Resources

Voice Teachers:

Piano Teachers:

Accompanists:

Acting Coach:

Recording:

Choreographers:

Qualities of An Excellent Teacher

• $25 - $50  an hour charge per lesson
  30-60 minute lessons
• Taping of lessons for practice at home
• Beginning each lesson with vocal exercises designed to improve the range and technique of your student’s voice.
• Assigned songs covering classical, folk, and musical theater styles. 
• Noticeable progress within a few months of study.
• Placement auditions to enter a ‘studio’ are encouraged and helpful in determining if your child and the teacher will work well together.
• Good teachers will also be strict about your child’ practice habits and attendance at lessons.  Your child should be ready for this commitment before you invest money.  However, it is important for talented students who wish to pursue music in college to begin early.

   Your financial output now could well turn into college scholarships in the future. Hard pressed to come up with the money?  Remember – many of you and your children have skills that could be used to barter for lessons such as house cleaning, yard work, tutoring, meal preparation, etc.  Be creative!

Voice Lesson Information:
  There are ethics to this business of voice teacher selection.  It is appropriate to ‘shop around’ for teachers by requesting audition lessons (you will pay for this lesson) in order to see if you like the teacher and their style of teaching.  The teacher will determine if they are interested in working with your student which means they think they can develop your child’s talent and the personalities mesh well enough to facilitate progress.  Not every teacher is right for every student.  It is a very personal relationship and it is important to find someone with whom you r child is comfortable.  Once a match has been found you can request a spot in that studio.  This may mean you will be placed on a awaiting list until a spot opens up.  A great time to pursue this process is at the end of the school year heading into summer.  In the meantime, you can let it be known that you would be willing to take lessons at the last minute when the teacher has cancellations.  Remember, familiarity can bring a name to the top of a waiting list.
     Once in a studio, it sometimes occurs that the teacher or student concludes it is not working out.  This is a very tricky situation that must be dealt with carefully.  Honesty will always work best, though it will require diplomatic wording.   The original teacher should always be informed BEFORE contact with a new teacher is initiated.
     Lessons have many benefits besides the obvious vocal ones.  Students gain confidence, poise, a work ethic, communication skills, emotional development, appreciation for the art form, and pride in their accomplishments.  Teachers are not creating ‘STARS’ at this age.  They are trying to give your child the basic vocal technique to guarantee vocal health, and to create a vocal platform upon which further technical demands can be placed as their body and instruments become capable.  The average voice is not mature until a person’s mid-thirties.  Typically, girls’ voices mature faster than the boys’ but each child is a unique package..  Lots of hard work will be the key to your child achieving their dreams. 

REMEMBER:  “Prepare the child for the path, not the path for the child!”