Here's how you can overcome the key challenges of vocal coaching leadership.

Over the years of working with clients, I’ve come to understand that many of us carry memories of negative comments around singing. These could have happened in childhood from parents, teachers or even peers. In many cases, it was one specific moment. These events can form doubts about one’s ability to sing well. I notice that theses doubts tend to emerge between inhalation and articulation, immediately taking a singer’s sound off course. As obvious as this might sound, being emotionally sensitive to the student around these issues can become critical to assisting them to breakthrough and transform their inner experience of not only their singing, but fundamentally helping them take their power back from these events.

The first thing a prospective student should know is the difference between a "coach" and a qualified voice "teacher". A "coach" is one who can accompany the singer, change the key if necessary and make suggestions on the appropriate style for each piece. In classical music that means the coach must kn ow the several languages of the master work and the correct performance style for the period in which the piece was written. However, if the student struggles vocally with a passage - the coach will refer the student to work it our with their teacher. A voice 'teacher' in contrast, knows the anatomy of the vocal instrument, correct breathing & articulation techniques to master control of the voice and ensure vocal health and longevity.

Encouragement and positivity are essential to good coaching. Building confidence in a student and helping them overcome performance anxiety by using the nervous energy in a positive sense can produce great results, in my opinion.

I noticed “Building Trust” is #1. It is indeed the most important element for effective vocal coaching or any form of education. Creating a safe zone will break down walls and open up various creative possibilities. An environment of comfort and peace benefits everyone. It’s a win, win situation. Constructive feedback is welcome, students feel compelled to practice, mistakes are not intimidating and engagement ranges at an all time high.

Besonders wichtig ist hierfür, dass ich als Coach einen wertungsfreien Raum zum Experimentieren biete. Der Rahmen muss stimmen, damit ein vertrauensvoller Umgang möglich ist aber dennoch ein professioneller Umgang miteinander erhalten bleibt.

Klare Kommunikation ist neben Übungsanleitungen vor allem auch bei Feedback enorm wichtig. Und das gilt in beiden Richtungen, daher bespreche ich Regeln für unsere Kommunikation meistens in der ersten Stunde. So wissen beide Seiten, woran sie sind und was sie vom Gegenüber erwarten können.

As someone who works with neuro-diverse students, finding ways to effectively communicate with your students is essential. There is no point in carrying on regardless if the student is having difficulty keeping up. Patience and a flexible attitude to teaching methods go a long way.

Meiner Erfahrung nach ist es vor allem wichtig, die Art der Erwartungen zu verändern: Ziele, die auf ein verbessertes Gefühl, also zum Beispiel mehr innere Sicherheit oder Selbstbewusstsein abzielen, sollten neben leistungsorientierten Zielen unbedingt mitgedacht werden. Denn langfristig können sie nur miteinander erreicht werden, reine "bessere Leistung" bleibt nicht erhalten, wenn im Prozess nicht auch darauf geachtet wird, dass es sich authentisch und stimmig anfühlt.

Ich arbeite mit kleinen Erfolgserlebnissen zur Motivation: Eine kleine Atemübung zwischendurch, die kurzfristig den Resonanzkörper vergrößert und in die Wohlfühlstimme führt, bringt oft ein Staunen hervor, was die eigene Stimme alles kann. Oder eine kurze aber effektive Zungentechnik, mit der sofort deutlicher gesprochen wird. Ich nutze derartige kleine Tools, die direkt in (bzw. vor) der nächsten wichtigen Konferenz oder im Kundengespräch angewendet werden können. So werden sie automatisch regelmäßig genutzt und oft zur Routine. Langfristig macht die Summe im Tagesgeschehen und nicht alleine die Disziplin das Rennen.

