How many singers out there dread practicing in some way or another? How many of us want to keep going until we know we've 'accomplished something.' But what are we trying to accomplish? Perfection? Being better at that high note than your peers? What drives you in the practice room will become what drives your performances. If your motivation is to compete with peers, then you will always be disappointed, because you will never be "the best" at any one time to every person who hears you sing.
Singing is so subjective. We all know this. Ask ten singers who their favorite singer is of all time and you will probably get ten different answers. Why? Is one of those world-class singers really better than the rest? No. Not really. The truth is we all have our own unique connection to the music which will communicate that music in a way that will speak to some and not to others who hear it. If you're more concerned with being the best than you are with communicating the human element, you're not going to get anywhere, either professionally or in the practice room.
If, however, you know vocal technique is the tool that allows us to express the music as we wish, then you might be in a rush to attain "perfect" vocal technique. But that goal is nothing more than a dangerous rabbit hole many excellent artists get stuck in during their youth, and one many folks who suffer from vocal distress or injury get trapped in as well.
How many times have I heard from my students, "Sometimes I'm afraid to practice at home, because I'm afraid I won't get it right." What do I say to that? First, getting it right takes a long time, so it won't happen in one day in the practice room and conversely, one week of practicing something slightly "wrong" won't kill your voice or end your career. But second, I say: Find joy in practicing through taking on an attitude of journey and discovery rather than the drudgery of wanting to get everything right the first time out, cause the second attitude is setting yourself up for failure. The singers with real longevity in opera don't try to compete with their peers or the up-and-comers, they try to constantly better themselves so they can better serve the music they love. That's what keeps them at the top of their profession, not the attitude of competition. (Don't believe me? Search out any great singer's interviews on youtube, and you will see what I am talking about. Their love for their art form imbues every word and gesture they make when they talk about what they do.)
I believe it is that sense of discovery, of adventure, that will allow a person to make larger gains in the practice room with shorter practice sessions than they will with the attitude of "giving 200%" to force something to happen. We all know in singing that the idea of using "force" of any kind tends to hinder vocal development rather than helping it.
I am now finding out this concept applies to pretty much every field out there. In SLP, especially among students vying for a position in a graduate school, there are plenty of "competitors" who aren't enjoying the field much at all. They're so invested in competition that they have forgotten why they wanted to be in this field in the first place. Then there are the folks who are very passionate about why they want to be an SLP, usually to help people who need their services, who are absolutely impeccable SLPs, even if their test scores aren't the top in the class. People perceive excellence in these students and professionals because the job they do is not impeded by comparing themselves to others. They just simply do their job to the best of their ability. These people aren't interested in having success for successes sake; they are in love with life-long learning. They are in love with the process of bettering themselves so that they might help others to the best of their ability.
May we all, what ever field we find ourselves in, find joy in the journey, have a passionate love affair with life-long learning, and seek to do our best for the sake of our field and for the sake of others affected by what we do.
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