Vocal coaching is way more similar to sports coaching than the life coaching niches we usually write about on this blog. Just like a football coach is required to understand the game, you can’t coach singers without musical experience and a solid understanding of vocal technique.

Vocal coaches are a unique blend of musicians and teachers. So, if you have a passion for both, this might just be your dream career.

Curious how to become a vocal coach? Let’s dive into the ins and outs of helping singers succeed.

What is a Vocal Coach?

A professional vocal coach helps singers enhance their vocal abilities and overall performance. They are also known as a voice coach, singing coach, or vocal instructor.

Vocal coaches focus on vocal techniques, such as developing personalized warm-up routines and improving range. They also teach correct breathing, articulation, projection, and more advanced techniques like vibrato, mixed voice, and belting.

Unlike a singing teacher who only focuses on vocal techniques and music theory, a vocal coach goes beyond these aspects of singing. They work holistically, addressing various factors contributing to a singer’s success. These include:

• Vocal health: Singers need guidance on maintaining vocal health through correct posture, breathing, and vocal relaxation. Vocal coaches educate them on avoiding voice loss or vocal cord lesions and promote longevity in their singing careers.

• Performance skills: Beyond vocal techniques, vocal coaches enhance a singer’s stage presence, emotional connection with the audience, and overall confidence. They train them on vocal stylization and adapting their voice for recording versus live performances.

• Career development: Vocal coaches play a crucial role in shaping the careers of singers, actors, and other performers. They provide practical advice and support for various performance contexts, from musical theater to television shows.

Some of the world’s most famous vocal coaches are Eric Vitro and Brett Manning, who have worked with stars like Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift.

What Do You Need to Become a Voice Coach?

Get Trained

Most vocal coaches begin teaching after gaining significant experience as performing singers. This background is essential to working with artists because you need an in-depth, first-hand understanding of the vocal techniques you’ll teach and what it’s like to use your voice professionally.

As a teacher, you’ll also need a proper understanding of basic music theory and voice stylization.

But doing it isn’t the same as teaching it.

Though you won’t need classic tools that life coaches use in their practices (such as The Wheel of Life), you must know how to conduct your classes effectively. This includes giving clear instructions, demonstrating exercises, and giving constructive feedback.

You also need to be able to manage time between warm-up exercises, range extension, song development, and questions from your students.

Some of this will come with practice or be inspired by the vocal training you have received. However, online comprehensive vocal coach certifications can hone your expertise in this field.

3 Online Vocal Coach Certifications

You don’t necessarily need a degree from Berklee to become a vocal coach. You can learn from seasoned professionals who pass on their vast experience through online courses.

Here are three certifications to consider:

• New York Vocal Coaching offers introductory and advanced certificate programs taught by Justin Stoney, an internationally recognized voice teacher.

• Voice Study Center has specialized courses for working with children or developing a trauma-informed vocal coach practice.

• Modern Vocal Training offers four levels of certifications for modern vocal coaches.

Understand Your Clients

Becoming an effective vocal coach starts with understanding each client’s unique needs. 

Training someone for a talent show vastly differs from working with singer-songwriters who perform in small bars. Each genre of music requires specific techniques and styles, and professional singers will need a different focus from those doing it as a hobby.

For instance, a singer preparing for a talent show may need guidance on song selection, stage presence, and managing vocal performance anxiety. They can benefit from intensive practice sessions focused on vocal projection and dramatic expression.

In contrast, a singer-songwriter performing in bars must hone their vocal endurance, mic technique, and the ability to connect with a live, casual audience. They may also require help developing their unique style and voice to stand out in a crowded field.

Professional singers seek advanced techniques, vocal health tips, and strategies for maintaining their voice during tours. Hobby singers won’t need this, but they may need more support in building confidence and using foundational singing techniques.

Surveying new clients before their first session with you will let you keep their needs in mind and design your classes accordingly, helping each singer reach their full potential.

Set up Your Classroom

A welcoming and undisturbed space for your classes is essential, but it doesn’t have to be in person. Most vocal coaches work with clients remotely and can bring out the best performance in students without them having to show up in a studio.

If you coach singers online, keep in mind that you’ll need the following:

• A keyboard to facilitate exercises
• An online metronome at hand
• A computer with a decent processor
• Ideally, an external mic plugged into it
• A good pair of headphones

Pro tip: Ask your students to turn on “Original Sound for Musicians“ in the top left corner of their Zoom screen for clearer audio. This is key so you can accurately hear and assess their voice.

Additionally, you can record your classes through Zoom so your students can go back later to revisit them and practice independently.

Once your virtual classroom is all set, you’ll also need a business…

How to Start a Voice Coaching Business

Starting a career in this field takes more than just giving classes; you must also run a vocal coaching business. Here’s how you can get started.

