First, let’s talk about the difference between a voice teacher and a vocal coach.
A voice teacher is a technician and their main focus is on singing technique. Voice teachers give an understanding of breath support and resonance by guiding students through vocal exercises (otherwise known as vocalises) and breath exercises. They help you put that technique into practice in your repertoire. A vocal coach, on the other hand, is a pianist, conductor, or music director who is an expert in a chosen type of repertoire, usually either musical theater or classical. They coach your songs from the standpoint of interpretation, intention, genre, and musicality. They are generally not singers and, while they often have some knowledge of vocal technique, it is not their job to teach you how to sing the song or fix the vocal issues giving you problems in the song. It’s their job to help you take your performance to the next level once you’ve worked the technique with your voice teacher.
So what should a singer look for in a voice teacher? Choosing a voice teacher is an intensely personal decision. My guidelines below are based on my experience as a professional singer for 20 years and a teacher for 15 years. If
Leave a Reply