How can singing lessons help? Are voice lessons effective?

Are Singing Lessons Worth It?

Yes—singing lessons are absolutely worth it if you work with the right coach. Effective lessons bring control, range, tone consistency, and vocal freedom—often with noticeable progress after the very first session.

How Can Singing Lessons Help?

Are singing lessons really effective? Are they necessary to become a better singer? If you’re asking these questions, you’re not alone. Let’s break it down.

✅ Are Singing Lessons Worth It?

Yes—if you work with the right coach, singing lessons can be extremely effective. They’re designed to bring balance, strength, and freedom to your voice.

The key lies in the coach’s method. A skilled teacher will help you develop:

A consistent tone from low notes to high
Control, clarity, and vocal connection (no flips or breaks)
Improved range and power as natural outcomes

If you’re curious about what happens in a lesson, here’s an overview of how I run my voice sessions.

What to Expect from a Good Coach

Your first lesson should already show measurable progress. That doesn’t mean you’ll sound like Pavarotti right away—but you should notice clearer coordination and better vocal balance immediately, if your coach knows what they’re doing.

Where do you get singing lessons? Where can you take singing lessons?

Where Do You Get Singing Lessons Near Me?

If you’re searching for singing lessons near me, this guide will help you cut through the noise. Whether you’re looking for a local vocal coach or exploring online options, I’ll walk you through how to find a teacher that’s the right fit for your voice and your goals.

Two Main Ways to Take Singing Lessons

In-Person Lessons: These are usually one-on-one sessions, sometimes group-based. Most experienced coaches teach from their own dedicated studio space. In some cases, they may come to you.
Online Lessons: Conducted via tools like Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime. With a strong internet connection and a webcam, you can learn from top-tier coaches around the world without leaving your home.

How to Find the Right Vocal Coach

Not sure where to start? Here’s a simple three-step method for finding great singing lessons:

Step 1: Search Locally

Go to Google and search for “singing lessons [your location]”. Replace “[your location]” with the name of your town, city, or region.

Step 2: Broaden the Search

If local options aren’t ideal, expand your search to nearby cities or larger population centres. For example, search for “singing lessons London” or “voice teacher Manchester”.

Step 3: Consider Online Options

If you still can’t find what you’re looking for—or want to train with a coach based elsewhere—consider online lessons. In fact, many students now study with top coaches around the world this way. I personally teach many students via video call, and I’ve written about the pros and cons of Skype singing lessons here.

Benefits of Online Singing Lessons

Learn from anywhere
Access higher-level coaches beyond your local area
Flexible scheduling

So, where do you get singing lessons? The answer is: wherever the right teacher for you is. Start local. Go broader. And if needed, explore the world through online vocal coaching.

Just make sure to vet any potential coach properly—whether they’re down the street or across the world.

May 9, 2017July 26, 2025

When should my child start singing lessons?

“I’d like my child to start to singing lessons. They love singing and I want them to get better. When should my child start singing lessons? How young is too young? Is there an ideal age to start singing lessons?”

I get called up a LOT and asked this “when should be child start singing lessons?”. The honest answer is, it depends. It depends on the age and suitability of the child as well as the temperament and approach of the teacher you might be looking to engage for lessons.

Personally, I’ve taught children as young as 6 who have been incredibly receptive to working hard on their voice in and out of lessons, but I’ve also tried to teach 16 year olds who barely seem to be paying attention – it honestly does depend.

That said, my personal experience is that 6 years old is the youngest I’d consider teaching, but even that is subject to meeting the child (and parent) and having an initial consult lesson. That way both you (as the parent) and myself as the teacher can get a clear understanding of where that’s going to go. One of the most important things is that the child themselves wants to get better, whether they are the one that suggests lessons specifically or not.

As a general guideline I’d say if your child is aged:

Between 6-12 – Give the coach a call and have a quick chat, then (if appropriate) book an initial session and go from there. Kids are so different developmentally in that age bracket it’s very hard to make a clear judgement until you’ve had an initial session.
Between 12-15 – This is probably totally fine to go ahead and book. If you’ve got an overly mature 11 year old (or younger) then you could probably consider yourself in this category. By this age generally kids have a bit more robustness about practicing and taking instruction, but again, it’s on a case-by-case basis.
16+ – I’d suggest that any desire for lessons has to come from them. The older teens I’ve taught with less of an interest have usually been persuaded by someone else rather than them wanting to do it off their own backs.

