How Can I Prepare for a Singing Career?
(Classical)
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1. See the article, “Do I Have What It Takes?”
2. Study languages, particularly Italian, German and French. Other languages,
such as Spanish and Russian, can also be an asset.
3. Read all you can about composers, singers and styles. Get a feel for what a
“heavy” role is, and why you should wait to do them. How does French song style
differ from German? What sort of voice fits Baroque chamber music best? Who was
Maria Callas?
4. Attend as many concerts as you can, watching and listening - absorbing as
much as possible. You thought “Vedrai, carino” was too simple to program on a
recital, but it worked for that soprano, and the audience loved it. Was it her
acting? Don’t forget that you can learn from instrumentalists, too.
5. See some music theater.
6. Take acting lessons. Even better, get on stage as much as possible, in
musicals, operas, straight shows and concerts.
7. Read the stories of the most familiar operas. (Do you know which ones those
are?) Then read the stories of the unfamiliar.
8. Stay in shape physically.
9. Practice daily. Do allow yourself a break, once in a while, though.
10. Keep taking voice lessons, even if you have to scrimp to do it. Don’t hop
from one teacher to another, but you should be convinced that your teacher is
doing you some good.
11. Learn entire operatic roles, not just the big arias. Concentrate on the ones
you think are too simple or not very showy. Those will be your bread-and-butter
for a few years.
12. Learn all you can about competitions and auditions. Read magazines, search
websites, attend some as an audience member and talk to people who have done
them.
13. Do every audition you can get into. The experience helps, even if they don’t
accept you.
14. Research apprenticeship programs. Try to get into a small one. It may not
pay, but it goes on your resume and gets you contacts.
15. When you have a singing engagement (paid or unpaid), be professional -
prompt, polite and prepared. Never talk badly of a fellow singer, a conductor or
an accompanist.
16. Make your own opportunities: Set up a performance for a nursing home. Sing
at church. Rent the sanctuary and do a recital. Get together with some friends
for a chamber music concert. Send out business cards to organists and church
music directors (who can get you Easter services, weddings and funerals to
sing).
17. Spend a little on some good “head shots”, the black and white 8 x 10 glossy
publicity photos you will need to have on hand.
18. And take care of your voice!
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