Singing for fun: Group Voice Class for Adults
- Lauren
- May 5
- 6 min read
Updated: May 21
My Singing for Fun: Group Class for Adults is back!
Are you searching for a venue to sing with a group? Do you long to practice singing while joining others? I'm thrilled to announce that my Singing for Fun: Group Voice Class for Adults is returning, now at the Electric Lodge in Venice, CA! (If you haven't visited before, the Electric Lodge is a magical performance space featuring a beautiful dance studio and theater. I'm eager to establish my classes here and become part of this creative community.)
Tell me more about your Singing for Fun: Group Voice Class for Adults!
I initially hosted this singing class in 2020 at the Electric Lodge. We started in a spacious, beautiful room with 10 singers who were conquering their fears by performing songs from Fleetwood Mac and Marvin Gaye. After class, we'd often grab coffee on Abbot Kinney and enjoy small hangouts. Within three months, we transitioned into the pandemic and swiftly adapted. I ended up conducting around 10 different versions of the class on Zoom! Despite the challenges, we still had an amazing time singing together.
In 2022, we began to experience a bit of normalcy again, and I held the class in my lovely, small music studio in Venice. Students mentioned they appreciated the room due to the cozy atmosphere of a recording studio.
Creative Outlets for Adults
As adults, it's crucial to have a creative outlet in our lives. The more we immerse ourselves in a digital world, the more essential it becomes to participate in classes like this, which help you connect with others while expressing your voice. There's nothing quite like the experience of singing with others and feeling the harmony and sounds come together.
Group singing offers numerous advantages beyond fostering connection. Struggling with pitch? Listening to others sing in tune can guide your voice towards the correct pitch. Sing too softly? Participating in a group can help eliminate self-doubt, as your voice won't be entirely solo and exposed!
Furthermore, dedicating time each week will enhance your voice. Similar to other aspects of our body, regular use is essential to maintain it. Occasional singing won't yield the same results as consistent weekly practice.
Regarding a weekly commitment to singing, another advantage of group singing classes is the cost! While private one-on-one voice lessons are excellent for refining your technique and discovering exercises tailored to your specific voice (which I highly recommend), some students may find weekly sessions don't quite fit their budget. For these students, combining occasional private lessons with group singing classes is an excellent alternative to expensive private study.
What skills will you learn in this singing class for adults?
Vocal Warm-Ups
Here are some key benefits of Vocal Warm-Ups:
Increases Blood Flow: Warming up helps increase blood circulation to the vocal cords, making them more flexible and responsive.
Improves Vocal Quality: A proper warm-up can enhance the clarity and richness of your voice, allowing for better tone and resonance.
Prevents Injury: Gradually preparing your voice minimizes the risk of strain and injury during singing or speaking.
Enhances Range: Warming up can help expand your vocal range, allowing you to reach higher or lower notes more comfortably.
Boosts Confidence: A good warm-up routine can help you feel more prepared and confident before a performance or presentation.
Vocal Exercises to build agility and speed
Improve Vocal agility and Speed:
Enhanced Performance: Agility allows singers to execute complex passages with precision and clarity, making performances more engaging. (Think of Jazmine Sullivan or Ariana Grande!)
Greater Expression: Speed in vocal delivery can convey emotions more effectively, enhancing the overall interpretative quality of a song. Are you trying to be more dynamic as you sing? Do you want to demonstrate the emotions of excitement or perhaps desperation?
Technical Mastery: Developing agility and speed helps singers master their instrument, leading to improved vocal control and versatility. You want to keep your instrument (yes your voice is an instrument) supple and primed. Imagine a car sitting in a garage for years without use? Let's not be like that!
Increased Confidence: Mastering a refined technique enhances a singer's confidence, enabling them to approach challenging pieces with ease. Once you master a difficult riff, it progressively becomes easier over time.
Broader Repertoire: With improved agility, singers can explore a wider range of musical styles and genres that require fast vocal runs and intricate melodies.
