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If I write the music, it's in my head right away. If it's by someone else, sheet music helps, but in the absence of a lead sheet, I listen to the tune. I listen to the song a couple times, and then start singing nonsense syllables with the stuff that sticks (usually & hopefully the hook & chorus). Once I've gone through the chorus & the verse and feel I have it, I'll record myself singing it against the music to check that I'm accurate on the notes & with the rythm. Depending on the complexity, it can take a few minutes to an hour to get a song down to the point I feel I can perform it to some extent, & I'll do a rough cut just to hear how it sounds and see what needs to be tweaked. Once I have the words, melody & rhythm it's all about expression.

The most difficult thing I've had to learn is entire operas (especially in French. Italian's easier). For that I'd start with the sheet music, playing my notes on the piano. I'd listen to a recording of the opera as well. I'd also play my notes on the piano & record it, and then listen to that every night before I went to bed while reading the words. I would separate it into sections so I wouldn't feel overwhelmed. I'd spend two hours a day singing through all my parts, starting about 2 months before we went up, and continuing right up to closing night. I was sooo afraid I would lose it if I didn't run it everyday. Fun.

I've often learned arias by separating them into sections. They can be very complicated and it's often easier to learn a page at a time than to try and get it all at one go.

In my trio one of us will bring lyric sheets, and then sing the new song to the others a couple times and then we'll all start singing along, and once we have a feel for it, we'll try out harmonies. We'll sing the same song through several times, especially the chorus, trying things out and feeling our way until it starts to click.

Hummin'bird