Singing | A Mentally and Physically Grueling “Sport”

Last updated on July 20, 2021

When you think of a singer, you think of someone who was born with the talent that they have. You may believe that they don’t need to try to sing decently well. I have been singing since I was six years old, and although I was born with a decent voice, hundreds of hours of practice went behind making me the singer I am today. Along with training, I focus on reaching a mental state to sing certain notes. I have to put myself in an artists’ shoes to carry the emotion to the audience and portray the song’s message.

Singing is not just “vocal cords modulating air as it is pushed out of the lungs” (The Guardian). It makes me as restless and drained as swimming a 200-meter freestyle competitively (something I also do). If you want to reach high notes, you have to push out from your diaphragm and open your mouth wider to make it easier. Bending your knees also helps you reach those notes. Even just thinking that you can reach difficult notes can help you get to where you want to be. 

Singing has always been my passion. I used to take Indian classical music lessons for about five years, where they drill you on perfect pitch and different note variations- it was intense!

But, Indian classical music was not my thing because I couldn’t understand what I was singing, so I couldn’t be passionate about the different compositions that I had to sing, which is a major component when singing. If you cannot connect with the lyrics and message of the song, you cannot deliver it passionately, which makes it kind of boring.

I joined a local School of Rock in the summer of 2020, which is a music school where you can learn different instruments, as well as perform with other students as a band. I thought I wouldn’t like it there, as rock music wasn’t really my thing, but it proved to be super fun, and they include a wide variety of music genres, not just rock.

In March of 2021, I auditioned for the School of Rocks’ Houseband, where I would be singing with the elite musicians of the school to perform at professional gigs and hammer down on my musical skill like a professional would. I was now a role model for the rest of the music school, and I had to show my professionalism by volunteering and helping out with little kids learning how to perform their musical talents.

I go to School of Rock three times a week: once for individual voice lessons, once for Houseband rehearsals, and once for another performance rehearsal, where I rehearse for a separate show depending on the theme for that season- for example, “Music of the 80s.”

Anyone can perform musically, and you do not need a “god-given talent.” If you are passionate about music and are willing to dedicate yourself mentally and physically, then go for it! Don’t let anyone tell you what you can and cannot achieve.