Where Do I Find A Singing Teacher?
I often see people asking in forums or other community, where they should look to find a great local voice teacher. I decided to write the most common and best answers to that question here in central area. So if you or someone you know is looking, try recommending some of the things below to them!
Nats.org – National Association of Teachers of Singing
A great place to start would be www.nats.org. The National Association of Teachers of Singing is the largest professional association of singing teachers in the world. With over 7,000 members in US, Canada, and 25 other countries. NATS main focus as an association, is to encourage the highest standards of singing and vocal arts combined with the ethical principles in the teaching of singing. What does that mean? They are truly 110% committed to forming an association containing only THE BEST singing teachers. This is great news for anyone looking for a singing teacher! No need to fear taking lessons from someone that might not know what they’re talking about from NATS. www.nats.org is a great starting place when looking for a singing teacher.
Places to go for Advice about Finding Singing Teachers
Some places that would have helpful information for you would be:
- – Local Musical Theatre
- – Local Opera Company
- – Local Conservatory of Music
- – Local University – often vocal instructors teach privately
- – Community Colleges
- – Night School classes of Voice & Singing
- – Stores that sell printed music
- – Music Stores that sell musical instruments
- – Local Musicians
- – Church Choirs
What Should I Look For in a Teacher?
- – Performing Experience, Maturity, Self-Awareness and continual Self-Growth.
- – A method of teaching that focus’s on YOU, not the method
- – Non-Judgmental
- – Someone that acknowledges your fear, but encourages you to believe in yourself and your voice.
What Should I Think About Before I start?
1) Are you prepared to commit to several months of lessons and practice? This means blocking time out of your schedule and life for focusing on your singing.
2) Do you understand that strong singing can be mastered with practice and diligence? Although at times it may be very difficult and seem impossible.
3) Have you thought about the financial investment you’ll be making?
How Long Will it Take?
People often get results in the first 12 weeks. Those that continue for a year really start to feel the strength of their voice. The longer you stick with it, the more you begin to really experience the true power and beauty of your own voice!
How Much Should I be Expecting to Pay Per Singing Lesson?
Anywhere between $35-$50 per hour is reasonable. You really get what you pay for when it comes to your voice and singing career. Lessons should be one-on-one for 1 hour per week. For your teacher to really help you grow, they need to hear just YOUR voice and be focused on only you. Having group lessons is usually more distracting and unproductive than a one-on-one lesson. Don’t be afraid to invest in yourself and your voice. But if you feel that you are not making the progress you think you should be making with your current teacher, it might be time to start searching for a new one.
I hope this helps give some people an idea of where to look and what to look for when finding a local singing teacher! If any of you have questions, please post them in the comment section below.
Take care, and talk soon
Billy