You should dedicate a journal, a document or some other documenting method when you take voice lessons. I take detailed notes for my students in each lesson so that they can stay present. However, it’s a good idea that they go into the notes after each lesson and add comments to remind themselves of more specific things they noticed in class. For example, if one of your exercises was a basic lip trill, I would label it “basic lip trill.” My student then may comment “make sure to trill without sound before trilling with sound for a stronger less tense voice.”
How Can I Improve?
You should also be taking a few quick notes each time you practice an exercise at home. Note what went well and what isn’t working. That way I can address it in our lessons and it gives us a better sense of what you need to work on.
What have I learned?
Focus on technique not just sounding “good.” We learn from the ground up so if you change one thing about your voice it will automatically change other things you may not want to change. Don’t worry, we’ll make sure to move your voice back in the right direction. It’s more important that you correct what needs to be changed than to stay in bad habits because it sounds better for now. Don’t limit yourself for short term results.
What did I sound like before?
Record yourself singing before your first lesson. Then record yourself again a few weeks later. Make a habit of this. Then compare each tape to hear your voice mature and grow. The longer time period allows for you to actually internalize technique. Having many tapes means that you can hear a pattern. That will negate the feeling when you have an off-day and all of sudden feel like no progress has been made.
Goals should include more than just sounding good!
That may seem odd, Isn't sounding good the reason why you’re taking lessons? Well, if you’re keeping notes you may notice you’re not only singing better you also have the ability to:
Identify and correct vocal problems quickly
Have more confidence auditioning, performing and recording
Better sight reading capabilities
Increased understanding of musicality and artistry
Feeling empowered and ready to advocate for what you want as a singer and person
Finding joy in singing and getting genuinely excited about the process
So the simple answer to a long conversation is: find a way to document, maybe find multiple ways. Act like a scientist and record your data. It may seem a little boring at first but it is so exciting, uplifting and enlightening to see how far you’ve come!
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