Singing lessons?

[Betty]

My parents would like to sign my kids up to do something fun this summer. My son is going to a video game programming camp for a week and my daughter wants to do something music related. She plays guitar pretty well, plays piano somewhat*, and sings okay so we're thinking singing lessons or something focusing on her voice may be more useful for her improvement - and she's already had some instruction on guitar.

We had hoped that her high school chorus class would benefit her but her teacher was a band teacher and never even got as far as dividing them into altos and sopranos. (Don't even get me started on this loser. She won't be taking chorus for her Senior year because the class was more do whatever than do any singing. Ever. And this was concert choir!)

Have you ever taken singing lessons? Do you feel they made a difference in your ability? How long do you think it took to make a noticable difference? Weeks? Months? Years? Did it improve your range? Do you have any suggestions on how to find a good teacher? What to avoid?


*She's never had formal lessons. Her cousin who is musically inclined showed her how to play guitar one afternoon and she picked it up quickly. She got a keyboard and using youtube videos picked up piano. She's no expert but I'm amazed at her ability to look up tabs online for some song and literally play and sing along a few minutes later. This is much fun at family gatherings.

[Strangler Lewis]

My son's piano teacher also teaches voice. My sense is that, as with the learning of any other instrument, progress is a mixture of talent and discipline. Since singing with a capital S requires a lot of odd physical coordination, it strikes me that progress comes more incrementally than with other instruments. Some of the recitals I've been to have been pretty rough.

I would think that a good singing teacher is one who 1) has credentials or background and 2) has a conversation with the prospective students about goals and does not lead anyone to think they can live out their American Idol or Glee dreams.

[katiesue]

Maddie took some singing lessons. My suggestion is to check with local churches. A lot of the choir directors will do private lessons as well. That's where Maddie had hers. It does help a lot with technique and such. And as Strangler pointed out you get out of it what you put into it.

[Not Afraid]

My next door neighbor is a voice teacher - and an excellent one at that. He also teaches music at a private college. Buy, I'm not sure LB is convenient for you.

Voice lessons are a long process. Think of it as a gym for the voice.

[Betty]

We're out in the inland empire so LB is a tad bit far. Thanks for the input. She tends to obsess over the guitar more than other instruments (it's the only one she has calluses for, lol) but voice is what she could use the more improvement at.

[Morrigoon]

I've had singing lessons. They are absolutely beneficial.

The wrong technique can create bad habits and ruin your voice. Some piano teachers are also singing teachers and I'm sure there are good ones, but, if you can, find someone who really focuses on voice. Many are singers themselves, some are not. But you'll find the ones who are not themselves singers, and are focused on teaching voice, are probably out of price range for most people (example: Seth Riggs)

Believe it or not, I found Robert Edwards through the phone book, but this is not the traditional way to go about it. You're best off asking around for referrals. (However, if you can't find any referrals, take comfort in the fact that anyone willing to pay good money for advertising is probably professional and not just doing this on the side).

The good news is, even in the Inland Empire, you're close enough to LA to benefit from proximity to it, in terms of the likelihood of finding a real professional. Look to your local large theater, and see if someone from their masterworks chorale can recommend someone. There's a strong chance that somebody within the chorale will themselves be a teacher.

Oh, I should mention... have your daughter determine what her end goal is. Not in terms of professional achievement, but in terms of what STYLE of music she wants to move her vocal technique towards, because that will have some impact on the lessons she receives. And she should be able to convey that goal to the potential teacher. Also, don't be afraid to schedule a single lesson with a couple teachers and go with the one you like best.

[Morrigoon]

Oh yeah...

Have her bring a recording device with her to record her lessons. Then she should use that as a practice tape between lessons. Like Lisa said, it's gym for the voice, so you have to USE it, not just once a week.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Betty

My parents would like to sign my kids up to do something fun this summer. My son is going to a video game programming camp for a week and my daughter wants to do something music related.

I don't know singing from a hole in the ground, but by the time Moonie Jr. was heading into senior year we gave him a budget and told him to find his own summer camp.

[Betty]

Great tips Morigoon! I had not thought about a local theater group or recording the lessons.

[Betty]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

I don't know singing from a hole in the ground, but by the time Moonie Jr. was heading into senior year we gave him a budget and told him to find his own summer camp.

She's still 16... is just now going to test for her drivers permit because she... no good excuse... just didn't finish the online stuff with any sort of urgency. She seems to go through spurts of self motivation and laziness - like many teens I guess.

Because I'll be the one having to drive her around, or be in the car while she practices driving, (we live in an area that is not public transportation friendly), I want a say in wear and when I'll be doing so.