Frequently Asked Questions
Take a few minutes to look over these FAQ’s. If you have any other questions or concerns, we’re always happy to hear from you and answer any questions you have.
What qualifications and experience do you have as a singing coach?
Paul has over 20 years experience as a pro singing coach and around 40 years industry experience. Additionally he has two qualifications in Mechanical Engineering, an advanced Diploma in Contemporary Music and is Studying his Master coach certification with Estill Voice training.
What styles of singing do you teach?
We teach all kinds of contemporary music from country to rock, music theatre to ballads. The only styles we don’t do are screamo/heavily distorted vocals and opera.
Do I need any prior experience or vocal training to start lessons?
Beginners are more than welcome!! In fact, sometimes it even works to your advantage because there are no bad singing habits already established.
How often should I take lessons?
Once per week is suitable for most people. Occasionally we have someone who really wants fast results and they will have two lessons per week.
Do you offer lessons for beginners, intermediate, and advanced singers?
Yes! The needs of everyone is different. For beginners, our lessons are fantastic for establishing excellent fundamentals. For the more advanced singer, we will be working more on tweaking their performances for agility, tone and resilience (not fatiguing the voice) or whatever they require help with.
Can you help me prepare for auditions or performances?
Yes! Vocalpro has helped hundreds of people prepare for an upcoming commitment. Whether you’re a school student working toward a music production or about to record your next album, we can assist in making you sound great.
What is the cost of lessons?
We charge $120/hour for one on one sessions with Paul. $60/30 min.
Do you offer discounts
For new starters, we offer a kick start offer. Prepay the first ten lessons upon sign up and save $210 off hour sessions or $105 off 30 minute sessions.
Do you offer gift certificates for lessons?
Yes, simply contact us and we can arrange as many lessons as you would like to prepurchase.
Pay via your banking app then once the recipient knows they are getting lessons, we will arrange the time directly with them (if over 18).
Are there age limits for taking singing lessons?
The oldest person Paul has coached this year is 80. It’s never too late to learn to sing great!
What age groups do you teach?
We take people from around 8 years old but depending on maturity, occasionally someone as young as 6 has been trained. And obviously, we take adults to any age.
Do you offer online lessons, and are they as effective as in-person sessions?
Yes! Especially during Covid, we tweaked the online experience to include an expensive studio mic and a special computermonitor that allows us to look directly at you! So long as you have a good internet connection, training can be conducted all over the world. It is 100% as effective as in person.
How do I schedule lessons, and what are your hours of operation?
Scheduling is easy. Simply contact us and we will arrange your session time. Alrernatively, you can schedule a free call or in person discovery session where you can meet Paul and discuss what you would like to achieve with your sessions. Hours of operation are from 10am to 9pm Monday to Friday and 9am to midday Saturday.
What is your teaching approach or methodology?
Paul’s approach fundamentally comes from Estill Voice training. It is the premier training that voice coaches use world wide. He is currently studying his Master Coach certification in it. Additionally, Paul has extensive live and studio experience and brings that performance experience to every session also.
How long are the lessons?
Lessons are either 30 minute or 60 minute. For anyone under 12, 30 minutes is long enough. Anyone older, it is up to you and your budget but for deepest training we encourage 60 minute sessions.
Do you provide opportunities for performance or studio recording?
Vocalpro has two fantastic recording studios in house and training in them is available. Additionally, we conduct quarterly live performance afternoons for anyone ready to develop themselves on stage.
What should I expect in my first session?
This depends on the individual. For many of us, singing is deeply personal so the first session can feel embarrassing, awkward or emotionally exposing. In this case, Paul dedicates the first session to explaining vocal basics and exploring a few sounds in a safe and engaging way. For the more confident, experienced singer, we may get straight into it.
What should I do to prepare for my singing lessons?
At first, theres is nothing to do before your first lesson. Once you’ve been shown some basic exercises, a 15 minute warm-up before your lesson is great.
Do I need to have a specific goal in mind before starting lessons?
Most people have an intention for singing lessons. Whether its to record your next album, prepare for a live performance or simply to have a new interest you can enjoy as a hobby, it’s all perfect.
Can singing lessons help me if I have a specific vocal problem or limitation?
This depends on the limitation. The best answer is to reach out and have a conversation with Paul around your specific issue.
Do you provide guidance on song selection and repertoire development?
Yes, and along with Paul’s guidance, we select songs that you love whilst achieving the intention of the training. This way, you’ll enjoy practising.
How do you accommodate different learning styles?
The techniques you will learn apply to all vocal styles.
What if I'm nervous about singing in front of others?
This is completely normal. The answer is to over prepare so when the brain freeze kicks in, you can still perform. We do quarterly live client performance afternoons so you can workshop this with the other clients in a safe way.
What if I have a busy schedule? Can I still take lessons?
If you find you can’t commit to the same time every week, we recommend you get lessons on an ad-hoc basis (meaning you call and book a lesson when you would like one). Additionally, if you really can’t imagine finding time to practice, be aware your results will be very limited.
How much should I practice
If you’re a beginner, 15 minutes a day is great. If you’re keen to maximise your results, practising an hour a day (or two x 30 minute practice sessions) is perfect.
Do you offer trial lessons or consultations before committing to regular lessons?
We encourage you to schedule your free session via the Calendly calendar on this page then come in person.
Are there opportunities to perform or showcase my progress?
We run quarterly training live performance workshops.
What kind of exercises will I be doing in lessons?
There are 12 major technical components to your voice. The first stage is training you in how it works, then showing you famous singers doing it, then getting you to discover it for yourself, then showing you how to apply the technique into your voice.
How do you address stage fright or performance anxiety?
For most of us, there is always a sense of nervousness. Confidence comes from excellent training and workshopping the training until you begin to develop a sense of confidence. Said another way, confidence comes second.
Can you help me with music theory and sight-singing?
We teach music theory when requested but we don’t offer sight singing.
Do you provide feedback on recordings I make outside of lessons?
Paul can do this occasionally but due to his workload, he’s limited in the amount of time available for coaching outside of the allotted time.
What equipment or materials do I need for lessons?
Two things work really well. 1. An A4 workbook that Paul can write notes in and assign tasks. 2. You are always welcome to record the session so you can listen back later.
Do you offer group lessons or only one-on-one sessions?
Paul runs seminars and coaching workshops. If you have a group that would like specific training, contact us to discuss!
How can singing lessons benefit me beyond vocal improvement?
Like any human endeavour, becoming good at something that at first may have been difficult is a massive confidence boost. It’s personally rewarding to achieve.
What is your cancellation policy?
Please click this link to see our full Terms and Conditions.
How do you address vocal health and prevent vocal strain?
This is a complex question but essentially if you find yourself getting husky, losing high notes, feeling strained or hurting after you sing, you’re definitely doing something incorrectly. Scratchiness and tightness when you sing are all indicators that there’s a technical flaw that needs attention. Additionally, assessing your voice during ill health (vocal infection etc) is something we teach.
How do you assess progress and set goals for students?
In the first stage of a new singer, Paul is assessing four main things. Pitch, Tone, Breathing and Articulation. He’s assessing and working on the weakest link. Once a technique has been developed, he moves onto the next one.