|
A new student first wrote to me recently asking my
opinion on singing teachers.
Some extracts from my reply:
......If
you are looking for a teacher, you need to be very aware of what your needs
are.
......Many people who work in the singing teaching "industry" may be very
practised singers, but may not be trained at all in how to teach, -- quite a
different skill indeed!
For
instance, some teachers are very interested in teaching a particular
technique or approach to singing, but may not offer a lot of practical
support around making backing tracks / rehearsal tapes to help you rehearse
and practice the songs (if that is something you know you will need)
........I have often had students from other teachers coming to me
to do some work on their voices, and I discover that even though they have
been working with someone for some time, the student still does not have
recordings of the songs to help them learn them. They don't actually know the
basic notes of the songs they are trying to sing!
(Of course, I'm speaking of students here who either don't have a piano or
don't have the necessary music skills to learn the notes themselves.)
.......It is my
belief, that you simply can't really learn to sing properly, if you're not
even sure
what notes you are supposed to be hitting!
...........Some singing teachers out
there, do not actually have any keyboard skills at all, except for perhaps
the most rudimentary ones, and may not even be able to read music very well.
They may be fabulous singers, they may know a lot about singing, and they
may be tremendous singing teachers as well, but they may not be able to offer
you the support you need if you are not very skilled in those areas
yourself.
......I'm always little
concerned about any
singing teacher who does not appear to have had a very wide ranging general
music education, but I am willing to be convinced otherwise on that!!
......Someone may be a
fantastic singer but it doesn't mean they're going to be a great teacher!
The world is full of fantastic singers who are absolutely hopeless at
teaching! (--although they may not know this about themselves,
let alone admit it!)
......This is
always an issue to consider when talking about any kind of teaching.
We all know that someone may practice something very well, but it doesn't
mean they can teach it!
......Having
spent a lifetime working first as a professional accompanist and trained
school teacher, and later as a professional singer who has studied with many
teachers, I have developed an approach where I can teach the technique of
singing
clearly, and / or else I can provide what I call "vocal coaching"
as well.
Vocal coaching is the simple teaching of the 'notes' and usually includes
the making of recordings etc, to support a student in
'getting the notes right'. (This sort
of work may be done by any experienced keyboard player; they don't
necessarily need to know a lot about singing or vocal technique to do this)
......You need
to work out what you need from a teacher.
......If you don't
need support actually learning the songs, then you might get a lot out of
working with the singing teacher who doesn't have wide-ranging musical
skills.
......You should
feel quite free to experiment with a number of teachers before you make a
decision to study with a particular person, including me!.
Even work with a couple of people at
the same time if you like, if it is not too confusing for you and
their methods don't conflict too much.
Have a few sample lessons with a number of teachers, and get a 'feel' for who
you like the best.
......It is always
best to shop around and make sure that you ask yourself questions about
what's happening in the classes
- what you’re happy with and what you're not happy with.
......Never just
accept everything at face value. Always ask probing questions and
always remember that it is YOU who is employing the teacher, not the other
way around!
......REMEMBER who is really
the 'boss' - YOU!
It's YOUR money you are spending, and you need to
be satisfied with what you are getting.
......Some teachers
make you feel as if you're ‘going to see the headmaster at school,’ and that
you don't have the right to ask questions or question what it is they are
doing and their processes. You won't get your money's worth if you don't
participate fully in the process.
......A good
confident teacher will not be threatened by you having a questioning
‘assessing’ sort of attitude towards them.
......Avoid people
who appear to be overly bossy, or who give you the impression that they are
doing you some sort of favour in teaching you at all. There are quite
a few people out there with a certain sort of arrogance (which often masks an
inability to actually do the job of teaching well) For the same
reason, avoid people who insist that their way of teaching, or their method,
is the 'best' or 'only' way of doing it.
Once again, making this sort of demand
often masks a lack of confidence and actual knowledge in singing.
......I have learnt that not everything works for everybody.
......A good teacher will take the time to find what works for YOU.
......A good teacher will not try to force you into a 'cookie cutter' mould
of
what THEY think YOU sing like!
......Look
out for the person who seems to be doing teaching with a sort of 'resentful'
mindset, based on the fact that they would rather be performing
professionally but will teach as a second-best alternative!!
......You need to
be taught by someone who absolutely LOVES teaching and will 'LOVE" and CARE
for YOU! |
