This is why everyone should take singing lessons
Oh guys, it's that time again. I've discovered a new hobby. Or new... As long as I can remember, I've wanted to sing like the really big stars. As a little girl, I stood in my princess dress in front of the mirror lip-syncing to the Spice Girls' CD, and I still sing and dance my heart out in my pajamas to the tunes of Beyoncé and Taylor Swift. Until recently, that was it, but a few months ago I decided to take it more seriously. I gathered all my courage and booked a singing lesson with Songfestival queen Linda Wagenmakers. What turned out? I absolutely loved it. In fact, I think everyone should take singing lessons, and here are the reasons why.
1. Singing is really good for you
Our own May has written about it before: singing is super healthy. This way you train your abdominal muscles and your lungs, you catch colds less often, and you even look younger. Can you say miracle cure?
2. You might discover a new talent
Of course, I've always enjoyed singing; otherwise, I wouldn't put myself through such lessons. Still, I continue to amaze myself when it comes to which notes I can hit (thanks to the right technique) time and again. You might feel like a fool because you scream ‘OH MY GOD’ and ‘HEY!’ in different pitches nine out of ten times, but you can really do more than you think.
3. And that's very healthy
According to a study by Women’s Health discovering new hobbies is incredibly healthy. Hobbies clear your mind, improve your problem-solving ability, and having a hobby creates a better self-image. And the best news? You don't even have to be good at it to reap the benefits of these advantages.
4. Everyone can learn to sing
This video of Ed Sheeran proves that anyone can learn to sing. At first, you'll have to get over your own embarrassment (my voice still goes all over the place during every lesson), but Ed proves once again that anyone with the right guidance can sell out the Ziggo Dome. Or at least a small hall in the community center.
5. Singing is therapeutic
Even if you sing as off-key as a crow, singing is great for your mental health. Experts indicate that singing songs that make you happy can provide a massive dopamine boost, giving you a feeling of happiness and lowering your cortisol levels (your stress hormone).
6. You do something truly for yourself
You can't look at your phone, check your email, or quickly do something for work. You have to be in the moment with yourself, and that's wonderful. In the past, we did that much more often: we played outside or met up with friends after school. Now we're all way too busy and really need to schedule these moments for ourselves, so why not do that by singing along to our favorite music for an hour? I say: let's do it.
