Whenever someone finds out I’m a music educator, the first question they ask is:
“What type of music do you listen to?”
And for whatever reason, it catches me off guard. Every. Single. Time.
So weird, right?
I usually give the generic answer: “Oh, I listen to everything! I love ALL music.”
Or I’ll say, “My husband listens to country music, so we often play country in the car. My daughter and I love Disney music and Musical Theatre, so we sing along to those.”
A little cringey coming from a voice teacher who spends every day diving deep into the nuances of genre, style, and musical trends, don’t you think? 🤦🏻♀️
So, I decided it was time to really reflect on this question and come up with a genuine answer.
If I were to get into the car and turn on some music, the number one thing I look for is stellar harmonies. No question.
Good harmony is like being wrapped in a warm blanket. Cheesy, but true! 🧀
(Side note: This is why I love choir so much! Harmonies have my heart—always. ❤️Harmonies move me — my response to powerful harmony is visceral.)
Before I focus on the lyrics or the artist, the harmonies have to grab me.
So, what songs am I loving right now?
- The Weather (Acoustic-ish) – Lawrence
- Bad for Me – Meghan Trainor ft. Teddy Swims
- Freedom – Jon Batiste
- Sing Gently – VOCES8 (Music by Eric Whitacre)
- From Now On – The Greatest Showman
Just a few favourites from my go-to playlist!
The second quality I look for (after harmonies) is the vibe or mood. How I’m feeling affects the music I choose. If I need a pick-me-up, my go-to is Meghan Trainor’s “Good to Be Alive” or JT’s “Can’t Stop That Feeling.”
Now, here’s something that might surprise you:
My favourite genre to listen to is Pop-Soul/Funk.
Does that surprise you?
Here’s why. While I love listening to it, it’s not a style that fits my voice naturally—so I don’t sing it often (other than Carpool Karaoke, of course 😆). But I absolutely love the vibe. It’s fun and energetic. The vocals are typically very raw and pushing to the edge of the singer’s ability. Vocally the music is playful and the harmonies are powerful. The slightly unrefined quality of the vocal sound is interesting and dynamic to me.
On the other hand, my absolute favourite styles to sing and perform are German Lied and Latin Oratorios.
Seems strange, right?
But just because we love to listen to a certain style of music doesn’t mean it fits our voice or feels good to sing.
There is something about singing German Lied and Latin Oratorios that feels so good in my voice. It’s comfortable and powerful and I feel like I have full control in these genres and I can express myself effortlessly. Not so in Pop-Soul or Funk styles…lol!
That’s why I always encourage singers to try different styles and genres and see what works best in their voice—the ones that feel really good to sing. That’s how you know it’s right for you, and your audience will feel at ease as they listen!
There is no one right style or genre for everyone – you have to play and be willing to experiment with your voice.
Get curious about your voice —is the music you like to listen to also the music you love to sing and feels best in your voice? It may be. But, it also may not be! Experiment.
I’d love to hear from you—what music do you love to listen to?
~ Happy Practising! 🤍
xo, Andrea
P.S. We have a brand-new series of “Learn to Sing” Workshops covering harmony, mood, and a variety of musical genres and styles. Workshops are available for grades 1–12! I would love for you to join us—full details here. See you there! 🎶