How to choose a singing teacher: 7 tips for making the right choice

So you’ve decided to take the first step towards making that dream come true: singing lessons. Congratulations! Now comes the fun. Learning to sing is no easy feat; even professional singers continue to study and practice on a daily basis throughout their career.

Being able to sing doesn’t (just) mean having a good voice – it’s also a question of learning how to breathe correctly, maintain the right posture, enunciate the words well, and more. All this requires hard work, dedicated training and constant practice: for this reason, if you’re serious about training your voice, the first step is to choose the ideal singing teacher for your needs.

In this article we will give you 7 tips to choose the perfect person to accompany you on this exciting musical journey: we will learn the requirements to keep in mind when scrolling through vocal school advertisements, and help you think about which ones to prioritise.

Let the music begin!

Since musical talent shows have become popular on TV, the term “vocal coach” has taken hold more and more. It is important, however, to be able distinguish between the two professions: singing teacher and vocal coach are not the same thing.

Both can help you improve your vocal skills, but in different ways. Knowing this difference will allow you to choose with better knowledge the right person to support you during your singing lessons.

When you start scrolling through the profiles of singing teachers in your area , you will realise that there are so many different offers. Before your head starts to spin, take a deep breath and keep reading: we give you 7 tips for choosing your ideal singing teacher.

Why do you want to take singing lessons? Do you want to cultivate your singing skills as a hobby? Or do you aspire to get into a recording studio and to perform on stage all over Italy (or the world)? Knowing where you want to go is the first step in the right direction.

Okay, there are thousands of musical styles but chances are you already have your favorite – follow this track! It doesn’t make much sense to work with a singing teacher who doesn’t care about the kind of music you’re passionate about . If your heart beats to the rhythm of rock’n’roll, it would not be a great idea to choose a singing teacher who specialises in classical opera.

It may seem trivial, but we prefer to point it out: don’t forget about logistics. If you’re thinking about in-person singing lessons, the place where the singing teacher practices is important: if it is very far from your home, bad weather, various delays or problems with the car can cause you to waste precious time. Online singing lessons eliminate these risks, but many people don’t find them as effective as face-to-face lessons.

Also consider well the costs, lesson times and availability of the teacher (you could run into long waiting lists!). The more research you do at the beginning, the less likely you are to have to call things off prematurely.

During the research phase, it’s a good idea to focus on the teacher’s training and experience. What are their qualifications? Did they study at the conservatory, in a professional singing school or have a degree in musicology? Maybe they didn’t specialise in music but can draw on a lot of relevant experience such as a career as a professional singer?

Remember that knowing how to sing is one thing, teaching how to sing is another: technical knowledge alone is not enough. Therefore, also evaluate the years of experience in teaching and, if possible, seek the opinions of other people who have studied with the singing teacher you would like to contact.

The singing teacher should make you feel completely at ease in every moment of the lesson. It is important to work with a person you trust, who listens to you and supports you. If the teacher you practice with makes you feel uncomfortable for any reason, your voice will suffer.

Choose a singing teacher who also gives you the space you need to express your concerns and doesn’t detract from them. To evaluate this aspect, listen to the opinion of other people who have already studied with the teacher, ask as many questions as possible before the introductory lesson or attend a trial lesson directly.

Many singing teachers offer a trial lesson to new students – take advantage of it! The trial lesson is a great time to try to understand the teacher’s personality , his style and his technique of teaching.

Usually, a singing lesson should include vocal warm-up, practical exercises and technique. From the first lesson, the singing teacher will be able to assess your level, identify your strengths and weaknesses and propose a path to work together.

At the end of the lesson, take a few minutes to listen to yourself: pay attention to how your vocal cords feel and your general mood. If something doesn’t seem right, trust your instincts : maybe you haven’t found the right teacher yet.

It’s okay to follow your instincts, but remember that the first (or second, or third, …) singing lesson cannot work miracles. Vocal technique, interpretation, breathing or posture are not elements that you can leave only in the hands of the teacher: the bulk of the effort must come from you!

Practice and patience must go hand in hand, in harmony. You can take dozens of lessons, study theory to perfection and have the ideal singing teacher by your side; but if you don’t practice with perseverance and patience, your progress will be much slower. Success takes time; in the meantime, enjoy the experience and have fun!

Finding the singing teacher who knows how to enhance your talent, make you feel at ease and encourage you to get the most out of your singing skills can sometimes be a lot of trio.

But making the right choice is easier if you follow the advice in this article before choosing any singing teacher. Think in advance about the reason you want to take singing lessons; inform yourself as much as possible through reviews from other students; take a lesson; test; learn to listen to your instincts. And be patient. The singing teacher is a fundamental support, but cannot work miracles: your commitment is the engine of everything!

Trust Jopla to take a look at the profiles of singing teachers in your area : choose the person who most inspires you and start singing!

Have a nice job!