Is singing well a talent or a skill?
Oh, I'd say both. You have to be born with certain things: a voice quality that is deemed to be above average, a vocal apparatus with enough range and power to be able to sing, an ability to learn music, and a very high degree of musicality (the ability to feel the music so that interpretation is possible). For example, I don't care how much training you have-if you have a low voice, don't count on being a coloratura soprano or a tenor. If you have a raspy voice, singing opera is probably not in the cards for you. There are just some things genetics does determine. But being born with the abilities above isn't enough-you do have to develop the skill to use your apparatus properly so that it operates at the level it was born to operate. One learns breath control, for example. How to project your voice. Learning to sing without strain. Learning vocal techniques so that you develop your maximum range, desired tone quality, and vocal power thoughout that range. I really don't believe it is either/or. Skill alone does not produce the exceptional voices you hear-that is also due to the particular physical/genetic makeup of the individual. And talent alone without training doesn't do it either-to get a powerful, free voice with no strain requires learning the proper techniques. I know this experientially: I didn't learn to sing properly until I was an adult. And I've noticed the difference in my voice when it was untrained, and now as far as tone quality, carrying power, and range. There is no question learning technique has been a major contributor. But I also can see that the tone, range, and vocal quality is also natural-no traning in the world is going to make me a contralto.
How can I find out if I have any singing talent? I think I have a horrible singing voice.
Let’s step back a minute.Do you want to be a singer? Has someone suggested you sing in public? Is this their dream for you, or your own? Or are you just curious?The easiest way is to record yourself. You can use any smart phone.Sing by yourself without instruments. Pick a simple song. (Like row row your boat or home on the range or whatever is familiar) and record it.Take a listen to it.That simple acappella song reveals your ability to hold pitch. If you are completely missing notes, they are too low, too high, etc, you might not have talent to sing solo.If the voice sounds ok but nothing special, go back and sing it again, this time pretend you are Bruno Mars. Really sell the song.Now listen back. Sound different?Talent is important. Your raw voice must be able to match pitch, hold a melody and have some breath control to hold notes.But the rest of singing can be taught.I also suggest getting an opinion of someone you respect. (do not choose someone you are very close to, they will praise you to be nice)Ask them to listen to your recording. Tell them you are seeking an honest opinion.Then tell them you recorded your friend, and they want to know if they can sing.They should give you a kind and honest review.Remember that most community theatres and choirs love singers that might not be solo material. You can explore if you truly love singing, without the pressure of solos.Please don’t go karaoke. It will discourage you. Kareoke requires you to know timing and lyrics. You will not get a good indicator of your vocal ability.Just a note, When I directed large shows, I preferred casting singers based on their ability to take direction. The best singers often missed the cut if they seemed to have bad attitudes.Good luck with your future singing engagements!
How do I know if I was a talented singer?
Talent is something you’re born with.You might be a talented athlete, cook, mathematician or builder. It means that you have a natural ability to do something that not everyone can do so easily. Talent will get you started and set you on the path to becoming skilled.Skill is something you earn.Obtaining a skill requires hard work over time, and because of this almost anyone can become skilled at almost anything. This means that if you find singing hard to begin with, but you really want to become a singer, you can work hard and learn to sing.If you can easily match musical notes with your voice; you might have a talent for singing.If you are able to accurately sing along to your favourite songs without any training; then you might have a talent for singing.If other people compliment you on how your singing voice sounds and ask you to sing more; then you might have a talent for singing.If none of the above applies to you, then you might need to build your skill to become a singer!My advice is to ask a professional to listen to you singing; they will be able to tell you immediately. Either do this in person or make a video to send online.Don’t rely on YouTube to confirm or deny your talent - as your audience is everyone - expert or not.Join my Facebook group or check out my website and get in touch - I’ll listen and give you my opinion.
How do you know if you are talented in something ?
Talent is a tricky word, in my opinion. Because the concept of talent... is hard to explain. If you look it up in the dictionary, you'll see that it is regarded as a natural aptitude or skill. I believe that talent is more than that. I mean... anyone can tell the difference between a talented actor, for example, and a sorry player, right? Why? Because the talented one, beside the natural way in which he develops a character, has the joy of being on the stage. He pours his whole soul in the shape of his character, transforming simple concepts, such as words, mimicry, sights, into amazing rituals. A gifted actor is a magician. So is a gifted painter, mathematician or even craftsman. Talent is more than just a skill that you're born with. It is pure joy, a celebration of the spirit... How do you know if you're talented? Well... I doubt that there's a frame meant to facilitate your discovery. When you are able to transform a commonplace duty into rapture you'll know that you've got a talent. Because you've transformed life into art. And that is the main goal of talent, isn't it?
Is singing a learned or natural talent?
