 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  | ||
Posts Tagged ‘Ethics’
To Sing or Not To Sing?
Robin singing at Leighton Moss RSPB by Gidzy (Creative Commons License 2.0)
I heard one of the most disturbing things the other day: a pair of fellow singer/songwriters proudly taking delight in the fact that they have told band mates and friends to “never sing again” … because they were so “bad” at it. My qualms with this? … First of all, they are vocal students themselves, so I don’t know what makes them think they are an appropriate authority to be determining this and secondly, how insecure must a person be in their own vocal abilities to put down an amateur singer’s expression of love for music in order to justify the “excellence” of their own?
That makes me so f*cking mad
(For those of you who know me, if I actually use a swear word you know I’m really truly actually very seriously … f*cking mad)
As an early adolescent, when I got my first CD and CD player I took them upstairs to my room and learned the songs and sang loud and proud at the top of my lungs … until the day someone told me they could hear me. I thought they were making fun of me. I never sang in front of another person again (unless in jest) until 5 years ago when I couldn’t repress it any longer and decided to take lessons. Luckily I was able to muster up the strength to overcome the insecurities I had developed around the one instrument I was born with; the only instrument that is a physical part of me and is so precious because it IS me. Not everyone will, so be careful when you’re considering mocking or insulting another person’s singing (especially if they haven’t learned how to yet); you are insulting a part of their nature and human being. How dare you? Would you tell a toddler to never try reading again because they can’t do it now? No, of course you wouldn’t… unless you yourself were a pre-schooler who was insecure with your own ability to read.
I know that any person CAN learn to sing because I have seen the results my own vocal coach has produced with clients who most people would consider to be ‘hopeless’ in terms of vocal ability or talent (as well as with people who have talent, but suffered from extreme damage to their vocal chords). Artists and music lovers from all over the world (and all levels of ability) come to work with her. She is nothing short of amazing and I indeed attribute much of my own vocal abilities to her instruction and drive for perfection.
So the issue then isn’t whether or not a person CAN sing, but whether or not they are passionate enough about it to want to LEARN how to do it to the best of their own abilities… which might be better than you expect, given the right teacher. So please never tell another human being that they shouldn’t sing, instead admire their love of vocal expression and ask them if they’ve ever taken vocal lessons. If they haven’t, it will get them thinking about it.
That being said, if anyone reading this is serious about their love for singing (whether recreational or professional) I recommend without reservation the services of my vocal coach Diana Yampolsky, founder of The Royans Professional Vocal School. I must warn you, however, her method (Vocal Science) is highly unconventional, rigorous and not for the faint of heart :) … exactly what I wanted. If you’re not ready to commit to it with an open mind and open heart, don’t waste your money (she doesn’t come cheap). If you are, it’s the best investment you’ll ever make.
Once a Month: Free Music, Updates, and Access to My Rants & Thoughts in my Newsletter.
Subscribe here and get a FREE download of my Tour Album!