Category: Singing Lesson Insights

Explore Expert Singing Lesson Insights from a Professional Voice Coach

Dive into real-world reflections and behind‑the‑scenes learnings from voice teaching sessions. This section reveals practical tips, technique breakthroughs, rehearsal strategies, and common challenges singers face—straight from the studio. Whether you’re preparing for a first lesson, overcoming a vocal hurdle, or curious about coaching methods, these insights give you a clear, expert lens on singing lessons in action.

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10 Common Singing Myths — Debunked by a Professional Voice Coach

10 Singing Myths Debunked by Science and Experience

There’s no shortage of opinions when it comes to singing. But many of the so-called “rules” passed around in voice lessons, online forums, and even music degrees simply don’t hold up to what we now know about the voice. If you’ve ever felt confused, frustrated, or stuck, there’s a good chance one of these myths is to blame.

Let’s debunk the 10 most common vocal myths that could be holding you back — and get you back on track toward a stronger, freer voice.

  1. “You have to sing from your diaphragm.”

    This one tops the list. It’s vague, misused, and usually misunderstood. Yes, breath support is essential — but singing is about vocal coordination, not just pushing air. Singing louder doesn’t mean singing better.

  2. “You’re either born with it, or you’re not.”

    This myth stops more singers than it should. The truth? Learning to sing is a skill like any other — one that improves with smart, consistent training.

  3. “Falsetto is the same as head voice.”

    Nope. Falsetto and head voice use different vocal fold behaviors. Understanding the difference is key to developing range and power. Here’s a quick explainer as to what falsetto is, and how it differs from head voice (plus why I don’t like falsetto)

    4. Continue reading “10 Common Singing Myths — Debunked by a Professional Voice Coach”

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Why Your Singing Voice Isn’t Improving (And What to Do About It)

Why Your Singing Voice Isn’t Improving (And What to Do About It)

Key Points (TL;DR):

  • If your voice isn’t improving, it’s almost always a functional issue — not lack of talent or effort.
  • Most singers never sort out their chest voice properly, which throws everything else off.
  • You can’t rely on your own ears. What you think you sound like isn’t what others hear.
  • Pre-made programs lack context. Exercises aren’t magic — how you use them matters more than which ones you use.
  • If you’re serious about fixing it, book a session.

When I Was the One Stuck

I started getting lessons in my early 20s. I wanted to sound better in bands and at church, but I kept hitting walls with my voice. People said I sounded good, but I knew my range was limited, and I’d often crack at the top. Unlike some singers who could force their way through higher notes, my voice didn’t respond well to pushing — it just gave out.

I bought a distance learning course from a big-name vocal coach. It gave me more range, but it made other things worse. The exercises were solid — they’re the same ones I now teach — but I had no idea how to use them. My voice got weirder, not better. I extended my range, but it sounded disconnected and lacked power.

Eventually, I found a coach who taught Speech Level Singing. That’s when things started to shift. But it wasn’t just the method — it was having someone who understood my voice and could apply the right tools at the right time. That’s what actually changed things.

Why You Might Be Stuck

1. Your Chest Voice Isn’t Right

Everything in your voice builds on chest voice. If it’s too heavy or too light, the rest of your range won’t work properly. It’s not just about strength — it’s about the right kind of tone for your voice. Get this wrong and nothing above it will behave.

2. You Can’t Hear Yourself Clearly

What you hear inside your head is not what comes out. Some singers try to “fix” how they sound to themselves, and in doing so, end up distorting their actual tone. You need outside ears. Like a dancer needs mirrors, singers need feedback — not just guesswork.

Courses vs Coaching

There are loads of decent courses out there. The problem is, they’re designed for the average user, not for you. What matters isn’t the exercise — it’s when and how it’s used. You can’t brute force a fix. You need to be assessed, and then guided.

I wrote about this in more detail here: What Most Singing Teachers Get Wrong About Teaching Voice

Real Results From Real People

“Mark is the only singing teacher I’ve ever worked with to actually deliver results… I felt the results almost immediately… I’ve rediscovered the creative process, and I can’t put a price on that.”
— Martin Jackson, pro singer & performer

“I noticed dramatic improvement in tone, vocal delivery and control. I’m now hitting high notes with ease… the techniques break down vocal barriers and allow use of the full voice.”
— Kristian P, rock singer

“Mark has saved me from giving up on my voice… I can now hit high notes without any strain. These lessons are definitely worth it.”
— Rachel B, lead performer

Want to Actually Fix It?

