Singing Teachers: getting frustrated with your piano playing in lessons?

✨Q1. Are you able to name all the notes on the piano keyboard? *

Always

Often

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

✨Q2. When teaching a pop, musical theatre or other commercial style song, do you adapt the accompaniment so it sounds authentic and inspiring to sing over — or do you play exactly as written? *

Always

Often

Sometimes

I mostly use tracks

I'm lost with sheet music

✨Q3. Do you have at least 5 vocal warm-ups you can confidently play in any key on the piano? *

Yes

Just about

No

✨Q4. Can you confidently break down vocal melodies on the piano when students need help?

Yes

Usually

Sometimes - it depends on the style and key

If VERY simple

No

✨Q5. Do you feel comfortable playing piano in front of parents, other teachers, students, and colleagues? *

Always

Often

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

✨Q6. Do you see piano as a key part of your professional toolkit, happily using it online, for exams, auditions, in live concerts/shows, or open mics to attract new roles and job opportunities? *

Always

Often

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

✨Q7. Are you relying on backing tracks because you don’t feel confident leading from the piano? *

Always

Often

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

✨Q8. Do you avoid tricky keys or transpose songs down to “piano-friendly” ones? *

Always

Often

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

✨Q9. Do you stick to reading sheet music exactly as written, instead of creating on the spot accompaniments that work to bring out the best in your students? *

Always

Often

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

✨Q10. Are you spending more time than you'd like learning piano pieces instead of the piano skills you need to teach singers? *

Always

Often

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

✨Q11. Do you avoid teaching harmonies, leading workshops or putting yourself "out there" because of the gaps in your piano skills? *

Always

Often

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

✨Q12. Do you feel like “just another singing teacher” because you haven’t claimed your specialist identity? *

Always

Often

Now and again I worry I might not be doing a good job, but mostly it's okay

I get anxious if compared to other teachers

I hadn't thought about my teaching in this way before

✨ Q14. What drives you mad (or makes you sad) about your current piano skills? *

Tick any that apply

I can read notation and play to a fairly high standard, but I’m not sure how to use the piano to teach!

It takes too long to work up a song for accompanying my students

I have to use YouTube and tracks for my teaching MUCH more than I’d like

I’d love to tailor Vocal Warm-Ups to my students, instead of just playing the standard patterns

I’m a good singing teacher but I feel I could offer more if my piano was at a higher level

Everything I play sounds clunky and just not very good!

I’ve tried to learn the piano in the past and given up

I can play a basic song accompaniment, but I'd love more rhythmic options

Beyond basic triads, chords are a mystery

I need to direct a choir by myself

Secretly, I feel like a bit of an imposter because there's this gap with my piano

Keeping going!

I never had the opportunity or made the effort to learn piano

I tried to teach myself from YouTube but I lost motivation

I had a piano teacher, but although I definitely improved, I STILL can't play for teaching

Something else (add below)

✨ Q15. If piano felt as easy as singing, what would you feel confident and ready to do? *

Tick any that apply

I’d create more original warm-ups or mini vocal études tailored to each student

I’d improvise intros, outros and embellishments in the lesson, to draw of the phrasing, song interpretation and live performance skill of my students

I’d teach with more style and imagination — not just the same old things

I’d stop apologising for ‘just playing the chords’

I’d take more creative risks and make lessons/workshops more fun and memorable

I’d trust my musical instincts more than YouTube

I'd put myself forward much more, and stop hiding away

Something else (add below)

✨ Q17. Wave that magic wand: where would you love to be with your piano in 90 days? *

Tick any that apply

Reaching out for new students and/or applying for jobs

Being able to lead vocal warm ups from the piano

Being able to confidently lead rehearsals from the piano

Being able to accompany students in pop and musical theatre style songs

Being able to break down the song melody for my students

Just a feeling that I know what I'm doing!

Being able to personalise vocal exercises to help advanced students with phrasing, riffs and embellishments

Something else (add below)

✨ Q18. In your daydreams, what kind of singing teacher would you love to be — if skill, time, or confidence weren’t a problem? *

Everyone starts somewhere. Don’t let where you are now stop you from where you could go next. Singing teachers don't always recognise how or where they are having impact on their students. This is an opportunity to consider what you do. The following are just ideas. If your vision is not here, you can outline it below.

The Signature Studio. You’ve built a teaching studio with a reputation. Your method stands out, your calendar’s full, and people pay more to learn from you.

The Artist Coach. You teach singers to sound like themselves. You use piano to coach phrasing, groove and artistry — not just pitch and power. Producers and Directors call on you to coach their latest lead vocalist into dynamic memorable song delivery for live performance and in the studio

The Session Leader. You lead choirs, groups, and vocal workshops that are popular and highly sought after. You MD everything single handedly. Your name comes up regularly for masterclasses and guest panels.

The Technique Specialist. You build smart warm-ups and solve tricky vocal technique issues using range and non-generic exercise patterns — not one-size-fits-all hacks. You are a regular guest speaker on singing pedagogy podcasts and weekend courses.

The Multi-Skilled Musician-Singer. You’re the one they call when they need someone who can coach, play and run the rehearsal, teach the harmonies and direct the band.. You're fearless, with good reasons, and use your broad range of expertise to create unique live concerts and shows.

❓Something else (add below and go for it!)

✨ Q19. Which type of learning suits you best? *

Tick any that apply

121 lessons in person

121 lessons online

Self study videos and checklist that I could take in my own time -- with opportunity for video feedback when ready

A collection of fun short challenges I could fit around my week and would help me consistently progress

A regular weekly group session

A dedicated structured programme with a fixed end result