How to Get the Most
Out of Your Coaching Sessions

By David Jayden Anthony

Whether you’re stepping into your first voice lesson or you’ve been studying for years, one thing is true: what you get out of your vocal training depends just as much on you as it does on your teacher. Voice lessons are an investment—in your technique, artistry, and confidence. So how do you make sure you’re getting the most value possible?

Here are some simple, powerful ways to make every voice lesson count:

1. Come with Clear Goals

Before you even sing a note, take a moment to ask yourself: What do I want from this experience?

Do you want to belt higher? Build stamina for eight-show weeks? Nail college auditions? Develop your mix? Understanding your “why” keeps your lessons focused and your growth measurable. Share those goals with your teacher so they can help you get there efficiently and effectively.

2. Warm Up Before You Arrive

If you’re paying for 30 or 60 minutes of coaching, don’t waste the first third just waking up your voice. Show up vocally warmed and mentally alert, ready to work. Use whatever warmups your teacher recommends or ones you’ve learned—just make sure you’re vocally “online” when the session starts.

3. Record Your Lessons

Even the best advice can vanish if it only lives in your short-term memory. Record your lessons (with your teacher’s permission!) so you can review exercises, vocal placements, and technical breakthroughs throughout the week. This turns your lesson from a one-time event into a reusable resource.

4. Practice With Intention, Not Just Repetition

It’s not about how long you practice, it’s about how. Mindlessly repeating scales won’t help you much. But slowing down, isolating trouble spots, and focusing on technique absolutely will. Take what you learn in your lesson and break it into bite-sized goals for your own practice time.

5. Ask Questions (Lots of Them)

If you don’t understand something, say so. A good voice teacher wants to be understood, not obeyed. Ask about sensations, breathing, resonance, placement, emotion—anything. The more you understand, the more you can apply the lesson when you’re singing on your own.

6. Connect Technique to Storytelling

Especially in musical theatre and pop/rock styles, singing is never just about the notes. It’s about what you’re saying and why you’re saying it. If your lessons are only technical, you’re missing half the picture. Dive into the emotional truth of a song. Technique should serve the story.

7. Track Your Progress

Keep a journal. Log what you worked on, what clicked, what felt off, what you want to focus on next time. You’ll be amazed how much faster you improve when you actually track what’s working and what isn’t.

8. Be Open to Change

Vocal progress can be uncomfortable. Sometimes it means undoing old habits or sounding worse before you sound better. Trust the process. Growth isn’t linear—and often, the best breakthroughs come just after a frustrating plateau.

9. Stay Consistent

Progress happens over time. You wouldn’t go to the gym once a month and expect to get stronger. The same goes for your voice. Regular lessons and consistent at-home practice lead to real, lasting results.

10. Remember: It’s Your Voice

A voice teacher is your guide—not your dictator. At the end of the day, you get to decide how you want to sound, what kind of music moves you, and how you express yourself. Use your lessons to explore, not just to “get it right.” Your voice is your fingerprint—one of a kind. Honor that.

Final Thoughts

Voice lessons aren’t just about technique—they’re about transformation. When you bring curiosity, commitment, and clear communication to the table, you set yourself up for real, lasting growth.

So show up. Speak up. Sing out.

And get ready to discover just how powerful your voice can be.