Vocal Coach vs. Singing Teacher - Is There a Difference?
As you begin to embark upon your singing journey, you may come across two types of professionals who play essential roles in your journey: vocal coaches and singing teachers. At first glance, it might seem like these terms are interchangeable, but there are actually a few crucial differences between them. In this blog post, we'll explore what sets a vocal coach apart from a singing teacher and help you determine which is the right fit for your musical goals.
For those of you new to my site, I'm Owen, a professional vocal coach based in Suffolk with a passion for helping new and existing singers unlock their true potential. I've had the privilege of working with many students, first as a singing teacher and then as a vocal coach, helping to guide them on their path to vocal excellence. Now, let's dive in!
Key Differences: Vocal Coach vs Singing Teacher
Though seemingly similar at surface level, vocal coaches and singing teachers each serve unique purposes and offer certain distinct advantages. Familiarising yourself with these differences will empower you to make an informed decision regarding your continued vocal development.
Vocal Coach
Comprehensive Development: A vocal coach specialises in holistic voice development. They address technique, performance, and emotional depth, as well as often touching on important aspects of vocal health and wellbeing. These are often tackled informal, allowing students the freedom to experiment and explore their voice in their own way.
Tailored Guidance: Feedback from a vocal coach is usually more individualised, identifying your strengths and weaknesses to create a personalised roadmap for your unique voice. As part of my vocal coaching sessions, I provide students with tailored lesson plans and warm-up routines based on the specific goals they have set for themselves.
Performance Mastery: Vocal coaches excel in enhancing stage presence, expressive abilities, and storytelling through song. This makes them particularly useful for musical theatre, opera and other more emotional genres that require an understanding of character as well as technique.
Genre Versatility: Regardless of your preferred musical style, be it classical, pop, rock, or others, a vocal coach's breadth of vocal knowledge and expertise can elevate your skills. With a focus on the voice as a versatile, adaptable instrument, vocal coaches can aid you in shaping your voice to switch between multiple styles with ease.
Singing Teacher
Technical Focus: Singing teachers typically put a strong emphasis on the technical aspects of vocalisation, encompassing aspects such as breathing, pitch, and range. With a focus on repetition and academic understanding, they can help you to build your muscle memory and strengthen your voice over time.
Structured Learning: Singing lessons follow structured curricula, emphasising vocal exercises, music theory and fundamental skill-building over experimentation and expression. Often found in schools and other formal institutions, singing teachers will usually encourage you to pursue graded exams such as ABRSM, Trinity and RSL, which can be great tools for training and pursuing further education at music colleges of university.
Genre Specialisation: Singing teachers will often specialise in particular musical genres, making them ideal if you are looking to hone in on one specific style of singing such as classical. It is not uncommon for students to have multiple singing teachers for different vocal styles.
Choosing the Right Professional for You
The choice between a vocal coach and a singing teacher largely depends on your goals and preferences. If you're looking to expand your knowledge of your voice, understand more about vocal health and maintenance, and stretch it to achieve a variety of styles and tones, a vocal coach is likely the way to go. However, if you are looking to first build a strong general musical foundation, learn music theory, and develop specific singing skills, a singing teacher may be the better choice.
Consider your musical aspirations and the style of learning that suits you best. Ultimately, both vocal coaches and singing teachers play vital roles in helping aspiring singers reach their full potential, sometimes in conjunction with each other.
Whether you opt for a vocal coach or a singing teacher, both can be invaluable guides in helping you achieve your singing goals. As a professional musician with experience in both singing teaching and vocal coaching, I offer services that can cater to the needs of all students regardless of their experience or goals. To find the perfect match for your needs, get in touch for a FREE consultation today!
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