…So, why would you go to just anyone for voice lessons?

confused boyIf you’re an aspiring singer, your voice is your most precious possession.  It’s yours!  It cannot be replaced! It’s really easy to destroy!  And, once the damage has been done, it’s very expensive to fix! (If it even can be fixed, that is…)

In my experience as a middle school vocal director, I have been to many recitals, heard lots of stories, and done a TON of cringing!  When I hear stories about 10-year-old girls with voice teachers that make them sing SCREAM the hits of the late Judy Garland or Ethel Merman, or call themselves “belters”, I just sit there with my mouth agape and my stomach in knots.  I cannot believe that their parents are actually PAYING hundreds of dollars to have their child’s voice destroyed! They are going to need that money for the costly surgery to remove the polyps from their daughter’s vocal folds.  “LOUDER” DOES NOT EQUAL “BETTER”!!!

The problem is…Kids hear their “idols” singing on the radio and television and think that it’s natural for them to be able to sing like that without the years of practice or the age that these idols have under their belts. The scariest part is that there are voice teachers out there that claim (by word or practice) that it is possible for anyone’s kid to be able to sing like that.

One of my favorite voice professors once said, “I wasn’t born to high jump. I’m not built for it. You could teach me, but I’ll probably hurt myself”. The same goes with singing. Spectacular singing is not for everyone. It cannot be forced out by even the best teacher. Sure, they will come away with a decent foundation of knowledge, and maybe even sing a bit better, but if they don’t have a quality instrument, they can only go so far.  This is why renowned violinist Itzhack Pearlman doesn’t use a Wal-Mart brand student model violin.

If you are a parent of a voice student, I have some questions for you. Note: This is not a comprehensive list of questions. Hopefully, they will get you thinking.

  • What qualifies this voice teacher to teach YOUR child? (A “Yes” to all of these questions would be preferred)
    • Degree in Vocal Pedagogy, Performance, or Music Education?
    • Performance Experience?
    • Studying with a renowned teacher(s) themselves?
    • Background in various styles?
  • What techniques does he/she use? Do they talk about…
    • low (non-clavicular) breath?
    • a balanced use of head and chest registers?
    • proper posture and alignment of body around the spine?
    • use of proper diction as it relates to producing a healthy tone?
    • achieving a supported sound by using the muscles of the abdomen, ribs, back, chest, and pelvic floor?
  • Does this voice teacher…
    • have the ability to demonstrate concepts vocally?
    • use the piano as a tool, not a means of drowning your child out?
    • teach singing in varied genres (classical, Broadway, folk, jazz, etc.) to create a well-rounded singer.

    This is just the beginning… There is SO much more that goes into a proper vocal education.

A good voice teacher should be able answer these questions with a resounding “YES”. Unfortunately many voice teachers, when presented with this short list of questions, wouldn’t have any idea what you are talking about.  The general public doesn’t realize that ANYONE can call themselves a voice teacher. There is no certification process, degree requirement, or mental health exam. With so much at risk, that is SCARY to me.

–Ryan Guth

VoiceWorks’ motto is “Sing for Life!”, because our teachers can be trusted by their students. They can feel confident knowing that they will have a voice to use for their entire life.

Interested in lessons with a VoiceWorks teacher? Contact us