HOW TO LOSE A VOICE TEACHER (in 10 days?)
HOW TO LOSE A VOICE TEACHER (in 10 days?)
HOW TO LOSE A VOICE TEACHER (in 10 days?)#1
Posted: 7/23/07 at 1:42am
I am having a HUGE problem here.
I started voice lessons over four years ago. I made huge progress and created an amazing bond and incredible freindship with my voice teacher. I mean, we sometimes have to schedule extra hours in the studio because we get caught up in conversation during lessons and don't sing enough! I have traveled out of town with her family to catch theater tours, I'm good friends with my teacher's daughter, work in a theater company with her husband, etc etc. We have become such good friends.
HOWEVER... I feel that in the last year and a half I have made NO PROGRESS. My voice seems as good technically NOW (entering my senior year) as it did at the end of my sophomore year.
I have big plans for musical theater in college and feel like if I want to get anywhere I must make ENORMOUS progress this year. I just don't think my current voice teacher can take me where I need to go.
There is another teacher in town who, in my observations, is about as good as it gets. One of her students just got into Tisch @ NYU and another a major conservatory. I worked with her in a theater production and learned more in a few months than I did in a WHOLE YEAR with my current voice teacher.
The only problem is that these two teachers (my teacher and the other teacher) are the BEST of friends. They are incredibly close.
How on earth do I tell my voice teacher and best friend that I am quitting lessons with her and signing up to study with her best friend indstead?
What do I say? How will I avoid a disaster?
Any help would be vastly appreciated because I need to make a change.
Advice?
Updated On: 7/23/07 at 01:42 AM
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/13/04
re: HOW TO LOSE A VOICE TEACHER (in 10 days?)#2
Posted: 7/23/07 at 9:30am
I had to deal with almost this exact same situation.
I would say to current voice teacher "I have learned so much from working with you and having you as a friend is invaluable. I would never have wanted a different voice teacher to get me to the point I am at now, but I feel like my progress has sort of been at a standstill. I feel that at this point it might be a good idea for me to consider taking lessons with _________ because auditions are coming up and I think it would be good to have a new opinion about my work." etc. etc.
I really think current voice teacher will understand. People switch teachers ALL THE TIME -- it can actually be REALLY useful to have a new opinion every once in a while.
Best of luck, I'm sure it'll all work out. And remember, you have to do what's best for you.
re: HOW TO LOSE A VOICE TEACHER (in 10 days?)#2
Posted: 7/23/07 at 10:10am
Before you do anything, make sure you are 100% posotive that you wish to switch teachers. Weigh your options, get several opinions about the new voice teacher, make sure you are ready for a change. Although she may be the best, her style of teaching will be different and until you actually have a lesson with her, you will not know if you like this style and if you will be able to make progress with this new teacher. So just make sure you definitely want to switch. Don't make any rash decisions. Give it a little time.
Now, when you're sure that you want to leave your current teacher, do exactly as Sporti advised. Took the words right out of my mouth =) Let her know that its nothing personal and that you value her as a friend and respect her greatly as a teacher. As far as reasons for leaving go, Sporti (again) said exaclty what I was going to. That you need a new opinion and variety in teaching technique.
I'm sure your teacher will understand. And hey, even though you're not still taking lessons from her doesn't mean you can't still be friends.
Good Luck with it... let me know how it all works out =)
Understudy Joined: 9/10/04
re: HOW TO LOSE A VOICE TEACHER (in 10 days?)#3
Posted: 7/23/07 at 12:14pmYou can play up the fact that you just want to supplement everything she has taught you. It is also great to get feedback from different ears. Correctly, people make these changes all the time. You could approach the conversation with asking her if she thinks this would be good for you. Make her part of the decision. Good luck!
Understudy Joined: 7/11/05
re: HOW TO LOSE A VOICE TEACHER (in 10 days?)#4
Posted: 7/23/07 at 3:53pm
Sometimes you kind of "max out" a teacher. No one voice teacher can teach you EVERYTHING you need. This teacher may have given you all he/she can give you, and it's time to move on to the next person. After years of great progress, you've come to a standstill - this sounds like a classic case to me.
If your voice teacher is a professional, he/she will understand. The phrasing the previous posters suggested you use is wonderful, professional, and honest.
However, and I'm not sure how I would go about this - be sure that you're going to click with this new teacher before you leave your old one for good. Just because this other teacher is really good doesn't mean you'll necessarily work well together, know what I mean? You may not communicate well, you may not even get along! Maybe try out a lesson or two with the new teacher and see if it goes well before you tell your old teacher you'll no longer see him/her.
re: HOW TO LOSE A VOICE TEACHER (in 10 days?)#5
Posted: 7/25/07 at 8:39pm
Thank you guys so much for your response. I suppose I've known some of it all along... I'm just scared to death.
As for the "get to know the new teacher" responses... excellent advice and, fortunately, I had the new teacher as musical director/vocal coach last summer and that is where I initially fell in love with her style and have wanted her to teach me ever since.
Crossing my fingers... I shall find the courage to do it!
re: HOW TO LOSE A VOICE TEACHER (in 10 days?)#6
Posted: 7/27/07 at 3:17pm
ughh it took me tree months to finally get the courage to leave my voice teacher of 4 years. I started to cry and just played the "i can't afford it" card. she was simpathetic and understood.
I'm currently going to her former voice teacher....let's see how this works out...
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