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Question: Impassioned and not understood or not "favored" by vocal teacher!?
I have been studying for one year in private instruction!. It took me ten months of training to actually sing a song!. I was told by instructor I was 75% there!. I performed on Friday evening a piece in my church I had perfected in the past 2 months!. In rehearsal my fellow choir members were shocked at my voice talent and the solo went well!. I was was told by many of my fellow singers to pursue my voice instruction!. I am 53 years old have never had any formal vocal training!. I was just disappaointed that my instructor said he would be there and never showed or evened called to wish me well!. I feel sometimes I am just a"paycheck" to him!. I have observed him with other students in which he is inamored by!. Hugs, sweet messages etc!. I feel I can bring to the stage a very strong personality because I studied for years in theater in youth!. I also have been in a dance company locally here in my youth and was successful!. But, my true love is singing!. Should I throw in the towel!?Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
I mean no rudeness, but are you paying your teacher to teach you, or are you looking to be coddled!?
You have a business relationship with your teacher!. He provides vocal instruction, and you pay him for his services!. Your payment does not include his being required to attend your performances!.
I'm not being mean here at all!. I've been in your shoes many times!. My longest voice teacher was phenomenal and profoundly helpful, but he rarely came and saw me perform!. I was not very pleased about that, but another singer set me straight -- teachers with a lot of students can only devote so much of their private time to attending performances!. And like you, I got the impression that my teacher liked some of his other students better than me -- but I stayed with him because he nonetheless gave me excellent help!.
You ask if you should "throw in the towel," but that's a decision for you to make!. If this teacher is giving you good instruction, that should be your only concern!. Frankly, it sounds like your fellow choir members gave you sufficient validation and emotional support!. If you DO continue with him, simply change your thinking a little -- just approach your studies as a professional by focusing on the work at hand, and simply assume that the man will not attend your performances!. If he then shows up for one, it will be a pleasant surprise!.
EDIT: I love the above reply by "Angry Eyes" -- very astute!Www@QuestionHome@Com
Please change your singing teacher! There are plenty of good ones out there, and don't feel you have to stick with the same one, especially if they are not supporting you!. Most of us singers have to go through a few teachers before we find one who really suits us!. After all, you are paying them, not the other way around!.
Don't throw in the towel - keep singing if you feel it is for you!. Why not!? It's one of the most enjoyable feelings in the world to get up and perform in front of people, and to give them joy!. If your teacher is dampening your spirits, then change!. Singing does require a good technique if you're serious about it, but it must also be enjoyable!.!.!.!.!.
Good luck : - )Www@QuestionHome@Com
The key question here is, are you singing for your own satisfaction and enjoyment or your teacher's approval!? From your note, it sounds like your teacher is doing a good job preparing and training you!. I would encourage you to judge your teacher by the results your are getting with your voice - not by how much your teacher strokes your ego!.
If your true love is singing, make singing your goal !.!.!. don't get caught up in the glory and praise others may (or may not) shower upon you!. Especially if your primary venue is in the church, if the focus of your singing is all about you, then you're missing the point!.Www@QuestionHome@Com