What are the best practices for evaluating a singer's performance?

1 Vocal technique

Vocal technique is the foundation of any singer's performance. It involves how you use your breath, posture, resonance, articulation, and pitch to produce a healthy and balanced sound. To evaluate a singer's technique, you need to listen carefully to their tone quality, range, dynamics, and intonation. You also need to observe their body language, facial expressions, and vocal habits. You can use tools like a piano, a tuner, a metronome, or a recording device to help you identify and measure their strengths and weaknesses. You can also ask them to sing different exercises, scales, or genres to test their versatility and adaptability.

2 Vocal style

Vocal style is the way a singer expresses their personality, mood, and emotions through their voice. It involves how you use elements like phrasing, rhythm, melody, and embellishments to create a unique and authentic sound. To evaluate a singer's style, you need to consider their genre, audience, and purpose. You also need to appreciate their artistic choices, influences, and preferences. You can use tools like a microphone, a speaker, or a backing track to help you enhance and adjust their sound. You can also ask them to sing different songs, styles, or artists to explore their creativity and potential.

3 Vocal interpretation

Vocal interpretation is the way a singer conveys the meaning and message of a song through their voice. It involves how you use aspects like diction, dynamics, emotion, and storytelling to connect with your listeners. To evaluate a singer's interpretation, you need to understand the lyrics, context, and intention of the song. You also need to respect their personal expression, perspective, and feelings. You can use tools like a lyric sheet, a dictionary, or a video to help you analyze and explain the song. You can also ask them to sing different moods, emotions, or scenarios to challenge their communication and engagement.

4 Feedback methods

Feedback is the process of giving and receiving information about a singer's performance. It can be positive, negative, or neutral, depending on how you deliver and receive it. To give effective feedback, you need to be clear, specific, and honest. You also need to be supportive, respectful, and encouraging. You can use methods like praise, criticism, questions, suggestions, or demonstrations to help you communicate and motivate your singers. You can also use methods like self-evaluation, peer evaluation, or external evaluation to help them reflect and improve their own performance.

5 Feedback goals

Feedback goals are the objectives and outcomes that you and your singers want to achieve from the feedback process. They can be short-term or long-term, depending on your time frame and expectations. To set realistic and relevant feedback goals, you need to be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. You also need to be flexible, adaptable, and collaborative. You can use tools like a notebook, a planner, or a checklist to help you track and monitor your feedback goals. You can also use tools like a reward, a celebration, or a review to help you acknowledge and appreciate your feedback goals.

6 Feedback challenges

Feedback challenges are the difficulties and obstacles that you and your singers may face during the feedback process. They can be internal or external, depending on their source and impact. To overcome feedback challenges, you need to be aware, prepared, and resilient. You also need to be empathetic, constructive, and solution-oriented. You can use strategies like active listening, positive language, or constructive criticism to help you cope and resolve feedback challenges. You can also use strategies like feedback sandwich, feedback loop, or feedback culture to help you prevent and avoid feedback challenges.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?