Is singing more intuitive than playing an instrument?

All of these answers are great! Is it more intuitive? Yes, in a way. Which isn't always a good thing. I would say once reality sets in at the professional realm of signing, more people do quit singing lessons in the end. Most people underestimate how much work is put into singing. Many just assume it is a natural gift. BUT that is what....30 percent of it, if that? It is so much more. AND when one is rejected from singing verses an instrument, they feel as if they themselves are rejected....because the instrument is in inside of them. You can't change your instrument. Now with the piano, it is what it is. Same with a clarinet, flute, etc. you can always change your approach, technique, skill, etc. BUT no matter how much technique you have, how hard you work on your instrument inside you, it will NEVER change in its sound. This is extremely sensitive for singers. Because this is PART of them...who they are. Not to say instrumentalists aren't hurt by rejection, but the rejection is more personal when someone says "I just don't like how you sound." Its too heavy, too light, too dark, too bright. We can try to lighten up, we can try to darken the sound, but in the end...your voice is what it is. And that can hurt if you take it personal.

I will also say, most people want to be singers because they want the attention, not because intuition tells them so. Just check out some of these answers in the yahoo singing section. Yes, there are many like you who are genuine about singing and their ability to move forward. BUT many say "I wanna be famous!" "How can I be discovered?" "Can I sing better than Miley Cirus?" Off the wall questions for trying to get public glory verses the people who genuinely ask "How can I improve". Then you have those who...when you tell them the truth, they get mad. A person who genuinely wants to be a singer for the RIGHT reasons don't reject truth so fiercely. These are people who crave attention. And the slightest hint of reality burns them like fire. Also, you know the artists who work really hard on their dance skills, guitar skills, and piano skills to cover up the fact they aren't good singers? Does anyone wonder why they feel the need to get in front of the mic, instead of JUST being a instrumentalist or a dancer alone? It is because they don't get as much attention doing that verses being a singer. So I would have to say, many people sing because of ego issues. It is dangerous for those who can't sing well, because when the public figures it out, their cute antics don't work anymore to pay bills, they turn to disastrous means to keep attention going. This is why singing is dangerous for those with self esteem problems. This can also happen to people who can sing, but for the "non" singer it hurts worse.

I agree with Lynn. Get a spiritual foundation and center yourself. If I brought all of my woes and worries to my performance, I would sound like a dying duck choking on a chicken bone! We as singers CANNOT afford to do that. No, I don't think one should be a robot singer, but you cannot carry your heart on your sleeve when you sing. You cannot be that transparent.

You are right. Singers are the most sensitive people around. But you must consider their motives as to why they sing. If the motives are unpure, that means trouble. I personally wish I was a better pianist than a singer. I wouldn't have to deal with so many crazed singers who will unnecessarily lie, hurt, and destroy any singer "they think" are competition. Many singers I know are the most dysfunctional people I know. This is why I have to separate myself from many of them. Now don't get me wrong, many of my real friends are singing friends, but there are many who need to see a psychologist. And I am serious. Heck there is one or two of my friends who need this type of help.

I took a personality test, and my test wound up being unlike the standart artist type, which I found surprising. Now I understand why I look at singers on the outside looking in verses blending with them. I just so happened to have better natural singing skills verses piano skills. I would fare better as an accompanist because I think my temperament is much different than the average singer. That is why one must be on their guard as a singer at all times. Protecting onself from the intensity of the art, and from the people around it. What an intense question!

hmmm... that is definitely food for thought. I was never forced to take music lessons by my parents (they are both tone deaf) however I too went about it on my own accord (singing and piano). I wish I would have had a stronger musical influence in my life, because for me it's the only way I feel right expressing myself. Right now I am in a time during my life where I have become very sensitive, emotional and wish to express myself. There's a feeling of heaviness in a heart that seems to be relieved by singing, don't you think? That is what has brought me to Yahoo questions. I want to start singing again, and learn all that I missed when I was young. So I think you would have a point. Also, my friend is a beautiful singer and she's an emotional cry baby (oh and I luv her for it). Gotta love deep people. They have an aura of realness that surrounds them.

That's really subjective...I was not forced to learn piano by anyone..it was totally my decision and I loved every minute of it,the bad and the good times ;)

and that means you love singing more....otherwise you would really miss the piano...I never wanted to go even on holidays somewhere were they didn't have a piano in the room!

most of us start to sing when we are little kids. We don't consciously choose to do so, we just do. Those of us who consciously choose to go on singing and taking lessons to do so have already made contact with something that often remains at sub-conscious level for others. It has osmewhat to do with body chemistry as well..

Cognition research has shown that when we experience emotions, they interact with the brain to send out the appropariate enzymes and hormones ( or is it the other way around? It's so close, it's often hard to say) There are definite changes in the body when we are sad as to when we are angry, happy, tired, etc. Performing music of any sort give us the inside track on producing endorphins- the happy hormone. Instrumentalists create just as much as anyone else, but since, as you pointed out a couple of questions ago, the body is the instrument for singing, we feel it more intensively.

That's why daily practice becomes so imprtant to us, not only for our dose of happy, but to keep our skills at a constant level even when we are tired, blue, angry.

Not to be snide about it, but at your age, it's not unusual to have a very wide emotional pendulum swing, as you become more and more aware of who and what you are and what your want to be.

Take time each day to be still. For you, that would be time to say prayers, to seek out and touch on the ideas that inspire you to be a better person. This " fills your spiritual gas tank" to keep you safe from such wide swings, and gives you the anchor to carry on with dedication and gratitutde for such a wonderful gift. It's also good concentration practice, because you have to be authentic to have a really good prayer session ( mumbling by rote never counts)

Sometimes singers are apt to forget that they are also a vehicle for the music. They give away too much of themselves in their attempt to communicate with the rest of the world. Taking that prayer time every day will help keep your boundaries safe as well. We can't afford to let ourselves be drained by what we do: our task is to let others experience the emotions that we evoke. Yes, we have to know what these emotions feel like, and to have experienced them ourselves, but NOT during the singing, otherwise we have the hormones and chemicals to deal with, and some of them get in the way of good singing.

( It's no fun to sing with a tight throat from being sad or having cried. You can't afford to have that in your way.)

For a very interesting and different point of view, please read Eloise Rijstad's book: a Soprano on her Head.

it's actually for people with performance disfunctions, but there's a lot to be learned for those of us who (still) consider ourselves emotionally healthy.

Keep up the good work!

Singing comes naturally to people as the saying goes , Music is food for the soul. Artistic people are more sensitive because they are more aware of their environment , emotionally & physically .

I do not know, all I've ever performed was once clarinet and violin and viola and french horn and percussion and guitar and glockenspiel and xylophone and metalaphone and flute and piano. I preferred viola and violin the high-quality. You use the equal motions, so I bet they are similarly 'a laugh' to play, however I like viola's sound the high-quality. -:¦:- Alena Sexton •.¸¸ .•´")) -:¦:- ¸.•´ .•´")) ((¸¸.•´¸.•´ .•´")) -:¦:- ((¸¸.•´ ¸.•´ .•´")) ((¸¸.•´¸.•´¸.•´ .•´"(( -:¦:- ((¸¸.•´¯`•.¸¸

maybe thats true

cause im a singer

and i am sooooooooo emotional lol

but its a good thing :)

i wish i could play an instrument that would be awesome :)