So, what's the best way to identify a great voice teacher?
Let me answer by explaining what a voice teacher is not. Often, the terms voice teacher and vocal coach are used interchangeably but really, they are not the same. Think of them like tennis and racketball. While in the same broad category, there are subtle yet important differences. We'll talk more about that later.
A voice teacher is not a choir director. His or her primary function is not to teach you music note by note. A voice teacher is not an accompanist. The primary role of an accompanist is to play an instrument, collaborating with you as you sing.
Here's the tricky part. A great voice teacher may at times coach you, sing your part for you and accompany you as you sing. Confused? Well, let me clarify.
The primary job of a voice teacher is to provide tools which cause the mind and body to work together resulting in a free voice. Free voice describes singing that is beautiful and effortless; lacking nothing. The early Italians called this approach, bel canto (pronounced bell khan- toe) which means beautiful singing, but rest assured, beautiful singing and the laws that govern it are as old as time.