Enjoying Singing

• You can start learning how to sing with the many simple guides in the 'Voice training' section of the Vocalist web site. This site also gives a great amount of practical information and links for singers who are already performing
• There are vast numbers of song lyrics online but you often have to pay for complete song scores. However in the case of traditional songs there are many free song scores available. For example, see the large collection at Yet another digital tradition page in the Folk and traditional section of Gateway > Music
• For more collections of song lyrics, not necessarily accompanied by the music score, see the sites at Gateway > Music and sounds > Lyrics and trackfinders
• Also follow links from the more general sites in other sections of Gateway > Music
• If you are looking for a specific song, try entering the title or a line from the song into a search engine. Put quotation marks around the title or line so that the search engine will look for the words as a phrase, not as separate words. Find search engines at Gateway > Search engines
• You can find hundreds of songbooks and song scores on the library catalogue. Choose to search by keyword. At the Keyword Search page select 'Music (scores, books, recordings)' on the drop-down menu, then in the keyword box enter songs; or enter songs scores; or enter songbook. You can also try adding a keyword for the type of song you want, for example rock songs. Note that your results may contain CDs as well as songbooks and scores
• If you need to learn the basics of reading music so that you can follow a score, take a look at the Gateway > Music and sounds > Reading music where you will find a couple of web sites that give simple explanations for beginners
• Try a short course or a workshop. Find these at, for example, Time to learn, the Natural Voice Practitioners Network and Singing for larks. There are also singing courses held occasionally at The Stables in Milton Keynes.
• For individual singing tutors, visit the web sites Incorporated Society of Musicians or MusicTeachers.co.uk, which enable you to search by area, or see the directories in the more general Vocalist and Singers UK web sites
• Join with others in a local group. See You and Your Community music page for details
• To find opportunities for performing other than with a group or choir, try 'open mic' sessions or floor spots at folk clubs or 'singaround' sessions where individuals sing (usually folk and traditional songs) informally together
• Find 'open mic' venues and folk clubs at Virtually acoustic and Folk and roots. The Vocalist site also has an open mic section. For local venues that include open mic and floor spots, see sites listed at You and Your Community > What's on> Music, especially Musicmk.org.uk

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