On staying motivated

In singing as in most other crafts, staying motivated is often the biggest single hurdle to achieving our goals. Whether it's trying to unlearn a bad habit, develop new muscle memory, remember the words to a new song or even just sing that one stupid measure correctly, there often comes a point when we feel like giving up.

In those moments the best thing to do is often to simply step away for a bit and come back to it later. But what happens when you're going through a particularly frustrating phase, when you feel like you've hit a plateau and the next level is nowhere in sight, when you're wondering what's the point? It can be hard to feel motivated to practice when it doesn't feel like you're getting anywhere.

I wish I could tell you that there's one easy answer, but we all know that doesn't exist. Instead, here are a few of my favorite ways to troubleshoot those annoying measures, get motivated to practice, move through the difficult moments in singing and get back to having fun.

*This list is by no means extensive and may not address your individual needs. Consult a voice teacher for your best results.

Troubleshooting - general guidelines
Support
Having trouble with a long phrase? Take it back to the breath. Sing through your pieces on a lip trill or tongue trill; if you have trouble with the trill, try a simple voiced consonant like a super loose "v", making sure to allow the air to gently move through. Remember: Air before sound.

Sing silently
Trying to nail down a specific passage? Don't kill your voice singing it over and over again. Sing it silently - read through the music, envisioning the best, healthiest way that you will sing it, and taking care to be precise with the rhythm. You'll be amazed at the amount of progress you can make on a song without having sung a note out loud.

Talk it out
Speak the words to your songs as if they were poetry or dialogue. You'll get a sense of how to sing it when you really feel the emotion and impact of the words. Alternate this with speaking the words in rhythm - it's much easier to learn tricky syncopations, language, etc. when you take the pitch component out. Put the notes back in once you've got the rhythm down.

Mix it up
There's a time for focusing intently on one song or a few difficult notes, but it's not usually when you're feeling frustrated. Take a break from the hard stuff and sing something silly. Sing an aria and then a musical theater number. Sing some Christmas carols or a cheesy pop song. Switch between trills and vowels, or your favorite warm-up and that pain-in-the-butt measure.

Take a breather
There's no shame in taking a break for a few minutes. Step away from the keyboard, make a cup of tea and go back later.

Getting motivated
See a show
Hearing a new singer or going to see a favorite band can often be just the motivation you need. Watching others having so much fun onstage reminds us why we work so hard - so that we can have that kind of fun too. And with cover charges usually $15 or under it's a pretty cheap way to get inspired.

Sing with others
Join a choir. Take part in ensemble class. Sing karaoke with your friends. Sharing the experience of singing brings us closer together and is just plain fun. And on the learning side of things, you'll improve your ear for harmony and be exposed to music you might not otherwise hear.

Read a book
There are loads of great books detailing the trials and tribulations (and techniques) that singers go through. Some of my favorites: A Soprano on Her Head, The Inner Voice: The Making of a Singer, Great Singers on Great Singing. This is a tiny, tiny selection of what's out there, so if you look you're certain to find a book that resonates with you.

Having fun
Acknowledge your work
It takes time to develop muscle memory and to train your body to work as efficiently as possible. Even when things aren't going as easily as you'd like, it's important to remember that you're putting in the time and that it will pay off, probably sooner than you think.

Enjoy every minute
Becoming a successful singer is as much about process as it is about product. If you only narrowly focus on your shortcomings, you wind up missing so much else. What else are you learning? Moving through the hard stuff teaches us patience, self-forgiveness and acceptance of ourselves and our voices. If you can remember to enjoy those lessons as much as the specific vocal goals you have, I guarantee you'll enjoy singing a lot more.