Step #6: Build Your Group

SING WITH OTHER SINGERS AND MUSICIANS TO BUILD YOUR COMMUNITY

One of the most powerful experiences of being a singer is singing with other people and musicians! Music is special because of the way it brings people together, and helps us to feel more connected to each other, and to ourselves. The connection that you can feel singing with others can be truly beautiful, spiritual and euphoric.

It’s also an important part of moving forward with your goals in music and singing. Music and singing are team sports, and whatever your singing and music goals happen to be, you will need great people to make music with. Whether it’s on stage or in the recording studio, finding the right fit for your music and artistry is literally a game changer in this musical sport.

JOIN A GROUP TO LEARN TO HARMONIZE WITH OTHERS

You need to learn how to harmonize and sing music within a group. It’s one of the most important skills you need to sing and make music with others. If you’ve never harmonized before, it can be a little challenging at first. And it’s very difficult to learn by yourself because you don’t have somebody in the room to harmonize with.   

My best suggestion is to find a way to sing with others in a group where there is harmony.

If you love musical theater, audition for a show so you can get experience singing and harmonizing with the cast. Join a local church or school choir, and preferably choose to be in parts that tend to sing the harmony parts more (the alto, tenor, & bass parts). Or join a band where you can pick up harmonies singing background vocals and duets.

Music and singing are always at their best when they're shared with others.

START WITH THIS TOOL AT HOME

A wonderful tool to start learning to how harmonize by yourself is learning hymns on the music section of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Saints! The majority of the hymns are online where you can print the sheet music in any key, and you can usually download recordings of piano and guitar accompaniments.

If you use your laptop or desktop to visit the music website, there is an interactive music player where you can control the volume levels of the individual parts (soprano, alto, tenor, bass).

Use the interactive player to turn up the part you want to learn, while you turn down the other parts. When you think you've got your part down, slowly turn up the other parts to see if you can hold your harmony. It's one of the best ways to start learning how to harmonize in the privacy of your home!

ACTIONS STEPS - TIPS AND HACKS 

• If you prefer to begin at home, starting learning how to harmonize singing hymns with the interactive music player on the LDS Church website.
•  If you're in musical theater, audition for a show to sing with a cast.
•  Join your local school or church choir.
•  Join a band to learn how to sing background vocals.
•  Sing a duet with a friend who can harmonize.

Let's support each other as we make this journey together! No one has to do this journey alone.

- Anjanette