Persevere - You WILL Get There

Learning to sing, just like learning any other instrument, does not happen overnight. It takes years - not just weeks or months - to truly become a singer. It’s not about having a pretty voice, it’s the discipline and hard work that is required to work on technique, learn to read music, learn to choose material, learn to own your space as a performer, and so much more. It’s in the details.

That being said, it’s certainly not impossible. There have been many times that I have been working and working and working on a piece and feel like it’s going no where; like I will never sound the way I want to on it. This simply isn’t true! I had to push through those thoughts and feelings and push past that plateau to find whole new facets of my voice.

I recently had a couple of students who feel like they are in a rut. They’re losing steam because they aren’t where they want to be. I keep reminding them, “You aren’t there YET, that doesn’t mean you won’t get there some day.” Perseverance is key to becoming a singer or performer of any kind. There will be days you sound incredible and days your voice just won’t cooperate, but no matter what you must keep going. Every voice is different, so it is important to remember that while your friend may have an insane belt and you are just starting work on yours, that in no way means you will never have the same level of awesomeness as your friend.

You. will. get. there.

That is a difficult thing to remember when you are burnt out or frustrated or are on voice rest, but it is true. If you just keep going - keep practicing, keep taking lessons, keep auditioning, keep taking care of your voice - there is no reason you will not get to where you want to be.

Helpful tip: because learning to sing is such a long, arduous process, it is vital to celebrate the small victories. Did you just belt a half-step higher than you could last week? CELEBRATE! Did you figure out what key your song was in on the first try? CELEBRATE! These small wins are what add up to a well-rounded, highly skilled singer. More importantly, these celebrations will keep you motivated when you feel like giving up.