If you’re still stuck after months or years of trying, it’s not that you’re broken — you’re just guessing without guidance. That’s completely fixable.

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Singing Voice Expertise

Expert Advice on Singing Voice Development

Drawing on years of experience as a professional voice coach, this hub consolidates key insights, corrections to common misconceptions, and proven techniques for developing the singing voice. Whether you’re just starting out or refining your technique, you’ll find answers and direction grounded in real-world expertise.

Featured Articles

  • 1. My Approach to Vocal Technique – Understand the principles that underpin my vocal training method, designed to help singers find freedom, control, and confidence.
  • 2. Common Myths About Singing – Debunking widespread misunderstandings that hold singers back—like needing to sing from your diaphragm, or the idea of a ‘natural’ voice.
  • 3. Can Anyone Learn to Sing? – A direct, experience-backed answer to one of the most asked—and most misunderstood—questions in vocal coaching.
  • 4. Head Voice vs. Falsetto – Learn the crucial difference between these two registers, why most singers confuse them, and why I don’t like falsetto.
  • 5. What is Mixed Voice? – Explore what it really means to sing in a mixed voice—and why chasing it as a technique might be doing you harm.
  • 6. Why You Lose Your Voice – Vocal fatigue and loss are almost always preventable. This article explores how and why voices fail, and what to do about it.
  • 7. Building Vocal Range the Right Way – A collection of articles on the best approach to extending range without forcing, straining, or falling into compensatory habits.

Why Trust My Advice?

I’ve worked with hundreds of singers across a range of styles—from beginners to professionals—helping them unlock their natural sound and overcome deeply held vocal limitations. My approach is grounded in evidence, clarity, and practicality. There’s no fluff, no mysticism, no false promises. While you can’t learn to sing from just reading and watching YouTube videos, my hope is that these articles give you an insight into what it takes to build and grow a voice.

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What is the best age to start singing lessons?

What is the Best Age to Start Singing Lessons?

One of the most common questions I receive is: “What is the best age to start singing lessons?” The answer isn’t as straightforward as one might think, as it depends on various factors including physical development, emotional maturity, and individual goals.

Ultimately, as with any skill, it is always easiest to acquire it earlier in life. This is down to brain and body plasticity, but also down to having more time and energy to devote to new skills. Nevertheless, here’s a broad-brush view of what I generally do with people at different ages in sessions:

Early Childhood (Ages 5–9)

Children in this age group are highly receptive to musical concepts. At this stage, lessons focus on:

  • Developing a love for music and singing
  • Basic pitch recognition and rhythm
  • Lay down basic vocal technicality
  • Fun and engaging musical activities

It’s essential to ensure that the child is interested and enjoys the process. Forcing lessons at this stage can lead to resistance and burnout.

Pre-Adolescence (Ages 10–12)

As children grow, their ability to focus and understand abstract concepts improves. This is an excellent time to introduce more structured lessons that include:

  • Introduction to vocal techniques
  • Understanding vocal registers
  • Developing musicality and expression

It’s also a period where children can start to explore different musical styles and genres to find what resonates with them.

Adolescence (Ages 13–18)

During adolescence, the body undergoes significant changes, including the voice. It’s crucial to adapt lessons to accommodate:

  • Voice changes due to puberty
  • Building vocal strength and stamina
  • Performance skills and stage presence

Proper guidance during this period ensures that the voice develops healthily and sustainably.

Adulthood (Ages 18+)

Again, it’s never too late to start singing lessons. Adults bring a wealth of life experience and emotional depth to their singing. Lessons for adults often focus on:

  • Developing extended range with the final post-puberty voice
  • Expanding vocal flexibility
  • Interpretation and emotional expression
  • Preparing for performances or personal enjoyment

With dedication and practice, adults can achieve significant progress and fulfillment in their singing journey.

As we get older, other things become important too, and this is covered in my article “The Journey of the Voice: What happens in each decade”.

