Bra Shopping And Singing. What You Need To Know...

Finding the right singing teacher is rather like shopping for the perfect bra. When buying a bra you are looking for the perfect combination of support, comfort and longevity. A good bra should make the most of your natural assets without trying to mold you into something you’re not. It should support you without being restrictive. You should have trust in your bra and know that it will never let you down.

I imagine that buying men’s pants evokes similar feelings.

It can take some people years to find the right bra while some people hit upon the right one straight away and never look back. Sometimes people will keep on buying the same size bra out of habit even though their bodies have developed and they need a change. Sometimes bras wear out. It’s sad when this happens. It might take a while to realise that you need a new one but however comfortable it may once have been, when the elastic goes, it’s time to get a new one.

Like bras, I’ve had many singing teachers over the years. I’ve had relationships that lasted several years, with teachers that gave me the support my voice needed at the time. While I’ve had several disastrous bras, I’ve never had an awful experience with a teacher. However, I have worked with people who just weren’t right for me and continued relationships past their point of usefulness. We come in all shapes and sizes and what works for one person won’t necessarily quite be the thing for another. At the end of the day, there is nothing more uncomfortable than an ill-fitting bra.

I’ve really enjoyed writing the bra analogies but I suppose I should attempt to offer some practical advice. Here are some things to consider when embarking on your search:

Check out credentials

Anyone can set up as a singing teacher so it’s worth asking about background, training and pedagogy.

Know what you’re looking for

Are you looking for purely technical help or do you need a teacher with strong piano skills to help with repertoire? Perhaps you’re at the point in your singing journey where you need some performance based coaching within a group. As important as it is to find the right person, make sure they can also offer the right skills to meet your needs.

Shop around

Many teachers will offer a free consultation or a trial lesson to see how you get on before committing longer term. It is perfectly acceptable practice to see several teachers before settling into a long-term relationship with “the one”. Be honest with yourself and whichever teacher you’re seeing. We are generally a pretty lovely bunch and would much rather see someone blossom with someone else than wilt with us.

Feeling Good?

Whoever you are working with and whatever your reasons for doing so, you should be walking out of your lesson with a smile on your face and a spring in your step. If you’re not, I urge you to examine whether you are with the right teacher. Even when we’re working hard to nail a point of technique, or screeching through the same phrase for the tenth time, there should still be joy.

I’m an amazing teacher with vast technical knowledge and smokin’ hot piano skills. If I was a bra I would probably be black, slightly frivolous in appearance but extremely supportive. I may not be the right teacher for you but if you want to find out, you can book a free consultation here.