A GOOD VOCAL COACH CAN E.A.T.

... and by that I mean Explain, Assess, and Troubleshoot! These days it seems everyone's a vocal coach so it can be hard for the average person to know if a teacher is qualified to give you the guidance you need. These 3 NON NEGOTIABLE points can help you make an informed and confident choice. Let's dive in!!

* Disclaimer * Vocal coach is an umbrella term but this is more for people who are looking for a Voice Teacher.

EXPLAIN - The voice is a complicated machine that involves coordinating your physical body as well as those tiny vocal folds. A good voice teacher will have a solid understanding of how these things work independently and together to produce sounds. It's rarely necessary for me to tell a singer that their sternocleidomastoid muscles are working a bit too hard... BUT should they ask it's my job to be prepared with an explanation. Now surely you don't remember every single thing you learned in high school or college. The education of a voice teacher is no different. We don't remember every detail of every piece of information we've studied.... it's more about using the knowledge of all these parts to develop thought processes and reliable strategies to help singers reach their full potential. Even if your teacher doesn't remember a particular scientific term (although there are some they should definitely know) they should be able to explain the function of that part of the anatomy and it's role in the task at hand.

ASSESS - Unless you're singing while getting scoped it's impossible to know precisely what is happening at any given moment. Also, the voice operates on sort of a continuum so there are seldom clearly defined black and white lines, especially regarding registration. Voice Teachers are trained to accurately (or at least with good probability) identify what is happening inside the body of a singer. Your voice teacher should be able to listen to you sing and have a pretty solid idea of how you're using your voice and coordinating the various components of the vocal apparatus. This is a non negotiable skill your teacher needs to have! Don't be afraid to ask questions during your session. Ask as many questions as you need to feel comfortable. No teacher knows everything under the sun but a knowledgeable teacher will likely be able to "make it make sense".

TROUBLESHOOT - Every singer has strengths and challenges. Part of our jobs as singers is to mask those perceived weaknesses or navigate around those challenge areas... or maybe somehow use them to our advantage. Part of the job of a voice teacher is to find those challenge areas and build them up so you can have the most freedom possible when using your voice! You know how muscles work in antagonistic pairs? Your bicep helps you bend your arm while the tricep straightens it... bla bla bla you get it, right? The same thought process applies to much of the voice. If your challenge is a larynx that rises too high then there's something that can be done to lower it. A voice teacher should be able to identify what's causing your challenge (or have a pretty solid idea) but also be able to provide you with solutions so you can conquer that challenge area. Once again, no teacher knows everything, but the benefit of training with a certified teacher is knowing that a separate entity has vouched for them, cosigned them, or at least acknowledged that said teacher has been given the tools to help you get the very best out of your voice.

You only get one voice so don't cut corners! If for some ungodly reason you're not working with ME (eye roll) you can use these points to formulate questions to help you find a teacher who will be a good fit for you!