SINGING LESSONS

For most people, the answer is no. Or at least not safely or with healthy and effective singing technique that can maximize your potential. While some people are born with a very strong sense of pitch, and others may already be musically skilled in another instrument and can apply some of those skills to their own voice, it is extremely difficult to self-assess your own vocal behaviors and habits. Not only can you not hear your voice the way others hear it – making it difficult to hear yourself objectively – it’s also very difficult to know when and if you’re damaging your voice.

Absolutely. I have worked with people claiming to be ‘tone-deaf’ (a real but very rare condition, though the label is thrown about pretty casually) and developed strong, confident, in-tune vocalists happy to perform in public. I have worked with professional singers with decades of experience and fixed breathing, pitch, tonal, and range issues that they were convinced were “unfixable”. I have worked with people who have only ever sang classical and helped develop and discover their pop voice. A good vocal coach seeks to understand your pain-points and goals, identifies the problem areas, and creates a lesson and practice plan that fixes the issues and keeps you inspired.

Singing lessons are typically less than vocal coaching. They typically cost the same as a piano lesson or guitar lesson, which will differ depending on the city or region you live in. In my area (Toronto / Milton), vocal teachers usually charge between $40-60 per lesson.

Voice coaches usually cater to a slightly older and usually (but not always) more experienced audience of professionals or semi-professionals, and are themselves more experienced as performers with more teaching experience, with typical fees between $50 – 150 per session.

Contrary to some beliefs, adults are absolutely able to learn new musical skills, and singing may be one of the most realistic goals. Unlike learning piano which can take months or years before you can reproduce the music that inspires you, a great instructor can connect you with your favourite music quickly while knowing how to start building your skill level and confidence.

Teaching adults does require a different teaching style than younger learners; there needs to be a realistic appreciation for the unpredictable nature of a work week and hectic schedule, and an understanding of how exposing and disorienting it can be for an otherwise successful professional to suddenly be outside an area of expertise or competence.

If you’re a prospective adult vocalist, be sure to connect with an instructor with a proven track record of success with mature students.

As mentioned above, singing lessons are usually geared towards younger learners who are looking to learn musical fundamentals and develop their early singing voice simultaneously, whereas vocal coaching is almost entirely focused on the physical act of singing with little or no consideration for teaching music theory or history, or involved with or concerned with examinations, festivals, or standardized curriculum.

Yes, now more than ever. Prior to the Covid-19 Pandemic, online lessons were considered novel, but with very poor technology, vocal instructors had a difficult time seeing or hearing the nuances of someone’s singing skills over a Zoom call. With the work-from-home revolution now firmly entrenched, video conferencing tools and specialized online music lesson software has enabled voice teachers to deliver highly effective lessons to students anywhere in the world.