For many singers the Covid pandemic has been an incredibly disruptive and challenging time. Like everyone else, we have had to contend with isolation, shifting guidance and relentless uncertainty. In addition, we have been kept away from the one thing that so many singers crave – music making in community. With the very thing that gives life to our work, our breath, identified as a vector for spread, we have been patiently awaiting some relief and a return to communal music making. As some areas see the rules tightening once again while others have had a return to more normal levels of participation in music making, the only thing that feels certain is uncertainty. With all that in mind, I remain hopeful that live music making is on the horizon and offer a few tips for a re-entry into the singing life.
First and foremost, be gentle – with yourself, your voice and with those around you. It’s been a long time since we have had a flurry of musical activity. If you are staring at a pile of scores and are eager to jump in, don’t push too hard, too fast. Your voice needs some time to build back up to that pre-pandemic level of activity. Though you may be eager to jump right back in, take your time and allow yourself a period of adjustment.
Second, prioritize your technique. As with any physical activity, time away from rigorous practice and performance can lead to a degradation in skill. It’s been a long time and a lot can change physically and mentally with a prolonged absence. If you haven’t been working consistently on your voice for over a year, expect some technical challenges and vocal changes. If you haven’t been working with a good voice teacher in the interim to maintain your singing, now is the time to make that happen. Just a few months of steady and consistent technical training can help you build up the vocal stamina and musicianship that may have gotten away from you in the past year-and-a-half. A good voice teacher can offer you tips for managing your vocal health, teach you strategies for learning all that new music, help you connect with opportunities for performance all while helping you build vocal strength. And while I don’t advise really young singers to start voice lessons, its’ never too late! Singing is a wonderful activity at any age and you are never too old to get started.
Third, give yourself some easily attainable goals within a specific amount of time (21 days, 30 days…) and work slowly and methodically toward your goal. It may simply be that you will practice sight reading for 10 minutes a day, you will commit to doing 2 technical workouts a week, you will learn a page of music every other day. The little goals don’t matter nearly as much as the habbit, so get back into it. You will notice that as you achieve success, you will be motivated to reach further and find new challenges. In the meantime, you will be building back.
My last bit of advice comes from an old Nike ad campaign. Unlike my writing style, it’s understated, simple and succinct. JUST DO IT! If you have to do it in a mask, If you have to be outdoors, if you have to stand 10 feet away from other people, If you have to drive 45 minutes, if you have to reschedule your root canal (okay, not that one – go to your root canal appointment).. you get the point. Get out there and make it happen. If you have not returned to singing, an amazing joy is awaiting you. Nothing has crystallized the mission of music more than its absence. Making music, hearing music, sharing music – it’s balm for the individual soul and and curative for the community. It’s good for you and may be just what you need to alleviate the stress and challenge of these extraordinary times. So no matter how you do it or when you do it, JUST DO IT. Sing.
Wishing you all a beautiful return.