The Importance of Performing

Hello, fearless performers! So glad you’re here to learn about building effective performance practices. Have you ever felt like you wanted to take voice lessons but didn’t really feel the need to perform for an audience? Maybe you enjoy the journey of singing so much that the idea of showing anyone else what you can (or can’t) do with your voice doesn’t appeal to you. If that sounds familiar, cue the “You are not alone” moment!

Perhaps you’re perfectly happy being a shower singer. And hey, that’s great! The world can always use more people who sing with joy in the shower. #amirightoramiright

But, if you’re taking voice lessons and want to get the most out of them, creating some performance opportunities could be the key to maximizing your growth.

Why Should You Build Performance Practices?

A voice teacher’s job is to guide you toward achieving your singing goals. If your goal is to feel more confident singing in the shower, and you’re happy with your progress there, that’s fantastic! However, to truly reinforce the techniques you’re learning in your voice lessons, performance practice is crucial.

Why? Because performing helps cement what you’ve learned in your lessons and gives you a chance to apply those techniques under pressure. Think of it like studying for an exam. We study the material, and then we take the exam to test how well we’ve absorbed it. The same applies to singing.

How to Make Performance Opportunities Work for You

Now, don’t stress. You don’t need a grand stage or a huge audience to benefit from performance practice. It doesn’t have to be fancy, formal, or incredibly official. What it does need is pressure—enough to push you outside your comfort zone and help you apply your vocal skills in a real-world setting.

Here’s a simple idea: try a small performance, like a quick 10-minute session in front of a few friends at home before heading out on a Friday night. This pressure, though small, will help embed the lessons you’ve learned, pushing you forward into new stages of vocal progress. Plus, it might even lead to unexpected artistic discoveries (but that’s a blog for another time…).

Are You Ready to Perform?

Ask yourself: “Am I ready to test what I’ve learned in a performance?” If your answer is “yes,” let your voice teacher know, and they can guide you through the process. If your answer is “no,” don’t worry! Keep up the hard work in your lessons. You are making progress, and improvement is happening every day.

Remember, the goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress.