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
Melody & Pitch
Rhythm & Beat
Harmony and Chords
Harmony & Counterpoint
Ear training
CoTutorAI modules
Summary
Podcast
Quiz
Learnings
Flashcard
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 beginners
Singing for adults
Singing for kids
Singing for intermediate
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
Singing concepts taught by Toby
The student and tutor discussed the student's goals for improving their karaoke singing, focusing on technical aspects like pitch and breath control. They explored vocal techniques, including warm-ups and exercises for higher notes, and planned to integrate these into future lessons using the student's preferred songs.
Breath Control and Vocal Support
Vocal Range and Pitch Recognition
Lesson Structure and Practice Integration
Chest Voice vs. Head Voice Transition
The class focused on practicing Spanish translation exercises, identifying common grammatical challenges such as article usage and comparative adjectives. The tutor then introduced and explained the concept of reflexive verbs in Spanish, including how they function and how their meaning can change. The student received a study recommendation to consistently practice verb conjugations.
Articles in Spanish Grammar
Reflexive Verbs
Literal Translation vs. Natural English
Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
The tutor and student discussed the student's goals and current vocal abilities, identifying areas for improvement in breath control, vocal placement, and register transitions. They practiced exercises to understand vocal mechanics and the tutor outlined a lesson plan focusing on these foundational techniques.
Vocal Registers: Chest
Mix
and Head Voice
Vocal Registers Transition and 'The Break'
Vocal Stamina and Pain Prevention
Vocal Tension and its Impact
Breath Control and Diaphragmatic Support
The Student and Tutor worked on vocal technique, focusing on managing vocal breaks, improving air support, and practicing song analysis. They practiced specific exercises and applied learned techniques to a song, addressing challenges in pitch, phrasing, and vocal stamina, with plans to continue focusing on falsetto techniques and vocal health in the next session.
Vocal Endurance and Support
Phrasing and Breath Management
Pitch Accuracy and Transition
Falsetto and Vibrato Control
Vocal Break Management
The Tutor and Student reviewed the subjunctive mood, focusing on its definition, trigger words, and use of the base verb form. They then completed a practice test covering the subjunctive, modifiers, and parallelism, with the Tutor providing detailed explanations for the Student's errors.
Understanding 'A Number Of' vs. Singular Triggers
The Subjunctive Mood
Subject-Verb Agreement with Compound Subjects
Participial Phrases and Subject Clarity
Subject-Verb Agreement with 'Every' and 'Each'
The tutor and student worked on vocal warm-ups and specific songs, focusing on breath control, pitch accuracy, and belting techniques. They analyzed the student's vocal production on lower and higher notes, practiced navigating challenging melodic phrases, and discussed efficient vocal mechanics. The next session will continue with "Lament of Orpheus."
Vocal Resonance and Soft Palate
Vocal Registers: Head
Mix
and Belt
Vowel Shaping and Nasality
Breath Control and Diaphragmatic Support
Tools & techniques used in voice lessons
Vocal pitch training apps
Karaoke & backing track apps
Digital sheet music & lyric databases
Metronome Apps
Interactive voice lessons
Parent feedback
Note taking
Weekend lessons
Pets are welcomed
Open Q&A
Vocal coaches on Wiingy are vetted for quality
Every tutor is interviewed and selected for subject expertise and teaching skill.