Songs for Beginners
You can sing even when you just started lessonsFor beginner singers, the choice of songs plays an integral role in each student’s progress. Many of my beginner students request song suggestions. Below are popular songs that I recommend if you’re just starting out with voice lessons.
Popular Songs for Singing Beginners
My song recommendations for beginner voice students depend on the students’ age.
| Children | Teens and Adults |
| Somewhere Over the Rainbow | One Call Away- Charlie Puth |
| Take me Out to the Ball Game | One Thousand Years- Christina Perri |
| Mary Had a Little Lamb | Can’t Help Falling in Love- Elvis Presley |
| I’m a Little Tea Pot | Hallelujah- Leonard Cohens |
| Hokey Pokey | Shake It Off- Taylor Swift |
When selecting song’s it’s also important to keep in mind these additional factors:
Breath and Diaphragm Control
Take deep breaths from your lower lungs (diaphragm). Avoid raising your shoulders while breathing, and relax.
Rhythm Patterns
Children who are 6-8 years old do best with songs that have a predictable melodic line. For example, choose a repeating chorus that lines up with the verses of the song. And songs with lyrics that are repetitive and easy to learn are good choices for beginning kids songs.
Vocal Range
Children between ages 3-5 have roughly a 6 note key range from middle C to A. Children 6-8 years have a wider range of about an octave, 8 notes from middle C to treble C. Once children are 9-11 years old, then they have the ability to sing from Bb (right by Middle C) up to treble E. Before and after puberty, vocal range also changes. And with teens and adults, the vocal range varies based on if they are tenor, baritone, bass, alto, or soprano.
Style of Song
When working with teens and adults, the repertoire of songs broadens. It’s important to pick songs that help develop a singers’ breath, artistry, technique, and vocal range. For example, One Call Away, One Thousand Years, and Can’t Falling in Love using both upper and lower registers. The tempo is slow enough to focus on good tonal production and helps develop breath control. These songs also help with simple diction and phrasing along with learning the basics of diphthongs. Songs like Shake it Off by Taylor Swift are upbeat but repetitive. Because of the repetitive nature of the songs, it allows the singer to focus on style and adding their own spice while performing it.
Of course, picking appropriate songs is not just related to age but also preference of style and taste. Certain singers have a proclivity towards a certain genre of music. And within that genre, there are many beginning levels songs for jazz, rock, blues, pop, classical, Indi rock, and musical theater.