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How to Find a Vocal Coach (if You Really Want One)
Okay, after you’ve read all of this, you’ve decided that you want a vocal coach or a voice teacher. Most people have no idea how to find one, much less find a decent one. So what do you do?
First, you should decide on what kind of music you want to sing. Some teachers and coaches specialize in certain forms of music and may even think the style you want to sing is “bad”, forcing you to figure out how to sing the style you want using information that may not lead to the “sound” you’re looking for. Therefore, if you can find one who specializes in the kind of music you’re looking to sing, try to do so. In spite of this, you will remember that I encourage the learning of multiple styles, because something that you can learn in one style may lead you to improve your sound in another.
Secondly, you should make sure that you’re aware of your own progress. One of my favorite teachers advised me, and I now advise you, to learn everything you can from someone. When you can learn no more from that person, find someone else to learn from.
Keeping these things in mind, here are a few ways for you to find a vocal coach:
- Don't ask me. I've gotten quite a few requests from people asking me if I knew vocal coaches in different areas or if I can teach them how to sing. Sorry, but I'm not one and I haven't been everywhere in the world so I just can't help out with that.
- Do ask your friends and family if they know of anyone who teaches voice. This may be a long list of people, and you never know who might have taken vocal lessons in the past, or even who might teach them now.
- That didn't work? Go to your local high school or college and ask not only if there are any vocal programs that you can take in the school, if any of the faculty teaches private or public lessons, and if not, do they know anyone who does. After all, who better to look for a singing teacher than another singing teacher?
- Another option: you can join my email group, Tessitura and ask the members there if they know of any teachers in your area. As the number of members increases, the more likely it is that one or two of the members will able to recommend someone close to you. If you want to subscribe, send a blank email to tessitura-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. In addition to that, you may also find that you can help someone else out with a tip, or other kinds of information, such as auditions and summer camps and things of that nature.
- What about this? If you are in the United States, you can contact the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Their address is NATS 6406 Merrill Road Suite B Jacksonville, Florida 32277 USA. You can also contact them by phone, fax, or web site: (904) 744-9022, (904) 744-9033, http://www.nats.org, info@nats.org. The web site has a “Find a Teacher” section, which a few of my web site visitors have found useful. You can also contact MENC, The National Association for Music Education State Affiliates, who may also be able to help you find a coach in your area. Their web site is located at http://www.menc.org/connect/stateinf.html.
- If all else fails, look in your local or online yellow pages under “Music Instruction,” or in newspapers such as BackStage, The Village Voice, and Show Business. All of these papers have wide readership and many teachers choose to advertise in them.
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