So here we are, now in the THIRD academic year of pandemic adaptations. And yet, despite all expectations, my studio is full and people are still singing.
Maybe the pandemic has done us a favor by reminding us that singing is what we need for so many more reasons beyond "the career". I often think about how singing is part of the human condition: we do it naturally as babies, we use song to teach children. The oppressed sing for comfort, protesters sing to share their message. We sing in times of upset and times of joy. Every culture around the world has its own forms of vocal expression which explore rhythm, and SOUND. It's what we do.
One question I get asked a lot as a teacher is "Why should my child take voice lessons?", often followed by, "Are they good enough to 'make it'?". I understand that parents and students considering college paths and futures want to think about "return on investment", but I feel increasingly as though the return is so much more than a career path, and perhaps we need to reframe it.
- Why do we play tennis/play baseball/ice skate (does every young player assume they will make it to Wimbledon/major league/the Olympics?)
- Why do we knit, or craft (does every young creative plan on going into fashion or graphic design?)
- Why do we watch cooking shows, and try new recipes (does every young cook plan to become a working chef?)
These are popular activities that some may want to "do" as adults, even if there is no more obvious career path than majoring in music.
The point here is that studying music, in particular singing, doesn't necessarily have to "go anywhere". It has benefits in and of itself, as well as filling a creative and emotional need. There are myriad articles and memes on the holistic benefits of singing ranging from improved lung function, to organizational and commitment skills from the discipline of practicing, to brain growth and balance (many studies about this!), to greater concentration, to creative thinking, and even to something that can help some people overcome anxiety.
All of which leads me to believe the real question isn't why SHOULD we study music and singing, but..... why SHOULDN'T we? So many benefits.
Singing gave her the tools to trust herself and celebrate herself.
I was moved and honored by this recent testimonial:
There is so much more to gain than lose, regardless of the longer-term choices a student may eventually make. It would be foolish to suggest "the career" is anything but a challenging road, but those who really feel a vocation to follow a musical career path are going to pursue it no matter how hard the going gets. The important thing is that they'll never know if that's the case unless they get a chance to try! Speaking for myself, when I hit that crossroads, a lot of soul-searching made me realize that I would rather try and fail than wake up decades later and wonder "what if.....?". I recognize that I'm one of the lucky ones for whom a musical path worked out as a career, but I know that even if I had eventually gone in other directions I would never have had to wonder what might have been, and for that I am grateful.
So if your young singer wants to explore their voice (heck, if YOU want to sing after too long away from it or wondering about it!) support that urge in whatever form it takes: school chorus, community theater, church choir, voice lessons....So many outlets. It takes hard work, courage, coordination, and commitment - all things that will be beneficial in any career, at any time, and regardless of where the future leads, singing can be part of it in meaningful ways.
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