Choosing a Voice Teacher
I always tell my students that, when it comes to choosing a voice teacher, “there is a lid for every pot”. The relationship between student and teacher is not just professional, it is personal, and requires a certain amount of personal rapport and even chemistry! However, there are at least certain criteria that one should use in evaluating a voice teacher and determining whether they are a good fit for you:
Is this person a voice teacher or a vocal coach?
Yes, these are very different roles. The primary function of a voice teacher is to teach vocal technique. This person should be a pedagogue who can build your voice from the ground up. This person should have a good handle on vocal anatomy and the function of the voice and should be able to communicate vocal technique to students in a variety of ways to reach each individual student. On the other hand, a vocal coach is usually primarily a skilled pianist who has specialized in a certain genre of music (or multiple). For classical singers, this person will be skilled in languages and lyric diction, classical repertoire, and will have learned complete operas from front to back so that they can aid the singer in learning a role. For all genres, a coach is the person to turn to when working on style, diction, character, and repertoire selection (in conjunction with your teacher). They may have helpful comments about your technique, but they are not the primary person working on your technique. In an ideal world, a singer should have both of these people on “their team” (and sometimes one teacher and many coaches with many areas of expertise).
What is this person’s educational background?
While expertise in teaching singing can come from experience rather than education, the education of your voice teacher should be a least a factor in choosing one. For example, does your teacher have a Bachelor’s in voice or a Master’s in voice? During my Bachelor’s we only took ONE class in vocal pedagogy. Oy. It wasn’t until my Master’s that I had more intensive pedagogy training as well as student teaching as a graduate assistant. Is your teacher’s degree a performance degree or and education degree? A music education degree is either focused on early education (teaching general music at the elementary level) or on choir or band/orchestra. Most of those people who get a choral-focused education degree train to be choral conductors—not performers, and certainly not pedagogues.
Can your teacher sing?
This may seem like a given, but does your voice teacher sound healthy? Of course, they may not sing every style/genre, but their own technique should be excellent.
Do you like this person?
By no means does your teacher have to be your BFF, but you should actually like them. Are they kind to you, or do find any behavior that is controlling or abusive? Do you have fun in lessons and find joy in your progress? Do you feel comfortable asking questions when you don’t understand something, or do you feel like you’re trying to please your teacher? A good voice teacher should be your partner, not some kind of dictatorial sociopath (okay, that might be a bit dramatic…haha).
This list is not exhaustive, but I think these are at least the most important questions to ask yourself when searching for a voice teacher. Remember, your voice teacher works for you! You may have a voice teacher for a few years and find that you’ve gotten what you need from that person. Thank them for everything they’ve done for you and move on. Each person we meet is another guide along our path as artists! Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need, and above all, KEEP SINGING!!
Sarah Stone is a voice teacher in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Her voice studio serves all of metro Denver including Centennial, Littleton, Lone Tree, Aurora, and Highlands Ranch.