As a singer and music teacher, I often see this question pop up on internet singing forums:

"Can I sing better without lessons?"

And I always respond with, "It all depends on what you mean by lessons".

If you're asking whether it's possible to sing better without regular, face-to-face singing lessons from an experienced singing teacher in your area, then yes. Absolutely. You can definitely learn to sing better without doing that.

On the other hand, if you're talking about practicing singing on your own without any kind of instruction or guidance or support, then no. If you're not learning or trying anything new, then it's doubtful that you'll ever sing better than you do right now.

Let me explain.

Traditional Singing Lessons

When people ask if they can sing better without lessons, I usually dig a bit deeper to find out why they're asking this question.

Usually it's related to one, two, or all three of these reasons:

1. I do not live near a good singing teacher.
2. I cannot afford regular (usually weekly) singing lessons.
3. I do not have the flexibility to be able to attend regular lessons (usually due to family or work commitments).

I agree that all of these are completely valid reasons for not being able to attend traditional, face-to-face singing lessons. When it comes to finding an experienced, high-quality singing teacher, many aspiring vocalists just don't live close enough to be able to visit for regular lessons.

As for the cost, good teachers often charge anywhere between $100-180 per lesson, and lessons are generally conducted on a weekly basis. It's not a cheap career to pursue, and the financial burden it places on students (or their parents) is considerable.

Even when the first two reasons are not an issue, mature age singers often find it's a struggle to fit a regular singing lesson into their hectic weekly schedule. They have kids or parents to look after and run around to appointments, work commitments and deadlines to meet, and life in general to juggle.

I can understand the frustration of anyone in these positions who desperately wants to sing better.

The good news is this: there is another way.

Teach Yourself to Sing at Home with a Vocal Training Program

The best way to teach yourself to sing is by working through a vocal training program. It will provide you with the instruction you need to improve your voice and sing better, at a fraction of the cost of face-to-face lessons, and with the flexibility to practice anywhere and any time.

Usually the lessons are primarily made up of instructional audio recordings that guide you through different exercises and explanations, but these are also supplemented by videos and written materials. Concepts are taught in several different formats to cater to different learning styles.

Singing programs can be purchased online, with the option of either downloading all the materials immediately, or having hard copies posted out to you, depending on your media preferences. A singing program should include:

• DVDs or downloadable videos;
• A series of audio CDs or downloadable audio files;
• A booklet/guide/pdf to explain some concepts using text, images and diagrams;
• A student-friendly price tag that is less than a couple of traditional, face-to-face lessons;
• A money back guarantee if you are not excited by how much better you are able to sing after using the program for several months.

Remember to do your research before purchasing any singing program.

You should only consider buying one that meets all the criteria listed above.

Conclusion

The truth is that you're not going to sing better without some form of instruction - whether it be face-to-face lessons, or a vocal training program.

There are many vocal training programs on the market, so do your research, shop around, and make sure you find one that meets all the above criteria. I used Taylor Swift's photo to accompany this article because Taylor's singing teacher offers such a vocal training program (and it's the only one that offers a 6-month money back guarantee).

In summary, the main benefits of a home-based vocal training program are:

• They are relatively cheap when compared to face-to-face lessons;
• You can learn at your own pace, and lessons may be replayed over and over until you have mastered each one;
• You can work through the program in your own house (or anywhere else), without having to travel and deal with traffic or public transport;
• You can learn and practice on your own schedule, at any time or day convenient to you; and
• Learning materials are presented in a number of different formats (video, audio, text, diagrams) so people who learn in different ways are catered for.

If you have the desire and motivation to teach yourself how to sing, then using a vocal training program is the best way to improve your singing voice without the cost or other issues involved in attending face-to-face lessons. You have nothing to lose and much to gain by trying out a vocal training program that offers a money-back guarantee.

Best of luck with your singing journey.

IMAGE CREDIT: Taylor Swift during her Speak Now tour in Sydney, Australia. Photographed by Eva Rinaldi and shared under Creative Commons License CC BY-SA 2.0