Voice Lessons

A Guitar Teacher’s Unexpected Vocal Journey

Who would have thought a guitar teacher would find themselves immersed in the world of vocal coaching? Certainly not me. I’ve been strumming chords and teaching others to do the same for what feels like forever. So when one of my guitar students expressed an interest in voice lessons, I was thrown a curveball.

I’ve always been ok at singing, but never considered myself a vocal powerhouse. I’ve sung in bands for over two decades, but that was more about belting out tunes with a guitar than any formal vocal training. So, the idea of teaching someone to sing was daunting. But with a ten-year-old student eager to learn and a supportive mom, I decided to dive in headfirst.

Teaching Voice Lessons is Very Rewarding

Surprisingly, I’ve discovered that teaching someone to sing is incredibly rewarding. We’ve started with the basics, using the piano to help her identify pitches. I was amazed at how quickly she picked up the concept and how trainable the human voice truly is. It’s like unlocking a hidden instrument within her.

To track her progress, we’ve been using Audacity to record her singing. It’s fascinating to listen back and hear the improvements. We even create little backing tracks and record her voice on a separate channel, allowing us to mix the two together and see how well she’s harmonizing. It’s a fun and effective way to visualize her vocal journey.

Not a Traditional Approach

While I’m excited about the progress we’re making, I’ve also realized that my approach to vocal coaching is quite different from the traditional methods. I’m not interested in the deep dive into operatic techniques or the physical acrobatics of vocal training. I’ve never laid on the ground with books on my diaphragm, and I don’t plan to start now. My focus is on helping my student find her voice, develop pitch accuracy, and learn to harmonize with her favorite songs.

It’s been a challenging but incredibly rewarding experience. Who knows, maybe this unexpected detour will lead to a whole new career path. For now, I’m enjoying the journey of helping my young student discover the joy of singing.

Stay tuned for updates on our vocal adventures!