Are Online Voice Lessons Worth It?
These days, it can feel difficult to find a creative outlet. After all, while there are a lot of hobbies we can pick up, creative ones are a bit of a challenge. Even when we’re passionate, it can feel discouraging when things don’t go the way we want.
Getting lessons are a clear way to pave the way forward. It’s not always easy to do that, though. For a lot of creative hobbies like drawing or writing, the only option is to find relevant courses. When it comes to music, though, there are other options.
Online lessons are becoming more and more prevalent. Whether you want to play an instrument or you want to sing, they’re something that’s becoming much more viable. How do they work, though? Are they really worth it?
Those are questions that we’re looking to answer today. You can find some examples of the answer here: https://journals.library.mun.ca/index.php/singing/article/view/674. That article mostly discusses how they can impact women. However, the themes can apply to anyone looking to get voice lessons.
Stay tuned to learn more about how this works. We’ll be covering the basics along with more specific things about online voice lessons.
What are Voice Lessons?
Naturally, the first question we should look at is this: what are voice lessons? There are a few different potential answers. Let’s opt for a simple definition at first.
Voice lessons are instructional sessions aimed at improving an individual’s vocal technique. That includes their range and overall singing ability. What might they cover?
Breath Control
This is a key factor for many musicians. In this context, it means teaching students how to properly support their singing with their breath. It’s done with a technique called diaphragmatic breathing.
Vocal Techniques
Of course, this is another aspect. They’ll instruct ways to improve voice quality. That could involve things like warm-ups, scales, and various other exercises.
Essentially, these are things you can’t just learn from reading a book. That’s the through-line here, in fact. Understanding these components of voice lessons through this lens may help you understand why they are worth your while.
Range Expansion
There are higher and lower registers for singing. These techniques help students to reach a wider range of notes and tones while they sing.
Pitch and Intonation
This is a broader form of lesson. It typically spans across several sessions, if not the entire course. That’s true whether it’s online or a physical class.
The goal is to train students to sing in tune. In turn, they should hopefully develop a good ear for music. It serves as a way to really ingrain the overall messages we’ve mentioned.
Performance Skills
Compared to the rest, this may or may not be something your instructor focuses on. For many, it’s something they do want to focus on. However, if you’re not looking to be a performer, you may not want it emphasized.
That’s just something you should discuss with your instructor from the start. Overall, guidance on how to connect with an audience can be a big deal. Stage presence and effective interpretation of songs are also covered.Genre Specific Techniques
This is the final component we’d like to mention in this section. If you didn’t know, most genres of music have specific techniques to follow. While not strict requirements, it can help to be familiar with these techniques.
Some examples include pop music, jazz, or musical theater. If you want to sing for a specific genre, you may ask your instructor to focus on one of those. It’s generally up to the student. Still, most of the time you’ll have some exposure to all of the styles.
How do Online Voice Lessons Work, then?
Online voice lessons operate similarly to in-person voice lessons. In order to really understand, you can see for yourself – however, we’ll explain how they work. The main difference is that they’re usually held on some digital platform.
That could be Zoom, Skype, or another video sharing option. Let’s go over some of the basics in terms of how they work.
Scheduling
This is one of the main reasons why online voice lessons are worth it. When it comes to scheduling, there’s a lot more flexibility. No one has to worry about a long commute.
Students typically choose a time slot that works for them. This is done through some sort of scheduling system that’s set up by the instructor or program.
Technology Setup
Out of all of the steps, this one may go under the radar the most. Still, it’s important to keep in mind. For one thing, students need a reliable internet connection.
Additionally, it helps to have a computer, tablet, or smartphone with a camera and microphone. Some instructors may recommend specific programs as well. Just work with your program or teacher to understand what is required.
Initial Consultation
Another perk of online voice lessons is that they can be quite personalized. In an initial consultation, the student and instructor will meet. During that, you can explain what your goals are.
In turn, they’ll explain what the typical outcomes are for their students. They’ll also offer any relevant information in terms of what will be expected. This sets expectations properly on both sides of the arrangement.
Lesson Structure
Naturally, this will vary depending on your specific instructor and/or program. However, online lessons often include a warm-up to start. From there, they may also involve technical exercises, repertoire practice, and feedback.
Typically, instructors will provide some materials as well. That could be sheet music, exercises, or recordings via email or shared files. The virtual nature of it all makes things quite convenient on both sides.
Are they Worth it?
It’s hard to judge this. In fact, it’s probably something each of us have to decide for ourselves. However, if you’ve been wanting to take voice lessons but find traditional methods inaccessible, this could be an option to take.
They’ve made these courses significantly more accessible, after all. They’re also convenient and easy to set up!
