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Learning an Instrument Which Instrument The Voice: Our first instrument At the age of six or seven your child may show that they've got this powerful voice and that's absolutely wonderful but I think it can be easily destroyed by singing very powerful songs at a very young age. Rita McHugh, Melanie's mother
We all sing, and singing is the basis for all music. Babies learn to sing by imitating sounds. If you sing to them they will try to copy you. Many children can sing in tune by the time they start school, and the more they sing the better they get. Some children have a gift for singing, and you may want to consider vocal lessons or training, but it is generally not a good idea to have too much formal training at an early age. The golden rule with singing is: if there's any sign of strain, stop. It's very easy to learn bad habits and very hard to get rid of them!
Rita and Melanie McHugh After I have achieved something great in a singing lesson I feel much better within myself. Melanie McHugh, 15 Video interview Interview transcript Need video help? Top Tips
Video interview
Interview transcript
Melanie: I decided to take singing lessons because of the encouragement I was given from the Saturday music centre I attend weekly, and also my school and my family. I recognised that I enjoyed singing, and felt that I should pursue this and music is quite an ongoing process of developing, learning new skills and trying to take that further so I felt that with singing lessons I had the chance to do this. I thought that this would be a very useful opportunity for me.
Rita: For the voice, advice wise, it is like any other instrument: you have to take care of it. You can't push it too much. Eating very good food is one if the most important things, both exercising yourself and the voice. A lot of people may think that sounds silly but there are exercises that you can do, and do not push the exercises too much at a young age because a lot of children think 'Oh I can try this and do this' and whatever. Please don't do that. Go and seek advice if you're going to do anything like that from your tutors, or teachers or whoever.
Melanie: Don't push your voice at a young stage. When I first came into singing lessons I was singing very demanding songs by Celine Dion and Mariah Carey, real belter songs; and my singing teacher awaked me to the fact that there is plenty of time for that when you are older, when you have developed your voice and developed techniques. Give your voice time to change and progress, and then go on to the demanding and challenging songs.
Rita: I suppose the best thing is obviously the development from when she first started to where she is now. And that only comes with practice, practice, practice and good tutoring, good teaching and working with them; but it is wonderful to see them standing up on stage and singing. It's the best thing basically.
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Further Reading The Right Instrument for Your Child , Atarah Ben-Tovim, Douglas Boyd (Weidenfeld & Nicholson, 1995; ISBN: 0575058943)
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