Selecting a vocal instructor

Most people that call themselves voice teachers do not truly understand or primarily concentrate on teaching vocal technique. Though many try, they often do more to confuse students than to help them. If you don't find a teacher that shows you the way to a more comfortable use of your voice, with more strength and range within just a few lessons, then find another teacher to work with.

Be sure you are choosing a teacher who understands and can demonstrate superior vocal technique. A voice technique teacher is vitally important, because without the technical ability to sing flexibly and clearly in all parts of your range, you are going to run into vocal limitations or even worse, vocal damage.

A good voice technique teacher is hard to find. Just because a teacher can play the piano while you follow along, you are not necessarily learning to sing any better. Also, if the teacher tends to just bark out instructions like "support the tone," "sing from your diaphragm," "lift your soft pallet" and "open your mouth," you know you are likely dealing with a poor teacher.

If you don't feel your vocal range, tone and control improving within a few lessons, then work with a better teacher who will help you attain your goals faster. Many teachers have poor vocal technique, or they may have nice voices but are rarely successful at showing others how to achieve easily produced vocal power, range and control.

Before studying with a teacher, give them a “tryout”. Ask them to demonstrate their vocal ability, showing you how they sing from the very bottom, to the extreme top of their range without strain, or changing from one vocal quality to another at any point.

For a teacher who understands the voice, and who knows how to get results for his or her students, gender doesn't matter one way or the other. In other words, there is no advantage to studying with your own gender if they can't teach both genders extremely and equally well.

Again, if you don't find a teacher that shows you the way to a more comfortable use of your voice, with more strength and range within just a few lessons, then find another teacher to work with.

More questions on this and other topics are addressed in the "Ask Eric" area.