(aka. “Fred cuts the mustard”)
This is so funny. Unfortunately half the humor is that we’ve all heard things like this before. If you’re about as serious as Fred about singing, you might find a voice teacher anywhere. But if you care even a little bit more, you’re gonna need to try a different approach. So for the benefit of Fred (and you), here are a few quick tips about how NOT to find a vocal instructor.
Don’t just look for any ‘voice teacher’. Literally anyone can call themselves a voice teacher. That said, there are some individuals with degrees and certification who don’t offer a whole lot more. So what’s a singer to do? Take the time to look into not only where they got their information what what they’ve done with it. See if it’s where you want to go. That’s a great first step.
Don’t confuse styling with technique instruction. Just between you and me, I was teaching voice way before I had any business doing it. (more on that in a future post) One reason is that for a long time I didn’t truly understand the difference between these two therefore I couldn’t adequately teach either. So what is the difference? Think of your voice as a car. Your technique is the engine and all the necessary parts. If they don’t work well and in balance with each other you ain’t gettin’ far. Styling is the cushy leather seats and the sweet pain job. Styling sets you apart in a sea of other voices. But without solid technique, you can dress it up all you like but you won’t be able to drive it very far. Technique training is essential. Styling training is secondary. Both are important if you’re developing yourself as an artist. Knowing that will help you in looking for the right instructor for where you’re at.
Get a Qualified Referral. Hey, if I won a voice lesson in a radio contest, I’d take it too. Well, maybe not if it were Heidi Montags teacher. When you look for a referral, consider the source. Not just how well they sing, but if you’ve actually seen them improve. What kinds of things have they learned. Are they the things you want help with? Are they excited about what they’re learning or do they not really understand why their doing what they’re doing. You want to know that your instructor can offer something of value to you and is able answer your questions in a way that you can apply and grab a hold of.
In future posts, I’ll be talking about even more ways to make sure you’ve got a qualified teacher. Have you had a bad voice teacher experience? Leave it here by clicking ‘leave a comment’ at the top of this post.
