Myth or fact?

[Composer]

Originally Posted by tawei82

I think you really need a good voice in order to stand out among the singer. A good voice need to trained to stand out also. But first, you really need a good voice.

Yep

[Silhouette]

I'm terrible at piano but good at singing, maybe it works that way too?! :? I just can't get the hang of the whole, two things at once! hehe

[Cataclysm]

Originally Posted by Ballaw de Quincewold

I have heard from several teachers that all pianists sing like frogs (or worse).

Well obviously, they're wrong of course. Look at Elton John. 8)

I play the piano, but I don't think I sing very well. I tend to sing in public often, probably like a rock song, though my friends hate it. But that won't stop me unless they kill me for my singing, so yeah.

[Silhouette]

I used to be in a rock band its dead fun, sometimes it doesnt matter if you can sing or not so long as it makes you happy! tehe

[tawei82]

yup. It was fun shouting in rock band

[Gryvix]

Singing and playing a wind instruments are quite similar I've noticed over the years, especially with brass. Now I'm watching tapes of masterclasses of singers. You learn a lot about resonance, how to give different sounds, breathing, phrasing,...
Brass players have got easily distracted by technical and physical aspects that they sometimes forget to get a good, thorough tone.
Piano players only have technical things to be worried about.

[Silhouette]

Some good points, I find that when i play flute there is more to concentrate on, in terms of sound and quality, whereas on a piano its all in front of you. I'm not sayin piano is easier, just maybe when it comes to scales!!

[jw]

I sing and play piano at the same time. They say I sound like Willie Nelson. Is that good or Bad?

[Sheba Queen]

I believe that generalising is usually wrong. I know many pianists that, even with vocal training, sound quite horrible. However the piano is my main instrument, and I'm skilled at it. But yet, I'm the main soprano in my choir, and leading soloist in church for I have a powerful voice and wide range.
I admit that playing the piano has enhanced tremendously my singing abilities, and absolute pitch helps me keeping the right note, even if I'm alone, singing in a four-part harmony.
I think a good singer must have regardless a good voice (by this, I mean timbre), then he/she can develop the main skills such as correct breathing, channelling of the voice, coloratura and so on. If this person is a pianist as well (and I believe instrumentalists of any string ensemble) , then he will acquire other skills such as keeping the correct note, singing appropriately in a canon, and complex harmonies.
Voice power is innate, but through training, it can be modulated for the best use.
There are many characteristics defining a good singer, and usually, knowing how to read music (thus and instrumentalist, for instance) can just help.
Obviously, one must not have a pleasantly trained voice in order to sing, for singing is and art, and must be enjoyed by anyone able to appreciate it, beyond singing skills.

Regards,
Sheba Queen

[reith]

Tend to agree. I can't sing to save my life and it was always the bane of practical exams in the UK - aural tests. I used to object because it was my aural skills they were trying to examine, not how well I sung. How often the comment "out of tune"?

However, I also reckon that most people can be trained to sing adequately, pianists included.