Singing for children: how to care for his voice while learning

To care for the voice of a singing child there are three keys: that she sings in a range comfortable for her age, without shouting or mimicking the power of adult singers; that her songs are in a tone that looks good to her; and that she rest her voice while she's snore or tired. A good singing teacher teaches all that play.

That's a guide for dads and moms of children who have been singing all day, who are at the school chorus or who have been wanting to start classes. Do not replace a doctor's opinion: if something in your child's voice concerns you, contact his or her doctor.

To sum up

The child's voice is lighter and more acute than the adult's. The power of an adult singer cannot be required.
Stretch necks, red face, raised mint or snoring after singing are signs that they are forcing.
Almost every song can be changed to make it comfortable: the teacher does so in minutes.
Chorus singing teaches how to listen, tuning with others and singing without shouting.
During the change of voice, we continue to sing with softness and with patience and comfort.

A child's voice isn't an adult miniature voice.

A child's vocal cords are smaller than an adult's and his or her voice is naturally more acute and light. That's not a limitation, it's a characteristic. The problem appears as a child tries to sound as an adult singer listening on the radio: more strong, more serious or more claw than his or her voice allows without effort.

A sound child's voice sounds clear, refined and with no visible effort. The goal of the classes isn't to sound "great," but to sing with freedom, tuning and taste and to learn habits that will serve his whole life.

Signs that your son's forcing his voice

The veins or muscles of his neck are marked at his singing.
It gets red or raises his chin to reach his sharp notes.
He screams instead of singing as his song goes up.
He ends up with his hysterical, carpeting or with his voice turned off after his singing.
He complains that his throat's annoying or his throat's itching while singing.

If you notice anything about this, have a stop and get some water and get some rest and have some more information about it. Then tell your teacher about how to review his repertoire, his tone and his technique.

Proper Repertoire: What To Sing and How To Adjust It

Repertoire is the most powerful tool to care for his voice. It's not about banning his love for music but about adapting it.

Types of songs and how to address them with children
Type of song	What to have in mind	How to adapt
Roundabout and children's songs	They usually have a comfortable range and short phrases.	Ideal to start with and play with rhythm and motion.
Movie Songs	Some have very sharp or powerful parts, thought for adult voices.	Keep your tone down and sing with a light voice without mimicking the "shout" of the original version.
Pop and urban music	The range can be comfortable but the letters aren't always for his age.	Check the letter and choose appropriate songs or versions.
Balls of adult singers	They can be very serious at the stands and very tipsy at the chorus.	Replay or leave them for later.
Colombian and villancas music	Many traditional songs have simple melodies and a moderate range.	That's a good repertoire for chores, naves and school acts.

The trick that best helps: transport the songThat's to say, to change his tone so that his place will be comfortable with his child's voice. The teacher does so in minutes, and many karaoke tracks allow his tone to come up or down.

What a children's singing class looks like

With children, vocal technique is taught by playing. A typical class includes:

Breathing with games: blow up a pen, make bubbles or put out an imaginary candle very slowly.
Warm up: Soft sirens, vibrate lips as an engine, sounds of animals that come up and down.
Filling: To repeat short patterns that the teacher sings, first of two or three notes.
Posture: Fingerfeet, loose shoulders, head up.
A song: worked by phrases, care for letter, breathing and expression.

The individual [singing] classes](/clases/canto) usually works well from age 7 or 8, when the child can follow indications and practice a little at home. Before that age, [musical initiation]](/clases/iniciacion-musical) and the chorus works their voices more playfully.

Children's chores: A great school

Singing in chorus teaches things that an individual class doesn't always achieve: listening to others, tuning with others, breathing at the same point as the group and respecting the turn of each voice. There are chores in schools, parishes, cultural houses and music schools.

A good children's choir director takes care that children are singing with a "singing voice" and not with a recreational voice. If your child comes back from his or her essays, he or she may be singing very strongly to hear his or her words above his or her own.

The change of voice in adolescence

The words change with puberty. In children the change is often more clear: the voice becomes more serious, "cocks" and breakages appear, and for a while the notes that once came out easier become unstable. In girls there are also changes, sometimes a more airy or less stable voice. The moment and duration vary greatly from person to person.

Keep singing, soft. We have to stop singing, but we have to lower our demand.
Singing at the range that's comfortable todaywithout chasing after them and forcing them serious new.
Fold tones and repertoire with teacher as many times as necessary.
Patience and good mood with cocks: they are part of the process, not a failure.

It's a good time to strengthen other areas: musical reading, theory or an instrument to come with them.

Habits at home for a sound voice

To have water throughout the day, and not just before singing.
Warm up a few minutes before singing, also at home.
Avoid shouting from room to room or above noise, and at parties and at recess, cheer up without tipbling up.
Do not spend long times imitating rough or very serious voices of characters.
At karaoke, moderate volume so as to avoid singing about the music.
Rest his voice while cold or cold, rather than "singing to get his face through."

If your child's been singing regularly, how to care for his voice and [vocal warming exercises]](/blog/ejercicios-de-calentamiento-vocal) there are routines that you can adapt with your teacher.

Frequently asked questions

At how old can a child have singing classes?

Individual singing classes have been functioning since age 7 or 8. Before, the voice is worked with musical initiation and chores with games and songs suitable for their age.

Is it bad that my son's singing adult songs?

The risk is to mimic the power or registration of the original singer. With an adjusted tone and light voice, many adult songs can be sung without problem, always checking that the letter is appropriate.

My son should stop singing during his word shift?

In general we have to stop singing but do so with a smooth and comfortable range and with an adjusted repertoire. If there's a nuisance or a ronquer that doesn't leave, consult with the paediatrician.

How do I know if my son has talent to sing?

Instead of initial talent, they weigh their taste to sing and practice. The tuning and control of their voices are trained. If they enjoy singing, they are worth learning with a teacher to care for their voices.