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What do you do during your singing lessons? (Singing Teachers)
Hi Guys.
Obviously as teachers we do different things in our lessons and have different ways of doing things.
So I thought I would be a little nosey and find out what kind of things you all do when you are giving casual lessons.Obviously with exams you have to do certain things but if someone is just singing for fun what do you do with them? Do you do things like sight singing, ear tests, rhythmic tests, theory etc. or do you just keep it simple?
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3 Replies
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I have just started doing ear tests and more theory actually. Also grades through Rock School.
But really everyone just wants a confidence boost, so I just go through a selection of warm ups and exercises to improve certain techniques then take them through the song they want to do. Then I work them towards a recording a performance – usually both!
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Completely missed this post! Although I’m coming late to the game, thought I’d share what I usually teach.
I normally spend half the lesson time on exercises and half the lesson time on repertoire/application of skills to song. The focus of the exercises is almost always focused on a particular skill/goal that the student is trying to achieve. Usually this is along the lines of a) being able to sing louder or with greater dynamic control b) being able to sing higher c) removing or smoothing out register breaks in the voice (such as between chest and head voice).
However this is modified a whole lot by what students are needing. If students struggle to sing in tune, this of course takes priority. And like Eliza, I’m definitely spending more time on ear training and music theory at the moment – I think this is petty important.
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Hey,
very late in joining conversation! I have a vast age range in students from 4 years to someone in their 80’s so this means that things are v varied as hey are all at so many different stages….for the most part I stick to technique/exercises in 1st half and application of these exercises in 2nd part of lesson in songs depending on what it is we are focusing on e.g. vocal connection, transitioning through voices, consistent air pressure, etc.Having said this I find 85% of my lessons are totally different from one to the next….sometimes because of exams/auditions/working towards a performance but often because the children I teach need variety within the lesson. I have a fair few with learning difficulties so I do many of the following:-
Music games/quizzes
Pitching through games
Aural tests/games
Sight reading procedure & exercises
Theory-either working through books/worksheets or I apply it to the songs they are learning
Song research-looking at different genres/styles & artists
Song learning
Character research & portrayal
I often end up rewarding them with a song at the end that’s completely just for fun and can be anything they want, especially if they are 8 and under.