Perhaps you’ve seen your child’s face light up on stage, heard a stunning
voice coming out of the shower or watched your child crippled by stage
fright. For whatever reason, you decide it’s time to look for a voice
teacher. Each human voice is unique and intertwined with one’s identity, so
finding a great voice teacher for your child is akin to finding a great
pediatrician: it’s about fit. Here are some tips for your search and
questions to ask prospective voice teachers.
- It’s about fun
To get the most out of voice lessons, both student and teacher must have
fun. Dr. Sean Young, PhD discusses the importance of achieving small
victories in his book “Stick With It.” When students are set up to succeed
each week by conquering small, achievable steps, they are more likely to
get multiple feel-good dopamine releases that will get them excited about
their progress and keep them interested in the work. When student success
is prioritized, both student and teacher will be at ease, a level of trust
will be established and the learner will thrive.
Q: What kind of students do you enjoy teaching? How do you keep
learning fun?
- It’s about style
Namely musical style. Think about the singers you love – Broadway
triple threats, rock stars, opera divas or killer karaoke singers at your
local bar. They each sing with a unique style. A common misconception is
that all good singers must have a classical singing foundation. Dr. Matt
Edwards, Associate Professor of Voice and Voice Pedagogy at Shenandoah
Conservatory, says it is essential that students learn techniques that are
complimentary to the style they want to sing. “Numerous research studies
have shown that classical singing techniques are not the same as those used
in musical theater and commercial styles. There is no scientific evidence
supporting the idea that students must study classical voice before singing
other styles.” The American Academy of Teachers of Singing shares Edwards’
opinion and published a paper in 2008 stating that classical, musical
theater and commercial styles “are different aesthetically, physiologically
and acoustically, and thus demand different pedagogic approaches.”While the Pan American Vocology Association is in the process of creating a
professional recognition program to help identify highly skilled voice
teachers in various styles, it is still a few years away from being
launched. Credentials like music degrees or performance credits do not
prove effective teaching capabilities. Sometimes there’s a correlation, but
in other cases there is not. Testimonials can be useful, but don’t just
look at parent testimonials, look at student ones, too. Word of mouth is
often the best way to find someone. If you keep hearing the same name
coming up over and over again from singers you admire, that is a positive
sign.
Q: What style of singer do you enjoy working with? Do you use
style-specific techniques in your teaching?
- It’s about inspiration
If the only time a student sings is during his weekly lesson, growth will
happen very slowly. Singers are “vocal athletes” who produce their sound
with a set of muscles that needs consistent training. Because of the
athletic nature of voice training, how a teacher inspires a student to sing
outside of lessons is just as important as what happens in the lesson.
Excellent teachers inspire their students to sing outside of the studio and
suggest opportunities to perform. If your child isn’t practicing, it is not
necessarily their fault. Chances are, she isn’t inspired to sing, which
usually stems from not knowing how to practice and/or not having an
achievable performance goal in mind.
Q: How do you motivate your students to practice? Are you able to
suggest performance opportunities appropriate for each stage of
development?
- It’s about dreamsIf you can dream it you can do it, right? Finding teachers, coaches,
programs and opportunities to make your child’s dreams come true is a
challenge. Whether your child has dreams of Broadway, writing music, American Idol, school musical roles or singing in a band, or is
still looking for his tribe, it is important that your child’s voice
teacher understands how to help realize those dreams.
Q: If your child has a specific goal in mind, ask teachers if they have
experience guiding students down that path.
It’s about process
Like any other athletic endeavor, building a voice will not happen
overnight. Some singers are born with natural gifts, but many others are
not. Great teachers will be able to offer a strategic plan to develop each
student’s voice as a unique instrument, not a carbon copy of another
singer. They will also understand concepts from related fields like
exercise physiology and motor learning theory, and will be able to apply
those in lessons.Q: What is your process for developing a voice?
Whether your child is a budding star or still looking for a niche, consider
private voice instruction. The tips and questions provided above should
lead you to a voice teacher who’s just the right fit for your child. If
you’re interested in learning about the thriving vocal music scene in
Washington, D.C. (including family friendly music venues), need ideas for
setting up a musically-rich home environment or have additional questions
about voice instruction, please visit cantabomusic.com/resources.
