In general, if your voice is not able to meet the needs of your musical genre, if you have problems with the tone, a pronounced break in your voice, a limited range, or if your voice fatigues quickly during a performance or rehearsal, you could benefit from singing lessons. As with any skill, the more you practice, the more competent you become. Athletes, painters and carpenters practice their chosen craft to become as skilled as possible. If you want to become an accomplished singer, you need to practice every day.
Both vocal technique and training are essential for a singer. However, good vocal technique should be the basis. When you're on stage, proper breathing technique can give you that calm, focused feeling you need to deliver a great vocal performance. While a vocal coach can also use the title of “voice teacher”, they may not have the same level of education.
For example, you may have noticed the inconsistency in some professional performances where the vocalist's voice simply doesn't have the same range and power in a live performance compared to a recording. Often, nerves can have a negative impact on the voice, interrupting breathing and ultimately affecting the vocal cords. Some students looking for a vocal coach may be preparing for an audition or are studying a character for a performance. This will allow you to perform better gigs and generally record your vocals faster when it comes to using the studio.
Practicing regularly will help you achieve higher tones and sustained notes, while improving breath control and strengthening your vocal cords. To start vocal training or prepare for an upcoming performance, check out my full Master Your Voice singing program or book a singing class. A vocal coach will identify weaknesses in your voice and help you strengthen those areas. Keep in mind that any adjustment in vocal technique is most effective when you apply it every time you sing: on the radio, in the shower, in the choir class, and anywhere in between.
Of course, perfect vocal technique never survives impact with performance, so it's incredibly important to be able to switch to the role of a vocal coach when needed. While vocal exercises may not seem fun when you start, following the program your coach sets for you will improve the strength and range of your voice over time. However, it is the ability of the voice teacher to develop the singing voice that distinguishes him from the “vocal coach”. Vocal training involves the whole body and you will be instructed on correct posture, breathing and vowel shape.
It would be strange, for example, for a music teacher at a university to call himself a “vocal coach”, even if he teaches private lessons.
