How to Become a Vocal Coach [2024 Edition]

Do you want to build your career as a vocal coach?

Do you have a great singing voice and the ability to teach others to master their voices?

Yes?!

Then, you are in the right place. Vocal coaches make others successful in the music industry. They are the ones who can make or break aspiring singers and musicians.

With an increasing passion for music, vocal coaching has witnessed an uprising.

I know there might be various questions hitting your mind right now.

Am I ready to become a vocal coach?

Will kick-starting a career in vocal coaching be a correct decision?

Will I be able to make profits through my vocal coaching business?

Hold on! I know that we are into a naive stage. There are many points that you must clarify before making a concrete decision.

This is the reason that today I want to guide all the music lovers who are planning to take their interest to the next level.

I am sure that by the end of this article you will get the answers to all your questions.

So, let’s get started!

What is the need for a vocal coach?

Are you thinking why would someone hire you?

Let me explain this to you.

Singing is not easy. Even experienced singers need experts’ advice at some point or another.

Singing professionally demands consistent practice. Hard work and dedication coupled with proper mentorship becomes important. Learning to breathe correctly and maintaining the right body posture is not everyone’s cup of tea!

Vocal coaches can teach much more than just singing. They not only sharpen voices but also build confidence to mesmerize the audience.

Whether someone dreams to be an American idol or enhancing his/her piano skills, a vocal coach can be helpful.

Do you think only singers need voice coaches?

No!

Anyone who is working in theatre, voiceover or public speaking can learn from vocal coaches.

Vocal coaches have a plethora of tips and techniques to offer which is why the demand for vocal coaches is ever-increasing.

What qualities do you need to become a vocal coach?

Before jumping to a “vocal coach” first ask yourself:

Do you have what it takes to become a COACH?

You must look at the coaching skills and habits of successful coaches. Imbibe coaching qualities that can shape you into becoming a better coach.

Coming to Vocal coaches.

You are good at singing and possess some foundation training as well!

That’s great!

But you still need to take a step forward to have an edge on your competitors.

To become a vocal coach is easy but becoming a HIREABLE vocal coach is difficult.

Let’s look at some qualities which can help you to become a hireable vocal coach.

Training and skills in styles of music

 I know the first thing that had clicked your mind after reading this:

“Which STYLE?”

Right?

Indeed! Your clients can have varied interests. So which style should you choose? Or should you become a jack of all trades or at least many?

I believe that you should always work on your own style and achieve specialization in the same.

Believe or not but QUALITY wins over QUANTITY.

You might not be so good at Rock music but might have a command on Opera music. Go for coaching the latter. People choose to go for experts in their field of interest. You may not get clients from all the fields but make sure that you become the most famous in your own field.

Get aware of different singing styles and discover the one that you are best at!

Education on vocal anatomy

There are coaches who are good at vocal stylization or stage presence but rarely have a background in the instrument.

Proper education in vocal anatomy is important. The reason is that it can involve some negative risks too. Misinformed teaching can lead to bad vocal health. There is a possibility of voice loss or vocal cord lesions. This happens mostly with rock or pop music coaches.

Make sure that you have a proper understanding of the vocal anatomy to convince your prospects better.

Ability to provide personalized lessons

How you manage your clients depends much on the business model of coaching that you choose.

If you are going for group coaching sessions, it can be difficult to plan your lessons in a personalized way. Coaching is an art and you have to be an artist.

If you are unable to manage all your learners together, things won’t work. Concentrating only on strong players is also not a good practice.

Online coaching sessions are indeed helpful if planned carefully. At the same time, there are certain factors that would demand in-person sessions. For instance working on pitch, timbre, posture, and breathing is much easier in one-to-one coaching sessions. In-room vibrations sometimes are important to be heard and felt.

Ability to build a Client-oriented schedule

Do you think that a client would like to work with you beyond his capability?

No!

If you want your client to work four hours a day, knowing the fact that he can’t accomplish that, it would just lead to disagreement.

People look to connect with a vocal coach who has similar values and ideals as theirs.

If you want to convert your prospects into high-end paying clients, it is important to think from a customer’s perspective.

A step-by-step guide to becoming a vocal coach!

Build your music talent

You need to give your music talent and knowledge a professional touch. Start practicing music.

And how do you do that?

Start by practicing on a note that you are most comfortable with. Now sing the note by carrying it as high and as low as possible without straining.

