There are a few lessons I refuse to teach young singers. Sadly, I learned the hard way that a lot of teachers feel very strongly that these lessons need to be taught. Here is an incomplete list of things I don't teach...
Clothing has moral value
I love getting all dressed up for concerts. I'm also past the age where I feel comfortable showing off my belly. But I'll never tell my students that either of those things affect my singing or playing ability. I want them to feel comfortable in their own skin when they get up to perform in front of an audience & if their outfit is ok with their parents, it's ok with me.
My musical tastes are superior to theirs
This is just not true. My students enjoy what they enjoy and I hope they'll tell me all about what they're listening to and what they want to perform. There's just too much music available to us to waste time on music we hate.
Pain equals progress
I am not about to teach young musicians that they need to suffer for their art.
If practice is causing physical or mental pain it is past time to take a break.
