Considering Vocal Training? What to Expect in Your First Months of Singing Lessons in Singapore

Photo credit: Mikhail Nilov (Pexels)

So, you’re thinking about taking singing lessons. Maybe you’ve been belting songs in the shower, humming on your drive to work, or daydreaming about performing your favourite karaoke ballad without panicking halfway through the chorus. But there’s just one tiny thing holding you back: You have no idea what to expect from singing lessons.

Totally normal. In fact, it’s more common than you think.

Starting anything new can feel a bit nerve-wracking, especially when it involves using your own voice — something so personal, vulnerable, and (let’s face it) a little scary to share at first. But don’t worry! If you’re curious, excited, and even just a tiny bit nervous, you’re in exactly the right place.

Let’s break down what your first few months of singing lessons might actually look like.

Week 1: “Wait, I Have a Diaphragm?”

Your first lesson is all about exploration. You’re not expected to sound like Whitney Houston or Bruno Mars (phew!) — you’re just here to start getting comfortable with your voice, your vocal coach, and maybe even your breathing.

Here’s what usually happens:

• A friendly chat to understand your goals (even if it's just “I want to sing better at karaoke”)

• Singing a small section of a song you like — just enough for your coach to hear where you’re at (in a totally positive, supportive, and judgement-free space)

• A few warm-up exercises to help your coach hear your natural sound, and allow you to discover your vocal range (this is usually a really exciting and eye-opening moment for beginners!)

• Breathing basics (you’ll be surprised how different singing breathing is from regular ol’ breathing)

• Putting what you’ve learnt into practise through a song, then hearing — and feeling — the difference!

Many new students are amazed to discover that things like posture, jaw tension, and how you breathe can affect the way you sound. By the end of your first lesson, you’ll likely go home thinking, “Wow, I’ve never thought about my voice this way before.”

And that’s the point. 😉

Week 2: Finding Your Voice (Literally)

Once your coach has gotten to know your voice, week two is about building a bit of consistency. Don’t worry, we’re still taking baby steps — but now you might start learning:

• Vocal warm-ups (yes, the ones that sound like “meow-meow-meow” and “gee-gee-gee”—they work, promise)

• Using proper breath phonation (that’s a technical way of simply saying, “breath flow”)

• Understanding your vocal registers: chest, head/falsetto, mix (and maybe even a bit of flageolet)

• Identifying and addressing any habits (like throat or tongue tension)

You might think, Wait… how do I have so many parts to my voice?! This is where singing lessons become magical. You’ll start tuning into how your voice feels when it’s relaxed versus, when it’s straining.

You’ll also probably start to notice small improvements already — notes feel easier to hit, and you’re less out of breath after a phrase. Progress! 🙌

Week 3 onwards: Building Technique Confidence and Technique

This is the week most students start to feel a shift. You’re getting into a rhythm (pun intended), and you may start to:

• Work on a short song or part of one (with proper technique!)

• Learn how to shape your vowels and phrases for clearer tone

• Practise singing through tricky parts with targeted exercises

• Gain more awareness of your pitch and tone quality

And yes, your vocal coach will remind you (again and again) to breathe low, support your sound, relax your jaw, and so on. It’s all part of rewiring habits you didn’t even know you had.

Also, if you feel a little silly doing vocal warm-ups at home… welcome to the club! Everyone does. And everyone gets better because of it.

In the months ahead: Connecting the Dots

By months two and three, your vocal cords are starting to trust you a little more. You’ve built new and empowering habits, explored fun (and wacky) vocal training exercises, and probably caught yourself correcting your posture while singing along to the radio.

Here’s what typically happens (and when it does, it’ll feel amazing):

• You’ll sing through songs with more intention — using support, breath flow, vocal cord coordination, multiple vocal registers, and more

• You may start recording yourself and appreciating your progress each month

• You’ll get continuous feedback from your vocal coach on the areas you’re improving at, and what to keep working on

• You’ll also be pleasantly surprised by how much more in control you feel

And guess what? That little nervous knot in your stomach about “not being good enough” has likely softened… or maybe even disappeared! That’s what a supportive coach and consistent vocal training can do.

What You Won’t Find in Month One

Let’s set some expectations too, just to keep it real:

• You won’t suddenly develop a 4-octave range overnight

• You won’t sound like your favourite singer after four lessons

You might get frustrated some days (which happens when you’re learning any skill)… but you’ll also laugh, surprise yourself, and love singing at a whole new level.

Simply put, vocal training isn’t a shortcut to fame — it’s an ongoing relationship with your voice, and it’s incredibly fun, healing, and fulfilling (when you have the right support from a professional vocal coach).

So… Is It Worth It?

If you’ve ever wanted to explore your voice, even just for yourself — then yes, singing lessons are absolutely worth it. You don’t need to have big dreams of becoming a professional singer. You just need curiosity and a willingness to try.

Whether your goal is:

• To sing confidently at karaoke

• To sound better in your choir or worship team

• To belt out birthday songs with confidence

• Or to finally learn to sing that one tricky song you love

Singing lessons can help you get there — with joy, structure, and positive support along the way.

Ready to Take That First Step?

If all of this sounds exciting (and maybe still a little scary), I want you to know: you’re not alone. Most people feel nervous before their first lesson — but by the end of it, they usually say, “Why didn’t I do this sooner?”

Whether you’re based in Singapore (near my home studio in Sembawang) or overseas, and curious to see where your voice could go, I’d love to help. I'm a vocal coach at The Vocal Experiment, and I work with beginners, shower singers, and everyday people who just want to feel good when they sing.

Singing lessons are conducted both in-studio and online (via Google Meet), so no matter where you live, it’s very possible to book a lesson with a certified vocal coach who uses proven, science-based vocal techniques that eliminate guesswork and ensure fast results.

You can find me at www.thevocalexperiment.com – no pressure, no judgment, just a warm welcome and a fun, encouraging space to explore your voice.

Let’s take the first step of your amazing vocal journey, together. 🎶