What to Ask

Once you've identified prospective teachers or coaches and you've arranged to meet with them, you've got to figure out whether you're making a good match. Here are some questions to ask of yourself and of them to help in this decision.

Ask yourself:

• What kind of singing do I want to do? Do I want to sing classical music? Rock? Theatre music? Do I want to sing as a profession? Or do I simply want to be able to get through a singing audition without embarrassment?





• Do I need a coach or a teacher? If you haven't done much singing, you'll probably want to work with a teacher first to get the basics established. If you have some experience, you may want to assess what





• What are my goals? Do I want to get audition material together? Do I want to extend my vocal range? Do I want a couple of quick fixes or do I want to establish an artistic and creative collaboration to work toward longer term goals?

Any and all of these goals are legitimate, as are many others. The point is that you should identify your personal goals in advance, so that you'll know just what to look for

Ask your prospective teacher or coach:

• What are your qualifications? Ask about the prospective teacher's musical background, degrees, professional experience, and performing experience.





• What are your specialties? If you're hoping to be the next Trisha Yearwood and you find a teacher whose students mostly pursue operatic careers, it's probably not a good match.





• How much do you charge? Rates vary markedly depending on the part of the country you're in. But you can expect to pay between $25 and $75 per hour.





• Do you expect to see students weekly? Bi-weekly? Why?

After you've met with the prospective teacher, you should ask yourself a few more questions: Do I feel safe with this person? Did I experience any chemistry with this person (positive or negative)? And, of course, you should ask the most obvious question: DId I learn anything?

You should feel free to take some time to evaluate whether you want to continue with this teacher or to continue your search.

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