| As a voice teacher-coach for over 40 years, I've | | | | 3. Ask around. Visit some clubs and when you hear a |
| often been contacted by singers throughout the | | | | singer you like a lot ask them if they study and with |
| country, asking for advice in finding a good voice | | | | whom. If they don't study, perhaps they are familiar |
| teacher. Every little town has teachers who sang | | | | with a teacher in the area who comes well |
| some opera or Broadway at sometime in their past, | | | | recommended. Don't rely on credentials alone to |
| and now have set up shop as teachers. But all too | | | | influence your choice. Some of the worst teachers |
| often they have no experience with, or appreciation | | | | for pop and rock singers are professors at major |
| of the genres of music many singers love to sing. | | | | universities. The same goes for the teacher who is |
| Here are some guidelines for locating the right | | | | known for working with all classical or opera singers. |
| teacher for you. | | | | They may be great teachers, but they probably |
| 1. Take a session with a teacher (many offer free | | | | won't be great for you. |
| first sessions). During that session listen carefully and | | | | 4. Don't pick a teacher just because they charge less. |
| ask such questions as: "I love to sing punk (or metal | | | | You're better off taking 8 sessions with the right |
| or country, etc). What is your opinion about that?" If | | | | teacher who also charges $100. a session than you |
| they even hint at wanting to change you from what | | | | are wasting time on 50 sessions with a less qualified |
| you love to sing to what THEY feel you should be | | | | teacher. if your budget demands, take 4-8 sessions |
| singing, DON'T GO BACK. It's your voice and you | | | | and drop out for a few weeks to regroup financially. |
| know what you want to sing. The job of a good | | | | Discuss this with the teacher. Consider this: the guitar |
| voice teacher is to help you become better and | | | | or keyboard or drum player in a band is constantly |
| better at what you already sing, not to change you. | | | | investing in new and better equipment. Lessons are |
| 2. A session with a teacher will also tell you their | | | | your investment in your equipment. |
| approach to teaching. If you don't respond well to a | | | | All too often there just isn't a qualified voice teacher |
| strict authoritative demanding teacher, that isn't going | | | | in many areas and towns. So what to do? You |
| to change, and you probably won't improve nearly as | | | | should consider downloading my SINGER'S BIBLE, a |
| well as when you work with a teacher who puts you | | | | power-packed 9 session course in singing, created for |
| at ease, is knowledgeable and doesn't yell. On the | | | | pop, rock, Broadway and country singers. (Some |
| other hand, if you've always responded well to strict | | | | great stuff for classical singers also) My concepts and |
| discipline and heavy handed teachers you'll know if | | | | techniques are both time-tested and modern, and |
| this is the right one for you. You must be able to | | | | geared to singers of today's music. |
| trust and feel comfortable with the teacher. You're | | | | Like doctors, all voice teachers are not qualified to |
| purchasing their services. Be very choosy. Just | | | | teach you. Make the right choice and save much |
| because many singers recommended this person | | | | money and a lot of wasted time. |
| doesn't necessarily mean they are right for you. | | | | |