Should I Take Singing Lessons from an Instructor Over the Phone?
If you search the web for singing instructors or vocal coaches, you'll inevitably come across instructors advertising the fact that they offer lessons over the telephone or through an Internet connection. Face to face singing lessons are always the greater option in my opinion for various reasons, so the only time I would advocate lessons over the phone or Internet would be on a temporary basis. But if singing or vocal lessons over the phone are your only option, there are some things you should consider.
Limitations Presented by Taking Over the Phone Lessons:
The connection between you and your instructor does not always present the most optimal listening experience for either party, so you will need to incorporate a great deal more imagination into your lessons. You and your instructor will have to exert that much more patience with one another because of this fact.
You will need some type of speakerphone setup in order to do things right. It's not like you can have a one-hour lesson while holding a phone to your ear the whole time. But if you have ever used a speakerphone, you know that you often have to shout or raise your voice just so the phone/mic will pick up your sound. Going above your regular singing to actuate the speakerphone will definitely have an adverse affect on your voice and throat.
Long distance charges are another thing to consider when taking over the phone singing instruction. Many instructors take care of these fees, but if not, this will be an added charge you need to consider. This is why it is advantageous to do your lesson through a webcam and with a free program like Skype.
Recording your lessons can also be difficult when doing your lesson over the phone. Nearly all of the instructors I have worked with offered recordings of our sessions together for practice on my own. If my instructor didn't offer recordings of the lessons, I always have my own digital recorder to keep track of things myself. If you're having your lessons over the phone or Internet this option is nearly impossible. It will be very difficult to get good recordings with your own digital recorder, and it will be just as difficult for your instructor to make a recording as well. If you instructor is able to make recordings, its not like they can just hand you a copy of the session. I'm not saying making recordings is impossible while taking lessons over the phone, its just one of the major headaches from the whole process.
You and your instructor loose the connection that comes from face to face contact. Not only the mental connection, but there are times when your instructor needs to make physical contact to make corrections to your posture or breathing. An instructor is not able to demonstrate with their own body the things they are referencing in a lesson over the phone.
Reasons to Have Your Singing Lessons Over the Phone:
The main reason for having a lesson over the phone is in the case your instructor lives at a greater distance than you are able to travel. With the price of gas these days, the distance that is just too far is getting shorter and shorter, and transportation costs should always be factored into what your lessons actually are costing you. If you do have to do lesson over the phone or web, consider having every other lesson in person. That way you still get that one on one with your coach or instructor.
Taking time off for vacation can set back some of the progress you've made especially, if your vacation is for a considerable length of time. This is the perfect time to consider over the phone lessons. The only obstacle here is setting things up with your instructor in advance.
Besides vacations, being on the road in general is a time when you might need to have a lesson over the phone. Say you're just not getting that edge that you want, or you need that confidence you get from being in contact with your vocal coach. You might want to have a few lessons this way any time you are on the road.
If that great instructor you've heard so much about is on the other side of the country or even in another state, you might want to have lessons via phone or Internet connection. This is especially true if you very much want to take singing lessons from a great instructor but you live away from a major metropolitan center where there are a great many more instructors to choose from.
Injuries that leave you laid up in bed would also prompt one to look for over the phone lessons as well. If you are very sick for a short period of time, then singing is probably not high on your list of things to do. But say you broke your leg and it's a huge ordeal to make it out to your vocal coach twice a week, then phone or Internet lesson might be ideal for you.
It might take some time to find the perfect instructor or coach within driving distance of you, but before you find who you are looking for it might be easier to do lessons via phone or Internet connection. Just be sure to weigh your options, be extra creative, and keep these things in mind before you get started. Good Luck!!