How Online Singing Lessons Work (and What You'll Learn)

So you’ve been thinking about taking voice lessons, and you love the idea of no commute and no germs, especially in the wintertime – but you can’t help thinking, how do online singing lessons even work?

The truth is, online voice lessons are designed for real people – people with busy schedules, big dreams, and often a dose of self-doubt. In this post, we’ll walk through exactly how online singing lessons work, what you’ll learn along the way, and how the experience can help you feel more confident, joyful, and at home in your own voice.

Greetings from my home studio, currently in Milwaukee, Wisconsin!

What You Need to Get Started with Online Lessons

If technology intimidates you, take heart that online singing lessons require a very simple tech setup:

• Reliable, high-speed internet

• A device that can handle both video streaming & audio, such as a laptop or iPad

That’s it! 

Depending on your goals, there are ways to enhance your online experience. For example, if you want to study microphone-based styles (think: pop music), you may want to consider investing in a microphone so that you can practice the way you’d perform. Headphones – like earbuds, AirPods, or this super comfy option – may be another useful investment, as they can make it easier for some folks to hear a fuller sound. Your teacher or coach should be able to make specific recommendations to you.

None of this needs to break the bank, and none of it needs to be complicated. Technology has come a long way in the last five years alone, and most devices have excellent audio quality, allowing you to keep your online lesson set-up very simple.

Beyond these tech basics is where online voice lessons start to get really fun!

How a Typical Online Voice Lesson Flows

Your first online voice lesson will likely be the most tech-heavy, but it’s also a chance to be creative and get comfortable in your chosen lesson space. 

In your first voice lesson with SDVS, we guide you through the basics of your tech set-up, including adjusting the audio settings on Zoom for optimal sound quality. We give you time to establish the best area (or two!) in the room to take lessons, to adjust the angle of your device so that we can clearly see each other, and to make note of any additional materials you might need or want to enhance your lesson experience (such as headphones).

After the first lesson, here’s our typical lesson flow:

• A brief check-in to recap your singing successes & questions from the week

• Gentle movement to build self-awareness

• Technical exercises to build skills in support of your vocal goals

• Time spent on songs you care about, building technique & expression

• Guided self-reflection – what’s working, and where do you want to grow

Transition times in the online studio are normal, too. Whether you’re cueing up a recording, or your teacher is setting up to share their screen, it’s all part of the experience! In these moments, we recommend slowing down the pace (no need to feel frantic if you can’t find that audio file right away) and acknowledging that online lessons don’t remove our humanness from the equation.

Building Confidence & Joy in Your Voice

One of the best parts of taking online lessons is that you get to work with a teacher or coach whose personality and skill sets are a perfect match for you. This means that you’re much more likely to be engaged during your lesson time AND to practice outside of the Zoom room.

And this means that you’re going to see some pretty exciting vocal growth!

When you take voice lessons online with a teacher who jives with you, you learn much more than the fundamentals of singing skills. Since you’re taking lessons from a place you probably visit every day, you learn real-life singing strategies built around your life, your environment, and the music you actually enjoy.

It becomes EASY to make singing a joyful habit.

When we're laughing, we're learning!

It’s true that online voice lessons aren’t the best fit for everyone. If you’re seeking group singing or real-time live collaboration, you may find more satisfaction in joining a chorus or community theater production.

But here’s what online singing lessons ARE great for:

• Building vocal skills

• Building vocal independence

• Building fierce ear training skills

• Enhancing mind-body awareness

• Becoming a well-rounded, self-sufficient musician

• Cultivating long-lasting student-teacher relationships

• Growing your confidence intentionally & compassionately

• Trying new things/challenging yourself while in a comfortable, familiar setting

• Learning to sing & accompany yourself on another instrument

• Taking a creative approach to singing & learning

• Integrating your singing practice into your life

• Overcoming self-doubt around technology

• Dismantling shame around singing

As if that weren’t enough, there’s also no commute to add to your busy life, and we can never get each other sick! And whether you live in California or Brussels, geography never needs to be a barrier to meaningful work. 

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Online Singing Lessons

Online singing lessons are an awesome, creative option for your singing journey, but, as with anything worth investing in, you’ll get out of them what you put in. 

Here’s what we recommend:

1. Let your curiosity lead! It’s your biggest asset in online lessons (and in life).

2. Use the resources your teacher sends you. At SDVS, we provide ongoing support between lessons, including customized audio recordings and videos, specifically designed to reinforce what you learn in your online lessons.

3. Ask questions! Whether the topic is lesson technology or vocal technique, your teacher has a vast breadth of knowledge. They’re part of your team, so let them help you!

4. Find a space that really works for you to take lessons. Make sure you feel comfortable and focused and have the ability to move around a bit.

5. Begin. Take that step and reach out to a teacher to get started. It takes courage, but you deserve to build confidence and joy in your voice. 

Ready to take the leap, but not sure where to begin? Email us at susan@susandaviesvoice.com, and we’ll be so happy to support you!