Biggest mistakes a singing teacher and respectively a student can make.
Maybe everyone has met a teacher who doesn't like as a person, his/her teaching methods or attitude. It is part of life and is completely normal not to have a click with everyone. That's why there are so many teachers out there and respectively students.
But there are professional, ethical and educational norms that both sides of the teacher-student relationship should stick to.
My personal experience of being with the wrong teacher when I got admitted to the university, has taught me a lot. First it broke me, left me with bad habits I had to deal with later, but also has taught me very valuable lessons not only about singing, but about life in general.
The first lesson I learned was how important is for a young singer to have the right person near her. By the right person I mean someone you can trust completely not only as a singing teacher but also as a mentor in life. Second, how important is this person to know what he/she is doing, being responsible, empathic and last but not least:
1. If one sees that can not help you and is not the right person for you, to be honest and stop making damage to your voice, physical and mental health.
As I already said you can not suit everyone, so it is completely normal if someone is just not the right person for you and your vocal journey. In this situation it is better to be honest and share your observations with the student than causing any kind of damage. No one wins in this situation. Neither the teacher is satisfied that has been part of his/her vocal and personal development, nor the student who is going to be devastated with no progress and bad technical habits.
So if you are a student who feels that something is not right, it is off, leave first.
2. Giving the student the wrong signals.
What I mean be wrong signals.. not being honest about the student's abilities, progress, what can be achieved and what cannot. Of course not everyone can say for sure what another person can achieve completely. In my opinion, the good singing teacher can hear in advance what can be done and not, but please do not forget that this is a two-sides process and being a successful singer requires many qualities that you as a student have to posses and develop.
As a teacher you never promise miracles and never cut wings. I've heard (some I witnessed personally) a lot of inspirational stories of very famous singers to whom someone once said that they will never make it in the business.
3. Allowing the student to lead the teaching process.
In my practice I meet different people, from children to adults with different background, nationalities, goals, passion, motivation, reasons, dreams, goals, character.
Some of them are very ambitious, some of them not, some just wanna have some fun. And of course usually those who try to interfere with the process are the most ambitious ones. They usually set high goals for themselves and try to lead you in that direction even if you as a teacher have other vision for their vocal development. If you see that the student does not realise that he/she wants to achieve everything immediately and makes you his/her instrument, you are obliged to stick to the educational and ethic norms.
Express your professional opinion and be clear from the moment you feel that something is wrong. If the student does not agree with you, you better go separate ways.