I Can’t Read Music Yet, Can I Still Be A Successful Singer?
Deborah from Conquest Voice Studios here. One of the most common questions I get asked is: Do you need to be able to read music to take voice lessons or to be a successful singer? The short answer is “no”, but let’s dig a little deeper into why having some basic music-reading skills can really help you take your singing career to the next level.
Why Music Reading Matters in Singing
If you’ve ever been to an audition, especially for a musical theater production, you know that time is never on your side. At callbacks, you may be handed a sheet of music and given just 5 minutes to learn it before you’re expected to perform. And if you don’t have the skill set to read music or process it quickly, you could be left scrambling — and that's when someone else gets the part.
This is exactly why we incorporate music reading into my online voice lessons in Rochester, NY and voice lessons in NYC . You don’t need to become a professional sight-reader, but understanding the basics of sheet music can be the difference between being prepared for that big audition or falling short.
What Does Music Reading Have to Do with Singing?
You may be wondering: "I can sing. Why do I need to learn music?" The truth is, you can sing, but to book the next gig, you need to have the ability to adapt quickly, especially in a professional setting. Imagine this scenario: you’re at an audition, and you’re given a song you’ve never seen before. The casting director expects you to learn it fast and return with a fully-developed performance. Without some music-reading skills, that can be daunting.
In our lessons, we spend just 1–3 minutes a week working on sight-reading. This might seem minimal, but even those few minutes add up and help students build the skills they need to process new music more quickly. It’s not about turning you into a sight-reading expert; it’s about giving you the tools to succeed in real-world situations, like auditions and performances.
What Are the Benefits of Learning to Read Music?
Increased Confidence: You’ll walk into auditions with the peace of mind that you can handle whatever sheet music is thrown your way.
More Opportunities: Many auditions and performances require you to read music on the spot. If you’re able to do this, you’ll have access to more roles and gigs.
Better Communication with Musicians: If you’re working with accompanists or other musicians, knowing how to read music will help you collaborate more effectively and make you a more versatile performer.
Faster Learning: With some basic music-reading skills, you’ll be able to pick up new songs faster and have more time to focus on character development and performance.
Callbacks! We’ve all been there- you make it to the callback round and they throw you a new song and give you 5 minutes to learn it
How I Make Music Reading Easy and Fun
For many singers, learning to read music can feel intimidating, especially if they’re just starting out. But I believe you can sing, and you can also develop your music-reading skills in a way that feels approachable and even fun. Here’s how I approach it with my students:
Start Slow: We break music down into simple intervals and rhythms, so students don’t feel overwhelmed by complex notation.
Use Familiar Tunes: We incorporate songs that students already know to make the process less intimidating.
Make It Visual: We often use color-coding and visual aids to make the learning process more intuitive.
Real-World Practice: We apply the sight-reading skills to actual audition materials, so students get real-world experience in learning songs quickly.
Final Thoughts
If you want to be a successful singer, especially if you’re hoping to book more gigs or land a role in a musical, having some basic sight-reading ability is a must. You don’t need to become a music-reading expert, but you can sing, and you can develop these skills so that when the next opportunity comes, you’ll be ready to seize it.
Whether you’re taking online vocal lessons in the convenience of your own home or in a rented practice room in NYC, or online from anywhere in the world with Conquest Voice Studios, learning to read music will give you the edge you need to stand out in auditions and performances. So, let’s get to work and start polishing that skill!