Who Needs a Vocal Coach? Everything You Need to Know
The human voice is one of the most beautiful and expressive instruments in existence, and using it properly can be a source of great joy. However, as with any instrument, the voice can always benefit from some coaching to help it reach its full potential. But, who really needs a vocal coach?
For as long as we can remember, we have been using our voices to communicate and express ourselves. In addition to this, actors, singers, radio/TV presenters, politicians, lawyers, and teachers are just some of the professionals who use their voices as part of their job on a daily basis.
While they might have focused on other common aspects of presentational training, they may not have had any specific vocal coaching to help them hone their raw vocal skills.
Like any other skill, using your voice effectively takes practice and training. And considering how important and ubiquitous our voices are, it makes sense to seek professional help to make sure we’re using them in the best way possible.
So, do you need a vocal coach?
Who Needs a Vocal Coach?
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Everyone
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to be a professional singer to benefit from working with a vocal coach. In fact, people of all ages and from all walks of life can work with a vocal coach to improve and feel more comfortable with the sound of their everyday speech, as well as develop and nurture a singing voice.
Even children can benefit from vocal coaching! If you’re a parent of a young child who loves to sing or is considering enrolling your child in singing lessons, working with a vocal coach can give them a great foundation to build their future singing skills.
Why would someone who is not a singer benefit from a vocal coach? Because your voice is not just about entertainment, but also about communicating with confidence and power.
It is vital that you maximise your ability to convey messages, persuade and impress. Your voice is key to these skills, and if you learn to control it, you can unlock potential that you never even knew you had.
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Professionals Who Use Their Voice for Work
As we mentioned before, many professionals use their voices as a primary tool in their work, such as actors, teachers, lawyers, musicians, and businesspeople.
Unfortunately, the power of the voice is often an underestimated tool, and many people in these professions don’t realise the importance of proper vocal technique, but just expect to be able to wing it.
However, imagine the difference it would make if you could control the sound and quality of your voice and use it to engage and connect with your audience. It can make a big difference in the success of your career.
Vocal coaches can help you develop your vocal technique, expand your repertoire, improve your stage presence, and more.
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Vocal Coaches and Teachers
If you are a vocal coach or teacher, it is important to continuously work on your own vocal skills and technique. It is vital to “check in” with another vocal coach from time to time, partly because we all have blind spots, and it is indispensable to have someone who can help us identify and correct them.
Furthermore, even though we are already trained, we may have had a prolonged period working with voices that are very different from ours, and we can easily forget to keep nurturing our own sounds.
For example, in my own life, I discovered one day that I had worked primarily with male voices for 12 months. While that was exciting, and my voice was able to go relatively low to mimic my client’s vocal sound as I taught them, I realised that I also needed to repair my soprano section. That’s because my voice began to prefer my mid-range and low-range, whereas it initially picked my mezzo-soprano and soprano sections.
By having my own voice “checked in”, I was reminded to do different exercises to maintain my voice. As a result, I became a much better and more well-rounded vocal coach.
Why You Need a Vocal Coach
There are many reasons why you may need a vocal coach, but here are just a few:
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To Improve Your Vocal Technique and Range
If you want to improve your vocal technique, then a vocal coach can help you identify any problem areas and give you tailored exercises to help you address them.
An experienced vocal coach will develop a method specific to your voice to help you maximise your vocal range, and make use voice’s brand, vocal delivery, and performance.
They can also help you expand your vocal range and build up your stamina to sing or speak for longer without tiring your voice.
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To Learn to Sing Properly
Do you know straining your vocal cords or singing without breathing properly can lead to vocal injuries, and in some cases, cause permanent damage? Learning to sing correctly with the help of a dedicated vocal coach won’t only help you achieve your singing potential, but also protect your vocal cords.
Suppose you have already sustained damage to your vocal cords in the past. In that case, you have more reason to seek out the help of an experienced professional who has dealt with vocal rehabilitation before, as they can help you get your voice back while minimising the risk of further damage.
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To Improve Your Confidence
Sometimes you only need to trust and believe in your abilities to use your voice to its full potential. Having someone in your corner who believes in you and constantly pushes you to be better can make all the difference.
A good vocal coach can encourage you to leave your comfort zone, work on your stage fright, and help you build the confidence you need to perform your best. You will finally gain the confidence to leap from singing in the shower to singing and speaking with bravado in front of a crowd.
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To Improve Your Posture
Did you know that the way you carry yourself plays a significant role in how your voice sounds? If you slouch, your breathing will be constricted, and your vocal cords will not be able to vibrate as freely as they should. This will result in a weaker and less resonant sound. Having proper posture also helps prevent strain on your vocal cords and back.
One of the first things an experienced vocal coach will notice is your posture, and they will offer suggestions on how you can improve it to project your voice better. When this happens enough times, it won’t just help your speaking and singing, but also how you carry yourself in everyday life.
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To Exercise Your Lungs
Vocal lessons typically include several breathing exercises. Why? Because deep breathing helps to exercise and strengthen your lungs. Stronger lungs mean more air support for your voice, resulting in a richer, fuller sound. Good breathing also helps increase your lung capacity to hold your breath longer, which is essential for those long, sustained notes or speeches.
Incorporating breathing exercises into your daily routine will also help to improve your overall health and well-being.
Everyone Can Benefit from a Vocal Coach
Everyone can benefit from working with a vocal coach, whether you want to improve your vocal technique, build up your confidence, simply learn to sing correctly, or take your career to the next level.
Working with an experienced and dedicated vocal coach will help you unlock your potential, reach your goals, and improve your overall vocal health.