The fall is coming, everyone will be heading back to school, and music lessons will begin again as well. When choosing a singing teacher there are a number of things to consider.
Having one’s voice in this life is a complex coordination of physiology, personality and spirit. The voice expresses knowledge and ideas, passions and compassion. It develops relationships and asks for what is essential to survive. It expresses artistry and brokers peace. It acts as a sort of bio-energetic feedback mechanism relaying information about our state of health and wellbeing. It is exquisitely complex and endlessly fascinating.
Because of the impact the voice has on self and others, its healthy development during childhood, while lifetime patterns are being set, is extremely important. It is critical to have an experienced, knowledgeable teacher because children cannot articulate and guide their own learning as much as adults can. You also need to find a teacher who doesn’t try to make children sound like adults.
When shopping for a teacher:
- Learn about their background,especially studies in anatomy and pedagogy.
- Get references from others who have gone to the teacher.
- Listen to their students in performance, but don’t expect to sit in on others’ lessons. Some teachers allow this, others not.
- Be prepared to pay for the first lesson, but get an agreement that it will be a “trial” lesson before you commit to the whole term. You need to make sure your personalities jive. Sometimes we just instantly dislike someone despite their excellent credentials. and that should be honored with children as well as with adults.
- Ask to record lessons if you like to have something to practice with.
- Make sure your children know what and how to practice but don’t bully them to practice. Especially if they are very young. If they are singing, they are practicing, and they will naturally grow into vocal exercises because they like the way they help. We say we “play” music, and that spirit of play must be present or we aren’t making music.
- Make sure there will be a balance of technique and repertoire, of serious learning and fun. Make sure the teacher will use repertoire that children enjoy as well as encourage music that will help them develop musically and vocally.
- Make sure the teacher is openhearted and supportive, but also that they have good boundaries.
- Try to find someone who is not only knowledgeable, but also wise in the application of that knowledge. Gifted teachers are perceptive about when to grow and when to slow.
- When assessing value, consider more than the dollar amount. A half-hour lesson every other week with an excellent teacher is a far better value than a one-hour lesson every week with an inept teacher.
- Don’t compare your child to other children. Let them develop at their own pace. Every voice is as unique as a thumbprint and has its own special beauty.
- Not every child who studies singing wants to perform. This doesn’t mean the lessons won’t be important for their self-expression throughout their entire lives.
It’s okay to come and go from lessons, but you should commit to a full term each time you sign up. The voice develops with practice, and part of what has to be learned is discipline, diligence and patience. It gets easier and more empowering with time, so you need to give it a fair chance.