Coach Cherry’s Music Video produced by Hark Music, A-Lin《抱歉，我不抱歉 I’m Not Sorry 》 at the bottom of this article!
Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got into coaching vocals?
I have always loved singing since a young age. Without having received any formal vocal training prior, I always felt that I could still sing with more comfort, especially at high notes. About 17 years ago, a friend introduced me to Hark Café, where weekly singing competitions are held, judged by Mr. Amos Teo and experienced Harkmusic Coaches. I received many valuable feedback and pointers and got to know how Harkmusic Vocal Expressway can help me achieve my goals and also help a lot more other people like me to achieve their goals.
How do you tailor your coaching to fit the needs and goals of each individual student?
I start off by getting to know the student better, finding out what issues they are facing and what areas they would like to improve. I then work with the student step by step to solve each issue along the way, using positive and negative demonstrations so the student can have a better understanding. Monitoring the student’s progress is very important; each week, we look back at the progress and continue to fine-tune.
What do you think are the most important techniques or skills to have to be a good singer?
A good singer needs to have a positive mindset, set goals, and aim to achieve those goals with patience and a lot of practice.
What are some common mistakes or challenges that students face when learning vocals, and how do you help them overcome those?
Many students think that there is no way to improve their vocal range and often give up singing songs with high notes entirely. However, high notes can be comfortably achieved with regular practice and observation of DAR support during singing.
Can you walk us through your typical lesson structure or approach to teaching vocals?
We typically start off with warm-up exercises to get the students ready. We do a quick review of what we did last week and proceed to song applications to check on the progress. Together with the student, we work out the pain points and solve the issue step by step. In the classroom, we often record the singing so we can play back to review and monitor the progress.
Could you share a success story of a student you coached and how you helped them achieve their goals?
I had a student who thought he was tone-deaf. However, in fact, the student just lacked calibration of sense and technicality. With our Vocal EXPRESSWAY syllabus topics, like D.A.R.™ support, 5D voice, and pitch placement, the student was able to better internalize music with his body and developed a much better pitching sense. Regular practice with C.S.T. audio tracks (developed by Hark) via the student portal helped him greatly. I am very happy to hear that the student now sings with better comfort and confidence.
What do you think sets Hark Music apart from other music schools, and how does it support your coaching?
Hark Music has a set of very well-designed syllabuses that help students understand the big picture. The training materials consist of diagrams, videos, and audio that are very helpful for coaches to utilize during lessons in facilitating the students to achieve their goals. Students are also able to access the training materials via the student portal to review and practice at home.
How have you grown as a person after becoming a vocal coach in Hark?
I have certainly become more patient as a person. Going from being a new student facing many issues in singing to overcoming those challenges and achieving a breakthrough takes time and patience for both the coach and the student.
Can you describe the proudest moment in your journey as a Vocal Coach?
Seeing a student performing on the OpenStage (monthly school’s event) with confidence makes me feel really proud!
What do you love most about being a part of the Hark Music family?
I am thankful to have very caring, understanding, and supportive bosses and colleagues!
Choose 3 core values that you go by, as a person and as a coach.
- Be brave & be kind
- Be passionate
- Be determined
