Your first voice lesson: don't be afraid

Almost everyone feels nervous before their first voice lesson — children, teenagers, and the parents who bring them. It can seem as if you will be asked to sing "properly" straight away, then judged and compared. I remember that feeling well. At six I went to an audition for a children's choir, had hardly prepared, and forgot the words of my favourite song. They took me anyway — and that is how my life in music began. So I know for sure: a first lesson is not an exam.

Nerves and tension are normal

When we are nervous, the body tenses up: the shoulders rise, the breath gets short, and the voice sounds quieter and less free than we would like. That does not mean you have no talent. Almost anyone reacts this way when they sing in front of someone for the first time. Sometimes in the first few minutes the voice just does not seem to obey. That passes once the body gets a little used to the new place and the person next to you.

In a first lesson my job is not to test you but to help you relax. We start with a warm-up: simple exercises warm up the voice and take your mind off "how do I sound". Once the nerves and tension go away, the voice opens up. It is not magic — just ordinary work that gradually becomes a habit.

A teacher is someone who supports you

I am not a strict teacher. It matters more to me that a student feels calm and interested than that everything is perfect the first time. Mistakes are a normal part of the work: they show what to work on next.

I started teaching unexpectedly, and I was nervous too: what can a young specialist teach? But everything comes with time. With each student I understand better how to explain, which example to give, how to help someone sing in tune. That is why I understand my students' nerves — we all started somewhere.

If you are not sure whether you or your child have enough talent, do not rush to conclusions. Regular work brings results, even if it seems right now that there is not much talent to work with.

How a lesson works

A voice lesson lasts 45 minutes. It usually has several parts:

• a warm-up;

• going through the song;

• working on the difficult passages;

• working on the lyrics and their meaning;

• staging the song: movement and acting.

In a first lesson we do not try to do everything. It is more important to get to know each other, hear how your voice sounds now and understand what you want: to learn to sing in tune, to prepare for a competition or a performance, to stop feeling tense on stage. That decides where we begin.

To me, working with the voice is first of all working with your inner world. The voice is only an instrument that carries what we live through in a song. That is why in lessons we talk a lot about the meaning of the lyrics: what the story is about, what the character feels, what you want to tell the listener. When you understand what you are singing about, singing stops being scary and becomes interesting.

What to bring

You do not need to prepare anything special. Bring a good mood, the songs you love and the ones you have long wanted to sing. A song you love is much easier to sing, and it helps me understand what is close to you and where to start. If you are not sure what to choose, that is fine: we will start with something you simply like and choose the repertoire together.

A few simple tips to help you feel calmer:

• arrive a little early so you are not rushing and can catch your breath;

• wear comfortable clothes that are easy to move and breathe in;

• bring some water;

• if you have questions or doubts, say so straight away — we will sort them out together.

To parents of young students I suggest not expecting any particular result from the first lesson. Singing for children starts with enjoyment: the main thing is that your child likes singing and wants to come back.

In short

A first voice lesson is a chance to get to know each other, not a test. It is normal to be nervous, and it is normal to make mistakes. Do not wait until you feel completely confident: confidence is exactly what comes with lessons. The main thing is to take the first step — regular work will do the rest.

If you would like to try, come to a lesson. I teach pop singing to children and teenagers in Minsk, at the «Golos Detstva» and Karanko studios, and online lessons are possible by arrangement. You can read how lessons work on the Lessons page, and book through the Contact page — on Telegram, WhatsApp or Viber. I look forward to meeting you!