By Corinne Bach
Wednesday W.O.W. | Pillar 1 – Weekly Lessons
Hey Songbirds! 🎶
Let’s revisit Pillar 1 of my 10 Pillars of Successful Singing: Weekly Lessons—what they are, how to get the most from them, and how to make them work for your style and voice goals.
Section 1 of Pillar 1 is all about:
Finding the Right Voice Teacher or Coach.
Let’s quickly recap some key points from Part 1 (Rock, Pop, Jazz, Metal):
- 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, so they can coach you from experience
Classical & Choral Singers, This One’s for You 🎶
Last week, I ran a poll in our Successful Singers Facebook Group. Many of you shared that you’re passionate about choral and classical singing, so let’s talk about what to look for in a teacher if that’s your main focus—or even just part of your vocal journey.
Like many professional singers, I’m formally trained in opera and classical technique, but I’m also a big believer in versatility. A strong voice teacher should help you become a flexible, expressive artist—across genres.
That means:
- 🎯 Understanding how your voice resonates differently in various styles
- 🎯 Keeping your body healthy with diet and exercise
- 🎯 Committing to regular vocal exercises and applying them to your repertoire
(This is the most important part!!)
The truth is: There isn’t much difference in training the voice across styles.
A teacher with both a classical background and genre crossover experience gives you the best of both worlds.
Why I Love the 12 Heritage Exercises
These are hands-down the most effective exercises I’ve ever learned.
Why? Because they integrate movement while singing. That’s powerful.
When you combine motion with vocal technique, you connect mind, body, and breath—all at once. You also build the muscle memory needed to relax your voice, even under pressure.
Myth-Busting: Stillness in Classical Singing
Let’s clear this up:
You don’t need to freeze like a statue to sing classical music well. In fact, standing still can create unnecessary tension.
Yes—alignment and posture are essential. But your body should stay fluid, even while your mind remains in control. That’s where you build real technique and artistry.
More on those posture-related issues in a future post, but for now:
🎯 Your mind = control
🎯 Your body = flow
🎯 Your goal = embodied muscle memory
Pro Tips for Choral & Church Singing 🎵
If you’re active in choir, worship teams, or ensemble singing, here are a few must-do’s:
- Proper alignment is key (including your neck!)
- Look up! Your eyes should be on the conductor 80% of the time and glancing at your music only 20%
- Follow your director’s instructions—you are part of “one voice”
- Warm up and cool down using both your own routine and the group one
- Rest the day after heavy rehearsals or performances to calm the vocal folds
Your Voice Is a Long-Term Investment
No matter your genre—opera, musical theatre, gospel, or chamber music—your voice needs:
- 💛 Daily healthy singing
- 💛 Strategic rest
- 💛 A supportive teacher
- 💛 The right exercises that match your goals
🎯 Want guidance from a teacher who understands crossover training?
🎯 Curious how to sing with power and polish?
🎯 Ready to find your tribe of versatile, soulful singers?
🎯 Let’s Keep Growing Together
➡️ Learn more about my flagship group program: The Singing Circle
➡️ Subscribe for free weekly coaching videos: @CorinneBach on YouTube
Questions? Thoughts? Post them below—I love hearing from you.
And stay tuned for more W.O.W. posts, including deep dives into posture, resonance, and performance!