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Do A Trial Run

Never decide on a teacher until you have had at least one trial lesson with them. Any teacher who is unwilling to provide a trial lesson is not worthy of your business. Please note that by "trial lesson" I do not mean "free lesson". You should agree on a price for the trial lesson when you make a date. (Some teachers may offer a trial lesson for free, and that's fine, but you should not expect it.) Make sure they can provide you with a list of references. Call a few of these references. Find out if any of their pupils have ever "gotten anywhere", but most importantly if they were happy with their vocal development. Also, make sure that your teacher has the qualifications as well as the business. They should have at least studied music in a post secondary institution, bare minimum.

 

Start Off Right

Get rid of the idea that any teacher will do at the beginning. It couldn't be farther from the truth. Your first six months of lessons will be the most important. If you are picking up bad habits from your teacher, they will be very hard to correct later on. I honestly believe you would be better off to study with a top notch teacher for a short period of time than a mediochre one for years.

 

Cost vs Quality

Be aware that expensive isn't necessarily better, but cheap might really mean cheap. A good strategy is to make a list of the best teachers without considering the money factor, and only let your finances influence the final decision. Remember that Liszt, one of the few great pianists who were also great teachers, didn't charge his students any money at all.

 

Great Performances Don't Necessarily Mean Great Lessons

Remember that performing and teaching are two completely different things. Having a mastery of your own voice is one thing, but knowing how to teach someone else the same mastery is another. Make sure that your teacher has not only performing experience and credentials, but teaching ones as well.

 

Stay Way From "Method" Teachers

A music teacher that uses one method or another may be cutting out an important part of your music education. The various methods usually concentrate on various aspects of music, which invariably cut out another equally-important aspect. Good music teachers will teach music from all angles and perspectives, not just one. Also, be wary of teachers who only teach a certain "style" of singing - musical theatre singers require versatile voices.