Last updated on Sep 2, 2024

You're facing a tough decision as a vocal coach. How can critical thinking guide your choices?

As a vocal coach, you're often faced with decisions that can profoundly affect your students' progress and your teaching effectiveness. Whether you're considering the best approach for a student with unique challenges or deciding how to allocate your time among various teaching duties, critical thinking is an invaluable tool. By applying a methodical approach to problem-solving, you can navigate the complexities of vocal instruction with confidence. Engaging in critical thinking allows you to weigh the pros and cons, consider various perspectives, and make choices that are informed, rational, and tailored to the needs of each individual singer.

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1 Assess Needs

When faced with a tough decision, start by thoroughly assessing the needs of your students. This means taking a step back and evaluating their vocal abilities, personal goals, and any challenges they may be experiencing. By doing so, you can ensure that the decisions you make are student-centered and geared towards fostering their growth. Critical thinking involves gathering all relevant information before jumping to conclusions, allowing you to craft a teaching strategy that is both effective and considerate of your students' unique situations.

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La Maria Rosa _

Músico y liantaparda. Guionista y exhibicionista. De sala, de calle y de vídeo.
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Como docentes debemos permitirnos un mínimo de sesiones para "diagnosticar" el estado vocal de nuestro/a alumno/a. Desde ese punto, se deciden los aspectos a trabajar.

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2 Set Objectives

Setting clear objectives is crucial when making decisions as a vocal coach. Use critical thinking to define what success looks like for each student and for your teaching practice as a whole. This involves analyzing the long-term goals and the incremental steps needed to achieve them. By establishing these targets, you can make decisions that are aligned with these objectives, ensuring that each choice you make is a stepping stone towards reaching those goals.

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La Maria Rosa _

Músico y liantaparda. Guionista y exhibicionista. De sala, de calle y de vídeo.
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Los aspectos a trabajar son el desglose de los objetivos. Es habitual que estos objetivos los marque el alumno -que viene a mi con una necesidad o voluntad específica-, la escuela -que tiene un programa- y yo.

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3 Evaluate Options

As you encounter various options and potential paths to take, employ critical thinking to evaluate each one. Consider the possible outcomes, the resources required, and the impact on your students. This evaluation should be systematic, weighing the benefits and drawbacks without bias or emotion. By doing so, you can select the option that offers the best opportunity for your students' vocal development and your effectiveness as an instructor.

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La Maria Rosa _

Músico y liantaparda. Guionista y exhibicionista. De sala, de calle y de vídeo.
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Es importante que la forma de trabajar ese desglose de objetivos sea flexible y adaptable. En mi caso particular, me gusta trabajar a largo plazo y valorando qué forma de trabajar funciona mejor para esa persona o grupo.

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4 Consider Context

The context in which you're making decisions can greatly influence their effectiveness. Critical thinking requires you to consider the broader environment, such as the current state of vocal pedagogy, the specific circumstances of your students, and the cultural or personal factors that may affect learning. By being context-aware, you can tailor your decisions to fit the situation at hand, enhancing the relevance and success of your teaching methods.

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La Maria Rosa _

Músico y liantaparda. Guionista y exhibicionista. De sala, de calle y de vídeo.
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En el caso de la voz, partimos de un instrumento muy especial: nuestro propio cuerpo. Eso nos obliga a reeducar (sobre todo cuanto mayor es el/la alumno/a) y a trabajar mucho aspectos que van desde el anclaje hasta la posibilidad de tener patologías vocales por un mal uso anterior.

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5 Implement Decisions

Once you've used critical thinking to arrive at a decision, it's time to put it into action. Implementation requires careful planning and consideration of the steps necessary to bring your decision to life. Anticipate any obstacles and prepare strategies to overcome them. A well-thought-out implementation plan ensures that your decisions are not just theoretical but are effectively translated into real-world results for your students.

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6 Reflect and Adapt

After implementing your decisions, take time to reflect on their outcomes. Critical thinking doesn't stop once a choice is made; it's an ongoing process that involves analyzing the results and adapting your approach as necessary. Reflection allows you to learn from experience and continuously improve your teaching methods. By being open to feedback and willing to make adjustments, you can ensure that your decisions remain effective and responsive to your students' needs.

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Cheryl Loon

Experience inner confidence and expression with me. | Vocal Specialist 🎤 | Certified Life Coach 🔆 |
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Put your emotions aside and focus on the facts. Look at the situation objectively and gather all the data available. When faced with a difficult decision, I remind myself to ask: how will this choice impact others, and in what ways? What are the possible consequences? I carefully outline the risks involved and consider the situation from different angles and perspectives. It's essential to think broadly, weighing each factor before reaching a conclusion.

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You're facing a tough decision as a vocal coach. How can critical thinking guide your choices?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Assess Needs

2 Set Objectives

3 Evaluate Options

4 Consider Context

5 Implement Decisions

6 Reflect and Adapt

Vocal Coaching

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You're facing a tough decision as a vocal coach. How can critical thinking guide your choices?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Assess Needs

2 Set Objectives

3 Evaluate Options

4 Consider Context

5 Implement Decisions

6 Reflect and Adapt

Vocal Coaching

Rate this article

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