Benefits of Singing Harmonies
Improved Ear Training: Singing harmonies helps develop a better musical ear, allowing singers to identify pitches and intervals more accurately.
Collaboration: Singing in harmony requires coordination and collaboration, fostering a sense of teamwork among group members.
Shared Goals: Working together to create a harmonious sound encourages a collective effort towards achieving musical goals
Supportive Environment: Being part of a group provides emotional support, making it easier for individuals to express themselves musically.
Improvisation: Singing harmonies encourages creativity and improvisation, allowing singers to experiment with different vocal parts.
Song Arrangement: It opens up opportunities for arranging songs and exploring new musical ideas.
Therapeutic Benefits: Singing in harmony can be a form of emotional release, contributing to improved mental well-being.
Social Interaction: Group singing fosters friendships and community bonds, as participants share a common interest in music.
Inclusivity: It creates an inclusive environment where individuals can come together regardless of their skill level.
Develop Your Performance Skills as a Singer
Better Listening Skills: An essential aspect of performance is listening skills. Private lessons can't fully replicate the environment of a group class, where you must listen to other singers and instruments while performing.
Built-in Supportive Audience: By enrolling in a group class, you engage with the experience of having a live audience. The main difference? It's more nurturing and you're not performing for complete strangers. :-)
Emotional Expression: I believe that the key aspect of singing is conveying emotion and connecting with the audience. This requires practice, as you must uphold your vocal technique while performing. A group class provides an excellent environment to make this instinctive.
Enhancing Stage Presence: Collaborating with others in performances aids individuals in cultivating stage presence, mastering the art of captivating an audience, and utilizing body language proficiently. How should you position your hands? Where should your gaze be directed in the audience while singing? Is it better to make eye contact with the audience or establish a "fourth wall?"
A few other benefits of Group Voice Classes:
Healthy competition: Group singing fosters a sense of camaraderie while encouraging
individual growth and improvement. It motivates members to refine their skills and push their boundaries, ultimately enhancing the overall performance of the group.
Networking Opportunities: Joining a singing group can lead to valuable connections with other musicians and performers, opening doors for future collaborations. Maybe you go to see someone in the class perform at an open mic. Perhaps you both decide you want to start a band together!? I see this happen ALL THE TIME in my classes.
Exploring new music styles: Maybe you primarily listen to Chappell Roan or Gracie Abrams and didn't know you enjoy singing songs by Whitney Houston and Chris Stapleton. Occasionally, being encouraged to try different styles can reveal that your voice suits entirely different genres even more effectively!
What if I'm afraid to sing alone?
You absolutely do not have to be a good singer to join this class. One of the cool things about Singing for Fun is you can always find a buddy to lean on. There's no solo singing (unless you want to) so you can get rid of that fear of singing right now!
What if I want to sing solo?
This class will provide chances for you to sing solo. Sometimes we take turns or even find that someone wants to show off their voice. I love that and will not discourage as long as it doesn't impede on the class time of others.
Enjoy the benefits of singing!
Singing has countless benefits. You should never hesitate simply just because you don't consider yourself to be a pro. There are so many pyschological benefits so singing as seen in the article on 12 Reasons to Sing from Psychology Today.
A few benefits include:
Diaphragmatic Breathing is excellent for mental health as well.
Building community and interpersonal connection
Increased focus (and mindfulness)
Build a sense of a growth and accomplishment
Exercise various parts of your brain
Explore memorization
Enjoy emotional Expression
Practice an amazing form of communication
Overcome self-judgement through rehearsal and performance
Develop performance skills in front of a group rather than alone or in front of a camera
What type of music will we sing in class?
Some examples of past artists we've covered include: Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, Fleetwood Mac, Bruno Mars, Marvin Gaye and Ella Fitzgerald. Class is catered towards the group that we encounter for each session.
When does the singing class meet?
Singing for Fun meets on Tuesdays from 6-6:55pm. It's offered by the month; there are 4 sessions a month.
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