In order to move forward, and this is not only true for singers, we need feedback. Without evaluation, we have no reference; we do not know if we are on the right or wrong path. Evaluation guides us in the right direction of our goal.
The best response a singer can get is, of course, from the audience. The audience will judge our entire performance. These are, among other things:
- Interaction with the audience
- Accompaniment music
- Movement and gestures
- Clothing
- Voice in general
- Be in tune and rhythm with the accompaniment
- Amiability
- Novelty and originality
- Technical aspects such as lighting, room acoustics, etc.
Positive feedback will keep you going. There is nothing more rewarding than receiving a standing ovation.
However, the audience is always subjective: a heavy metal rock singer probably does not receive the criticism he deserves in front of classical music enthusiasts.
Unfortunately, it is inconvenient to have reactions in this way. How often do you get the opportunity to perform in front of an audience? On top of that, it is difficult to interpret this kind of added feedback.
The next best possibility to get feedback is from a human person. Preferably: a singing teacher. Since it belongs to your daily activity, you will be able to give individual clues about the different aspects listed at the beginning. He can give you personalized tips and exercises to improve your singing, for example, posture, breathing, singing techniques, etc. Not all teachers will support all styles of singing. However, good professionals are able to offer neutral and unbiased feedback.
Last but not least, there are computer-assisted commentary. They are far behind real people, but in the dedicated areas, where they can give feedback, they are objective and very competent. The great advantage of computer programs, which can evaluate your singing, is that they are never bored. Visiting a real teacher for pitch training is very boring for the teacher, he always has to tell you where you are wrong. It also bothers you to always annoy the teacher with similar errors. Just because it takes longer for the inner ear concept to work for you doesn’t mean you shouldn’t stick with it. Being in tune and rhythm is such an important part of music that you cannot afford to ignore it. Singing out of tune and in rhythm will destroy most of the other effects in a performance. Therefore, feedback in these areas is essential.
If you chose software lessons to improve your singing, check that the software can give you feedback on what you would like to improve. Note that the software, which can assess you for pitch and rhythm, requires a microphone, as the computer has to hear your voice or clap your hands. Since the software evaluates your accuracy, you can track your progress. Seeing your scores improve over time motivates you to continue training. The interactivity of the programs also makes learning more fun than simply watching video tutorials.