By Corinne Bach
Wednesday W.O.W. | Pillar 1 – Weekly Lessons
Hey Songbirds! 🎶🎙️🐦
In addition to defining vocal terms in our Words of the Week series, I’ll also be posting about important topics that every singer should understand. And this is a great place to begin!
Pillar 1 of my 10 Pillars of Successful Singing is all about Weekly Lessons—what they are, how to get the most from them, and how to make your practice time work smarter (not harder).
Section 1 of Pillar 1 just happens to be:
Finding the Right Voice Teacher or Coach.
Let’s break it down:
- Do your research to find someone who is the right fit for you.
- Once you decide, be prepared to stay for the long haul.
- Choose one who understands the art and science of vocal technique.
- They should also have a strong performance background.
What Style Do You Sing? (POV: It Might Be More Than One)
I took a poll in the Successful Singers Facebook Group to learn more about your favorite singing styles. While many of you said you lean toward choral and classical, I know a lot of you—like me—also enjoy rock, pop, jazz, metal, musical theatre, and more.
Even though I’m classically trained in opera, I’ve also studied and performed in a wide range of genres. And what I can tell you is this:
🎯 There isn’t much difference in training the voice, whatever the style.
A teacher with a classical foundation and real-world experience in contemporary styles will give you a deeper understanding of how to sing across genres—and do it healthily.
Sing Metal? Pop? Gospel? You Still Need Good Technique
If you’re interested in distortion-heavy styles like metal, screamo, gospel grit, jazz rasp, or edgy pop, healthy technique is essential.
Go back and read my upcoming WOW on Resonance (I’ll link it here when it’s live). In it, you’ll learn how different genres resonate in the body, and how to control those shifts safely.
And about vocal distortion…
I stand by what I told singer Heidi Davis about heavy metal vocals:
Yes, it can be done healthfully—but it will cause inflammation if overused or poorly supported.
Words like “rasp,” “fry,” “scream,” and “rattle” sound scary—and they can be. But don’t let the language stop you from exploring these sounds if they’re a part of your authentic style.
Tips for Safe Singing with Distortion
If you’re training for rock, metal, jazz, or any genre that uses distorted vocals:
🎯 Sing forward in the mask
🎯 Keep the throat open and the jaw loose
🎯 Warm up and cool down fully
🎯 Only spend about 1/3 of your practice time using distortion
🎯 Use the other 2/3 on healthy, smooth singing
🎯 Give yourself regular vocal breaks
🎯 Take a full vocal rest day after heavy rehearsals or gigs
My go-to for this style? The 12 Heritage Vocal Exercises–
They help keep your muscles and folds supple and strong.
Want to Gig or Record? Here’s Why You May Need a Coach and a Teacher
If you’re into contemporary styles, chances are you want to book gigs, prep for showcases, or record music. That’s where a voice coach comes in.
- A voice teacher helps build your technique.
- A voice coach helps you apply that technique in real-world performance settings—prepping auditions, guiding recordings, finding venues, and supporting you on stage and in-studio.
I strongly recommend having both.
🎯 Want Help Finding the Right Fit?
You’re not alone in this journey. I work with singers across all genres—classical, commercial, spiritual, theatrical—and help them build healthy, expressive voices that last.
➡️ Learn more inside The Singing Circle
➡️ Subscribe to my YouTube channel @CorinneBach for weekly tips, coaching breakdowns, and guest interviews
Have questions or comments? Drop them below.
Part 2 of this post is coming next Wednesday!