Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
I used to sing off key all the time, and that was fun. Really, it was. This may seem counterintuitive, as you would think that it is more fun to be good at something. But consider this: if you don’t notice when you’re wrong, you never feel bad about being wrong. Sia’s song, “Bird Set Free,” describes my singing experience: “I don’t care if I sing off key/I find myself in my melodies.” When I sang, I sang for the pure joy of singing without the burden of having to sing correctly.
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That all changed when I began taking voice lessons during my freshman year of high school. My coach wanted to work on singing in tune which, for me, was like navigating through a maze in the dark. I gradually realized that I lacked talent for one of the things I loved to do most. Despite the dejection that accompanied this revelation, I was compelled to persevere each time my coach told me, “Your pitch is improving,” or “Your high notes are sounding more full.”
My journey to improve as a singer was a combination of struggles and accomplishments. At the beginning of sophomore year, the choir director rejected me from the intermediate choir. That disheartened me, but I practiced the beginner chorale songs like my life depended on it and earned a spot in the intermediate choir by second semester. Victory! That summer, I binge watched singing tutorial videos, and I took voice lessons again during my junior year. After developing my voice and confidence as a singer, the choir director accepted me into the honors choir. Even though I wasn’t the greatest singer in the group, it boggled my mind to think how far I had come. Upon reflection, I had learned two valuable life lessons.
The first lesson is that the privilege of knowledge outweighs blissful ignorance when it benefits others. Singing off key for hours in the privacy of my room was fun, for me. But after I learned how to sing, I realized that it is far more rewarding to sing for the pleasure of others, be it in a choir concert, a musical or a just for fun with friends and family. There is nothing like seeing the people's smiling faces and hearing their clapping hands after I sing them a song.
The second lesson I learned is the 11th law of karma: “All reward requires initial toil, and the rewards of lasting value require patient and persistent toil.” Singing can often be taken for granted, but I had to start from scratch. Because of my struggles, I appreciate the ability to communicate through song far more than other talents I possess.
It is my hope that sharing my experience of learning how to sing will encourage you to develop any skill you’ve always wanted to have and just never thought you could do. You can always get better! It’s not about becoming a professional; the pursuit of achieving a personal goal will teach you valuable life lessons.
Learn, grow and live!
