How to choose a singing teacher – Checklist
Posted on by Arabella Rodrigo
If you google “singing teachers” in your local area, I’m sure you’ll come up with pages and pages of options. So how do you choose? Here is a quick check list to help you choose the right singing teacher for you:
Training
Has this person trained at a music college or conservatoire? If yes, then great! If not, then you need to be a little more careful. Singing teachers are not regulated so err on the side of caution. If they have no formal training then maybe ask them who some of their own singing teachers have been and check out their background a bit.
Location
Be honest with yourself! How far are you really willing to travel? Remember, a singing lesson is usually one hour, plus your journey time each way can really add up! How much time can you commit to on a regular basis? There’s no point having the odd lesson here and there, no matter how good the teacher is! In the beginning you need weekly or fortnightly lessons. So work out the best location for your lessons with that in mind.
Gender
I only add this to my list as it’s a question I get asked a lot. Is a singing teacher going to be better at teaching students of the same sex as them? The answer should be no. If the teacher is trained well and understands the technique or techniques they use then they should be able to teach anyone of any gender. So this comes down to personal preference rather than being a matter of technique.
Can they sing?
This should be the most important thing for you to check out. Can they actually sing? If you find videos of them, can they do things with their voice that you’d like to learn? I’m a firm believer that a singing teacher should be able to demonstrate anything they are teaching. If they haven’t mastered the skills themselves then they are less likely to be able to teach someone else.
Genre
Always pick someone who has experience singing in the genre that you would like to learn. The techniques can be very different so there’s no point going to a classical teacher if you want to learn pop and vice versa unless you are really learning the absolute basics. Even then, the basics really should be learnt within the genre of your choice to save you having to change teacher after a month or so.
Personality
Do you get on? Don’t force yourself to have lessons with someone you just don’t gel with. Yes, they could be an exceptional teacher but if you don’t click then it’s going to affect your progress. Have a couple of lessons and don’t be afraid to move on if it just doesn’t feel right. They are your lessons and it’s your voice. You have to be happy otherwise you won’t get the most to of your lessons.
And that’s pretty much it. Am I still on your list of possible singing teachers after reading this article? Check out my vocal coach page here and get in touch if you’d like to book a singing lesson. If not, then I wish you all the best in finding the right teacher for you.