Expert: J. Spyder Isaacson - 2/27/2008

Question
Hi,
I'm 16 years old, and I can't exactly afford vocal lessons right now. I've taken singing lessons probably when I was 10-12 years old, and have performed several times and won prizes. However, I didn't think I was THAT good, and though I've been told I have natural talent, I know that without a doubt, I will need vocal lessons if I want to perform in the future.

But are singing lessons REALLY necessary in order to become a good singer? Is it possible to learn the music on your own and become a good singer on your own?

Thanks
Trisha

Answer
Well . . . THIS one is a hard one to answer.

As far as whether or not you need lessons . . . if you already have been getting lessons . . . that makes the answer MUCH harder.  I would say, on the surface, that if you already have been getting lessons, that you *may* have already gotten what you need.

As far as how good you are: that depends entirely upon who has been judging you.  You can have opera professionals judging you and being ultra-crucial, or you can have amateurs judging you who can be incredibly flexible.  Then, too, you can have someone who considers themselves professional when they're not, or someone who is just the opposite (and you might be surprised by how many there are of that caliber!).

Another big question is: where do you want to go with your singing?  Do you want to become the next American Idol?  Do you want to get into musical theater (my bailiwick)?  Or do you simply want to become a singer who does theater, or an actor who sings?  I can't answer or respond to these questions from your question, but I'd be willing to respond to a response!

Ultimately, my best response is what (I think) the philosopher Descartes once said: "be true to yourself."

Break a leg, and let me know how you fare!

-- Spyder