THE VOCAL COACH

Singing Academy

First class singing teaching at professional level by award winning singing coach.

Our singers excel for competence voice control and confidence. 

Established in 1995.

Based in Berkshire London and online.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SINGING TEACHER:

5 TIPS FROM AN INSIDER!

How to choose the right singing teacher?

Answering this question is absolutely essential to your success as a singer, and it definitely holds the key to reaching your specific goals.

Before I began teaching, I spent years and years as a student myself.

I know how it feels to be on the other side of the piano (or microphone!)

My journey started with private one to one singing lessons as a child and progressed to studying under highly regarded Conservatoire professors, whose expertise was truly exceptional. Later, I had the privilege of perfectioning my skills with  some of the most accomplished professionals in a career at an advanced level. 

Along the way, I encountered teachers who were incredibly inspiring and charismatic, though, at times, I also had a rather different type of experience.

It took me a while to realise that the most effective teacher is one who connects with you both technically and personally.

It’s not simply a matter of expertise; the right teacher creates an environment where your skills and confidence can flourish.

Especially with singing, emotions make a great part of good practice.

Therefore, a teacher who is intimidating, making lessons frustrating due to lack of technical knowledge or uninterested in your progress might have an impact on your results, especially as a beginner.

YOUR 5 TIPS:

1) WHAT TYPE OF SINGER WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE?

CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF SINGING WITH THE EYES OF IMAGINATION?

Check where you are..what you wear..what is playing. 

Are you in a Concert Hall or on a Theatre stage?

Are you in a night club with those low lights?

On a cruise?

At a friend`s party or Karaoke session?

Do you wish to sing for pleasure or as a professional in pop or Musical Theatre?

Or perhaps you’re simply aiming to improve your overall vocal technique in order to hit those notes, or prepare for music theory exams, or build a set of songs that work amazingly?

Are you aware that a solid classical technique applied to other styles  enables you to belt, sustain long notes with no effort, become louder, whereas other more modern ways of singing  do not require much technique?

The path you choose will significantly shape the type of instruction you require and the results that you will achieve. And even the necessary budget.

What the market has on offer must match your final goals because singing encompasses countless styles, some requiring solid technique and a more refined type of teacher, and others easier to approach.

2) A VIDEO PRESENTATION THAT APPEARS SMASHING, WHAT SHOULD I THINK?

It is not unusual for teachers to present their services by offering testimonials or showcasing samples of their own vocal performances. However, from a professional standpoint, I must confess that I am not particularly moved by a video performance, no matter how polished.

I find it somewhat misleading to watch a video of a teacher singing and presume that this is the standard of achievement you can expect after a handful of lessons. There are, in fact, three key reasons for this:

1. Videos are often enhanced with various editing techniques.
   Even the most accomplished professionals make use of filters and other forms of processing to refine their recordings. In fact, I often suggest that one should watch a live performance of a particular piece to truly appreciate the difference between a studio recording and a performance in real time in order to have a taste of what really happens and how you truly sound when you sing. The real ability of a singer, infact, can only be tested in a live performance.
2. Spotting vocal technique requires expert knowledge.
   One must be an expert in vocal pedagogy to accurately identify the techniques a singer is employing, the notes they are hitting, and the ease or difficulty with which they navigate the song. Performances that might seem impressive to a novice may not appear as remarkable to an expert. This brings us to a crucial contradiction: to assess a singer's technique properly, one must already possess a certain level of expertise in the craft, which leads me to my third point:
3. Natural talent versus learned technique.
   Some singers of exceptional ability are gifted with innate talent, which may have little or nothing to do with formal training. While such individuals may excel as performers, their natural ability does not necessarily make them exceptional teachers. 
4. A more modest singer, with an immense passion for vocal technique, cultivated over years of study, stage experience, and exposure to various styles, may prove to be an outstanding teacher. Their deep commitment to the success of others, coupled with an intuitive understanding of the craft, and a sound technical knowledge, can make all the difference in your progress.

Thus, it is imperative to consider another important point in your search for a vocal teacher: some teachers, despite being superb singers, may have had only a few years of formal training themselves. 

And it is also quite commonplace that stellar performers might not have the right temper to divulge their gift to others.

Hence, what sounds like a great singer will not necessarily be a great teacher.

3) ARE QUALIFICATIONS IMPORTANT?

Qualifications: they are a good starting point. Especially if you pursue a type of singing aiming to exams or professional auditions, where technique and musical theory matters.

However achieving grades or even a degree will testify that you have singing experience on yourself, but not necessarily the ability and competence to build the incredible variety of voices totally different from yours, and to approach a variety of styles.

4) WHAT IS A GREEN LIGHT IN MY SEARCH FOR THE RIGHT SINGING TEACHER?

Possibly and more effectively, a performance by several of the teacher's students—demonstrating the breadth of technique attainable—may provide a far clearer indication of the potential outcomes, rather than the performance or achievements of the teacher themselves.

My personal experience:

 I was trained by worldwide famous Baritone Mr Paolo Silveri in my early years.

Born in 1913, he was  already in his 80s when we met.

He gave me short samples of vocalise and obviously I couldn't expect the strength of a young and fit vocalist.

Yet his elements of technique were of first level. His knowledge of Belcanto Opera repertoire, roles that he had interpreted himself, were invaluable

I  still teach and use a lot of his techniques and knowledge. His teachings will stay with me for the rest of my life.

If times were different back then, a video of his classes  at 80 years old wouldn't give justice to this incredible singer and incredible teacher, retired from the scenes after a spectacular career.

5) HOW CAN I MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE?

Amazingly the first thing to do is to give it a try. 

Give yourself at least 3 classes and check your progress.

Remember though: like dating often chemistry is something that clicks at first sight, however only time will tell whether you have made a good choice.

In conclusion, what makes a great teacher is their teaching experience, passion to convey the secrets of good singing, technical competence to help you progress in every lesson and good character.

In the next article, I'll talk about my experience, what I liked and what I didn't like.

Please read: 5 type of singing teachers (that didn't meet my expectations)