Register a Business

You must register your vocal coaching practice to offer paid services to your students. For most of you, this would be a sole proprietorship business.

You can use your own name to market your services if you want to build a personal brand. Alternatively, you can choose another name (“doing business as”) and make a brand separate from yours. For example, one of my vocal coaches used the name 7Singing for her practice so she could hire additional vocal coaches under the same brand.

[ Read: Don’t Settle on a Coaching Name Until You’ve Read This ]

Also, ensure your bookkeeping and taxes are sorted, and consider getting professional liability insurance.

Define Your Target Audience

Defining your niche involves answering two main questions:

1. Who do you want to work with?
2. What sets you apart from the rest?

Start by considering the specific audience you want to target. Here are some examples:

• Aspiring voice actors
• Rising pop stars
• Broadway performers
• Classical vocalists
• Hobby singers looking to build their confidence
• Or perhaps CEOs and executives looking to improve their public speaking skills

Each genre and professional context presents unique challenges and requires specialized vocal techniques.

Consider your audience’s willingness to invest in their voice, too. For example, college students may have limited resources, while artists signed by a label probably take investing in their vocal training more seriously.

This doesn’t necessarily mean you must train CEOs in public speaking if you dream of working with artists. It’s just something to be aware of to have realistic expectations about how much you can earn in a particular niche.

Plus, the more you work with a specific audience profile, the more you can tailor your services to their unique needs and become the go-to person in their network.

Once you know whom you want to serve, think about how you can set yourself apart from the competition. What’s that unique ingredient that makes your classes and coaching process impactful?

Knowing that will help you build strong offers.

Design Your Offers

The primary focus of your offers should be to deliver results to your target audience. Most artists need one-on-one classes tailored to their singing style, and short and long-term goals in the music industry.

You can supplement this with group workshops, training videos, or thematic coaching packages. These are helpful for beginners who need to learn foundational vocal placements or can feel more supported in the company of other new singers.

Determine the duration and frequency of each singing lesson and workshop. Consider setting up a monthly membership model with extra practice materials and performance opportunities.

It all comes down to serving your ideal target audience as best as you can. When Ariana Grande needs to warm up her voice on tour, she FaceTimes Eric Vitro (sometimes in the middle of the night, US time). She probably wouldn’t join a monthly membership, but it would be invaluable for new singers experimenting with different vocal techniques for the first time.

To determine the pricing of your packages, classes, and memberships, consider market rates, your level of expertise, and the value you can provide to your students.

Market Your Services

Create a professional website with your services, bio, and contact information. Make sure you ask for testimonials from your first students so you can back up what you offer with social proof.

If you don’t want to get lost in the complexities of website builders, you can simply set up custom packages with Paperbell and have landing pages automatically created for them.

Free Template Pack For Coaches: Websites, Coaching Packages & More

Establish your presence on social media platforms. For example, you can share quick tips for singers and exercises in TikTok reels or break down runs in popular songs in YouTube videos.

You can also network with local music schools, theaters, and community centers to build relationships and gain referrals. If you want to go further, consider investing in online ads on Google or social media to reach a broader audience or contact podcasts that can feature you as an expert in your niche.

Manage Your Business Efficiently

When those clients start coming in, admin tasks will also take up more space in your schedule. You’ll need to manage bookings, process payments, sign contracts with each new student, and keep your notes about their goals and development plan organized.

Paperbell simplifies this process by streamlining your onboarding flow and storing client information. Your students can register for your services on your page, sign your contract digitally, pay you in advance, and book their first class without you lifting a finger.

You can also upload any training materials to your client’s profile and keep notes about their progress and preferences. Try Paperbell for free with your first client.

FAQ

How Do You Become a Qualified Vocal Coach?

Most successful vocal coaches start by getting a degree in music, working with other voice coaches, and gaining experience as a singer.

They then use their experience to train other performers and establish a brand as an expert. They may also take online vocal coach certification programs to enhance their skills in developing talent.

How Do I Get a Job as a Vocal Coach?

Vocal coaches usually offer their services independently to singers and performers. Some continue performing while giving lessons, while others secure full-time positions with educational institutions.

Additionally, some vocal coaches consult for television shows, work with musical theaters, or tour with high-profile performers. They may also create resources such as books and online courses in vocal training.

How Do I Become a Vocal Coach Without a Degree?

You can become a successful vocal coach without a degree; you just need to focus on acquiring practical experience and building a solid portfolio.

Take voice lessons to develop your vocal skills and knowledge, and then offer coaching services to friends or local community groups to gain experience. Seek mentorship from experienced vocal coaches and refine your techniques to help artists and performers grow.

Building a reputation through successful coaching experiences and client testimonials can help you establish yourself in the field without a formal degree.