S3 Episode 4: Being a singer is harder than it looks

This week Alex and Helen discuss five main points surrounding an age-old controversy: how being a singer is much harder than it looks.

• Encouraged to make it look effortless

Singers are constantly encouraged to make their performances look as elegant and graceful as possible (a particular gripe for upper voices!!). Perhaps audiences don’t want to know how much effort goes into singing a full 3-hour role on stage, but being asked to sing 28 bars of coloratura whilst looking like you’re enjoying yourself is not an easy feat.

• The practice problem

To make difficult singing look effortless takes hours and hours of practice but, as we’ve discussed before, singers have to be incredibly careful with practicing. The voice box is a precariously balanced set of muscles and every singer has to know their own limits and how much they can practice without doing injury or damage. As we’ve discussed before, mental practice, libretto translation and repertoire research are all important parts of the practice process without tiring out your vocal cords.

• You can’t SEE the thing!

It sounds pretty obvious but not being able to see the voice is another difficulty singers have to deal with. If you have a bruise on your leg, a swollen wrist, or an injured hand, these are things you can tangibly see which consequently helps you understand when things are getting better. With the voice, it is not so easy. In addition to that, an appointment to have a vocal scope check up often costs hundreds of pounds. As singers we have to rely on sensation and having a detailed understanding of how our voices feel. If something isn’t right, it’s vital we put ourselves and our voices first.

• Singing takes over every element of your life

Lots of things affect the voice - sleep (or lack of), diet, exercise routine, illness, natural speaking voice and so much more. As singers we have to take all these external factors into account. It’s not an easy thing to do!

• Shelf-life

Often singers feel as if they’re working against the clock, and if they haven’t established a significant career by the age of 30 then it’s not worth continuing. This is a horrid pressure to contend with alongside everything else which works against you in this industry. It’s crucial we remember that the voice is constantly changing, growing and developing. For some singers they might hit their stride in their early 30s as their technique and physiology are now working in tandem. What is more, the industry is not the same as 30 or 40 years ago. Singers are not scouted at the age of 18 to stand on the Covent Garden stage. In addition, what is required of singers is far more taxing, exhausting and demanding. To have the ability to withstand all of that takes many more years of training.

Episode edited and produced by Daisy Grant Productions.

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