Here at the Vocal Advancement, we give teachers access to a wealth of knowledge. Between our webinars and conferences — not to mention our delightful podcast — you can learn a lot about vocal anatomy, singing careers, vocal pedagogy, and much more.

But how much of this knowledge should you share with your students when you teach?

It’s a question that has no “right” answer. Some beginners get confused when you bombard them with too much technical information, slowing down their progress. Other students hunger for this knowledge and will take up class time bombarding you with questions about vocal theory. Ultimately, it’s up to each teacher to walk that fine line between teaching theory and practice.

In this episode, Tom and Heather talk about how to effectively impart technical knowledge to students and turn that theory into practice. They look at the art of teaching and the importance of learning how different students process information to instruct them better.    

We explore:

1. How imposter syndrome can cause beginner teachers to overshare their knowledge — and why that can be detrimental to students (8:30)
2. The type of students who can benefit from learning theory, and the type who require more practical instruction (13:50)
3. What to do when you encounter students who do want to learn more about theory (16:03)
4. How to explain voice concepts without being overly technical (17:40)
5. The art of using your technical knowledge to help a singer develop their vocal techniques (23:58)
6. What to do when a student comes to you with a question you don’t know how to answer (26:47)
7. The value of being a teacher with more experience (28:40)
8. Teaching voice concepts to students who are neurodivergent or have other educational needs (30:49)
9. The importance of having enough self-knowledge and humility to know when you’re not the right teacher for a student (32:16)
10. Understanding the different goals of your students and the importance of letting them have fun in the lessons (33:59)
11. How to keep students motivated and aware of what they’ve learned and achieved through their lessons (39:39)
12. What’s next for the Vocal Advancement Podcast — and how you can listen to our bonus episodes! (47:19) 

The 2024 IVACON Conference is just around the corner. It will run from June 17 to 21 in Edinburgh, Scotland. But don’t worry if you can’t join us in person; we’ve got you covered! Tom and Heather will host a special bonus podcast season with daily episodes so you can feel like you're part of the action! 

Follow us on the Vocal Advancement Podcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up! 

The Vocal Advancement Podcast will return with many more exciting guests later this year. If you know a teacher, performer, or researcher who would make a great guest on our show, email us at hello@vocaladvancement.com!

About the Institute for Vocal Advancement

The Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA) was created to provide voice teachers with a support network to provide you with the best teaching tools and strategies to advance your career. Our trainers teach from the empathic mindset, showing you how to improve your own teaching style. Learn how our Teacher Training Programs can help advance your career. Use the code “iva20percent” to get 20% off your first year’s course membership fee!

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