Start That Voice Studio
Beginner Teacher Series Part 1
This is part 1 of the Beginner Voice Teacher Series. For the next 4 weeks we will be exploring how to get started teaching and setting yourself up for success!
Teaching private voice lessons is a natural choice for many singers. You may choose this path if you enjoy working with others 1 on 1, have a knack for explaining complex topics in a digestible way, and are excited to watch new singers progress. If you are choosing to teach simply because you want to bolster your finances but have no interest in the teaching part, I highly recommend looking into other paths. Teachers are an important part of the development of singers and if your heart isn’t in it, it will probably reflect onto your students.
But let’s assume you are here for the right reasons. In that case, welcome! You are entering a group of (mostly) passionate and thoughtful people who are excited for their students to learn and grow.
Getting Started
If you are completely new to teaching, have no fear. The hardest part is starting! If you have never taught a lesson in your life, start with someone you know who would be willing to act as a practice student. This can be a low pressure way to get some practice communicating the art of singing with another person. Don’t worry, if you don’t have anyone to practice on, you can always jump right in with a student. I recommend having a teacher you trust close at hand that you can ask for help if/when you need it. Ask questions!
Put Your Credentials in One Place: Build a Website
Create a portfolio of all your credentials. You likely already have these things for auditions and applications for performance. The best place to gather these is a personal website. Here are the things you’ll need:
Resume: The beauty of having this on a website is that it can be more extensive that the single page you often have to have for auditions.
Bio: Tell your potential students about who you are and what you have done! This does not need to be paragraphs long. Just enough to give people an idea of your experience.
Headshots or Performance Shots
You can create a website on several different host engines. I recommend Squarespace to start, as it is really easy to navigate! As far as creating the site, look at the websites of your singing peers and professionals you follow to get inspiration and an idea of how to lay out your information.
Write a Teaching Philosophy
This is a really important exercise. Take the time to think through why teaching is important to you. What do you want your students to take away from working with you? Elaborate on what you can do for them, try writing in “you” form: for example: "When you study with me, you can expect to learn about how the voice works” rather than “I can teach you about how the voice works”. The first way is more inviting for potential students.
Writing a philosophy can also help you envision the type of student you want to teach. Do you want to focus on adults? Kids in musical theater? Anyone? This is as much an exercise for you as it is an opportunity for people to get a sense of what it’s like to study with you.
Build Your Network
This might be the most crucial part of your teaching journey. If you are teaching the voice, you should also be constantly learning and growing your knowledge. We do our students a disservice when we stop learning. Here are a 2 quick ways to build your network:
Find yourself a mentor teacher: This can be someone you study with for your own voice or a teacher whose teaching style you admire. Reach out to ask questions, reference them when you hit a vocal snag with a student, and even ask them to review your teaching!
Shadow teachers teaching: One of the best ways to teach is to watch others do it!
Once you have established these relationships, ask if you might be on their list to take overflow students! This can be a great way to fill your studio and keep a working relationship with your mentors.
There are many ways to start teaching voice. These are just a few steps you can take to get started confidently! You are probably asking "but how do I get students"? Glad you asked, we are going to cover that in post #3 on March 20th!
Happy teaching!
Stay Tuned for Next Week’s Post: Independent Teaching Vs Music School Employment- Pros and Cons
Are you interested in 1 on 1 coaching? Schedule a Discovery Call today!
Meet the Author
Jennifer Burks is a professional voice teacher and soprano with over 17 years of formal training and degrees in Vocal Performance from the University of Arkansas and Vocal Pedagogy from New England Conservatory of Music (NEC). She is an active performer and has won prestigious vocal competitions such as the 2022 Rhode Island Civic Chorale. Beyond her studio, Jennifer is an active member of NATS, PAVA, and The Voice Foundation and is the incoming Auditions Chair of the New England Chapter of NATS. In her free time, she enjoys running, reading, sailing, and cherishing every musical moment.
