5 May 2022
Help your child warm up at home
Your child’s vocal coach will do lots work with the student during their lessons, but it is important that you encourage your child practice warming up the voice before singing or performing at home on a regular basis. This is to ensure that they will be familiar with them when they are needed during lessons and so that they continue to improve their technique. Make sure to ask you child’s vocal coach for some warm up exercises if they haven’t already shared them with you. Most vocal coaches will have a student portal on their website or have some other way of sharing material with you such as dropbox/email.
Set Clear Goals
The most important thing you can do to help your child with their singing is to set clear goals. A child who knows what they are trying to achieve is more likely to be successful and will enjoy their singing lessons more. It’s also helpful if their vocal coach can explain how the lesson content relates to your child’s current skills or abilities so that they stay motivated.
- Ensure that your child understands what they are trying to achieve during their singing lessons and make sure the goals are achievable for them at this stage in their development. If necessary, consider changing your expectations about what your child should be able to do at different stages of their learning journey. Your child’s vocal coach should be able to discuss this with you.
- Help your child to practice regularly between their singing lessons by encouraging them with positive reinforcement.
- Have a discussion with your child about what they think they need to work on. Encourage them to make a list of things that they need to work on so that they can be discussed with your child’s vocal coach in their next lesson.
- Set aside time dedicated to practising! Kid’s schedules can be jam packed but it is vital that students put the work in at home in order to improve.
Don’t try to correct every little thing you see
It can be hard to resist the urge to correct every little thing that doesn’t sound or look quite right. It’s good to have high standards for your child, but sometimes you need to take a step back and allow them to make mistakes in a comfortable environment.
That said, if something is clearly incorrect, don’t shy away from pointing it out in a gentle way (and make sure you tell your child why they should fix it). Some corrections may be obvious for example; a major voice crack but if your kid is hitting notes correctly and using correct vocal techniques most of the time, and just faltering on one or two occasions throughout their practice session, leave those alone until your child’s next lesson with their vocal coach.
Understand that private lessons are not like school
Your child might be used to the structure of school. In many cases, private singing lessons are more focused and personal than a class setting. Vocal coaches have the chance to get to know their students outside of school and can tailor their teaching style based on musical/career goals and interests. Private lessons for some may feel exposing and intimidating compared to being in a classroom with other students. It’s important to remind your child that their singing lessons will feel different and that’s okay! It is also worth noting that private lessons require more one to one interaction and that they should be fully engaged with their vocal coach during their lesson.
You may find that your child has a different learning style when they take private singing lessons versus when they are in a classroom environment with other children. Your child’s vocal coach should be able to make a tailored training plan that works best for the student.
