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
/ 55 min
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
Ear training
Harmony & Counterpoint
Rhythm & Beat
Harmony and Chords
Melody & Pitch
CoTutorAI modules
Summary
Podcast
Quiz
Learnings
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Spotlight
Zero Risk Guaranteed
15-days refund
Free tutor swap
No cancel fee
1-yr validity
24/7 support
Learner types for singing lessons
Singing for adults
Singing for beginners
Singing for kids
Singing for advanced
Singing for intermediate
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
Singing concepts taught by Toby
The session focused on developing vocal technique, including warm-ups and vocal health tips. The Student practiced applying vibrato and navigating vocal breaks using specific exercises and worked on two songs, "May It Be" and "Good Riddance," to improve high notes, falsetto transitions, and harmony pitching. The Student's homework involves practicing vibrato with "May It Be" and the harmony lines in "Good Riddance."
Vibrato Techniques and Function
Navigating Vocal Breaks and Transitions
Essential Vocal Health Tips
Understanding and Applying Harmony
Effective Breathing for Vocal Performance
The Student and Tutor focused on vocal technique, warm-ups, and the academic concept of harmony in singing. The Student practiced pitch control through scale progressions and worked on maintaining their vocal line within a close harmony song. For homework, the Student was assigned to practice the first verse of "Good Riddance" to develop harmony differentiation and to listen to Poor Man's Poison to explore adding vocal 'edge'.
Vocal Range and Break Management
Vocal Texture: Adding Twang and Edge
Introduction to Musical Harmony
Practicing Harmony Ear Training
Vocal Mechanics and Health
The Student and Tutor practiced descriptive language in Spanish by discussing a past holiday, reinforcing the use of the preterite tense. The session then transitioned to an in-depth introduction to the subjunctive mood, covering its formation, specific usage contexts, and common trigger phrases. The Student was advised to practice conjugating various tenses and review the provided materials to solidify understanding.
Preterite vs. Imperfect Past Tenses
The Function of 'Que' as a Connector/Trigger
The Subjunctive Mood: Formation and Key Usage Contexts
Introduction to Spanish Verb Moods
Reflexive Verbs and Meaning Shifts (Kedar vs. Quedarse)
The Student and Tutor focused on understanding and practicing vocal harmonies, using examples from various songs and working on ear training with 'Good Riddance' from Hades. They also developed advanced vocal control by experimenting with falsetto, mixed, and head voice placement. The Student continued practicing 'Thunderbringer' with emphasis on smoothness and breath support, and was assigned to listen to 'Good Riddance' for continued ear training and use a piano app to practice vocal placement.
Vocal Placement: Falsetto
Mix
and Head Voice
Ear Training: Differentiating Vocal Parts
Major vs. Minor: Emotional Impact in Music
Harmony: Principles & Intervals
Breath Support & Legato Singing
Student and Tutor engaged in a singing lesson, starting with vocal warm-ups and number scale exercises to improve pitch consistency and transition smoothly between vocal registers. They then practiced the song "May It Be," focusing on hitting high notes, managing vocal breaks, and using proper breath support. The Student was assigned to practice the warm-ups and the song, with particular attention to transitions and diaphragm support, in preparation for future lessons on sea shanties and vibrato.
Diaphragmatic Support and Airflow
Numbers Warm-up for Pitch Consistency
Managing Descending Vocal Breaks
The Vocal Kick for High Note Entry
Head Voice as a 'Rest Stop'
Vowel Rounding for Vocal Power
Vocal Register Transitions
The session focused on explaining and practicing two key Spanish grammar concepts: the personal 'a' and the passive 'se'. The Student applied these rules in a detailed translation exercise. Future lessons will further explore the passive 'se', reflexive verbs, and introduce the subjunctive mood.
The Personal 'A' in Spanish
The Passive 'Se' in Spanish
The Impersonal 'Se' in Spanish
Spanish's Preference for Active Voice
Introduction to the Subjunctive Mood
Tools & techniques used in voice lessons
Vocal pitch training apps
Digital sheet music & lyric databases
Metronome Apps
Karaoke & backing track apps
Interactive voice lessons
Open Q&A
Record lessons
Chat for quick help
Weekend lessons
Mobile joining
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Every tutor is interviewed and selected for subject expertise and teaching skill.