The goal of becoming a good singer is a longterm project. Regular lessons provide a way of breaking this goal down into achievable chunks. At each lesson your teacher will take you through exercises that are suitable for your current skill level, which you can continue practicing at home. If you concentrate on mastering the points raised week by week at lessons, you will have a manageable quota of singing tasks to perform, which will gradually develop the voice in all areas.

Weekly lessons also provide motivation for practice, as it provides a system of accountability, and strengthens discipline. Many would-be singers promise themselves they will practice, but find other things 'come up'. A lesson gives you a deadline to work towards.

A singing lesson is like a training session with a coach in sporting terms - the regular feedback and gentle reminders are necessary to keep you on track. It is especially easy in the early months to misapply technical suggestions, and speedy intervention from a teacher when something has been misunderstood by the student is good.

To get anywhere in music you must make lessons and practice a priority, so out of 168 hours, one weekly lesson is not too much to commit to.