If you want to improve your singing skills, working with a vocal coach can be a great investment. However, not all vocal coaches are the same, and you need to find the right one for your goals, style, and budget. Before you start taking lessons, here are some questions you should ask a vocal coach to make sure you are on the same page.
The first thing you should ask a vocal coach is about their qualifications, training, and experience. You want to know if they have formal education in music, vocal pedagogy, or related fields, as well as how long they have been teaching and performing. You also want to know what genres and styles they specialize in, and if they have any testimonials or references from previous or current students. This will help you gauge their credibility, expertise, and compatibility with your needs.
Enquire about the qualifications and experience of the vocal teacher. Thereafter, include a general discussion on lesson structure and how much they charge per lesson.
Some brilliant points made already! I would add that it would be worth while setting up a short meeting in person or online to meet and chat. Every vocal coach has a different energy, uses different language surrounding the voice, and approaches teaching in an unique way based off their background, training, and experience. Meeting to chat about the work you’ll be doing is a chance for both of you to see if you want to work with each other. The voice is a hugely personal thing, so ensuring that there is good energy between coach and client right from the start is important. Not only that, but chatting about the work will let you know if their approach is right for you. Not every approach is the right one for you, and that’s okay.
The next thing you should ask a vocal coach is how they plan and deliver their lessons, and how much they charge for them. You want to know how long each lesson is, how often they recommend you to take them, and what materials or resources they use or provide. You also want to know how they assess your progress, give feedback, and assign homework or practice exercises. Additionally, you want to know how much they charge per lesson or per package, and what payment methods and policies they have. This will help you understand their teaching approach, expectations, and fees.
Always good to ask if the teacher offers block lesson packages reducing the cost for students. This could be ie, six lessons for the cost of five but paid upfront.
Finding out whether they will adapt lesson content to suit your learning progression is important. If they plan to stick to a rigid plan that will advance to more complex work before you are ready, then I might suggest asking if they would be open to remaining flexible so that each weeks content can be based on the progress you’ve made and are making. If the voice is pushed before it’s built up the strength and endurance, then you may run into trouble later down the track. A flexible teaching strategy ensures an effective learning experience for you.
The third thing you should ask a vocal coach is what their teaching goals and methods are, and how they align with your own goals and preferences. You want to know what they hope to achieve with you as a student, and what outcomes they measure or track. You also want to know what techniques, exercises, or strategies they use to help you improve your vocal skills, and how they adapt them to your level, needs, and interests. This will help you evaluate their effectiveness, relevance, and flexibility.
This is incredibly important. Not every pedagogy or practice-pedagogy sits right with everyone, so knowing where the coach draws their practice from will give you a better idea of how it will sit with you. Your voice is an incredibly personal thing, so it is important that the approach your coach will be taking to the work is communicated with you clearly, and that you feel comfortable with what will be required of you (remembering though that learning can be uncomfortable at times, but it should never make you feel unduly vulnerable).
It’s important to ask questions and request examples of different teaching methods to see what may work best for an individual students learning styles.
The fourth thing you should ask a vocal coach is how they handle challenges and difficulties that may arise during your lessons, and how they support you in overcoming them. You want to know how they deal with vocal issues, such as fatigue, strain, or injury, and how they prevent or treat them. You also want to know how they cope with emotional or psychological barriers, such as anxiety, frustration, or lack of confidence, and how they encourage or motivate you. This will help you appreciate their professionalism, empathy, and positivity.
The fifth thing you should ask a vocal coach is how they communicate and collaborate with you as a student, and how they foster a positive and productive relationship. You want to know how they communicate with you before, during, and after your lessons, and what channels or tools they use. You also want to know how they solicit your feedback, input, or questions, and how they respond to them. Moreover, you want to know how they respect your boundaries, preferences, and goals, and how they balance challenge and support. This will help you establish trust, rapport, and respect.
The sixth and final thing you should ask a vocal coach is how they help you grow and succeed as a singer, and how they celebrate your achievements and milestones. You want to know how they help you set realistic and attainable goals, and how they monitor and review your progress. You also want to know how they help you expand your repertoire, skills, and opportunities, and how they expose you to new challenges and experiences. Furthermore, you want to know how they acknowledge your efforts, improvements, and accomplishments, and how they reward or celebrate them. This will help you feel inspired, confident, and satisfied.