Hope you find that helpful! Feel free to drop me a line if you need any further help with this topic.

May 9, 2017August 3, 2025

How much do singing lessons cost?

Let’s go over how much singing lessons cost

If you’re thinking about taking singing lessons, you might be wondering how much you should expect to pay. The short answer? It depends—mostly on the experience and reputation of the coach.

General Price Ranges (Per Hour)

Beginner/Lower Skill Level: £20–£30
Intermediate/Professional: £50–£80
High-End/Elite Coaches: £100–£200+

Note: These are general figures and can vary based on location, qualifications, and reputation.

What to Watch Out For When Choosing a Vocal Coach

Low-Cost Coaches

Be cautious of overly cheap lessons. Unlike “doctor” or “nurse,” the term “singing teacher” isn’t protected—anyone can use it, regardless of their training.

Some low-cost coaches may lack the knowledge to improve your voice effectively.
They might have nice voices themselves but no proven method of teaching.

The Celebrity Coach Effect

Just because a coach has TV appearances or a popular YouTube channel doesn’t guarantee quality.

Some high-priced coaches rely more on fame than on actual teaching skill.
Judge by student results—not follower counts.

✅ Value Over Cost

Rather than focusing on price, ask yourself:

What are you hoping to achieve with singing lessons?
Do you want casual fun or serious vocal progress?
Are you seeking long-term development or short-term enjoyment?

If you’re serious about singing, it’s better to invest in a skilled coach who delivers measurable results over time.

Best of luck finding the right teacher for you!

May 9, 2017July 26, 2025

Why are singing lessons so expensive?

“I’d like to take singing lessons, but I’ve had a look around and the people I’d like to study with are quite expensive. Why are singing lessons so expensive?”

This is a great question, because it helps to highlight the importance of value, rather than price.

The short answer to the question is:

You get what you pay for.
The long answer:

Let’s do some basic mental maths. Let’s start thinking of some costs for the following, then we’ll make sense of it all. Think about the following:

A good teacher will have spent THOUSANDS of hours on their teaching, their own voice, their musical understanding, their communications skills and ability to educate people in their specific disciplines. This may be in the form of a university/college degree, or post-graduate certifications, but either way, good teachers will have put in thousands of hours to develop and hone the skills they are providing to a given client. Even if you only assign a value of a few pounds/dollars per hour to the dedicated hard work they’ve put in (which is still unfair), this VERY quickly adds up.
A progressive and progressing teacher will STILL be studying, getting regular private lessons, attending events to continue their professional development, meeting other teachers, seeking out mentors for themselves to increase their knowledge and ability. This all costs a vast quantity of money. I don’t know about other coaches, but the amount I personally expend on professional development per year is not far off what some spend per year at university for their fees.
A well-equipped teacher will have access to relevant teaching materials, recording equipment to at least record your lesson, a high quality piano/keyboard to teach from, online support and downloadable information to help you learn in and out of the studio, as well as various other bits of equipment and studio gear to help provide their services.
Any business (like a singing teacher) needs premises, which costs money to hire/own, and will generate utility bills, upkeep, repair, appropriate decor to suit the environment they want their singers to be able to grow and develop in. The better business, the nicer the premises, the greater the cost.

The skinny…
When you go in for a singing lesson, you are getting access to ALL of the above, on tap. As such, the cost of different teachers generally reflects the skill level and expenditure associated with operating at their specific skill level – i.e. if a teacher is cheap, just by maths alone, you can more or less guarantee they are not doing all of the above to a high standard. All of the above listed areas need to be paid for by the teacher in order to deliver that level of service to those who wish to study with them.

What do YOU value?
Ultimately it comes down to whether you value or desire the level of service that a given teacher is operating at.

If you’re just looking for someone to play piano whilst you bang out a tune, then you may find a low-cost option will do you fine. Just don’t expect dramatic improvements in your voice. Referring to the short answer, you ultimately get what you pay for.

However, if you are genuinely looking to dramatically improve your voice, you should seek out the most qualified person of repute that you can find. Then try an initial session. Yes, the coach you may specifically wish to work with might be expensive, but remember this: it’s far more expensive and less productive to regularly go to someone cheaper but who isn’t developing you as quickly/at all, than it would be to visit some more expensive less often, but who delivers bigger results faster.

