Does Knowing Piano Help With Voice Lessons?
It is common for people to begin their musical pursuit with one instrument and then later learn others. Once you have a fundamental concept of notes, scales, and other aspects of music theory, it is easy to connect the dots and pick up other musical instruments or, as we will look at here, even learn how to sing. In fact, one of the most frequent questions we are asked is if knowing how to play piano is helpful or a prerequisite for taking voice lessons.
The answer is that no, it is not a necessary requirement. You can learn how to sing and improve your voice without knowing how to play piano or any other instrument. But having that foundation will give you an advantage when you are making the transition to using your own voice as the musical instrument. Let’s break it down and take a closer look.
Helps You Understand Notes, Rhythms, Harmonies & Melodies
Notes, rhythms, harmonies, and melodies are the building blocks of songs and music in general and the piano is considered the best instrument to learn these relations. The keyboard interface is relatively simple and knowing the basics is greatly beneficial when learning how to sing.
Develop Pitch Accuracy
Have you ever heard someone callously remark that a singer is “tone deaf?” It is not a nice thing to say, but it means that they are unable to sense the differences in pitch — the highness or lowness of a note. Playing piano exposes you to all the notes in various octaves and is an effective way to develop pitch accuracy, which is a valuable skill for singers to possess.
Provides Exposure to Written Music
Music is a language, and like any language, there is a written aspect that must be learned to fully understand and utilize the language to its full potential. One of the fundamentals of piano is learning how to read sheet music and where those notes are in relation to the keyboard. That knowledge will translate to singing and any other musical endeavor.
You Can Accompany Yourself
Singing and music lessons will expose you to new things, but your daily practice is where your skills will really develop. And when you can sing and play piano, you can accompany yourself and accelerate the speed at which you are learning. It will not take long before you are playing and singing in complementary fashion with rich, three-dimensional harmonies.
Learn How to Use Your Voice at Fox Music
Knowing how to play piano or any other instrument will provide an advantage and a foundation to build on when you are learning to sing. But it is not a requirement — some people just want to sing! And that is totally okay. Here at Fox Music, our voice coaches are experienced working with aspiring or experienced singers of all skill levels and backgrounds. So, whether you are an accomplished pianist or have never even played “Chopsticks,” we will help you get where you want to be so that you can sing the type of music you want.
