Once you get to a certain level of singing where you are good and your competition is good, what then?  If the audition is for the perfect ingénue soprano, and 50 or more perfect ingénue sopranos show up for the audition how do you handle it?

Well, first of all you sadly are going to have to grow a really thick skin, because your chances of scoring the part at a high level are really small, no matter how good you are.  (This is depressing isn’t it).  Think about it.  Every high school had  a great singer soloist in their choir or musical theater class who could pull off the parts.  They then showed up to their university music or theater department with a whole bunch of other really good singers from their own own towns….

Then you hit the bigger cities to sing in where all these great singers with training and resumes from their local theater are piling in.  All have been told that they are great, all have been training, studying, and prepping.  When you are a that level and 50 girls walk in for the same part… ONLY ONE WILL GET THE PART.  It’s not personal, or a judgement, just one could be used.  There are only 20 singers on American Idol, only so many pop singers you can name on the radio, only so many paid roles on Broadway, so many theaters, so many clubs for bands, so many slots at hotel lounges…

Why would I, a voice teacher who sells Voice Lessons TO GO even want to talk about such realities to prospective and continuing voice students?  I just want it laid out there and understood.  You can do everything right in singing and still not have your ultimate dream realized no matter how hard you try with it. It is a difficult reality of every Art form.

The dream to sing is not like the dream of being a doctor or lawyer.  Those dreams you can plan for, get good grades, take out loans, study, and achieve them.  Singing has NO GUARENTEE of paid success or job security.

The reason to write this is to jostle your thoughts for a minute.  So many of you write me and send me recordings of your voice for my Vocal Assessments with the hopes of “Ultimate stardom”.  How many singers can you name at the level of Brittany Spears (I am not commenting on her talent rather her success). Lets try quick: Britney, Shakira, Beyonce, Rihanna, Fergie, Madonna, Lady Gaga…  Ok there are more, but how many more, 10?

Now think of how many little girls want to grow up and be just like them.  There are 305,507,054 people in only America today.  How many singers can you name?  Who knows how many “crushed dreams that is”.  That is why it is important to tweak the dream.

I write this because as a singer with years of experience and friends of great talent.  I have seen how hard this career is on people psyches.  There is a reason your parents may be encouraging you to study something else.

All that is said only to give you a taste of reality, so that you are educated in the facts about having a lucrative singing career.  It is SOO important that you sing for something other than goal of fame and fortune.  You need to have joy in the process of singing, or you are setting yourself up for a lifetime of what ifs and heart ache.. The practice, rehearsals, performances should be your dream.  The journey of singing needs to satisfy you without regret. To sing for family, friends, needs to give you joy.

The true joy of singing has to be just that: the joy of singing, no strings attached.  Set your mind up now to gain satisfaction from simply singing, not having to sing for something huge.  I am not saying not to pursue big goals for yourself, just take it all with a grain of salt, so you are not setting yourself up for failure.  I think most good singers can find their niche with some creativity to be working as a singer.  There are jobs for us out there.

Remember, there is also more than singing that makes a full life.  Sometimes as singers going after these huge goals, we get trapped in the pursuit and forget that our life is passing by in the meantime.

Find the balance young.  Having your head on straight with all this, and your heart at peace with whatever your singing journey is will open you up to many more experiences for a full life.

Singing is just a part of the whole package.  Enjoy it for what it actually is in your life, not what you dream it to be.

That being said, Sing well!

written by: Ariella Vaccarino creator of Voice Lessons TO GO- (singing lessons on CD) and author of Vocalize!

I realize that financially there is a lot of craziness going on out there right now.  In times like these we often cut some of our favorite things because they are “luxuries”.  Whether they contribute to our overall joy and sanity or not, going to every other week with your voice teacher, cutting out your once a month house cleaner, or scaling back on your yoga classes can be expendable when things like rent and insurance are not.

I get it and am feeling these tough times as well.  I just wanted to remind you that it takes no money to sing.  And singing brings so much joy (as I spoke about it the last post).  Whether you can sit and play and sing through song books at the piano, or give full concerts to your bathroom in the shower.  Singing is an incredible release that is free and freeing.  No one can take it away from us no matter what the stock market is doing.

I created Voice Lessons To GO because I know how expensive private voice lessons are (since I do teach them and do charge a high amount for my time one on one)  I wanted to provide an option for anyone to have access to great vocal instruction without concern of cost.  I also do the Vocal Assessments on line through my site www.voicelessonstogo. com for people who want access to a teacher’s opinion at a low cost and minimal commitment.

Keep in mind that the joy you get from singing can also be shared be singing for people.  It is so incredible to hear a young singer stand up and perform at a dinner party, or watch someone sing in a church/temple service.  This is a gift you can give to people who may be experiencing a lot of stress right now.  Sing well!

Ariella Vaccarino creator of Voice Lessons To Go

www.voicelessonstogo.com