How often should you take singing lessons
One of the questions that people commonly wonder about when they think about starting singing training, is how often should you take singing lessons?
In fact, many people wonder if they should take lessons at all. I don’t judge. But let’s say you do want to invest in good singing instruction and are ready to go.
Of course, the answer to this question will depend on how much money you want or can invest in your training, and also on the location you live in, and how much time can you practice.
How often should you take singing lessons: The ideal scenario
The ideal situation is that you find a good teacher in person and that you take weekly lessons with them, at least until you build a good foundation for your voice.
How often should I take singing lessons?
The standard frequency of lessons is one lesson a week. Some people want to do more from the beginning, and some people want to do less than that.
For most people, I recommend consistent weekly lessons as optimal if that is possible for them. In my experience people that plan to do two or more lessons a week find that they don’t really progress much faster. It takes time for the body to build new habits, and singing is quite a sophisticated process for the body since a lot of things have to come into alignment.
Usually, these people end up giving up lessons altogether due to frustration, not finding the time to practice at home, etc.
While I think it is really valuable to be willing to spend more time and money on your singing instruction, in my experience, it is better to stick to one weekly lesson, and instead focus on reguarly practicing at home.
On the other hand, some people prefer to do lessons fortnightly. In my experience, it does work, but only if you are really committed to making the time for practice at home. Many times what happens is that people just forget about singing until the next lesson. Even when they do this, there is some progress, but it is really slow. If you have a lesson fortnightly, that means 2 lessons a month. If you don’t practice at home, that means only 2 sessions of practice in the whole month… it is like going to the gym or exercising two times a month only! You do get some benefits, but not enough to develop new habits.
Remember that when we sing, our whole body is our instrument. And we use our body and our voice for other purposes, every day. So if you want to become a singer, it is important that you develop some new habits in the way you use your body and your voice.
So, if fortnightly lessons are all you can afford, that is good, but make sure you discuss a home practice plan with your teacher, and that you put time aside for it as well.
So summarizing: best-case scenario, one weekly lesson with home practice in between accordingly to your available time. 2 or more lessons a week, only if you can commit the money, lesson time, and you also have time to practice at home as well, otherwise the extra lessons are not very useful in my experience. Less than one weekly lesson, only if you can commit to home practice (doesn’t have to be much, but at least 15-30 min around 3 times a week).
Other factors to consider
There are other factors to consider when starting and choosing singing training appropriate to your needs.
Location
One of them is the location you live in. While in my opinion, it is best to start off with in-person lessons, sometimes your location makes this either impossible or real pain.
Not only will you sometimes not be able to find a singing teacher in your area, but you also want to find a singing teacher you trust and feel comfortable with.
Maybe you live near a really knowledgeable teacher, but if the two of you don’t connect then there is no point. You have to study with a teacher that is helpful TO YOU. That does not mean that the teacher is not good. It just means that we all have different personalities and it is impossible to “click” with everybody.
So look for a teacher that you feel is helpful for you and that you feel comfortable with.
If you cannot find anybody suitable in your area, try online lessons. There are lots of online courses you can do, but again I recommend starting with one on one or group lessons first so that you have some real feedback about what is going on with your voice.
Money
Of course, money is a very important factor to have in mind when planning our training. First, decide how much money you can and want to invest in your training and then go from there. In my opinion, it is best to adjust your budget in regards to the frequency of lessons, or in regards to choosing either one on one or group lessons, rather than choosing the cheapest teacher you can find.
Maybe try different teachers if you have the chance, and pick the one your intuition tells you is right for you. Your voice is a very intimate and precious part of you, and you want to trust it to someone you actually trust.
Once you find your teacher, then you can decide. If your budget is not a problem, then again, weekly lessons are the best option in my opinion. If that is too much, you can consider group lessons or fortnightly lessons, of course having in mind that you will need some committed home practice.
And if that is still too much, maybe you can consider taking a workshop with your chosen teacher, then go and practice what you learned, and then taking maybe monthly lessons in which you will ask all your questions and doubts that you encounter.
I hope this was a helpful guide for you to get you started in your singing process! It is an amazing world in which you are going to discover lots of things about yourself, grow as a person in many areas, and of course, become a musician!
If you are interested in learning one on one from me, you can contact me for Auckland singing lessons. Singing lessons for adults in North shore Auckland, singing lessons for kids and teens, and singing group classes available for adults as well – All in Auckland (North Shore), or online lessons (NZ only). For the rest of the world, check out our online holistic singing academy HERE.
Online program for beginners (only $9!!) HERE
I help people to develop their voice and singing from a holistic approach. I teach vocal lessons in person in Auckland, NZ, and online. Also stay tuned for my new online singing programs!❤️
My greatest passion has always been the voice, music and energy arts.
My personal and artistic journey has led me to understand that the voice and the body are fully connected, and that includes not only the physical body but also the mental, emotional and spiritual body.
Through holistic vocal training you not only learn to become a great singer while taking care of your voice, but you also improve your mental and physical wellbeing❤️
AUCKLAND CONTEMPORARY SINGING SCHOOL - COPYRIGHT 2024 ©
leave a comment