I’ve been thinking a lot about growth lately. I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to teach voice and to share my love of singing with wonderful students. I have the pleasure of watching them grow as individuals and as musicians.
Singing allows us to express ourselves and to expand our human potential and capabilities. Every singer is different and every voice is special – as unique as our individual fingerprint. Our voice is our melody and the mirror of our soul. Our voice is just one part of our instrument, which is all of us as individuals – our body, our thoughts and our emotions.
My job as a voice teacher is to help each student to discover, grow and to develop their own unique voice. But this growth process is a two-way street – it requires effort from on both the part of the teacher and the student.
Singing allows us to expand our human capabilities and to express ourselves in different ways. A big part of learning to sing also means having to be open to learning new ways of thinking and of doing things. Singing is extremely individualized and personalized and requires us to take risks. This process of continually trying new ways of doing things helps to build new connections in the brain and helps us to be engaged, stimulated and healthy individuals.
I always encourage my students who are preparing for performances or competitions to view the preparation process as a learning experience. It’s not just about performing well or about “winning” the competition, but it’s about the learning process that takes place. I encourage my students to think about everything they have achieved and learned by preparing for the experience, and to reflect on how much they have grown as a result.
When thinking about ways of thinking that promote and develop our musical growth, it is important to also consider ways of thinking that inhibit our growth as a musician.
When students begin their studies with me I always tell them that in my studio there is no such thing as mistakes, but rather just learning experiences. Learning to sing is an often very scary process. Our ears play tricks on us and we often think we “sound bad”. This is a way of thinking that is based in fear. As singers we have to learn to trust in our bodies and in feelings and sensations so that we can grow and try new things with an open mind. We have to be open to taking risks so that we can explore new boundaries, move forward and grow as musicians.
Once we come to terms with being open to taking risks, then the growth process can really begin. We shift our thinking from being afraid of making mistakes to a need or a desire to change. I’ve had the privilege of seeing this process of transformation in my studio and when it happens it brings about new learning and growing opportunities and it is exciting to be a part of.
As Spring draws closer, and as World Voice Day approaches, I encourage reflection upon the many benefits that learning to sing can offer. Like Spring bulbs emerging, if we are prepared to take risks and to learn to trust our feelings, learning to sing can help us to bloom and grow and to break new ground.