Have you recently enrolled in a singing lessons course? Then for sure you are spending a lot of time with your vocal coach. In case you haven’t noticed it yet, almost the entire singing lessons program consists of working with your singing teacher or coach. It is then very important that you know how to utilize your time with them so that by the time you complete the course, you have already mastered the lessons and at the same time honed your talent based on their standards.
But how do you make the most out of your time with a vocal coach? If in case you enrolled in a group class, then here are some tips to consider:
- Observe how your coach does the vocal preps for the class.
Singing classes begin with a warm up where students exercise their vocal chords. Doing this exercise the wrong way may not only put your chords in the incorrect pitch, but also damage them in the long run. To avoid this, you may want to observe your coach closely on how he or she conducts the warm up exercises and try your best to imitate what they are doing.
If you are having trouble following the exercise or if you think you are not doing it right, then approach your coach immediately so that you are able to get the proper positioning of your chords and do the warm-up the correct way.
- Give your undivided attention to your coach.
Singing lessons require a lot of listening, as you are training to adapt a singing technique. You cannot do this by mere practice; you have to focus on what your coach is saying and doing too. During lessons, lend your ears to your coach and as much as possible don’t do anything else (not even jotting notes if in case you are discussing something theoretical). By listening very closely, you not only get to hear the lessons, but also take them to your heart and memory.
- Show your coach your interpretation of the lesson.
While there are drills during classes, it is also a big help if you show your interpretation of the lesson you’ve learned to your coach for additional tips and advice. Doing this not only shows that you are dedicated in the class, but also makes the coach see that you are eager to learn.
By showing a demo to your coach, you are able to identify your weak spots and areas of opportunity, as well as see whether you were able to carry out the notes of the song right. The coach will also tell you how to further improve on what you currently have as a singer.
- Practice using the recommended repertoire.
When not in class you may still have the presence of your vocal coach by rehearsing using his or her recommended repertoire. You need not just focus on the songs they’ve already used in the previous sessions, but also those that are intended to be used on future lessons. This way, you are able to be one step ahead in class and no longer feel the struggle of being introduced to new lessons under the singing program. And yes, this allows your coach to interact with you more because he or she would see that you are among their model students of the class.
