Is specialising as a singing teacher a wise business move or a decision that could cost you students and income? Let’s look at the pros and cons.

When starting out most singing teachers take any paying student who walks through their door.

Young, old, beginner or pro – when you’re new to teaching, you can’t afford to be picky, right?

However, as time goes on, many teachers grow in confidence and discover that they prefer certain aspects of teaching over others.

At this point, the question of whether to specialise or stay a generalist arises.

General versus niche

It’s an issue that US vocal coach Molly McLinden discusses on the Singing Teachers Talk podcast.

Molly hasn’t gone down the specialism route. “Variety energises me and keeps me reaching out to learn more,” she says.

But she knows many teachers who have and are thriving (one friend, for example, only teaches beauty pageant contestants).

“Some people love to focus on one particular genre every lesson they teach,” Molly says. “I embrace it all, but it’s not for everyone.”

Pros and cons of specialising as a singing teacher

Pros

Genre

Do you love jazz but hate pop? Or perhaps you’re a rocker who can take or leave MT. Specialising means you can lean into your preferred style of music and swerve the genres you don’t enjoy.

Demographic

Many teachers find they have a natural affinity with singers of a certain age (children, teenagers or adults) or level of expertise (beginner or professional). By specialising you can focus on teaching students with whom you feel most comfortable and are best able to serve.

Repertoire

Narrowing your musical focus means you can hone in on repertoire for one or two genres rather than having to cover many bases.

Special interest

Specialising can involve focusing on an aspect of singing, such as breathwork, vocal rehab or performance anxiety.

Helping students with voice issues can be particularly rewarding, particularly if you’ve had your own vocal struggles.

Marketing focus

When you have a very specific offering, you can be laser-sharp in your marketing. Instead of trying to be all things to all singers, you can emphasise your role as an expert in your field.

Cons

Attracting students

The big worry is that being too particular about who or what you teach could mean fewer inquiries, particularly if you live in a remote region. However, if you enjoy teaching online, this can be somewhat alleviated as you can widen your net.

Avoid getting stuck in a rut

Many teachers (Molly included) find that teaching a broad range of students and genres keeps them on their toes and exposes them to new music and vocal styles.

Can’t utilise all your skills

If your offering is too niche, you might not be making full use of your skillset. For example, some students may relish learning singing and an instrument from the same teacher. If you have a wide range of interests – yoga, public speaking, songwriting, choir singing or nutrition – why not explore them all?

Making the right choice

Ultimately, it’s a matter of figuring out what works best for you.

Molly says: “My advice is whatever you decide to do – go for it. The results will speak for themselves and if you’re good at what you do, your students will tell their friends. Just keep learning and get out there.”

Learn more

Listen to the full interview with Molly on the Singing Teachers Talk podcast.

Expand your knowledge

Sign up to study singing teaching with BAST Training today.