How to practice singing?

How much of singing ability is natural and how much comes from practice?

• I'm a trombone player and anybody can become a decent trombone player with practice, so long as they don't have any severe oral irregularities. How much can be said of vocal people - does skill come mostly from practice, or is it heavily dependant on genetics? Thanks.

• Answer:

  I am also a trombone player and agree that anyone with some level of musical talent can become competent with practice. I also think the same can be said with singing. To some degree we have to say that musical talent is a gift that is different from others. Some have it and some don't. It's all to varying degrees of course. I believe musical talent comes in the forms of a basic rhythmic abilities and an ear that can distinguish slight variations in tuning. Some people just do not have rhythm and cannot tell when they are out of tune. Others have the basic tools and can be taught. To be competent or better requires a combination. At least, this has been my experience in playing my trombone in church and then singing the hymns with the congregation. Just as with the instrument I can hear when I start to go out of tune and then make corrections. I'm no great singer, but I don't stick out as terrible either. Plus, I'm better at singing now the more I sing. Again, a combination.