Productive Singing Lessons - Without Singing

No-singing, singing lessons are important

There are many understandable situations where students cannot participate in lessons with their singing voice. While it is best practice NOT to have a student who is unwell show up to our studios, there are often opportunities to focus on other essential skills when singing is not possible.

Helping Singers and Families Understand Vocal Care

I know it is frustrating, but people don't know what they don't know. Families and students often feel that a lesson without singing wastes time and money. We can help our families understand that productive singing lessons are more than endless singing.

I recommend addressing no-singing lesson plans BEFORE they become a necessity and you are dealing with unnecessary cancellations. It is helpful to have clear language in your studio policies about such situations. You can "borrow" this example if it suits your needs:

Productive and comprehensive lessons include non-singing activities such as music theory, rhythm reading, and lyric and score discovery. Discovering new music or discussing performances is an essential part of learning to sing. Lessons may be facilitated online if students are unwell but still able to learn. — from the FULL VOICE Studio Lesson Policy

When Your Student Is Hesitant to Sing

Immediately jumping into vocalization activities can overwhelm beginner students of any age. Students new to lessons may benefit from engaging in non-singing activities such as:

Rhythmic chants
Tongue twisters
Lyric discovery

Be patient and kind. Allowing students to enjoy music-related games and non-singing activities to get them started will help them feel safe and welcome in your studio. Here are some more activities to help them ease into lessons:

Learn the solfège hand signs (students don’t have to sing the pitch but can listen and copy the teacher).
Read lyrics aloud.
Draw notes on a whiteboard.
Move or tap to music.

The FULL VOICE Songbird Warm-Up Game includes engaging tongue twisters students can choose at random.

Lyric Discovery activities are often overlooked! Do your students really know what they are singing about?

When Your Student Needs to Rest Their Singing Voice

Students recovering from illness or injury may be eager to return to singing activities. However, after a few bars of vocalization, it may be evident to the voice professional that further rest is needed. This creates an opportunity to teach students about vocal care and hygiene while exploring non-singing activities.

Here are some useful ideas for lessons when singing is not an option:

Discover new repertoire or artists.
Catch up with FULL VOICE Workbook theory exercises.
Explore lyrics or engage in lyric discovery.
Focus on rhythm reading or music reading exercises.
Practice ear-training exercises.
Enjoy guided active listening of a favourite performer.

The Big(ger) Picture

Singing lessons can be productive and enriching even without singing. By incorporating non-singing activities into your lesson plans, you can ensure students continue to grow as musicians while respecting their vocal health. Proactively communicating the value of these lessons to families and students will help everyone appreciate the depth and diversity of a comprehensive vocal education. Remember, teaching is not just about singing—it’s about nurturing a lifelong love of music.