Reflections on the Classical Singer Convention
Last weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the annual Classical Singer Convention and competing in their annual competition, both of which were held in Chicago. For those of you who might not know, Classical Singer Magazine has been a staple publication in the industry for twenty-some years, and publishes articles about all things singing-related. This was my first time at their convention, and I found it to be a very valuable experience both as a singer and a teacher. In addition to the competition, the convention included a networking expo, where music schools and festivals from all over the country could congregate and promote their programs, and a myriad of workshops and masterclasses to attend, taught by world-class singers and coaches.
There were separate competitions for classical and musical theater singers. Each competition had three divisions organized by age/level: the classical competition had high school, conservatory, and post-grad competitors, while the musical theater one had two high school divisions (one for belt/mix and one for legit singing) and a conservatory division. Each competition culminated in a gala concert, where the finalists got to sing before an enthusiastic audience and the winners were chosen.
I was particularly impressed by the high school students in both competitions. On the whole, they displayed remarkable vocal technique and great repertoire choices, not to mention stellar performances. The high school singing scene has changed a lot since I was that age (we won't discuss how long ago that was...) in terms of competitiveness and expectations, and it's really encouraging and inspiring to see both teachers and their talented students rise to these new challenges. As I was listening to these kids, I thought about the different ingredients that have to work together to make a successful young performer. I think it boils down, in one way or another, to these three things:
1. The importance of loving what you do. As I've said before, this field is tough. It can be discouraging and frustrating. But we put up with all of that because we find it to be incredibly rewarding. We love music, we love singing, we love performing, and we want to share it with the world. If you love it, never lose sight of that. As long as you have passion, you are still in the game.
2. The importance of having a good, informed, and supportive teacher. Your voice teacher should be more than just a teacher: he or she should be a mentor. The student-teacher relationship is incredibly important for becoming a successful artist. Make sure you have a teacher who knows what he or she is talking about. Make sure that it is a good personality fit. Make sure that there is an open and honest line of communication at all times. Never fall into the mindset that you are too good for lessons, too good for a teacher. There is always someone who knows more than you, who is better than you, and who can and wants to teach you. Stay humble enough to recognize that.
3. The importance of HARD WORK. The kids I saw at this convention were INCREDIBLY talented. But it was also clear that they had worked so hard to get to that moment. The technique, the presentation, everything - it was all the result of months and years of hard work, blood, sweat, and probably tears. If you have loads of talent, God bless you. But please please please never forget that talent can only take you so far. You must put in the time and effort if you want to be stellar, no matter how talented you are. This is so contrary to what the mainstream pop culture music scene teaches us. Doing what you love does not mean that your life will always be a picnic (also contrary to what our culture teaches us). But, see #1 above. We work hard because we love it.
What other things do you think are essential ingredients for being a successful artist? Let us know in the comments!
