Why Is Patience Important When Learning an Instrument?

Singing is a natural form of expression, and many people dream of belting out their favorite tunes effortlessly. But for some, learning to sing seems like an impossible task. Why is that? Well, singing isn’t as simple as it looks. It’s not just about hitting the right notes or having a good voice—a lot more is happening beneath the surface. So, if you’ve ever wondered why some people struggle to learn how to sing, you’re not alone. In this blog, we’ll dive into why learning to sing can be challenging—and what you can do about it. Lack of Proper Training : One of the greatest reasons people fail at singing is that they are not adequately trained. Singing is not as intuitive as talking; it requires a lot of techniques that must be practiced and guided. You may not be using your vocal cords at their full potential without proper vocal exercises. Often, when people try to sing like their favorite singers, they end up straining their voices or singing incorrectly. It is like trying to learn to play an instrument. You wouldn’t look at playing the guitar when you don’t take some lessons. Your voice works pretty much the same way. Some professional vocal coaches can teach you simple techniques, such as controlling the breath, perfect pitch, and preventing vocal strain. Physical Limitations : While we’d all like to think that anyone can be the next big singing sensation, physical limitations affect how well someone can sing. Each person’s vocal cords, diaphragm, and respiratory system are unique. Some people have naturally strong, flexible vocal cords, while others may struggle to control their pitch or sustain notes. For instance, singers with a very narrow range are likely to have difficulties hitting high or low notes, whereas others may not be supported enough in their breath to hit a longer phrase. But here’s the good news: many of these limitations can be overcome through practice. Vocal exercises strengthen and stretch your vocal cords, allowing you to improve your range over time. Psychological Barriers : Believe it or not, the biggest obstacle to learning to sing could be in your head. Many people struggle with singing because of fear or self-doubt. It’s natural to feel vulnerable when singing, especially in front of others. But this fear can limit your progress. If you’re constantly worried about hitting the right note or embarrassing yourself, you’re less likely to focus on the technique needed to improve. These would be psychological barriers. In addition, performance anxiety will occur. It makes the situation even worse to learn because the body tends to tense up, thus making it hard to breathe in and control the pitch when about to sing. Overcoming such a fear is a vital step. Breaking down psychological walls of being negative can help with relaxation techniques, positive reinforcement, and practice to build confidence and improve overall performance. Lousy Breath Control : One of the most critical areas of singing is breath control. Without enough air in your lungs, you won’t be able to hold long phrases and likely sound weak or shaky. Unfortunately, many beginners struggle with breath control, often when they first start learning. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, and when you’re not working your diaphragm right, you can find yourself quickly out of breath after a few notes. Many people breathe shallowly, using only the top of their lungs, which means they have short, strained breaths. The trick to better breath control is learning to breathe deeply and supporting your voice with your diaphragm. Once you master this skill, you can sing longer passages with more power and confidence. Difficulty in Pitch Accuracy : Another common reason people struggle with singing is difficulty hitting the right pitch. We’ve all been there—trying to sing along to a song, but somehow, the notes don’t sound right. Whether flat or sharp, it’s frustrating to feel like you’re constantly out of tune. This issue is often a result of ear training, or more specifically, a lack of it. Your ear needs to be trained to listen for various pitches to sing correctly. However, some are more sensitive to smaller variations in pitch than others. This makes it harder to be in key when singing. The good news is that this can improve with practice. Ear training exercises improve your ability to identify and reproduce the pitches. Over time, you will easily learn to match the voice to the music. Tension in the Body : When we’re nervous or tense, it shows in our bodies, especially our voices. Many beginners struggle with singing because their muscles are too tight, especially in the neck, jaw, and shoulders. This tension prevents the vocal cords from working as they should and can cause a strained, unnatural sound. The body and voice are so connected. If you are tense, your voice will sound strained or wobbly. Loosening up your body is the way to eliminate unnecessary tension and allow your voice to flow. Regular stretching, breathing exercises, and mindful relaxation can keep your body loose and your voice at its best. A relaxed singer is often a better singer! Overcoming Struggles with Consistency : Learning to sing does not happen overnight; it requires consistency. Many people start practicing, get frustrated by slow progress, and give up too soon. The truth is that learning to sing is a long-term commitment. You need to practice regularly and stay patient. The key to overcoming these struggles is persistence. Even if you’re not seeing immediate results, keep going. It’s like learning a new sport or instrument—repetition and practice are essential. Set small goals, track progress, and celebrate even the smallest victories. With time, your voice will improve, and you’ll get closer to hitting those high notes or nailing that perfect performance. Conclusion : You’re not alone if you’ve ever struggled with learning to sing. Many factors could be holding you back, from lack of training and physical limitations to psychological barriers and breath control issues. But here’s the good news: most obstacles can be overcome with dedication, the right guidance, and consistent practice. Keep at it, and stay positive; before long, you’ll sing confidently and easily.

If we want great music in our future we have to plant the seeds now. If we want a musically literate society we need kids playing music now, and they deserve the best out of band class. They need charts that are challenging yet attainable, fun and educational. I’ll never forget my first feature as a trombone player in 4th grade. I can remember the melody to this day. My amazing band teacher had the three trombones up there sliding all over the place. Although I’m no longer a trombonist (bass and guitar have taken over my life), that single arrangement kept me going with the trombone and music in general for quite some time.  What if every kid in music class had such an impactful piece? This could be any number of tunes, arrangements, songs etc. But where to start? Bach is still considered the godfather of music. Albeit generally difficult to play, his music an attainable goal for any serious music student, and I know I’m not alone in saying, all these hundreds of year later, he changed my life for the better. There have been a plethora of genius composers since then, but why not start a little closer to home? Duke Ellington, possibly the greatest of our American composers, has many pieces that, although again not exactly easy to find all the nuances, are very attainable for even those students only (initially) mildly interested in the music. However, although this was pop music of its day, many kids will arrive to Bach and Ellington through rabbit holes started by pop music of more recent history. There are still many catchy melodies, hooks and riffs from more modern musical times that can be arranged for school bands. This is how I became obsessed with music, playing modern rock songs on bass and guitar. There’s no reason we can’t transfer this music to string, wind and percussion sections of today’s bands! Once I permanently caught the bug of music, I started slowly going back in time to discover the roots of what I was listening to. This of course, before I got all the way to Stravinsky, Beethoven and Bach, led me to the blues. The blues is the mother of all American music. Hip hop, rock, R&B, country, jazz, etc. This is why I suggest slipping in a blues into all school bands as soon as they’re ready. I know this goes against the grain of a lot of music programs, but I must insist. Not only will students learn the roots of our great musical culture, but they will quickly learn how to hear the I, IV and V chords. Once they have these sounds in their heads, picking out songs by ear becomes less of a guessing game and more of an educated guessing game, which will quickly lead them to hearing a song in the car or wherever and thinking, OMG I know how this goes! Then they’ll go home, pick up their instrument and start playing. This is when the hooks sink in.