Consider these three questions:

1. Does anyone you know love to sing at home or at school?

2. Does anyone you know sing in church and need help learning how to be a better ensemble singer or a stronger soloist?

3. Does anyone you know watch TV and think ‘I could be the next American Idol’?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these, it may be time for a voice instructor!

There are many factors to consider when seeking a voice instructor for yourself or your child. The first thing is to identify what kind of music you are interested in singing. Not all teachers are created equal. For those wanting to explore the classical realm, you must find an instructor that has the training and background in classical. For most other styles of music (Pop, Jazz, R&B, Rock) there are quite a lot of different techniques teachers use to produce a great voice in a student. There are also a lot of common techniques that all teachers use for all singers.

Then it becomes the question of personality, professionalism and knowledge. It is always a good idea to try a teacher out for one lesson to determine whether or not it is a good fit. A teacher may have all the knowledge in the world, but if your personalities don’t gel, the student will resist learning from him/her.

Many students of voice are surprised to know that there is a lot of work involved in becoming a better singer! The other piece of the puzzle is to be sure the student has the time and passion to practice at home what they learn in their lesson. It only takes a few minutes a day to work on scales and breathing. But those few minutes are crucial! If you don’t work out your voice, the way a body builder works the muscle, you will not develop. Then, of course, the student must be willing to sing as often as possible outside of their scales. The songs that are chosen in their lesson are equally as important in their development as the scales.

So take the time to call a few different teachers for an initial consultation. Most often you can get the feeling if you want to pursue taking a lesson by how the teacher answers a few questions: Where are you located? How often would we need to come? What are your fees? Can you tell me what a typical lesson would involve? Etc. You should be able to find a teacher you (or someone you know) can have a great experience with!