<p>I was just thinking about this the other day -how long are guys singing and studying before they go an audition for a conservatory?
On violin and piano they are often starting around 3 or 4. This obviously cannot happen with voice, particularly male voice. </p>
<p>What is your experience, or what have you seen?</p>
<p>My S started classical voice lessons in 8th grade when his voice changed. Before that he had musical theater coaching, but not a lot of real technique. Most of his friends who are in or headed to conservatories also started lessons in about 8th or 9th grade.</p>
<p>I know a few who started their training as choristers in church choirs when they were 3 or 4. At that age, they can learn a lot about the musical aspects of singing in an ensemble, if not some of the technique that has to wait until after the voice matures a bit.</p>
<p>Several others whom I know did not get started until their first or second year of high school and that does not seem to have put them at a tremendous disadvantage, particularly for those who are more interested in solo work than ensemble singing.</p>
<p>Many singers, particularly male, do not begin formal vocal study until late high school years. It is not helpful to try to train a disciplined technical approach when the body is still maturing, the muscular skeletal system achieving its eventual length and coordination. It all depends on when the voice changed and whether the young male is still growing. I see and hear tension and problems in almost all teenaged males who attempt to satisfy the sound, technique, and range expected in most classical music. A young, light tenor or baritone would be the safest, if he stays away from the heavier, more romantic repertory. Any attempt to “make sound” will cause problems. </p>
<p>Of more value would be keyboard, language, movement, drama, and other general musical skills. Instrumental study can be good, particularly those that do NOT invoke any kind of breath compression or head/neck asymmetry. Something like cello or percussion would be appropriate.</p>
<p>A reputable voice teacher won’t take any student before she/he is about 15 years of age. Voices take far longer to mature and bad habits can become lodged in “muscle memory”. One of my pet peeves is finding out that a young man-high school age- is either self-identifying or has been told by a teacher that he is a “bass”. Invariably the kid is singing rep far too heavy for a young voice and there will be a lot to fix later on.</p>
<p>I agree wholeheartedly with Lorelei but will add that I do think choir is beneficial, beit at school or in a church, provided the quality is high enough (both in instruction and in sound). There is a lot to be said about putting musicianship to use in a choral setting as well as working well with others–in particular tuning and blending with others. Choral work will make up a chunk of a singer’s career early on once the voice has developed a bit more.</p>