Vocal Coach vs. Voice Teacher

I encounter so many people who confuse or merge the terms vocal coach and voice teacher. For a singer or aspiring singer to know whether to pursue voice lessons or vocal coaching, she needs to know what these two terms mean.

Voice Teacher. At the most fundamental level, a voice teacher (usually an accomplished singer) focuses on technique and will work with you to make the most of your voice. You will vocalize on different vowel sounds, learn about the passaggio, vocal registration, breath support, diaphragmatic breathing, clavicular breathing, the role of your body, appropriate and fitting songs and repertoire to pursue, unproductive tendencies and how to build the strongest healthiest voice possible.

Vocal Coach. A vocal coach (usually a proficient pianist) is someone who works with you to make the most of the music you sing. You will sing songs, arias, lieder, melodie, pop music, jazz music, R&B music or whatever else you choose to pursue with your coach who will know that particular style intimately in an ideal situation. The job of a coach is to start where the voice teacher ended by helping you make music rather than simply singing notes and rhythms healthily. You will work on dynamics, articulations, language, dialect, phrasing, working with an accompanist, performance practices as well as pitch and rhythm material. Sounds like fun, right? The problem is that vocal coaches cannot do their jobs effectively or in some cases at all if a singer can't sing healthily and with technical proficiency which means you will almost always need to find a good voice teacher before a coach will be of any use to you.

The Hybrid. Often times, a voice teacher will perform the same services as a vocal coach and vice versa. The budget conscious consumer has created a need for professionals who can teach both technique and coach repertoire. As an example, many vocal coaches market themselves as voice teachers to aquire more business which further muddles the differences. The reverse is also true. The budget conscious student, will want a voice teacher who is also capable of coaching the repertoire he wants to sing (R&B, Pop, Classical etc) or a vocal coach with an excellent ear for and understanding of technical problems as well as their solutions.

Ask your vocal coach what she knows about vocal technique and ask your teacher what he knows about the styles and songs you want to sing. Ideally you will pursue coachings and lessons with the same person who understands the voice and the songs and styles you want to sing!