Singing Does Matter
“The world needs all its flowers, just as they are, and even though they bloom for only the briefest of moments, which we call a lifetime.”
As I read Jon Kabat-Zinn, my passion for singing is rekindled. My still small voice, so tentatively mouthing the truth in my experience that singing does matter, gets stronger.
Our field has lost its way. It has been drowned out by the unrelenting march of technology. It has been erased by the rational drive for a strong bottom line. It has been usurped by Hollywood’s lure of fame and fortune. Where once we worshipped the composer’s music for its ability to lift us out of our suffering or to evoke our highest feelings, we now sing and train our singers to get the job or quit.
At the university, we teach our aspiring professional singers techniques and language, audition skills, and networking skills. I believe we do a good job in teaching our American singers how to make tone and to faithfully re-create a piece of music. Our singers are technically and musically proficient to be sure. They are the best in the world. What are we training them to do? Everyone knows there aren’t nearly enough jobs for all the worthy singers. What are we talking about here?
Rarely, if ever do we:
Give our student singers a comprehensive history of singing that securely sets them into a context or lineage in our field; and
Give them a strong sense of meaning about what they are sacrificing time and money to do.
We, at the universities and in society, fail to value the spark of truth and beauty that is essential for our most gifted and talented singers to protect and to nurture them in the long run. More importantly, we fail to recognize the deep power of singing to solve world problems and uplift people’s lives.
Fame and fortune are fickle. Classical singers don’t need fame and fortune, though that is the stated goal of most classical singers. They need to be out there working to make the world a better place for everyone and to be able to make a decent living doing it.
Where is the mandate for classical singing? How does singing matter? Our societies and communities value it only enough to sponsor one or two arts organizations if there is an impassioned leader writing grants and moving mountains to present art. But our societies do not see the true value in hearing the well-trained human voice live and deeply rooted in the heart.
Our churches do understand by and large, the value of music to uplift. Churches remain one of the best sources of income for trained singers. Churches, synagogues and temples insist on music at each and every event. Even our sports teams insist on the national anthem sung to evoke a more meaningful experience than simple sport. But today, our communities do not get together in the town square sing songs that remind them of their values. Our leaders do not routinely hear music to uplift and guide them in their leadership. Our universities professors do not come together on a regular basis to hear an uplifting song that might inspire better teaching or research.
So trained singers know to audition for church jobs to help get them through school. They know that a few restaurants offer good tips for opera singers who also serve food. They know that synagogues pay extremely well for High Holy Day singers and so covet those positions and hold on to them when they get them. They know that some places will pay for a good national anthem. They know that a few opera companies will pay a little for a leading role. They know that local orchestras hire singers for single events and try to get on lists to be called for such events.
Meanwhile, the brave souls dying in hospice are listening to the radio. The children going in for surgery are listening to beeps and alarms. The high school drop outs are watching over–produced music videos. City councils are listening to their own chatter. Live singers could help each and every one of these situations. They’d be happy to do so for a living wage. Where are our values?
Even when you can no longer open your eyes, you cannot turn off your ears.
Singing matters. The world needs its flowers.
