Singing teachers in Essex

[Georgeoliver]

Can anyone recommend a singing teacher who plays piano in Essex please?

[snowtiger]

Hi, I can recommend a young man in Chelmsford called Jonathan Parkin. My daughter has had lessons with him and he really helped her confidence. He charges £20 for half an hour one to one tuition.

He has a website which gives all the details: http://www.jonathanparkin.com/

Jon is very nice and my dd really blossomed with his encouragement. Good luck

[Georgeoliver]

Thank you snowtiger I will have a look at his website. Does he play piano? My ds teacher at the moment just plays cd backing tracks for him to sing to.

[Dizzydaydream]

Hi, Just because your DS's teacher doesn't play a piano, doesn't mean that they're no good!
I'm a Vocal Coach and although I can play the piano, I choose to use backing tracks so I can focus on the person I'm teaching - their posture, how much they're opening their mouth, diction, breathing etc. I use a keyboard for warm-ups and for helping them pitch but that's all.
By using backing tracks I can give my pupils a copy of what we're working on and I can easily transpose the songs into a suitable pitch.
I studied Voice not piano. Find out their qualifications and experience before you give up on them! xx

[beanie-bean]

Hi Georgeoliver. I have just read your post on the Finding Netherland post. Maybe if you explain the situation to you ds's singing teacher, they may be able to help. Perhaps they do play piano, and it could be what Dizzydaydream says. They may be able to help your son prepare something. xxx

[snowtiger]

My dd assures me that Jon does play piano, but he also uses backing tracks whilst training. Hope this helps

[Georgeoliver]

Hi Dizzydaydream
My ds teacher is a great singing teacher, its not that I dont think she is any good. My ds has been put forward for a couple of things that we have ended up having to say no to because they want him to sing along with piano. He has never had the chance to do this and I'm worried about just sending him into an audition room without being able to practise for a while first. I was never into performing arts/singing myself so I am just trying to learn as much as I can for him and thought it may be for the best to change. I still dont know what to do!

[Flosmom]

I have checked this out with Flo (age 9). Her singing teacher uses backing tracks for her lessons but Flo also sings to piano accompaniment. So I asked which is easier and she is very definite that it is easier singing with a piano than with a backing track. As far as she is concerned if you can sing with a backing track, you can sing with a pianist.

So, Georgeoliver, I wonder whether you are putting barriers in the way unnecessarily? Maybe you should just let him go for it and trust that the accompanist will be good enough to support him to do his best. There are many more reasons why your DS might get a 'no' and if he is getting opportunities to audition the experience will all help his progress, whatever the outcome.

And it might be worth double checking that he hasn't ever sung with a piano - school? choir? - there are all sorts of places where a piano pops up. He may have more experience than you are aware of, in different contexts.

Hope this helps - good luck!

Deb x

[Welsh Mum]

Hi Dizzydaydream
My ds teacher is a great singing teacher, its not that I dont think she is any good. My ds has been put forward for a couple of things that we have ended up having to say no to because they want him to sing along with piano. He has never had the chance to do this and I'm worried about just sending him into an audition room without being able to practise for a while first. I was never into performing arts/singing myself so I am just trying to learn as much as I can for him and thought it may be for the best to change. I still dont know what to do!

I wouldn't worry. An experienced accompanist will help your DS along, they accompany the singer rather than the other way around. he should just sing and he/she will do the rest.

[riverdancefan]

It's all personal preferences....my DS,s singing teacher plays piano to accompany him, he is also used to backing tracks, she uses them sometimes.
If he is up for something special then our preference is that he practices with his singing teacher on the piano if that's what is required for the audition..he feels more confident then and can concentrate on what he needs to do.
Georgeoliver, your son is very young! And like Flosmum says, he may be more used to a piano than you know
However it is your choice at the end of the day, if you feel he would be better with a teacher who can do both and ring the changes when needed, then that's the path to take.
I like the versatility of DS's teacher, that suits us......she coached him for 13 on the piano, auditions were piano, played by the composer!! he got a main role!
He was coached on a backing track for Italia COnti- he got a scholarship! Both different.
Don't feel you have to rush off from the current teacher, have a chat about your concerns first? like dizzy daydream says, they may be worries you don't need to have .