Through my training as a singer, I’ve been through five different vocal coaches, and I’m happy with my current vocal coach. A mistake I made early in my training was not moving on when it was necessary. When I finally realized a given previous vocal coach wasn’t providing what I needed, I found it very difficult to leave because they were genuinely nice people and seemingly helpful.
But time is an asset in short supply! As soon as you truly realize this fact the better off you will be. I wish I had moved on faster than I did. Trust your instincts and don’t be afraid to find a new vocal coach if you feel you should. Even if your coach means well, their caring isn’t going to make you a better singer. I felt guilty leaving the vocal coaches I have had in the past, but in the end I really lost way too much time by sticking with them.
You need to remember that you can’t hear yourself the same way as your vocal coach. Your vocal coach hears what you are doing wrong –when your flat, pitchy, or not hitting the note. For that matter, your vocal coach hears when you are doing the right things, even when you may think you hear things differently. This is all assuming you have the right vocal coach for your needs. Above all, if you feel your progression is not going the way it should, don’t be afraid to switch to a new coach!
One last thing. There might be some confusion here as to what in the professional world of singing is meant by a vocal coach compared to a singing teacher. In the professional world of singing, a vocal coach teaches you how to interpret the music. They are not necessarily teaching you how to utilize your vocal instrument to it’s fullest potential and capacity. That is what a teacher of singing does. Just be sure that the you and the person you are training with are both focused on the same outcome.