Once you learn your range, the next step is to identify your voice type.

Before you coach others, it is important that you are comfortable at singing in varying ranges and styles.

Another great way to sharpen your music talent is to hire a mentor. Search for vocal coaches in your areas and have a look at their websites. Choose one based on their qualifications, fees, and expertise. A mentor can help you better to understand the scope of improvement.

Education and Training

Is qualifications and certifications mandatory?

No!

But they indeed help you to get your idle clients fast.

A college degree in music builds the foundation. You can also learn about musical notes through online apps. Make yourself familiar with singing voices and styles.

An instrument- Piano or guitar- can help you to study notes and pitch.

There are various online lessons that you can take to build your music knowledge.

Before you decide to enroll in any coaching program, ask yourself:

“What kind of vocal coaching you want to indulge in?”

Yes!

You might wish to work in a recording company or a studio.

Also, knowing your target audience is important.

Do you want to teach children or teenagers?

Or do you want to work with celebs?

Does coaching the differently-abled people interests you?

Whatever be the case, asking such questions will bring you clarity. Thereafter, you can choose your training program with ease. Training programs teach vocal science, psychology, and proper vocal technique.

Compare the different training programs for vocal coaches. Choose the best depending on the courses offered, cost and length of the program.

You can also go for an Online vocal training program like Udemy’s.

Branding

After building your expertise and knowledge it’s time to create a buzz.

Create your website and feature your certifications and training so far. Describe your coaching services well. Provide outstanding blogs and free resources to attract clients.

Showcase your services and invest in business cards and other marketing materials.

Social media is the best weapon for branding. Make sure to leverage it to the maximum. Study how you can use social media to skyrocket your coaching business.

You can also think of singing associations. Get involved in events related to the music industry. Participate in vocal workshops. This will help you to create a solid networking system for yourself.

Don’t leave any chance to augment your client list. Let the word spread amongst family members and friends. Build facebook groups or blogs/vlogs that provide answers for vocal coaching. You can also offer free vocal training lessons to aspiring students. This will help many to recognize your expertise.

It’s time to make money!

Now the time has come to land on a job.

How would you like to start?

Would you like to kick-start as a freelancer?

Are you interested to take online coaching sessions?

Monster and CareerBuilder are good portals for finding both Part-Time and Full-time jobs.

Working with vocal coaches can be a good start. You can also talk with heads of studios to work with them if possible. As a beginner, this would help you to build some foundation for your music practice. You will also learn what are the things to take care while conducting coaching sessions.

Once you are confident you can create your own coaching business plan.

A coaching business plan will guide the flow of processes. It will enable you to make wise decisions regarding investment, marketing, etc.

Proper market research and market analysis are important before building your programs.

As a vocal coach planning your training lessons for success holds immense importance. This takes us to the next step.

Make your vocal training lessons successful!

If you want your vocal coaching sessions to be successful, take care of the following points:

Choose a good spot: The choice of place for your vocal coaching sessions will depend much on your target audience. For individual or celebrity vocal coaches, a recording studio is better. If you are providing lessons to children, probably a school or some room would do. It is important that the ambiance of the place is such that it builds energy. The place should be welcoming!

Interview well to get your ideal clients: Before you convert a prospect into your client, make sure that both of your expectations are aligned. Discover the goal. Ask about previous singing experiences if any.

The client’s feedback matters a lot. Make sure that you ar behind IDEAL clients and not just Clients. This way you would be able to build a strong referral program as well.

There are various questions that you can ask to your prospect.

Why do you want to learn vocal lessons?

Which kind of music do you like to hear?

Who is your favorite singer and why?

Is singing just a part of your hobby or do you want to make a career into it?

Do you have knowledge of music?

Have you taken any previous training in music?

Do you come from a family background of musicians?

Understanding your client and his/her expectations are crucial. This will help you to build your coaching sessions tailored to his/her needs.

Make sure that each student is satisfied: Make sure that none of your clients is left out if you are conducting group coaching sessions. Be gentle and humble. Be honest and constructive while giving feedback.

Avoid any harsh comments or remarks. Based on the client’s voice and ability, set reasonable expectations.

Plan your lessons well: Plan your lessons well in advance. Begin your coaching session with vocal warm-up exercises.

You can include the following:

• Throat relaxation
• Breath control exercises
• Learning vocal techniques- eg.vibrato and pitch placement
• Working on posture

Depending on your pupil you can include exercises and lessons. Google vocal coaching lesson plans and customize them according to your needs.

