Toby Smith
Professional vocal coach with over 15 years of teaching experience- Elevate your voice and learn to use your full vocal potential!
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Toby Smith
Bachelors degree
Enroll after the free trial
Each lesson is 55 min
50 lessons
20% off
/ lesson
30 lessons
15% off
/ lesson
20 lessons
10% off
/ lesson
10 lessons
5% off
/ lesson
5 lessons
-
/ lesson
1 lessons
-
/ lesson
Toby - Get to know your vocal coach
As a singer with over 20 years of experience, a Grade 8 Distinction in Trinity's Singing exams, and professional experience performing in the most prestigious cathedrals in the UK, (St Paul's, Westminster Abbey, Carnegie Hall), I am expertly placed to help both new and experienced singers improve to the next level. I have been teaching students for 15 years, and have experience with all manner of vocal ranges and ages, so you can be sure that your lessons will be tailored to your exact needs and profile. I specialise in vocal control and vocal techniques, making sure that not only can you sing to the best of your ability, but that you can do so safely and while protecting your voice. I focus less on musical theory and more on practical control, allowing you to get singing the pieces you want to sing, in the way you want to sing them, as quickly as possible. Let's start your vocal journey and explore the full potential of your voice together! Book a lesson to get started!
Toby graduated from Lancaster University
Your vocal coach specialities
Harmony and Chords
Ear training
Harmony & Counterpoint
Melody & Pitch
Rhythm & Beat
Learner types for singing lessons
Singing for beginners
Singing for kids
Singing for intermediate
Singing for adults
Singing for advanced
Singing lessons highlights
My lessons focus on building my students understanding of the bodily functions surrounding singing, in order to best utilise their own voice. For example, breathing exercises, diaphragm control, and an understanding of 4 main voice types, (head, chest, mix, and falsetto), are crucial, alongside knowing what vocal category you fall in to. You cannot teach a tenor, the same way you teach a baritone. This basic understanding is what underpins all my lessons. Therefore, each student receives a lesson plan that focuses on their individual vocal profile, goals, and needs, in order to make sure that singing feels like fun, not a job, as nobody wants music to feel like a chore. I have created personalised curriculums for over 100 students, helping them develop their skills for personal goals, professional opportunities, or grades, if they so wish.
Types of singing lessons
Singing
Classical Singing
Movie Singing
Flexible Scheduling
Allows 1h early scheduling
Allows 1h early rescheduling
Can wait for 20 mins after joining
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10 day Refund
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Free Tutor Swap
Singing concepts taught by Toby
The tutor and student worked on vocal warm-up exercises, including a "numbers scale" to improve interval recognition and agility, and techniques for transitioning into head voice. They then applied these concepts to practicing the first verse of a song, focusing on breath control, vocal support, and posture.
Applying Techniques to Song Performance (Von Williams' 'The Song of the English')
Vocal Resonance and the Body's Chambers
Head Voice vs. Chest Voice
Breath Control and Posture in Singing
Numbers Warm-up for Vocal Range
The Tutor and Student reviewed advanced Spanish grammar, focusing on the 'personal a' and the 'passive se' constructions. They practiced identifying and applying these structures through article translation exercises, starting with a simpler text and progressing to a more complex one. The next step involves attempting a higher-level translation exercise to further solidify understanding.
Personal 'a'
Passive 'se'
Impersonal 'se'
The tutor introduced the concept of cursive writing to the student, who had a negative perception of it. They discussed the benefits of cursive, such as increased writing speed and personalized style, and practiced writing the alphabet, names, and sentences in a simplified, connected script, encouraging the student to develop their own 'Matt cursive'.
Practical Applications of Cursive
The Essence of Cursive
Personalizing Your Cursive Style
Debunking Cursive Myths: Simplicity Over Ornamentation
The Student practiced vocal warm-ups using scales and number exercises to improve vocal agility and coordination. They also began working on 'The Winner Takes It All' by ABBA, focusing on breath control, dynamics, and transitioning between chest and head voice. The Student was advised to practice the exercises and song, and the next session was scheduled for the week after due to a birthday.
Vibrato
Airflow and Breath Control
Relaxation and Effort in Singing
Chest Voice vs. Head Voice
Understanding Intervals and Harmonies
Counting Warm-up Exercise
Simple Future Tense: Future Events and Predictions
Imperfect Tense: Ongoing and Repeated Past Actions
Preterite Tense for Completed Actions
Present Continuous Tense Formation
Present Tense Usage
Infinitives and Verb Endings
Near Future Tense: 'Ir + a + Infinitive'
The session involved an introduction to vocal training, covering the importance of warm-ups and understanding different vocal registers like chest voice and head voice. The Tutor identified tension in the Student's higher range and provided an initial exercise focused on breath control and relaxation to improve vocal tone and intonation. The Tutor outlined a lesson plan including warm-ups, vocal techniques, and song practice to address individual vocal issues.
Vocal Warm-ups
Chest Voice
Head Voice
Vocal Break
Breathing Technique
Tools & techniques used in voice lessons
Metronome Apps
Karaoke & backing track apps
Digital sheet music & lyric databases
Vocal pitch training apps
Interactive voice lessons
Note taking
Parent feedback
Open Q&A
Pets are welcomed
Chat for quick help
Vocal coaches on Wiingy are vetted for quality
Every tutor is interviewed and selected for subject expertise and teaching skill.