Und: der individuelle Ansatz ist viel effektiver als eine generische Lösung! Ich erlebe es oft, dass Menschen sich schwertun, sich auf ein Coaching einzulassen, bei dem nicht jede Stunde komplett vorgeplant ist. Allerdings ändert sich das, sobald die erste Stunde vorbei ist und sie sich durch die individuelle Arbeit, die sich ständig an ihre Bedürfnisse und die bisherigen Ergebnisse anpasst, wertgeschätzt fühlen.

This is absolutely essential, to ensure the student can make the most of the learning process. Individuals learn in different ways and at different speeds. Some may be more musically adept than others; some may struggle with physicality or projection and some may be dealing with neuro-diverse issues. The variety makes the job interesting and it is hugely satisfying to find a method to which a student can respond and grow.

Discipline on a personal scale is not so much of a problem, but it is sometimes difficult to foster discipline within a class, especially if some students have never been taught the basics with regard to professional behaviour. But it is very important to implement that discipline through firmness and authority - not an iron fist, more of a velvet glove with an iron hand within it…😊

Der Fokus meiner Arbeit ist das Sprechen, nicht der Gesang, doch mein Ansatz wäre der gleiche. Ein erzwungenes Üben funktioniert nicht, wenn es um Themen geht, die ein körperliches und mentales Loslassen erfordern. Deshalb erarbeite ich mit meinen Klienten stets einen Plan, wann sie üben können, wo sie Zeit überbrücken müssen. Auf der Fahrt zur Arbeit, unter der Dusche, wenn die Kaffeemaschine läuft. Und wir können im Bereich Sprechen wunderbar Gesprächssituationen des Alltags heraussuchen, wo sie das Gelernte direkt anwenden können.

To be the best you need to practice like the best. From my experience as a Choral singer in the Stellenbosch University Choir, discipline is one of if not the most important and powerful tools you need to prioritise. We were Drilled to practice; at home, in the shower, in the car. No matter how busy life got, you had to make the time not the excuse. The expectation was to understand the level of effort it took to be regarded as of the best choral groups in South Africa. If you looked for excuses then the reality was you weren’t cut out to be part of something bigger than yourself. In saying this, life is tough and you will have days where just getting up is difficult. Discipline and resilience makes those days just that bit easier.

Sugiro três passos para incentivar a resiliência: - crie uma rotina de prática com exercícios adequados ao que pretende melhorar; - tenha metas claras e realistas, podendo dividi-las entre curto, médio e longo prazo; - procure o apoio de um especialista, mas não dependa dele para o seu sucesso. Este é um caminho que se constrói em conjunto!

It is very important that students are aware of the downsides of the industry, as well as the numerous benefits. Not everyone has the right personality to withstand negative feedback or an irregular income. A successful artist must also have resilience and the right mindset, as well as the talent, of course!

Resilience is a term I take with pinch of Salt. It’s a very personal understanding of just how far you can push yourself without reaching the edge or breaking point. However in saying that, I firmly believe the word Resilience is rooted in Discomfort. “A ship in a harbour is safe but that is not what ships are built for” - You need to be able to push yourself out of your comfort zone and be prepared to take the challenges that come with learning. If you can see each challenge as an opportunity to grow rather than a failure on yourself, resilience will come in the form of Positive discomfort (quite ironic isn’t it). I must add: The most important lesson and advice I gave when teaching others was that fun, should never take 2nd place.

Over the years I've come to realise it's an "inner game" first and foremost. I spent years focused on the "external", studying vocal technique and vocal function, but realised that if you unconsciously fear having the voice you say you want, no amount of physical vocal training will help. It's for this reason shadow integration is a big part of my coaching with clients, (having spent time studying the work of Carl Jung). They must integrate those parts of themselves they were taught were "too light or too dark", to access true freedom and the "gold" of their voice.

I would just like to add that it is important to be very honest and genuinely have a beyond-business approach with the clients. I have worked with a vocal coach who was mostly about the numbers and money. Money matters but positive results matter more. In my little experience, seeing the joy on the face of clients as they see their own progress is so rewarding and inspiring too.