Why You DON'T Need Music Education but Should Teach

Is formal education, or any education, necessary for singing rock and metal? The answer might surprise you. In this episode, I’m joined by Rock Singing Lessons’ voice teachers and phenomenal musicians Matt Sutton and Drew Cope to discuss this topic.
In this episode:
- The pros and cons of getting a music education or not getting one
- What it’s like to gain education through performance experience
- The benefits of having a teacher to help you train your voice
- One of the best ways for you to improve your singing
- One of the oldest, most popular, and easiest ways to make money as
singer and musician: Teaching
- The ins and outs of teaching music and singing and how to get started
- How to avoid the pitfalls we ran into when we got started in teaching
- Start making money quickly while also improving your skills as a musician
Join the Rock Singing Success community for podcast discussions, courses, and an incredible community of supportive singers who are on the same journey as you.
www.skool.com/rocksingingsucc...

[@russellspear6188]

When you lost your head voice for three months, how did you determine that you hadn't injured your vocal cords and that what had happened was you had pulled a muscle? Did a laryngologist tell you what muscle you had hurt? I ask because I'm injured and I'm wondering if I have hurt a strap muscle, since when I have a stroboscopy, my vocal cords look good but I keep having hoarseness, I can't sing often and when I do sing I don't have my whole range. How do you suggest I find out what I have injured when it doesn't show on a strobe scope?

[@RockSingingSuccess]

I'm so sorry to hear about your injury! I know how scary that was for me. I can only imagine what you're feeling right now.
It took me 3 months to get an appointment with an ENT. Thankfully, it was the top ENT in Denver. He determined that whatever I did had healed already, so there was no permanent damage. After a long examination, scope, and other tests, his best guess was that I had pulled a muscle.
At that point, it didn't matter which one. The pain being near the thyroid gland was a likely indication of one of the two main muscles there that help move the larynx, and can cause muscle tension dysphonia. However, I was starting to get my head voice back, and the pain was progressively getting better, so he didn't think we needed any major tests like an MRI.
You might ask the laryngologist or ENT if they think an MRI is warranted. I was definitely on my way to recovery after 3 months, and it took another year before I didn't feel it at all anymore. Those muscles take a long time to heal, but if it's already gone on a long time for you, I definitely suggest getting professional medical advice with advocating for doing whatever it takes to find the core issue.

[@russellspear6188]

@@RockSingingSuccess Thank you so much! I believe I'm seeing some signs of improvement with my condition, but the condition of my voice fluctuates quite a bit so I'm going to get a second opinion from a top ENT in Philadelphia in July. She was trained by Dr. Robert Sataloff. In the mean time I'm following my coach's advice of using a nebulizer, using SOVT exercises with a straw to warm up, not straining when I sing and doing everything I can to minimize any potential acid reflux.

[@RockSingingSuccess]

@@russellspear6188 That's great advice! I personally prefer a steam inhaler instead of a nebulizer for the warmth and bigger water droplets. For some reason, a nebulizer dries me out. SOVT of any sort, especially a straw, is a great way to keep your voice balanced. I'm sure you already know, but please keep it light and slowly build back up, staying under any amount that causes pain. I also suggest putting a large focus on staying lifted into a top-down whimper or cried voice. This helps you stay off the throat more and still get good compression. But again, try not to push the line of it hurting. Stay lighter than that. If it doesn't hurt, you're likely okay to do it - at least for a bit. -Draven

[@russellspear6188]

@@RockSingingSuccess That's very generous of you to share that advice with me. I truly appreciate it. I'll make a point of recommending your RUclips channel to other singers I come across who are looking for a new YT channel to follow. I find it interesting and quite sad, that for whatever reason, RUclips gives massive amounts of exposure to a few people (some of whom don't deserve it) and then there are some people who genuinely deserve and could benefit from being given some more exposure, but apparently, what they offer doesn't line up with what the YouTue algorithm is programmed to push! I've seen the effect it has on some people who are fortunate enough to have gotten huge amounts of exposure and they're people who seem to think: "The more subscribers I have, the more qualified I am to teach and the more I can justify charging for coaching sessions." There are vocal coaches on RUclips who have garnered in excess of 400K subscribers who seem to think that entitles them to make more money than the average surgeon makes!

[@RockSingingSuccess]

@@russellspear6188 I'm glad I could help, and really appreciate the referrals! I don't think we're cheap by any means, but we do love helping whenever we can, and have courses, this channel, and even the brand new free community (in the video description) and podcast to help those who can't afford one-on-one lessons. -Draven