I am a doctor of singing. Patients come to me and ask me to “fix” their voice much as you might go to your doctor and ask them to “fix” a health issue. During your visit, a thorough examination is required to pinpoint exactly where the problem lies. This might involve asking a lot of questions, getting a history of the problem, performing various tests and finally submitting a diagnosis. How mistrustful would you be of your doctor if you walked into their office and without saying a word, they just handed you a prescription? You would be very reluctant to take that pill because you would know that they didn’t take the time to understand your problem. You would feel put out and insulted that they didn’t care enough about you to take the time to figure out exactly what your problem is. The same is true for learning how to sing or speak in public; one formulae (or pill) does not fix every person’s problem… the solution is as unique as the individual.
When you decide to take voice lessons, you are committing to a process and are agreeing to do what your teacher prescribes. How crazy would it be if you went to your doctor, they gave you a prescription, exercises to do and a diet to follow and you just thanked them, went home and didn’t do any of the things you were supposed to do. Would you be surprised that your condition doesn’t change? Of course not, you would know that you were not holding up your end of the bargain. The same is true for your voice lesson. Practice the material you are given, show up on time, warm up before you arrive, turn off your cell phone and give 100% of your concentration to the lesson while you are there. These are the basic fundamentals of being a good voice student. Most of all…. Ask questions! A voice lesson is not a lecture, it is an interchange and you should absolutely feel empowered to ask as many questions as you can. You are paying for your teachers expertise, don’t be afraid to ask and give feedback.
Your teacher (and doctor) are trusted advisors who are your advocate to help you be all that you can be. So next time you go for your voice lesson, say “Ahhhhhh”.