What should classical singers do between lessons?

Learning how to sing involves much more than the time we spend with a singing teacher. For adult classical singers, an important part of the learning process is discovering how to continue developing independently: how we practise, how we approach repertoire, what we listen for and how we make sense of our own discoveries between singing lessons. 

This is something I talk about a great deal with singers. There can be an assumption that the serious work, the real progress, happens when the teacher is there. Yet so much of our development as musicians depends upon what we learn to do for ourselves, with good guidance to help us recognise what matters and where our curiosity might take us.

What should I actually be doing between lessons?

It sounds such a straightforward question.

For many years the answer might simply have been, “Practise.”

Of course we need to practise. Singing is a practical discipline, and there is no substitute f...

January and early February can feel oddly suspended for singers. The year has begun, but the direction is not always clear. Many people return to their music after a concentrated period of activity, or after time away over Christmas, and find themselves unsure of the next sensible step.

After a focused period of singing, it is rarely helpful to rush straight into new repertoire or set immediate goals. More often, there is a quieter phase where ideas settle, choices begin to surface, and a sense of direction gradually forms. This is not lost time. It is where thoughtful planning begins.

One of the most underestimated aspects of singing development is what happens between events. Once the intensity of shared work has passed, the real task is deciding how to carry that experience forward in a way that fits your life, your energy, and your current level of readiness. That requires honesty rather than ambition.

Preparation matters far more than complexity. It does not matter whether your...