How to choose a singing teacher and record yourself to improve

TUREFF• •0

You can make real progress singing alone, but a good teacher speeds things up enormously, and recording yourself makes every practice session more useful. Here is how to find the right teacher and how to use recordings well, with or without lessons.

Do you need a teacher?

A teacher is especially worth it if you:

feel strain, pain or tiredness when you sing
have hit a plateau with range or tone
are preparing for auditions, exams or performances
want to learn a demanding style, such as classical or musical theatre

Even a handful of lessons can give you a set of exercises and a clear idea of what to work on.

What to look for in a singing teacher

Experience with your style: classical, pop, rock, jazz and musical theatre use the voice differently. A teacher who knows your style will understand your goals.
Training and experience: ask about their own training, how long they have taught and what kinds of students they work with. There is no single qualification every good teacher has, so ask rather than assume.
Vocal health awareness: a good teacher talks about warm-ups, rest and what to do if something hurts, and will suggest seeing a doctor if a problem persists.
Clear explanations: you should leave each lesson knowing what to practise and why.
Encouragement with honesty: you want someone who tells you what needs work, kindly and specifically.
Safeguarding for children: for a young singer, ask about safeguarding arrangements and whether a parent can sit in.

Red flags

Promises of dramatic results in a few lessons.
Exercises that hurt, or being told pain is normal.
Pressure to buy long blocks of lessons before a trial.
Every student made to sound the same, whatever their voice.
A teacher who never explains why you are doing an exercise.

Finding and trying teachers

Ask local choirs, music schools and theatre groups for recommendations.
Look for teachers who offer a trial or consultation lesson.
Prepare a short song and say what you want to achieve.
After the lesson, ask yourself: did I learn something specific? Did I feel comfortable? Was I sung at, or listened to?

Online lessons work for many people, but make sure the audio connection is good enough for the teacher to hear you clearly.

Why recording yourself matters

Your voice sounds different inside your head, because you hear it partly through the bones of your skull. That is why many people dislike hearing a recording of themselves at first. The recording is closer to what everyone else hears, which makes it the most honest feedback you have.

How to record yourself usefully

Use what you have: a phone is fine for practice. Put it a short distance away, not right against your mouth.
Record in the same place each time, so you can compare fairly.
Record a warm-up, a scale and one song regularly, perhaps once a week.
Keep old recordings: progress is gradual, and comparing this month with three months ago is encouraging.
Record video occasionally to check posture, jaw and neck tension.

How to listen back

Listen once all the way through without judging.
Listen again for pitch: where do you go sharp or flat?
Listen for breath: where do phrases run out or sound breathy?
Listen for tone and tension: where does it sound pushed or thin?
Write down one or two things to work on next, not a long list.

Share recordings with your teacher between lessons if they welcome it; it gives them far more to work with. How did you find your singing teacher, or what did your first recording teach you? Share your experience or ask for advice in the comments.