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
Rhythm & Beat
Harmony and Chords
Melody & Pitch
Ear training
Harmony & Counterpoint
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
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 advanced vocal techniques, including vocal riffs, diaphragmatic control for vocal leaps, and the concept of belting. They practiced exercises to improve vocal agility and power, and discussed the importance of proper technique to avoid vocal strain. The student was advised to continue practicing these techniques with warm-ups.
Vocal Riffs and Jumps (Pagio)
Belting: Definition and Technique
Diaphragm Kicks and Muscle Isolation
The student and tutor focused on vocal technique, specifically developing the lower register through warm-ups and exercises. They practiced songs like "Shenandoah" and "Love You To Come Over," working on breath control, vowel clarity, and managing vocal breaks, with plans to use backing tracks in future sessions.
Gentle Lower End Warm-up (Groaning Technique)
Belting vs. Shouting: Vocal Technique
Breath Control and Pausing in Singing
Vocal Phrasing and Consonant Handling in Singing
Vibrato Technique: Diaphragm vs. Riff-based
The Tutor and Student reviewed grammar concepts related to participles and possessives before moving on to independent and dependent clauses and their punctuation. They then practiced test-taking strategies, including time management and question approach, through a timed "blitz test" which will be further reviewed and practiced in future sessions.
Punctuation for Connecting Clauses
Strategies for Time Management in Tests
Conventions of Standard English: Apostrophes
Independent vs. Dependent Clauses
The class focused on vocal techniques, including breathing exercises and breath control during singing. The student practiced maintaining consistent volume across different vocal ranges and worked on specific song passages to reduce tension and improve transitions between vocal registers. The student was assigned practice focusing on challenging sections of a song and experimenting with different vocal techniques.
Overcoming High Note Hesitation with Octave Shifts
Phrase Manipulation for Breathing
Full Exhalation and Deep Inhalation
Diaphragmatic Breathing and Breath Control
Vocal Tension and Posture
Vocal Registers and Transitions
The Tutor and Student analyzed Shakespeare's Sonnet 18, focusing on archaic language and the function of apostrophes. They then engaged in practice problems from difficult SAT writing questions, covering topics like sentence structure, punctuation, and vocabulary, with plans to delve into clause types in the next session.
Apostrophe Usage in Shakespearean English
Sentence Structure and Punctuation in Older Texts
Shakespeare's Contribution to English Vocabulary
Grammar and Punctuation Challenges in Standardized Tests
The student and tutor worked extensively on vocal technique, focusing on pitch accuracy and support in both the lower and upper registers. They practiced scales and song excerpts to improve vocal control, breath management, and the transition between vocal registers. The student was also advised to focus on phrasing and vowel manipulation in their practice of specific songs.
Vocal Register Transitions
Pitch Accuracy in Lower Registers
Vowel Manipulation for Vocal Power
Breath Control and Diaphragmatic Support
Tools & techniques used in voice lessons
Digital sheet music & lyric databases
Metronome Apps
Vocal pitch training apps
Karaoke & backing track apps
Interactive voice lessons
Chat for quick help
Record lessons
Mobile joining
Note taking
Open Q&A
Vocal coaches on Wiingy are vetted for quality
Every tutor is interviewed and selected for subject expertise and teaching skill.