Its both. Most people have the misconception that "natural" talent doesn't need work and pruning. There is no such thing as an artist who was made into a great artist without some apprenticeship or assistance from another source. I was so glad to hear Will Smith say how people get talent confused with hard work. Anyone who is great has put in way more hard work than just being "gifted'. Being gifted isn't enough. However, if you have a naturally bad sounding instrument (not from bad technique, but just bad sounding period), no amount of training will make you sound good. Sure, you will sound better, but you will never be phenomenal. Unfortunately, hard work on something you aren't blessed with will only take you but so far. It will never result in an awesome sounding instrument. Voice teachers, sound equipment, or any other singing assistance aren't able to create miracles. So to be honest, it takes both. You sort of know when you have something to work with vocally. Sometimes bad technique gets in the way of a good sounding instrument. These types have hope. But if the person is tone deaf beyond measure, or his/her natural instrument sounds like a dying cat even after years of training, singing isn't that person's calling. We all should stick to our calling. There are other gifts we can give to the world besides singing. The world will benefit more if more of us would just stick to what we are gifted to do and perfect it. So, I would say its a little of both.
Is singing a natural talent or do you have to practice?
This is something valuable my Opera-Singing voice teacher taught me: there is no such thing as not being able to sing. There is the trained voice and there is the untrained voice. Certainly a voice that has been trained for quite some time is going to sound richer and more cultivated than one that has not. Simultaneously, there's a bit of natural ability that plays into the art of the voice. Way back when, before I started taking lessons, I had what my teacher calls "Inexperienced talent" which simply meant that I had all the means to begin singing and learning how to do so effectively, but my full potential had not yet been reached. A year and a half later, here I am, still singing with much still to learn. A woman's voice is not at its full maturity until its thirtieth year, so there is still a lot of improvement and change to go through. Lessons are definitely helpful if you would like to work musically. Most performers in the mainstream do not follow and have not learned what we call "the classical approach" which begins with learning how to effectively use the diaphragm. This is not only the healthiest way to sing, but also the most rewarding. Learning how to do it the classical way will help add notes to your range and improve the quality of your voice. In the long run it's better on your chords to have this sort of training. If voice lessons are an option for you, if you want them, if you can afford them, if you can do what is expected and realize what kind of attention and discipline is required to train your voice, I would say go for it. You've got nothing to lose. My lessons made me more self aware and body conscious. Major gain for me. I recommend them.
How can you tell if you have singing potential?
Some potential is obvious, and some is not. If someone sings generally on pitch and with rhythm that grooves and meshes with the music, that sounds like potential. If someone loves to sing but isn't too good at it, there's still potential in their heart. They could be driven to unlearn bad habits and learn all new good ones. Sure, sometimes it seems like the potential is completely absent and there is no way in heck a person could have singing potential, but with the exception of those medically tone-deaf, pretty much anyone has some singing potential. The difference will come in the amount of effort someone is willing to put in. Singing is a challenge, mental and physical, to coordinate all the muscles and techniques in your mind until they become muscle memory, and remain that way with regular, practice of healthy technique.Singing requires training of the ears, as much as it does all the other components. It requires awareness, diligence, focus, and practice. Some people naturally have mimicked correct technique or never developed bad habits. They have an easier starting point. Others have mimicked poor vocal techniques or over-stylized terrible singers as a child, or else compensated with poor technique without knowing it, as young vocal instruments are forgiving, and are now feeling stuck. These people will have a longer road ahead.Regardless of potential, you have to weigh the investment in your own vocal instrument. If your ears aren't trained enough and you can't tell the difference between good technique and appropriate judgment on style, ornamentation, and musicality and performance, then seek out people who are, and learn from them. Read books. Find a great teacher with references. Search online for information on the voice, breathing techniques, how it all works, what great technique really is all about, and how you can get to where you want to be with your singing.
Can singing be learned if you have no natural talent, or is it based mainly on natural ability?
i think anyone can learn to do anything. you can practice techniques and train and become a good singer, a good painter, a good anything. the natural ability is what differentiates those who are good at something from those are who great.
How do you know if your singing voice is good enough?
I think my question is, why is it important and what does 'good enough' mean if you enjoy singing?I used to sing and play for a living. I also knew people who were what I would call 'character singers'. I am not sure I would rate them as singers per se but they were making a living at it. That means they were obviously good enough! Performance isn't all about what some people define as perfect singing. Sure some singers are but not all are. In any case modern computer trickery means vocal talent in terms of recording etc has never been less important.I would say the main thing is enjoying your singing. If you enjoy it, get in the shower and belt some tunes out! Do some karaoke, sing in a choir, sing in a band, sing whilst you go about your day. Enjoy it. In many ways doing it for a job takes away a lot of the enjoyment.I would hesitate to say get singing training because I have heard people with beautiful natural voices braying like donkeys once a pseudo-operatic 'expert' has transferred their affectation (unless that is a vocal style you want to develop). There are definitely things you can learn but unless you have an insatiable urge to perform it isn't something you are likely to be making a living at. If that is something you are sort of pondering in writing this question, I think you would know beyond doubt that you wanted to be singing on stage and everyone would be falling over themselves telling you.There is a whole lot of talent out there and there are talented people with a look that can be marketed etc who want it beyond any moral conviction. If you don't want it at least that much it isn't very likely you will be singing professionally.That doesn't mean you can't sing your heart out though… Go on... do something on YouTube