RSS Feed
Twitter
Question by english.muffins: Is it possible to sing opera without any professional help?
I ask because I currently sound kinda like Skye Sweetnam (a pop singer), but … I would really want to sing opera really well (I LOVE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and Beauty and the Beast) and plus, I dream of the pursuit of the stage, I really can not afford singing lessons …
Best answer:
Answer by Blessed
When you say “opera” are you thinking of musical theatre because Phantom and Beauty are both musicals, not operas. If you want to sing opera then yes, you’ll need professional training in vocal technique and at least 3 languages other than English (e.g. German, Italian, French, etc). To sing musical theatre professionally, you’ll need training as well but it is possible to do without the same level of training as an opera singer. You should study video or CD recordings of operas to see if that’s the kind of music for you.
Add your own answer in the comments!
Posted in 
Tags:
Those are not operas.
And yes, you need immense training to be a real opera singer. IMMENSE.
In order to sing things like phantom and beauty you just have to be able to imitate the sound others make. If you want to sing real opera you have to get a classical teacher.
The other answers are good, but I just want to add that you can get free singing lessons if you join a choir.
If you can’t afford lessons, then I’m affraid there is no hope. You might try going to school and majoring in Music Theatre, for the most part your lessons cost would be included in your tution.
As a Phantom fan, you may know that both Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum – whom starred in the recent movie – didn’t really do a whole lot of vocal training prior to their auditions for the movie. I think they may have had some voice lessons, but certainly not years and years of it. As the others have stated, that is not opera, it is a musical. Broadway. If that’s what you love, musicals are what you need to pursue. Check out the soundtracks for many other Broadway hits – I suggest Cats and Wicked – and see if thats what you’re really wanting to do. If it is opera you’re into, start practicing now and hopefully you will later become financially sound enough to take lessons.
Cheers!
That’s a hard one – I guess it is possible as there will always be singers who can make it based on the talent they have. But the professional world can be a very critical place and it’s hard to know the standards that are expected, let alone reach them, without a bit of outside help. Plus the wierd thing about singing is that what you hear when you sing is not the same as what the audience hears. So either having someone else listen and give you feedback, or taping yourself and being self critical, is a must.
The one thing that is for sure is that the size of the fee charged by a singing teacher is no reflection on how good they are. So if you decide to try lessons do go to a few teachers to see what they are like (they usually will let you come for a “consultation lesson” to see if you like them and they like you).
Also, maybe you could save up and have lessons a few weeks apart, just to get going.
The main thing is enjoy your singing as that is what people pay to hear. Going to a singing teacher is no guarantee of success – the only guarantee is that you will be spending your money.
Ian
(professional singer and sometimes teacher)