You Are The Magic
Honing Your Instrument
When a person decides to begin the journey of learning an instrument, whether piano,
guitar, or any other, he usually understands that there will be a required amount of time
to invest into the matter. The student knows from the very beginning that it will take a
sacrifice of “real” time and dedication to understand, process, practice and ultimately
play the instrument.
The same would apply in the case of a dancer with the desire to learn choreography. She
knows that every day she will need to exercise her body and employ technique to one day
perform the dance.
However, this understanding is one that is lacking in some of the singers that come to my
studio and I see an entirely different approach from them. For some reason, rather than
viewing their voice as an instrument to be honed and crafted, they look for a magic
formula to start singing in the fastest way possible. Whether beginners or advanced, they
seek a prescribed method and date to know “how long it will take to be in good shape as
a singer to make an audition, a recording, or a live performance.
Reality Check vs. Pop Culture TV
Honestly, there is no a magic wand that the Vocal Coach will use on a singer to,
miraculously after a quick vocalization, make him ready for Madison Square Garden.
As a Vocal Coach I cannot predict the amount of time it will take a singer to control his
voice. The voice is an instrument that needs to be developed as any other, and each
singer is a world of his own that needs to be addressed personally with each of his vocal
attributes and all of his skills.
The current pop culture we live in feeds us an overnight success mentality. We watch all
of these TV Shows, where in 2-3 months singers are famous and successful, which lends
itself to the misguided thought that this is the “real world” and the true process. On the
contrary, in our real world singers have to practice long and hard to build up a strong
foundation of their Vocal Technique, and this is usually not a fast cook but one that takes
time. We enjoy the excitement of the overnight success stories, but most of the popular
artists did not have the quick rise to fame as it seems. When we see great performers on
stage, we must realize that the magic we see is a culmination of what they did in
rehearsal for many hours over time. They worked many years before they were ready.
Where The Magic Really Is
The truth is there are no tricks, or magical tips to becoming a good artist. The only
MAGIC that will happen is the one that comes from within you. YOU are the Magic:
Your Voice, Your Singing. This MAGIC will only come as a result of going through the
learning process of Singing and Vocal Technique and all the necessary skills a singer
needs. After much practice and dedication, things will come together seemingly as
magic to those around you. This transformation will occur in the singer’s life, not as a
fast receipt, but as a continual exploration of his artistic world with commitment,
discipline and practice.
To know you are on the right path of your artistic journey, implement these steps:
1. Practice, Practice, Practice! Every great musician practices no matter how skilled.
2. Avoid comparing yourself to others; another artist’s story will often look smoother,
easier from the outside. We are rarely accurate.
3. Trust your talent. Believe that you are great at what you do, at what you have to offer
the world with your voice.
4. Establish your own style and message in your performance, and believe that it is
powerful.
5. Above all: Don’t look for magic outside, The Magic is You!
-Debora Lebendiker-
