This is a very personal thing and cannot be answered in general. However, there are some general facts that might show you whether a singing teacher is qualified in terms of knowing enough about the voice to be able to teach singing in a proper way. In my blog I wrote an article about this topic – unfortunately my blog is in German only. But in case you speak a little German or have some German friends that could help you translate, this blog article might be interesting for you?
Yes, do that every now and then. It’s good to listen to your recordings because the sound that you specifically hear while you are singing sometimes is a lot different from what your voice sounds “outside”. Recording is a good way to control yourself and – assuming that the technical devices you use work well – it gives you the chance to check whether your sound matches your intention.
There are many tips and recommendations you could follow to keep your voice in shape. Warming up before starting a rehearsal or before going on stage is an essential one. Using exercises specially designed to keep your voice in balance is very useful, too. And there are recommendations what to do when your voice is tired, sounds hoarse or feels sore. In my blog you can find an article about this topic – unfortunately in German only….. ;-)
Both terms are right. But the vocal chords are only part of the vocal folds, defining a special tissue covering the inner parts of each vocal fold. If we speak of the “voice” in anatomical terms, i.e. talking about the structures that are involved in tone production itself, it is best to use “vocal folds”.
Of course you can! There are no neccessary qualifications.
Yes! There’s always something that can be done and new insights are awaiting to be revealed. Plus every single lesson gives you the opportunity to learn more about yourself and your voice. You might also get to know new and inspiring exercises and helpful tips for practicing singing.
Yes, of course! I particularly recommend this.
It depends on what you are aiming at. Generally spoken it is better to practise several times for a shorter period of time than practicing for hours on end just once a week. Here’s an example: better practice for 10-15 minutes in a daily turn (maybe even twice a day) than practicing for two hours on Mondays only.
Yes, absolutely. Just the approach of a skype session is a little different from a live session due to communicating via internet.
I can’t give a sufficient answer to this question. It also depends on one’s definition of what makes a “good singer”…
You will need broadband internet access and a modern computer with webcam. Also useful: a dedicated device for music playback in order to save computer resources and keeping the work flow smooth.
No! If your voice normally doesn’t sound kind of hoarse it is best not to practise – specifically if, in addition, your throat feels soar. Hoarseness normally shows that the voice is tired, maybe exhausted or even inflamed. I recommend to just shut up… ;-)