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by Cathryn Frazier-Neely, M.M. for Washington Parent Magazine
Does your child love to sing? Is she interested in private voice lessons? This article will help you find a good voice teacher and smooth out the wrinkles often associated with formal music study.
Q: When can my child start voice lessons?
Many voice teachers say that a girl should be at least 14 years old or past puberty before starting voice lessons, and a boy should wait until after his voice changes. Until these hormonal changes occur, the larynx and the vocal cords grow at different rates and voice lessons might pressure these muscles. In the meantime, these teachers advise students to sing in an ensemble, listen to good singing and/or study an instrument.
However, since these hormonal changes now occur much earlier than in previous generations, some children are ready for private lessons as early as age 9. At this age, students can establish good vocal and musical habits and also foster an awareness of personal interpretation and beauty.
An adolescent's rate of physical and emotional growth—and her interests and talents—determine when she should start lessons. It is imperative that the voice teacher working with your child specializes in the physiology and psychology of young singers. They do not need to have academic degrees in child psychology, but should have experience and interest in working with this age group. Adolescents are not small adults. Males and females differ in vocal development as much as they differ in physical and emotional development.
Consult with two or three recommended private teacher (it is worth paying their consulting fee to save money in the long run) or ask to visit voice classes with your child ro make an informed decision together. You can also ask to observe another student's lessons, with permission from the student, her parent and the teacher.
Look for a teacher who joyfully encourages regular healthy vocal production and musicianship. That teacher should also hear your child as an individual and not try to make every voice sound the same. Ask the teacher or coach if she enjoys working with our child's age group and gender.
Q: What is the difference between a voice teacher and a voice coach?
A voice coach helps students learn new music, plays the keyboard and guides the singer in musical selections and style. A voice teacher develops the physical, mental and emotional aspects of singing, called "vocal technique." Both voice teachers and coaches need to be excellent musicians, although a good voice teacher does not necessarily play the piano.
Q: What is considered "healthy singing?"
Healthy singing does not make the student's throat hurt, leave her hoarse or cause her to cry at the end of a lesson. Healthy singing normally does not make neck veins strain, the jaw thrust toward the ceiling or breath come in gasps. Healthy singing means that the student's body is working in a well-coordinated and natural fashion. It makes her feel good and possibility a little tired, like working hard at something you love can do. It gives her the capacity to relate to beauty and to express many emotions. Healthy singing is a tool for expression, not a means to an end in itself. All voices lessons and coachings should ultimately lead to better music-making.
Q: What is meant by "chest/low voice" and "head/high voice?" My daughter sounds great on the low notes but gets wispy when she sings higher notes.
I prefer the word "resonance" to "voice" for the following reason. There is a 300-year old difference in opinion among voice teachers about the proper use of "chest resonance" (sympathetic vibrations are felt in the chest while singing low notes) and "head resonance" (sympathetic vibrations are felt near the mouth or in the head while singing higher notes.) Adolescents use one of these resonances naturally in singing, depending on a host of variables, such as the child's basic personality, shape of her torso and head, the music and language she's heard growing up and even the religious tradition from which she comes. (Compare the African-American gospel music tradition to the boy choir sounds of the Anglican church, for example.) Chest resonance incorrectly produced is either forced or the voice "bottoms out" in a whisper. Head voice in its underdeveloped stage can be breathy and weak. Some teachers insist that singers use one or the other of the resonances exclusively which results in disturbing differences and "breaks" in the voice as it moves up and down the scale. Neither is complete, healthy or beautiful singing.
I believe that learning to "sell" a song and sing well involves the sustained development of the coordinated activity of both resonances. This process involves physical, mental and emotional coordination that require time, patience and the "P" word—practice. This can be frustrating for an adolescent especially if she can still manage to sing the way she did as a child. A good teacher makes it fun and interesting and knows when to develop this coordination and when to leave it alone. Singers must systematically build "one voice" which combines the best qualities of both chest and head resonances. Each resonance is meant to assist the other in developing tone, range and consistency.
However, it a appropriate for you child to feel a little frustrated occasionally. Remember the old adage, "The more you know, the more you realize you don't know." A good teacher can recognize when your child is feeling frustrated and communicate with her and you about the whys.
Q: My child sings along with the radio and CD's all the time and sounds great to me. Any comments?
Imitating favorite singers is a great way for children to develop musical style, but it is not the best way to develop their own vocal instrument. Parents, students and educators should realize that:
1. Recordings are often the result of a sound engineer and producer electronically manipulating perfection.
2. An adolescent cannot produce the same quality or sustained volume as an adult professional singer, and
3. Many of your child's favorite popular or classical singers have studied singing and continue to do so throughout their careers. Most credible teachers of pop and musical theater music insist that students master basic fundamentals of healthy singing before branching off into differences of vocal style and technique that are required for those crafts. This does not happen in a few lessons or months, but develops as the child matures, practices and has the guidance of good teachers.
Q: What is my role as a parent in helping with practice?
Be realistic about time before you commit to lessons! Practicing efficiently is a skill. It is reasonable to expect that the teacher will help your child learn to practice. Here are some hints from my dual roles a professional voice teacher and the parent of two children who are studying music privately.
As a voice teacher I recommend recording lessons. Both student and parent can listen to the recording once, just to remind students what went on in the lesson. My kids and I used to listen to practice tapes in the car, before CD players came along. Teachers need to jot down practice hints weekly in a student notebook. Beginning voice students might practice only 10-15 minutes, three or four days a week, gradually increasing practice time. Feel free to ask questions of the teacher, but please do not ask right after a lesson. Ask either at the beginning of the lesson (where is will count as part of the lesson), or send an email.
A a parent, I have learned that children view us as part of the "practice problem." If you are a musician or have performing experience, resist the urge to correct or comment unless your child asks for help, and, even then, start by asking, "what would your teacher say about this?" Of course, you still must insist that practice does occur! Singers may be sensitive to practicing when the family is around, so make sure there is some privacy where they work. I used to set a timer for 10 minutes and then help my children say focused on the lesson plan their teachers wrote out. There were power struggles with my own children that I do not have with my students.
Even though your child may be talented and love lessons, children do not normally practice on their own. Keep in touch with the teacher about what you are hearing. Occasionally ask your child what a certain exercise does for her or how a piece of music makes her feel when she is singing. Ultimately, practicing is up to the student, but there are interim years where your guidance is necessary.
Your adolescent can blossom before your eyes and ears in the hands of a good voice teacher. Singing involves the whole person, which is why parents need to stay tuned. Happily, it's a task that can bring joy, health and beauty to your child, to you and to many others. What a great way to live!!!!!!
Washington Parent Magazine
November, 2001
