COLUMNS
Finding the Right Vocal Coach for You
By Carson Richmond
In 2017 , I attended a Shawn Mendes concert in Vancouver . It blew my mind and my heart wide open . That night , I knew there was nothing I wanted more than to perform on stage , and have fans sing along to my music . What an amazing life that would be !
Until that point , I enjoyed singing cover songs and fiddling around on the piano . But after watching Shawn , I realized having passion is not enough . You also need discipline to learn your craft . To grow as an artist , you must align yourself with the right people and commit yourself , even when it ’ s difficult .
Calling all Coaches ! My first goal was to find a vocal coach who could help me build on the raw skill I had . I met with a number of incredibly talented coaches in Vancouver , and I have no doubt that any one of them would have helped me improve . But for me , the key was to find the one who I had a spark with . Singing is such a personal experience , and I wanted to find someone who could not only teach me the technical side , but who could connect with me in a way that would help me reach my full potential . This was a key point for me , and one I would encourage anyone looking for a vocal coach to do . It ’ s about skill and talent , but it ’ s also very much about comfort and fit .
How do you know which coach is right for you ? Don ’ t just focus on the coach ’ s background , think about your own . How do you like to learn ? Do you want someone who is very hands-on and technical or someone who is comfortable with following your creative lead ? Are there specific techniques you want to work on or are you open to what a coach might present ?
What ’ s your end goal – Broadway , opera , or singing in a rock band ? In my case , as someone in his early teens , I needed a vocal coach who could help me get through the challenges of puberty , including voice cracks and working on exercises that would allow me to extend my upper range .
You will be spending countless hours with this person , so think carefully about what you want to accomplish . I would recommend interviewing with four or five coaches before deciding . It ’ s important to surround yourself with the right people , but even more important to surround yourself with the right people … for you .
Moving on My first vocal coach and I worked together for two years . We would meet once or twice a week , and she became like family . During that time , I developed my voice in ways I never thought possible . I developed the range and vocal control I have today due to the countless hours of vocal exercises , warmups , and range progression exercises . But an important part of developing as an artist is knowing when to step away so that you can keep growing .
After two years , I made the difficult decision to leave my amazing first coach in the hopes of finding someone who would challenge me in different ways . I was beginning to record music and wanted to find someone who could help me in that area . I ’ ll admit , this was exceedingly difficult for me . My first coach was an incredible teacher . So much so that she , too , knew that her student needed to challenge himself in new ways . This meant finding someone who understood what I wanted to achieve technically , as well as from a performance perspective . Ultimately , the coach you choose needs to create a balance between the right learning environment for you and your end goals .
The unknown As I was transitioning to a new coach , COVID-19 hit . Lessons and performances were first cancelled and then moved online . Through some trial and error , I found my current coach , who I have never actually met in person . Being online made it difficult to build an easy connection , but after a few practices and patience from the both of us , we started to find that important spark . Although this virtual approach has been a new way of learning , and the level of engagement is different , I can definitely say that I was learning more than I thought I could .
I am now singing with riffs to enhance my performance along with vocal exercises targeting the higher range in my voice . This coach focuses more on what I need at the moment instead of building from one lesson to the next . It ’ s a different way of doing things , yet through the process I see that I am improving and growing my higher range , which has allowed my recordings to be more diverse then I believed they could be .
Keep learning ! I see my career in music as a life-long journey that includes always trying to better myself , no matter the performance level I have mastered . This is a challenging and competitive industry . Achieving more takes commitment and dedication . You can love something and even have natural talent , but you still need to put in the hard work . My best advice is to connect yourself with talented and like-minded people who understand your dream and who are committed to helping you .
This might mean performing melodies you are not normally drawn to . This might include going through several teachers until you find the right fit . This might have you connecting with new musicians so you can explore a different side of yourself . This might also be as simple as singing in the shower and loving every minute of it .
Carson Richmond is a young singer , songwriter , and pianist from Vancouver who is currently recording his first official release with two-time Grammynominated producer Emile Ghantous . You can find out more at www . carsonrichmond . com .
62 CANADIAN MUSICIAN