Never too many singers

In this month's Journal of Singing Voice Pedagogy column (March/April 2017), Scott McCoy discussed some interactions with other singing teachers who have the opinion we are "producing too many singers." The complaint was raised by people who are teaching in post-scholastic/pre-professional residency programs. Their theory was supported by the high number of applications they receive each year - many of which I presume are not up to their standards. My understanding of their argument is that students should be turned off of the the study of singing unless they are the best of the best headed to greatness in these programs and on the operatic stage. Dr. McCoy took exception to this and I do too.

I have had similar conversations with fellow singing teachers who feel their skills are wasted teaching students who are singing for their own fun and enjoyment rather than for professional ends. These are often the same people who bemoan the fall of the study of singing from some (fictional) pastoral past in which all singers were phenomenal and so "well trained" that they were never injured and sung into their 90's. They believe children should not receive any training in singing and that genres other than opera are inferior art forms. They are completely ignoring (if not opposing) the ongoing trend toward the democratization of singing, a movement that I not only support, but celebrate.

Think about it for a moment. In past centuries who had the luxury to study singing? Most people were precluded from the study of singing due to economics, whether from the cost of the lessons or the inability to find leisure time. In those days, we don't hear about injured singers because there was no help for them. Those who were injured had to stop. Among those who surpassed those two sticking points we have the famous people everyone has heard of, but there are I am certain still many choristers who labored in obscurity. We have no way to gauge either their talent or their vocal longevity.

Today there exists the concept of the hobby and the avocation. Thank goodness! There are many people who have the means and the leisure time to take lessons and it means a great deal to them. Some of these students sing in choirs; others at karaoke night. Some sing in their car. I've met many who sing to support their mental health.

I don't have a personal investment in what my students choose to do with their instrument. It doesn't degrade my value as a teacher if they don't aspire to be professional performers. My duty is to teach my students to use what they have in the most efficient and flexible way possible while doing what lights their personal passion for music. That's why I do what I do.

Dr. McCoy closes his article with the following:

If anything, the problem is not that we have too many singers, but that we have too few teachers to help them perform at their best.

I couldn't agree more.