Voice Instructor vs. Voice Coach

Contemporary singers have long been of the opinion that seeking help from an instructor or coach would alter their style making them, at best, “cookie-cutter” vocalists. They believed that such aid would lock them into having a specific sound, unable to be altered. They were afraid they would lose their individuality as artists.

As a singer, I can understand that mentality. There is nothing more fearful than waking up one day and realizing the unique qualities and characteristics you once loved about your voice are gone – lost to the “ravages of technique".

Happily, that doesn’t have to be the case! Before I explain why, let’s take a quick look at where those thoughts might have come from…

For centuries, the scope of vocal training has been the purview of the classical world. Students who wished to develop their vocal instrument were given instruction on how to create specific types of sound. Now, if you want to be a classical singer, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that! But if, say, you wanted to sing rock or jazz or blues, that type of direction would give your sound what would best be described as “classical overtones”. It would be a shadow of the actual style you wanted to create. Everything would sound classical.

Within the last 70 years or so, there has been a paradigm shift from the traditional classical teaching to teachings that support more modern styles of music. Science has taught us that we no longer need to be locked into this one methodology and, with so many musical genres out there, this is a good thing indeed! Today’s vocalist has entered into a whole new world of instruction that can help support them in whatever styles and genres of music they choose.

We’re in an age where instructors abound. There are innumerous people in the United States, alone, able to help us create our contemporary sound; and all that’s left is to find one to work with. But which one? There are many considerations to make when selecting the right person for you but, chief among them are “voice/vocal teacher/instructor” or “vocal coach”. These terms are thrown around quite cavalierly today but while they are synonymous with one another, they are NOT the same thing.

Voice Instructor

A voice instructor is tasked with educating you about your voice as a vocal instrument. They have knowledge and technical training that, when shared and applied, help to create a stable foundation for your vocal development. In the course of lessons, you'd typically learn what your instrument actually is and how it works to make sound. You'd learn about vocal musculature and sound support as well as practice vocal and physical exercises to help you gain control. Throughout the course of these sessions, you should have noticeable results in range, stamina, pitch control, power, tone and accuracy, among other things. All of these combined are the embodiment of your instructors "technique".

There is no standard technique across the multitude of contemporary vocal instructors. Instructors, in-part, base their methodology on their own personal sense of style and understanding of the human voice. This is why you may learn different things from different people. So, while many techniques may be correct (leaving it a chore to find the right one for you), there are distinct markers for what makes a technique wrong. If you experience pain, hoarseness, loss of volume, loss of tone, loss of power, loss of range, etc., these are all symptoms of incorrect vocal technique. Continued practice with an incorrect method can lead to vocal damage whereas proper technique will always work with the natural functions of your body and thus enhance the quality of your voice.

Vocal Coach

A vocal coach guides you through the act of singing a song or songs, often in preparation for the stage or studio. While many coaches have little (if any) formal training, their success is primarily based on their own extensive knowledge of performing.

Studying with a coach will help you to learn things like phrasing, articulation, emotion, rhythm and diction. You'll develop a sense of where natural breathing spots exist in songs and learn how to affect your listeners through weaving melodies.

Singing is more than just opening one's mouth and letting words and melodies fall out. It is a communicative tool that uses sound, intention, posture and movement to deliver messages. This is, among other things, what the vocal coach teaches you to do.

So, you can see that the vocal instructor and vocal coach have different purposes, thereby making them separate individuals. Does this mean a vocal instructor is only limited to vocal development and a vocal coach is only limited to song development? Not at all! There are many instructors/coaches that do both.

Choosing the right professional to work with is paramount to your learning experience, enjoyment and success. Make sure you get any questions answered before committing to a long-term arrangement.

Keep Singing!

CM Jones

Craig M. Jones is a professional singer, musician, songwriter and vocal educator with over 20 years experience in the entertainment industry. He has performed locally and internationally, as both a singer and percussionist, with such notables as Orange Then Blue, Stan Getz and Walter Beasley. A member of The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M), he strives to blend his knowledge of health and wellness into a cohesive vocal technique to both develop and support all musical styles and genres.

*The A4M is a not-for-profit medical society dedicated to the advancement of technology to detect, prevent, and treat aging related disease and to promote research into methods to retard and optimize the human aging process. A4M is also dedicated to educating physicians, scientists, and members of the public on anti-aging issues.