One of the most artistic acts is playing the piano while singing on stage. That image is romantic and artistic, with a deep impression on the audience.
It makes us curious about how to sing and play the piano. In fact, this is not easy, and you will have to follow these steps:
- Improve your piano-playing skill.
- Maintain a good body posture.
- Know where to set up your microphone.
- Try to play and sing separately.
- Be proficient when using both hands.
- Draw power from your lower part.
- Play with light fingers.
- Practice, practice, and practice.
To learn more about the specific steps, read the article below with us.
Why Is Singing And Playing Piano At The Same Time Difficult?
One of the problems with playing musical instruments, especially the piano, is the implementation of the synchronization between playing and singing. This problem happens to everyone but some musical geniuses.
Even if you can do two things simultaneously, it always feels like you will sing worse when playing the keyboard and vice versa. Many people think that doing two tasks is impossible and soon give up.
What are the reasons for these problems?
- It’s hard to focus on the right pitch for the voice when performing.
- When focusing on playing an instrument, the vocals often tend to come out freely.
- Breathing unconsciously and improperly. While the breathing technique is the foundation of singing.
- It is difficult to see the fingers when performing in front of a microphone.
- The hands become clumsy to keep up with the tempo of the instrument.
- Sing the correct syllable/note melody with the right piano note/chord.
- Keeping everything going at once is a juggling act that requires ingenuity.
How To Sing While Playing Piano?
Performing both activities at the same time seems to be a challenging problem for many people. However, they are not impossible. You can follow our instructions to make the process go smoother.
#1. Improving Your Playing Skill
To be able to play the piano and sing at the same time, it’s best to do one of the two skills well. We recommend the first skill.
It is difficult for a mediocre pianist to perform smoothly on stage. You can also become awkward and confused when you sing. It can take a toll on your mental health.
So, a prerequisite before starting to practice is to improve your instrument skills. Make sure you can play the keyboard without looking at the keys.
#2. Maintaining A Good Posture
One of the most critical techniques that singers need to master is regulating their breath. Good breathing gives a much better and stronger voice.
Your body posture is the factor that has the most influence on breathing. You need to maintain the flexibility of your spine, no matter whether you sit or stand.
While leaning forward while playing sounds fun and wild, we recommend keeping your back straight. This pose is more formal and helps to regulate your breathing.
#3. Setting Up Your Microphone Position
Believe it or not, how you position your microphone dramatically affects your performance posture.
Placing the microphone too close causes the sound to become loud and harsh. It will also hinder some of your actions.
On the contrary, you will often tend to lean forward when the mic is out of reach. It makes your posture bad and affects breathing.
Make sure you have placed the microphone in the diaphragm perpendicular to the mouth, about two fingers away from the lips. Don’t tilt your head too much to the side or up and down as it affects the timbre and volume.
#4. Playing And Singing Separately First
Before combining these two actions, you need to master them individually. Please do not rush to combine both skills simultaneously because it will confuse you.
It’s best to master playing the piano first without singing. Then start by singing or humming a few simple tunes. You can also play a pre-recorded piano piece of the song and practice singing the pre-recorded track. It’s like singing a cappella until you get the hang of the music.
As you improve your vocal technique, practice some simple chords. Take things slow and slow until you feel confident with both. Slowly increase the difficulty of the process to make sure things don’t get out of hand.
#5. Ensuring Your Performance While Playing With Both Hands
One of the biggest problems with playing an instrument is learning to play the left and right hands separately. If you do not master the art of playing with two hands, it will make you confused when performing.
The right hand is usually responsible for chords and melodies. Meanwhile, the left hand will play the bass notes, full chords, and melodies.
Make it natural to play with both hands while you raise your voice. You can choose simple songs or chords while practicing to get used to the feeling.
#6. Drawing Power From Your Lower Body
When performing with an instrument, the artist squeezes his neck and shoulders at the climax. But this action will seriously affect their vocal ability.
The advice is to focus your energy and control your lower body right on the pelvic floor. It helps to regulate breathing and make sounds easier. In addition, you can widen your throat to sing more clearly.
Sit on the chair’s edge and let your body press down on the seat while in a sitting position. If you play the keyboard and need to stay upright, place your feet shoulder-width apart to get power from your feet.
#7. Playing With Light Fingers
While we often tend to play tight and are a bit pressured when we first practice, it’s better to play with light fingers in the long run. This skill is not easy because it requires you to master the instrument first.
Practice diligently to keep keystrokes light and wrists flexible. It will make your performance more airy and open.
#8. Practicing Everyday
Except for natural geniuses, we all need practice to perfect a skill. With musical instruments and performances, you need to spend at least half an hour a day learning and practicing.
Monitor your performance after each workout to make sure you’re improving.
Helpful Tips For Singing And Playing Piano At The Same Time
In addition to the steps to performing an instrument while humming, we also have some helpful tips. Please refer to practice to make it easier.
#1. Knowing Your Vocal Range
Each person will have a particular vocal range. So, it would help if you chose songs that suit your voice to make it easier to perform. The right piece will make your performance complete.
Find out what your vocal range is right now. Performing too difficult songs will strain the vocal cords and consume a lot of energy.
#2. Using A Metronome
A metronome is an effective device for performing and humming the right notes and capturing the correct pitch. Use them during practice. It will imprint on your subconscious in the long run and gradually use it subconsciously.
Using a metronome also takes practice and constant practice. Not everyone can master every tool. Be patient, and you will get the results you deserve.
#3. Humming
Before performing piano and singing simultaneously, try humming along to the tune while you practice. The reason is that sometimes you can’t concentrate when multitasking.
Humming also helps you feel the chords better during your performance and catch the tune better. It would be best to do some vocal warm-ups to create flexibility in your mouth muscles.
#4. Ear Training
To be able to perform a keyboard and a song fluently, you need a good ear. Ear training helps you acquire auditory skills and hear melodies in your head.
This skill is essential for professional artists. How can you sing well if you don’t have the right pitch?
Sit down at the piano and close your eyes. Sing through the tune you want to play in your head. Practice this until you can do it well. Once you can do this, make the noise.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any questions about how to sing and play piano at the same time, find the answers here.
Do Pianists Need To Sing While Playing?
Yes, you do. Singing is an important activity to improve your piano playing. It helps you better understand the rhythm and the notes.
Will You Sing Better When Playing Piano?
Learning to play any musical instrument, like the piano, will play an important role in your creativity as a singer. It will positively affect the way you listen to music and the way you perform and feel the rhythm.
What Instrument Creates The Best Singing Posture?
The keyboard and piano are the most practical instruments for singers. They help you have an extremely suitable standing or sitting position and effectively support hearing.
Can You Be A Musician If You Are Tone Deaf?
No. In fact, if you can’t feel the pitches well, you’ll almost certainly be out of tune with your notes. Singing is the best way to check if someone is “tone-deaf.”
What Is Tone Deafness?
Tonal deafness appears to be a case of poor voice-ear coordination. In other words, poor singing and poor pitch are often the results of poor vocal technique or an inability to properly use a vocal instrument.
How Do You Sing On Beat?
One of the simplest ways to perform a successful song is to sing it to the right tempo. However, not everyone can do this.
If you are still struggling with keeping up with the song’s tempo, check out the video below.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, performing the piano while singing will no longer challenge you after reading our article. Its key is to accurately capture the pitch and harmonize the lyrics with the notes.
It can seem quite tricky at first. But keep practicing every day. Gradually you will grasp the tone much more clearly.
Don’t forget to share this article with your friends if you find it useful.
Thank you for reading!
