TIPS FOR CHOOSING TEACHERS
by Joseph Shore

Never study with someone who does not know your repertoire. Never study with someone who does not sing (or did not sing, if they are finished) the way you would consider fine singing. Never study with someone who is not well-versed in historic vocal pedagogy and well knowledgeable of the various national schools of singing as well as the International School of Singing. You are right to worry; it is a crime what passes for voice teaching in many, many studios. How does or did the teacher sing? That is the first question. If he is not or was not a fine singer, don't study with him. The human ego being what it is, people will teach, inevitably, in ways that justify their own singing, so the teacher had better be a fine singer. Second, has the singer turned teacher RETRAINED to learn how to teach? Singing and teaching are two different disciplines, though interrelated. One can be a great singer and a bad teacher. It is generally NOT possible to be a bad singer and a fine teacher. The role of demonstration is too important.