Conclusion

In summary, the best age to start singing lessons varies for each individual. The key is to ensure that the lessons are tailored to the student’s age, development, and personal goals. Whatever age you are, with the right approach and mindset, anyone can embark on a rewarding singing journey.

Learn More: Related Articles

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The Dangers of Perfection vs Ignoring Mistakes

Understanding Singing Mindsets: Perfection vs. Ignorance

I’ve worked with well over a thousand singers over the years. I’ve also watched a lot of singers live. Over this time, I’ve noticed that there tend to be different mindsets behind people who work on their voice. I thought I’d discuss both of these today, and perhaps you can recognise yourself in one of these camps.

Continue reading “The Dangers of Perfection vs Ignoring Mistakes”

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Jason Alexander on the learning and creative process

This article forms part of our advanced vocal techniques collection. Click here to dive deeper.

I think a lot about the learning process, and the creative process. While there is heavy overlap between the two processes, they are not exactly the same.

Nevertheless, people often want to rush both. They want to push as hard they can, like it’s all metric driven, like it’s a profit and loss chart in a high-pressure sales room…

“OK, we have to acquire one new note a week, because by the end of the year I’ll have more range than any singer ever”

“This song feels comfortable, so I can’t be pushing myself, gotta find something that finds my limits again”

“If I can’t nail this song in one attempt, I’m a total failure”

Utter nonsense!

Yet we have all thought along such lines at some point or another. We may never have articulated such things in so many words, but we’ve all FELT that way about progress.

That progress has to be measurable, quantifiable, dissectible. And that measurable progress needs to be constant and even day to day, week to week, year to year. Slow downs, setbacks, or worse, variable performance is not acceptable.

Learning and the creative process really isn’t like that. With such a mindset, frustration and burnout is an inevitability. Continue reading “Jason Alexander on the learning and creative process”

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Making Your Living In Music

I’ve been working as a voice coach for about a decade and a half now. Many of my clients are professionals who earn some or all of their income from making music. I also know many other musicians who work within the music industry.

As such, I thought it might be worth sharing a few things that have made working in the music industry achievable. If you are trying to make a living as a singer/musician, or would like to learn more, please do have a read.

1) “Musicianship” is a skill

When I first started making music in my teens, people noticed I seemed to have an aptitude for it. They would say things like:

“You’re good at music… you should do music for a living” was something I’d hear a lot.

It didn’t strike me until years later, that’s like saying:

“You’re good at maths… you should do maths for a living“.

In reality, there is no job that is just “maths“. There are jobs that employ maths as a skill, e.g. accountancy, actuary, mathematics teacher, even engineering, but being “good at maths” is only one component of the skill set needed to become valuable within a job.

Similarly, just because you love singing, this does not automatically mean you HAVE to become a solo performer or front a band. There are always a plurality of jobs that require musical ability as a skill, but it is deployed differently within each arena. Continue reading “Making Your Living In Music”

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Six Things Most Inexperienced Singers Don’t Grasp

There are many things that most inexperienced singers don’t grasp. As I was falling asleep a few nights ago, my mind was going over this particular topic. Over the years, I’ve heard a lot of comments from students who are learning to sing, others who can already sing, and still further comments from singers who are out there performing regularly.

“Oh I don’t struggle with stamina, I mean my voice is often tired about 10 minutes into singing, but that’s fairly normal”

“I gave up on that song. I tried to sing it once and it sounded bad.”

“I can’t hit the note in practice, but I definitely hit it while at the [loud] gig”

“I’ve got about 100 songs I do exceptionally well”

If you’ve found yourself ever thinking any of the above is normal, please do read on. Real pros grasp why these things aren’t true. The sooner you can grasp the reasons why, the sooner you can leverage the parameters of good singing to your advantage, (for very little work!).

1. Practice makes permanent, not perfect

People often say “practice makes perfect”. But that is not true. PERFECT practice makes perfect, but most of us don’t practice perfectly. What practice of any quality does, is train the body to do something in that way. Practice makes whatever we are doing permanent, for better or for worse.

Some singers practice too little, thereby not leveraging the power of practice to make things permanent. Some practice imperfectly too much, thereby ingraining bad habits deeply and making them hard to remove. Continue reading “Six Things Most Inexperienced Singers Don’t Grasp”

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