Question:
What is the difference between a singing teacher and a vocal coach?
Answer:
In the classical world, a teacher is someone who teaches vocal technique and makes application to repertoire, although they often do not play the piano. A coach tends to be a pianist who deals primarily with repertoire, helping with musicianship and interpretation. Both deal with phrasing, diction, and performance elements. In the pop, jazz and Broadway world, people tend to use the terms interchangeably or to refer to teachers as coaches too.
My coach-teacher has improved my vocal range so that I can slide from B flat 2 to F5. She has increased my high notes with a chest voice from D4 to most recently G4. She hopes to get it to C5 at which time I will be able to sing operatic Bass Baritone, Baritone and Tenor with a quality of tone as good as anyone. I am 81 years old and have had lessons for about 1 1/2 years. My coach also points out my problems with singing songs. She helped me get Old Man River to the point where… Read more »