Should You Get a Voice Teacher?

The short answer is yes: every songwriter and artist should have a vocal coach. Your voice is your most essential instrument and learning how to use it properly can change your game.

The number one reason you should work with a trained professional is to maintain a longevous career. Our job requires a lot of vocal usage; songwriting sessions can span hours and touring is notoriously difficult on the vocal cords. Constant use of the vocal cords with poor technique can lead to polyps and tears and, in a worst case scenario, permanent damage to the vocal cords. A vocal teacher can help you learn how to support your natural instrument with healthy technique. This will help you maintain pristine vocal cords throughout your career.

A vocal teacher can also help you refine your style. Someone with deep knowledge of diction, breath technique, and tonal placement will help you pinpoint how to deliver your songs. Singing teachers who focus on textual analysis will help you understand your own lyrics better as you identify how you want to perform them. It one thing to write a song and whole other thing to perform it. There is intimate work involved in refining a performance that is better done with the help of a skilled vocal coach.

For songwriters who have de-prioritized their vocal chops, I urge you to get a vocal coach. The health benefits are multitudinous, but a refined instrument can come in handy. If you’re writing a song to pitch to an artist, you may need to use your own voice on the demo. In that event, a better sounding voice will increase your chances of landing a cut. If your co-writer’s voice is hoarse, you may need to step in to put the melody down on the demo. Those of you with a better understanding of your own voice will find the process of cutting your vocal to be easier.

I know that a singing teacher can be quite an investment, both from a financial and time perspective. But, I firmly believe that a good vocal coach is an essential team member of any songwriter or artist.