How We Learn Best in Singing (And Why It’s Not That Simple)

Ever wondered why some singers pick things up fast while others struggle?

You might have heard about learning styles—the idea that people learn best through seeing, hearing, or doing. Different  vocal students tell me: “I need to see it” or “I have to feel it” to understand. Others do really well with imagery “think the sound on the floor”, Some do best with body movement, Some with internal sensation.

In my experience, vocal improvement comes from using multiple learning approaches, not just one. And when it comes to singing, feeling is just as important as hearing—because your voice is an internal instrument.

The Myth of Learning Styles

The theory says:

• Visual learners learn best by watching demonstrations.

• Auditory learners learn through listening and repetition.

• Kinesthetic learners learn through movement and hands-on experience.

Sounds good, but research shows that sticking to one learning style doesn’t actually help. Singing is a whole-body experience, and the best vocal training combines all three approaches.

Your Voice is an Internal Instrument

Unlike a guitar or piano, you can’t physically see your voice in action. And here’s something wild—you will never hear your own singing the way others do.

Why? Because when you speak or sing, the sound travels through your skull before reaching your ears, changing how it sounds to you. That’s why recordings of your voice often surprise (or horrify) you—it’s the first time you’re hearing it the way the rest of the world does!

Since we can’t rely only on our ears, we do have to learn to sing by feel—not just by sound.  That means:
🗹 Feeling how your breath fuels your voice.
🗹 Feeling resonance in different parts of your body.
🗹 Feeling tension and learning to release it.

This can be challenging, especially at the beginning. Most people have never thought about the feeling of the sound. The feeling of the vibration.

How This Applies to Singing Lessons

The most effective voice lessons engage multiple senses:

🗹 Seeing a vocal technique in action, using hand gestures or diagrams to understand breath control.
🗹 Hearing the difference in vocal tone and mimicking it to develop better pitch and tone quality.
🗹 Feeling how breath support and resonance work by using hands-on exercises.

Even if you think you’re a visual learner, hearing and feeling your voice will improve your singing faster than just watching.

Why This Matters for Your Singing Progress

If you’ve been struggling with vocal technique, pitch accuracy, or breath control, the problem might not be how you learn — it might be how you practice. The best way to improve is to experience singing in multiple ways.

Want to Learn in a Way That Works for You?

I teach private voice lessons in Canberra and online for singers at all levels. Whether you’re a beginner looking for confidence or an experienced vocalist wanting to refine your technique, I customize lessons to help you unlock your best voice.

📅 Book a lesson today and discover how multi-sensory learning can transform your singing.

🔗 Click here to learn more about singing lessons with me.