this may be the best (but most expensive) option for you. But sometimes music schools, choirs or universities offer cheap or even free courses.
Mental and physical health
Did you know that singing can improve your stamina? Breathing exercises can lower your blood pressure and, depending on the type of singing you do, your abdominal muscles can get trained.
But the effect on your mental health may be even better: Many people say that singing calms them down when they are stressed or anxious. This is because endorphins are released in your body when you sing. But singing also helps you process your emotions. Pop songs in particular have very relatable and often inspirational lyrics about topics such as love and relationships, so there is a song for almost every emotion.
All in all, pop music is an easy way to start singing. Although it is very accessible, it is also diverse with all the different sub-genres. From The Beatles’ “Let It Be” to Lady Gaga’s “Pokerface” or Ed Sheeran’s “Castle on the Hill”, there is a wide range of songs you can learn to sing. I hope you have fun giving it a try!
References:
- https://spherequotes.com/taylor-swift-quotes/ – sphere, SphereQuotes, 04/03/2023
- https://www.musikalessons.com/blog/2016/09/the-benefits-of-classical-voice-training/ – Rebecca R, Musika, 09/09/2016
- https://www.forbesmusic.com/learning-chronicles-classical-and-pop-singing/ – Curtis Forbes, Forbes Music Company, 18/02/2021
