When you want to play an instrument, write your own songs, play solo or play in a band do you have to be a professionally trained singer in order to sing? The reality is, not really. They say you can’t be a self-taught singer ’cause it doesn’t work that way. A lot of singers recommend voice coaching if you wanna sing but in my opinion, that’s a load of bullcrap. I think they say that just to get you throw in a few bucks to buy their online products. You don’t need to be a professionally trained singer at all if you wanna make your own music.

I mean think about it, right? A lot of famous singers out there admitted they were never professionally trained especially singers like Neil Young. Neil admitted plenty of times in interviews, he was never a great singer even though most of us think he’s amazing… Neil just went what he had. Neil always sings in that high pitch falsetto like voice which is what I like about his singing. There are too many singers who were never professionally trained like Ozzy for example. Billy Corgan is another one. Lou Reed was never the greatest singer either, he just did it anyways ’cause it’s what he loved to do. Bob Dylan wasn’t much of a singer but he did it anyways ’cause he was a storyteller & poet. There are tons of singers out there who has made a big name for themselves and they’ve never had professional vocal training. They sing because they love it. If you wanna sing then do it.

When I first started playing guitar, I started singing right away. I knew I was gonna be shit and knew that I didn’t know what I was doing but I did it anyway just to get started. When I first started singing, I knew my voice was gonna get badly criticized but I just wanted to sing my own songs that I wrote. Back then, I wasn’t confident with my singing. Back then, I didn’t take my singing seriously and just did it. Just wanted to get my start playing open mics and regular gigs. Back then I used to get real nervous singing but I learned to build more confidence in my singing as years went along.

In singing, you don’t need to be a perfectionist. Just be yourself and sing from the heart. There are too many rock & metal singers out that weren’t professionally trained. I’m not professionally trained and never had any vocal coaching but I find ways to get better on my own. As you can see, I’ve gotten way better in my singing. I have more head voice and more range now which feels good. I feel I’ve gotten okay with my singing but still gotta lot of work to do, though.

You don’t need to spend a lot of money to learn how to sing when you can teach yourself. I prefer to be self taught myself ’cause if I work with a live and in person vocal coach, I could get their style and I don’t want that, ya know? You get your own original sound in your voice when you don’t learn from anyone else.

Don’t listen to those online vocal coaches that claims you need “vocal coaching” ’cause they just say that just to promote their products. Be careful there. If you wanna sing then do it. You may not like your own singing voice but hey like I said, Neil Young admitted he didn’t like his own singing voice but he made a successful career over it… you just need to stay humble.

Other people may not like your singing voice either but that’s their problem. Kudos to all you singers out there that wanna sing ’cause you enjoy it and not listening to everybody else ’cause that’s the way to be.

I remember back in the old days people trashed my singing like crazy but lately though, I haven’t seen anybody say anything negative about my singing at all which feels amazing really. I sing because I enjoy it. I love singing and sing everyday that’s how I’ve gotten better over the years.

Only thing though, I’m not the best at writing lyrics but I want to improve that too and I will!

Kev