If you want to become a better singer, or if you are trying to become a professional, or even if you have a child that wants to sing, you need to find a vocal coach to teach them how to make their voice stronger and to show them how to do the correct breathing exercises. However, finding the right vocal coach though may prove to be stressful and time consuming.
When you are looking for the right coach you need take careful stock of the options available to you. You don’t want to go with the first person that you find. Ask around with family and friends and see if there is anyone that they can recommend. Look in the yellow pages and call everyone that you can find. Make sure you meet with good prospects in person and talk to them about your wants and needs. You can let them what you expect from them, and they in turn can tell you what they need and what they expect from you as a student. See if there is any way that you can do a lesson before you sign a contract with them. This way you can see how they teach and how you interact with them.
When you have narrowed down your search to about three potential teachers, you can then research what their previous students have to say about them. Ask them for more than just one referral, you should get at least three referrals, this way you can have a better understanding of how the teacher is.
Narrow this list down further to two potential teachers. You should set up an interview with them. This way you can meet them in person and ask any of the questions that you may have. Some of the questions that you should ask are: what kind of education or training they have received, how much singing experience they have, how long they have been teaching, and last but certainly not least is what style they teach their students.
There are of course other questions that you should ask like where they studied, who their coach was, where they have performed. You can find anyone with a music degree or education, that doesn’t make them a good teacher, or even a good singer. You also need to find out if the style that they teach fits the style of singing you want to learn.
Once you have had the basic questions answered you can start going into more detail and learn specific details about the lessons. For instance you are going to need to know how long the lessons are, what the price is per lesson, what will be taught in the given time frame, what techniques will be taught. Find out if the lessons will include warm ups and scales and if there will be choreography and coaching on how to react when on stage.
When you have all the details hashed out, you can then go and start your lessons. You will find that having the right vocal coach will help you tremendously in preparing you for a career as a professional singer. You will learn many things from your vocal coach, as long as you have chosen wisely.