Interview with a Vocal Coach on the Topic of «AI in Vocal Training»

Introduction and Experience:
— How did you get into vocal pedagogy, and why did you decide to teach at age 21?Alice Kovalevskaya: Vocals are my entire life. I’ve been involved in it since I was six, and at some random point, I realized it could be a good starting point for a career as an educator. However, I don’t plan to do this for more than three years because I want to pursue a solo career.— What is most valuable to you when working with a student?Alice Kovalevskaya: The moment when the student hears the difference for themselves. It’s not when I say, «It was better here, ” but when they pause and say, „Oh, I felt that was different.“ That means they have started to control their voice rather than just imitating me.— What is the most common mistake a student makes, and how do you usually spot it?Alice Kovalevskaya: Usually, it’s sound without support and trouble with high notes; they often tense up.— How do you tell if a student is singing incorrectly: just by hearing, or by observing their body, breathing, and facial expressions?Alice Kovalevskaya: Holistically. I listen for intonation, timbre, and evenness. I look at the body to see if the shoulders are rising, if the neck is tensing, if the face is flushing, or if the hands are trembling. I listen to the breathing to see how the student takes a breath between phrases and if they are getting enough air. Regarding facial expressions—if a person is tense, they might have a „stone-like“ face, or conversely, make grimaces. Sometimes it’s enough to look at their feet: if they lift off the floor, it means there is no support.
A vocal pedagogue is a bit like a physiognomist. I look at everything as a whole. If a student is singing correctly, but their knee is shaking or they close their eyes out of fear—I know the sound is unstable. The body always lies less than the ears.

— Are there things in vocals that cannot be simply explained with words—things that must be shown, heard, or felt?

Alisa Kovalevskaya: The feeling of a «yawn» or «dome,» resonance in the mask (the facial area), the sense of support when the diaphragm works, not the stomach. This is kinesiology. I can tell a student to «breathe with your diaphragm» a hundred times, but until I place my hand on the student’s stomach and they feel my hand move when inhaling—they won’t understand.

— Can an instructor notice a problem before it becomes audible on a recording or application?

Alisa Kovalevskaya: Yes. An application will show a «missed note» or «muddy intonation.» But it won’t show that the student is about to tense their neck a second before the note. I see that «setup"—the preparation for the error—and I can stop it before it happens.

Introduction to AI

— Do you use any applications or neural networks with your students for vocal training?

Alisa Kovalevskaya: Yes, but sparingly. Neural networks are rarely used—more for generating exercise ideas.

— In your experience, what does AI assess well: intonation, rhythm, range, or breath support?

Alisa Kovalevskaya: AI perfectly assesses rhythm and intonation (note pitch). It will accurately define the range and show which notes you are taking and which you are skipping. Breath support is harder: it can show the phrase length, but not the quality of support. However, it cannot evaluate timbre or artistic quality at all.

— Have you tried using AI yourself for preparing exercises, analyzing songs, or giving feedback?

Alisa Kovalevskaya: Yes, but again, I only use it when I want to add some varied exercises, but that happens rarely—when my mind is completely out of ideas.

— Has there ever been a case where technology genuinely helped a student progress?

Alisa Kovalevskaya: In my experience, that hasn’t happened. I’ve solved all the student’s problems using my own experience and skills.

— Have there been instances where an application or an AI gave useless or even harmful advice?

Alisa Kovalevskaya: AI might advise singing louder to hit a high note. If the student follows that advice, they will just strain their voice. Or an app might label something as «out of tune» when the student is actually using vibrato. AI doesn’t understand musical style.

— Let’s get to the main question of the interview: Can AI replace a vocal coach? If not—why not? What exactly does a teacher do that an algorithm cannot?

Alisa Kovalevskaya: A teacher senses the body. I can adjust posture, press on the diaphragm, or show the direction of the sound with my hand. A teacher creates psychological safety: when a student is afraid, I can calm them down, whereas AI can only state that there is an error. A teacher sees the context: whether the student is tired, if they have a sore throat, or what their goals are.

— If it can’t, in what situations and for what kind of student might that be possible?

Alisa Kovalevskaya: That is only possible as a supplementary tool. For example, for a professional who already has a foundation and just wants to «polish» their intonation or learn a rhythm. Or for someone who is completely tone-deaf but just wants to know, «Did I hit the right note or not?”—but not for developing a voice from scratch.

— What would you tell someone who thinks, „Why pay a coach when there are free applications“?

Alisa Kovalevskaya: You can learn how to treat a tooth via YouTube videos, but you still go to a dentist. An app can hear notes, but it cannot hear your pain, see your tension, or know how to release it. You are paying not for the notes, but for the assurance that you won’t destroy your voice or lose years to treatment.

— So, who ultimately makes the decision: the algorithm that sees data, or the educator who understands the human being?

Alisa Kovalevskaya: The decision always rests with the educator. AI is a microscope. It displays data, but the diagnosis and treatment are the domain of the physician.

— What risks do you see if a student learns solely through AI?

Alisa Kovalevskaya: Loss of vocal health, lack of an auditory benchmark (they will sing «like a robot»), and most importantly—loss of individuality. AI averages.

— Can AI harm a voice if it cannot see the posture, tension, breathing, or emotional state of a person?Alisa Kovalevskaya: Absolutely. Imagine this: the AI says, «Sing this note 10 times in a row.» The student sings, tenses up, and the AI says, «One more time.» The student strains their voice. The AI won’t say, «Stop, you are tired, take a break.»— How capable is AI of assessing artistry: delivery, character of the song, emotion, individuality?Alisa Kovalevskaya: At 0%. It can say, «Rhythmically stable, ” but it won’t say, „You sang that like a robot; sing it with soul.“ Art is a deviation from the algorithm, and AI loves algorithms.— Are you concerned that students will start trusting the application more than the specialist?Alisa Kovalevskaya: Yes, that is a modern problem. If the application says, „Flat, ” the student will argue with the teacher who says, „You are singing clearly, but without emotion.“ We have to explain that the application is a calculator, but music is more than just perfect notes.The Future of the Profession
— What should the ideal combination of „teacher + AI“ look like?Alisa Kovalevskaya: AI is an assistant. It handles the routine tasks: recording, analyzing notes, calculating rhythm, and tracking progress. The teacher is the strategist, the psychologist, and the mentor.— Will the profession of a vocal coach change because of AI—or will only the working format change?Alisa Kovalevskaya: The profession won’t disappear, but it will change. The teacher will stop being a „note trainer“ because AI will do that. The teacher will become a coach for sound and psychology. More attention will be paid to stage presence, emotion, and vocal health.

— What advice would you give a beginner vocal coach in the age of neural networks?Alisa Kovalevskaya: Don’t be afraid of technology, but don’t let it dictate the lesson. Learn to see the body, not just hear the sound. And remember: the student comes to you not just for «correct notes, ” but for self-belief.— If you were to design the perfect AI application for vocalists, what must it be able to do, and what should it never do?Alisa Kovalevskaya: It should be able to detect fatigue through sound, suggest relaxation exercises, and show dynamic „before/after“ comparisons, always with the disclaimer that „a teacher must verify.“
It must never: diagnose, advise „sing louder/higher, ” rate timbre as „bad“ or „good, ” or give advice without the coach’s consent.— What would you like to say to readers of this interview in closing?Alisa Kovalevskaya: Technology is a tool; it doesn’t grant us superpowers. The voice is not just sound. It is your breath, your body, your soul. Do not give that up to neural networks. Give it to yourself and to the person who helps you hear yourself.