Vocalist.org archive


From: Dean FH Macy
Organization: New England Talent, Ltd. - Epilogue Records
To: VOCALIST <vocalist>
Copies to: Molly McLinden
Subject: Re: before I give it all up....(long)
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

Dear Molly,

> I am 19, and a sophomore in college. Vocal performance major. I am asking myself
> why I picked this major lately I have been studying for six years.
>
Studying where? How? With a private teacher? If so, is it the one you discuss later in this
message? The 'mean' one? (My voice teacher gives me 20 minute lessons ...or cancels them....when I
should be getting an hour. Then he yells at me when I am not 100%!)

If so, get another teacher. This one isn't worth the money you're paying him.

> I don't expect to be a star here at my school, but I do expect something. Like respect.
> I just tried out for an opera, and a girl who sight-read the piece after rolling out of bed got
> the part. The music director is also her private teacher.I hope that the casting was based on
> looks.
>
Probably it is cast not on looks or talent but on who the music director likes. (Sorry about that,
but that's just how it is in school.) And it's good you don't expect to be a star at your school.
Stars at school are usually teacher's pets and if you are really good, you don't need that.

> The director was discussing me behind my back to another student. With things like this
> happening in the arts world, I ask myself if it is really worth it.
>
Another thing that happens at school. You have to wear armour, thick armour to survive.

> I have forgotten what it is like to perform and really enjoy it. I have no idea what to do. I
> have already transferred here from another school. I think my next step is a switch of a
> major (to something where I can make money, like computer science).
>
So if you want to perform go elsewhere- away from the school. Find a local summer stock company or
a community theater group or better yet, a community or non-professional chorus. When I was at
Columbia U. (a hundred years ago) I did my thing in the Glee Club but I wanted more. I auditioned
as a tenor soloist but didn't make it. So I looked elsewhere. I ended up as a tenor soloist in the
NY Metropolitan Opera, which gave me a hectic schedule between that and college, but I was happy!

> It is going to be a hard semester here this spring, seeing someone who didn't deserve the
> part have fun with it...when I was really prepared. It is going to be hard to say goodbye to
> singing for good, but it looks like I have no choice.
>
It's only going to be hard if you make it hard. It's you who determines how you will feel, not the
circumstances. If you truly want to sing as a career you've got to be tough. You can't let
failures and disappointments get to you. Singing professionally and making money at doing it is the
most difficult road you can take. It's not the road for the faint of heart. You have to be able to
walk through the fire storm and come out the other end without a single scar. All of us who
entertain professionally have had the same bad luck streaks you are having now. But we survived
because of how we acted when the bad luck hit. That old phrase about making lemonade from life's
lemons can most strongly be aimed at entertainers.

You do have a choice. We all do. But it is good to plan for other roads to follow if the singing
doesn't pan out or goes on hold for awhile. All of my kid singers want to sing professionally for a
living. But I tell them to keep options open and learn another art if something goes wrong with
their singing plans. I would urge you to do the same.

--
Dean FH Macy, Lit.D./Mus.D.
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"Specializing in Management of exceptionally talented youth in Music"
EPI Records - NetWork Films
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"Do not follow where the path may lead.
Go instead where there is no path
And leave a trail."