faq ∙ vocal lessons for children

Q. What's the best age to start voice lessons?

A.  It depends on the child, but it is often recommended that a child should wait to begin voice lessons until they are in, or through their voice change. Most children begin singing because they come to it naturally, and an excellent way for them to develop their singing skills is in local community children's choirs, at school, or through church programs. For younger children, Kindermusik is an ideal program.

Q. What if my child wants to audition for a choir or musical production?

A.   Have a voice teacher give your child short-term coaching in the songs they need to prepare.

Q. What is the difference between formal voice lessons and vocal coaching?

A.  Formal voice lessons are generally given once a week for at least 30 minutes, and include the expectation of home practice every day.  Lessons focus on training the voice, both physically and mentally, and learning to apply healthy vocal technique to the song repertoire. 

Vocal coaching does not focus on building the voice, but rather guiding the student with song development and presentation, often for specific performance goals.  Depending on the skill of the teacher, it may also include reinforcement of basic vocal production.  Posture, attention to deep breathing, and diction are all helpful areas that can be addressed during vocal coaching.

Q. How do I know if my child is ready for weekly private voice lessons?

A.  There are a few general readiness issues to consider:

Reading - Strong literary and music sight reading skills are desired, since it is very helpful if the student has some experience correlating written notation to the singing of high and low pitches.  

Attention span and abstract thinking - unless a child has moved from concrete to abstract thinking, they may find it challenging to focus and work through a 30 minute voice lesson. 

Prior musical experience - the ability to learn music on a keyboard instrument is extremely helpful for singers of all ages.  Throughout childhood, singers learn music "by ear," but keyboard skills accelerate the learning process, enabling the student and teacher to focus on technique and interpretation.