If you’d like to find out what should happen in a first singing lesson, you can read more about this here.

Final Thoughts

Whatever your reasons for getting singing lessons, you need to decide what it is you’re looking for in a coach. Don’t think about the price, think about what you want to get out of it, and bear the above in mind when picking your first coach.

And remember, if you don’t get on with them, or think it’s not worth the money (whether you started with a cheap or expensive singing teacher for lessons), you can always try somewhere else. You can even consider online singing lessons. If you’re uncertain about the effectiveness of online lessons, you can read more about that right here.

My recommendation would be to start with the best in your area, and taste and see what their service is like.

Best of luck with finding the right coach for you!

May 7, 2017August 3, 2025

What happens in a singing lesson? How do singing lessons work?

What should I expect in my first singing lesson?

In your first singing lesson, you should expect an initial vocal assessment, targeted technical exercises based on your voice, and a brief application to music — all designed to diagnose and improve how your voice functions. A clear plan should emerge from this first session, tailored to your unique vocal needs.

What Happens in a Singing Lesson?

Thinking about getting singing lessons but wondering what they actually involve? Great question—and a very important one. While every vocal coach runs their sessions a little differently, there are core structures and checkpoints that define a high-quality lesson.

A Typical Singing Lesson Structure

Let’s break it down into four key stages that most effective singing lessons should follow. For the sake of clarity, we’re assuming a typical lesson length of one hour.

1. Introduction & Vocal Assessment (First 5–10 minutes)

The first session should begin with a consultation where your vocal coach evaluates what you can and can’t do vocally. From there, they should explain clearly:

Why you’re facing certain vocal challenges
How they plan to help you overcome them
A general lesson plan moving forward

This should make total sense to you—and if it doesn’t, it might be worth finding a more transparent coach.

2. Technical Exercises (20–40 minutes)

This is where the majority of the lesson is focused. Based on your vocal needs, your coach will introduce targeted vocal exercises. The goal is to develop technique that creates a balanced, coordinated voice.

Expect your coach to walk you through how the technique should feel and sound, and to help you notice any changes—however small—that occur as a result.

3. Application to Song (Last 5–15 minutes)

Vocal technique is important—but singing is the end goal. This part of the lesson is where you apply what you’ve learned to actual music. Early on, it may be a short phrase of one song. Over time, it expands to full pieces.

4. Wrap-Up & Practice Plan

At the end of your session, your coach may help you:

Record your lesson or exercises (we provide private, online recordings for all students)
Book your next session
Get answers to any final questions

Want to Learn More?

If you’re curious about what happens in singing lessons, or want to dig deeper, check out these helpful links:

Got questions about singing lessons or want to book a session? Feel free to get in touch!

April 30, 2017July 5, 2025

Is George Michael THE Greatest Singer?

Who is your favourite singer or all time? I’m sure you can think of a few, and feel free to contemplate the following about each of them.

Let’s reframe the question.

If you could only listen to ONE singer’s music for the rest of your life, who would you pick?

Now, if you’re asking me who I think is my favourite singer, it’s probably going to be someone like Stevie Wonder. But if I could ONLY listen to Stevie for the rest of my life… I’d get pretty tired of his music pretty quickly. Once you’ve heard half a dozen of Stevie’s songs, you’ve heard more or less his whole back catalogue.

If we’re asking which artist has the widest range of styles, I’d probably say someone like John Mayer… but again, once you’ve heard half a dozen of his songs, you’ve heard most of what he generates. Listening to both of these artists’ material on loop for the rest of your life could get pretty fatiguing.

This is where George Michael enters.

In a straight-up head to head of “most technical singers”, or most bombastic performer, he probably would have lost to people like Stevie Wonder, Beyonce, Bruno Mars, etc. Continue reading “Is George Michael THE Greatest Singer?”

October 3, 2016August 7, 2025

Vocal Coaching Success Story: Michaela B

Another Vocal Coaching Success Story from Michaela

This week’s vocal coaching success story is from a fantastic client called Michaela. Michaela and I have been working together since she got in touch towards the end of last year, and her story and vocal development is something I think that many aspiring singers need to hear. Continue reading “Vocal Coaching Success Story: Michaela B”

Category: Learning to Sing