Things to do · Arts and crafts
Take singing lessons
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
Singing lessons work on your own voice, starting with breathing, posture and warm-ups, then songs sung with accurate pitch and rhythm. You can begin in a small beginners' class and move on to a private teacher when you want more time on solo singing.
Gentle£100 to £500 / $130 to $650MonthsIndoorsAlone or with othersUK and US
Group class or one-to-one?
Most people start in a group. City Lit's Singing 1 (contemporary), for beginners and those with a little experience, opens with warm-ups, then the whole class sings with the tutor, then moves to smaller groups, pairs and some individual work, with warm-ups, breathing exercises and songs from pop, rock, musical theatre and jazz. It helps if you can hear a note and sing it back at the right pitch. City Lit recommends taking it for at least three terms before Singing 2, which brings in more solo singing.
Short courses cover the mechanics. The University of Utah's four-evening Beginning Singing Skills and Techniques covers basic throat anatomy, breath connection, singing without tension and how singing differs from speaking, and students leave with exercises and individual feedback.
For private lessons, the teachers' associations keep directories. The Association of Teachers of Singing, a UK charity founded in 1975, lets you search its members by name or location, but says it is not a regulatory body and does not run background checks. The US-based National Association of Teachers of Singing has more than 7,000 members; its directory advises searching by state, because a city search does not show teachers in surrounding towns.
What beginners pay
| Where | Course | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| City Lit, London | Singing 1 (contemporary): 11 Monday evening sessions from 11 January 2027; mainly group singing | £279, or £195 concession |
| Eastman Community Music School, Rochester, New York | Voice Class for Adults: weekly Monday evening class, autumn semester 2026; for first-time students and returners | $174 a semester |
| University of Utah Continuing Education, Salt Lake City | Beginning Singing Skills and Techniques: four Wednesday evenings from 20 January 2027 | $159, including a $10 equipment fee |
How to start
- Book a beginners' singing class at an adult education college, a university continuing education programme or a community music school.
- For one-to-one lessons, search the teacher directory of the Association of Teachers of Singing (UK) or the National Association of Teachers of Singing (US).
- Practise between sessions; City Lit says practice between classes is essential.
Where to go
- City Lit: Singing 1 (contemporary), for beginners (London) UK
- Association of Teachers of Singing: find a teacher (UK) UK
- National Association of Teachers of Singing: find-a-teacher directory (US) US
- Eastman Community Music School: Voice Class for Adults (Rochester, New York) US
We opened these links on 8 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
Do I need any experience to take singing lessons?
No. City Lit's Singing 1 is for beginners, though it says it helps if you can sing back a note at the right pitch, and Eastman's Voice Class for Adults is for people taking voice lessons for the first time.
Will I have to sing on my own?
Not at first in most group classes. City Lit's Singing 1 is mainly group singing with some individual work; its Singing 2 introduces more solo singing.
How do I find a singing teacher?
In the UK, search the Association of Teachers of Singing's directory by name or location; in the US, the National Association of Teachers of Singing's directory searches by state, city or zip code.
What does a beginners' singing class cover?
Breathing, posture and warm-ups, then songs. The University of Utah's course adds basic throat anatomy and singing without tension.
Where this comes from: City Lit, Singing 1 (contemporary); City Lit, Singing for absolute beginners; Association of Teachers of Singing, Home; Association of Teachers of Singing, Find a teacher; National Association of Teachers of Singing, Find-A-Teacher Directory; Eastman Community Music School, Voice Class for Adults; University of Utah Continuing Education, Beginning Singing Skills and Techniques. Opened 8 November 2026.
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