Qualities to Look for in a Vocal Coach

Beautiful tone, wide range, and increased control over your voice are all singing improvements that will come to pass with private voice lessons. Learning how to sing in an open, relaxed, and controlled way will let you get more mileage out of your hobby or career path. While the idea of adopting singing techniques that enable you to better enjoy the activity in the first place certainly sounds appealing, there’s more to it than the technicals. In fact, a key factor in all of it is choosing a singing teacher that will give you expert guidance, necessary support, and a healthy amount of challenge to propel you to the next step. 

We know our singing lessons in Glen Mills, PA, are second-to-none — and part of our outstanding reputation is our experienced, helpful teachers. Here are the most important qualities to look for in a vocal coach:

Training in the Music Styles You’re Interested in

Pop, rock, country, R&B…these are just some of the genres of music in which you can receive vocal lessons — and each one would be wildly different. Before reaching out to potential voice teachers, write down the style you would like to learn more about or develop. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your skills for musical theater auditions or want to make sure you’re not straining your voice during your punk rock band’s live shows, a good teacher will impart vocal techniques that are particularly useful for you and your goals.

Many teachers are familiar with a wide range of music, but the best use of everyone’s time and resources is to go to someone who is an expert in the field you’re drawn to or has experience in the styles that pique your interest.

Knowledge of Vocal Anatomy

Lots of coaches are great for vocal stylization, developing your stage presence, or even finalizing an artist’s look. However, you vocal instructor must have an intimate knowledge of the actual physical instrument you’ll be using; your voice! By working with a professional trained in vocal anatomy, you won’t run the risk of practicing bad habits that impact your vocal health, lead to the possibility of voice loss, or cause inflammation from misuse.

A Personalized Curriculum

Everybody is different — which means every body is different. The same goes for singing training and comfortability. As such, when looking for a vocal coach, it’s crucial to partner with someone who will recognize that each of their student’s strengths and weaknesses coalesces into their own unique thumbprint, one which demands personalized attention. Voice lessons should not be a one-size-fits-all approach!

Aside from actual exercises, you’ll want a vocal coach who can accommodate a schedule that works for you. If you’re looking for weekly lessons, it pays to be upfront when talking to potential teachers to avoid unexpected gaps in your training. Ashley is always willing to find the right time slot aht fits with your schedule, and can make up any lesson that is rescheduled with 24 hours notice.

Enthusiasm and Emotional Intelligence

Singing is innately animated; there’s acting and expression involved. It’s an aerobic activity in and of itself! As such, it requires a ton of energy, and a great teacher understands that being energetic and enthusiastic helps encourage students to bring more to the music-making and learning table.

By the same token, a great vocal coach will be able to get students to relate to the text — whatever it may be — and bring their own life experiences to the music or characters they are playing. This helps create powerful, relatable performances and works to make students more well-rounded in approaching and executing material moving forward.

Ready to Find a Teacher You’ll Love?

As you can see, the qualities to look for in a vocal coach extend beyond the ability to make you “sound good.” It involves kicking off a professional relationship that takes into account your end goals, skill level, schedule, and myriad other factors. For more information about how our offerings can help you — including audition prep training in Glen Mills, PA — reach out to our team today!