How does one find a voice teacher? Making that initial phone call can be daunting. What should you ask? How will you know if the person is actually qualified to teach?

There are a number of ways to proceed. If you know someone studying with a teacher, ask them about their approach. Do they teach the area of music you are interested in (Jazz, Pop, Broadway, Classical). Ask the teacher about their musical education. Have they studied, where, for how long, do they have music degrees? There is an organization called National Teachers of Singing (N.A.T.S.). In order to become a member one has to prove their educational background, experience teaching and be recommended by two other teachers. This organization acts as a monitoring system for finding qualified teachers. You can find them at www.nats.org. You can then search for a teacher in your area. Of course, not all fine teachers are members of NATS, so it is necessary to get recommendation from other sources. I recommend that you try out several teachers before settling on one teacher. It is a commitment for both of you and the you must feel comfortable with them and that they will take you in the direction that YOU wish to go.