As a vocal coach, you must be aware of the purpose of your client. Your pupil might have taken your lessons for various reasons.

• To improve their vocal skills
• For pleasure
• For audition purpose
• To become a vocal coach himself/herself

Make sure that you provide personalized lessons to each of your clients. These should be in the direction to meet individual goals.

Also, include quick hacks to improve singing such as using vocal control and musical phrasing. If you have clients who want to become stage singers or actors, include some lessons in stage presence too.

Make sure that you have proper equipment: You can offer USBs and music devices to clients to record during lessons. As far as musical instruments are considered, which one to include depends solely on your music style and clients’ need.

You may find accompanying your clients on the guitar or piano easy. Add a music stand, a metronome, and a tuning fork. These might be good for a start. You may increase the list of equipment as and when the need arises. A laptop with a microphone is always a good asset.

You must be aware of the essential pieces of equipment that most of the vocal teachers and coaches include.

Pricing and packaging your vocal coaching lessons

This is an important task. Remember that you aren’t doing a service but running a business. You have to make a profit. The way you price and package your coaching services will determine your success.

Some vocal coaches charge $30 and some as much as $50 for an hour. Research and see what your competitors are charging. Charge the same or a little higher price depending on your expertise and experience.

There are various factors that you must take care of while pricing an packaging your coaching services.

Bear in mind that your price should reflect the services. Let not it be the reflection of what you would like to earn.

How much does a vocal coach earn?

I am sure you would like to know the financial aspects. It is indeed important and would also help you to set the ideal prices.

Vocal coaches charge from $20 to $400 for an hourly session. The price differs and depends much on the demography, skills, and experience of the coach. Living in small towns means small rates. Bigger cities are sometimes much better.

What do people look while hiring a vocal coach?

Vocal coaching is different from other forms of coaching like life coaching. If you are a life coach you might be able to guide others through your real-life experiences. Vocal coaching, on the other hand, demands special skills, comprehensive knowledge, and consistent practice.

Your prospects will hire you only when you meet their ideal notion of a vocal coach.

Below are certain things that people generally look while hiring a vocal coach.

Education and Experience

A qualification from reputable institutes is a criterion of many. Along with this experience too matters for many. A proven track record makes it easy for the prospects to trust the vocal coach.

Style of coaching

While hiring a vocal coach, people look for coaches whose style can match theirs. A country singer would like to learn from an Opera or Classical teacher. All coaches have a specific way of teaching.

Some clients want to build confidence. Others might want to control their vibrato. Sounding better or breathing correctly can be the choice of many. People generally look for a vocal coach who can fit their needs and interest.

Compatibility

Who doesn’t wants a compatible coach? If the coach and coachee lack compatibility that would show in the coachee’s voice. The investment won’t be worthy enough.

People look for vocal coaches with whom they are comfortable. First impressions usually reveal whether or not building compatibility would be possible.

Your prospects may throw various questions to check whether you are the right fit for them. Do your study well and give your best to convince them. Some such questions are written below.

How long have you been in vocal training?

What is the average duration of your lessons?

Do you include music theory in your lessons?

Do your sessions include vocal techniques along with singing? For instance, vocal flexibility, lifting and strengthening the soft palate?

How much do you charge for a session? How long would the training continue? What can I expect at the end of the coaching program?

What about the missed lessons?

Do you work for a variety of voice stypes and teaching styles?

These are some of them. Google more so that you are prepared to handle any question from the prospect’s side.

Final thoughts

Throughout the article, I covered several important points. I guess now you know all that you would need to start a career as a vocal coach.

Now it’s time to do an introspection. Analyze your current level of knowledge and skills and decide what else do you require.

You may feel that your coaching knowledge is not sufficient. That means you should start studying.

Or

You may feel the need for enhancing your vocal coaching skills. Hiring a mentor can be a good investment in this case.

Get inspired by famous vocal coaches and learn from their strategies. Don’t fear to modify your business plans or strategies according to the responses that you receive.

Concentrate to get your first 5 clients. Once you start getting your initial clients, things will appear smoother.

Becoming a vocal coach can be a great career path. This can benefit you largely. What can be better than earning money out of your passion, right?

Don’t delay! Start today.

If you need any help in the journey, remember- I am just a text away!

Good luck!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)