How to Pick a Vocal Coach

Video Transcript

"JAMES MENY: If you were shoppin' for a voice teacher and let's just say that you're trying to sing in a rock band, every voice teacher is going to tell you that their vocal technique works for any style. My question, I would have for them is, "Can you sing in my style?" Because what you're going to find out is that particularly in opera or classical they can't sound very good singing anything else. And test them, don't' be afraid of asking 'em to sing your style and then you have to ask yourself this question, "Do I want to sound like that?" Now, doesn't mean the color of their voice or the tonality of the voice but more along is the freedom of the voice will allow them to transition from what they're very good at which might be classical or opera to R&B. And if you ever really want to trip up a classical singer ask him to do an R&B line and you might have a really good laugh after that lesson. Just the opposite too is to go to the R&B person and ask him to do opera. Doesn't mean that you're asking them to sing a full aria, it just means that you're asking them to hold out what we will consider a really good operatic sound."