"You're a mezzo." "You're obviously a soprano." "This aria is perfect for you." "You shouldn't sing this aria for another five years." These are all comments I have received regarding my fach and one specific aria. Does this sound familiar? It should since the varying opinions we receive form the most common, yet treacherous, territory that we singers walk on. Whether you are at a summer program, university, or starting with a new teacher, contradicting opinions are abundant and are always difficult to deal with. Swimming through these troubled waters can be an isolating experience, but remember that you are not the only one dealing with a fach crisis, aria package reboot, or career change. It's time to get down to the nitty gritty on how to navigate the jumbled opinions thrown at you as you develop your singing career.

First, get real about your goals. Someone who wants to be a performer may have a different main goal from someone studying music education. Defining your main career goal is the crucial first step as many opinions you receive will be targeted towards different results. One tool you can use is our Goal Slaying Planner as it was created to help singers specifically define their goals. As you are organizing and thinking about your goals, you must also define your "why." Why do you have these goals? Why did you choose this field and what can you uniquely contribute? A "why" is not necessary to having a great looking resume full of experience, but it certainly grants you more fulfillment and makes you a better artist. All of this is to say, when you find yourself stuck between two choices and the too many opinions that surround the situation, have a dialogue with yourself and ask these tough questions. Once you give yourself some time to sit down and really hash out the specifics of your goals, it will be easier to decipher which plan of action to take when presented with two opposed ideas.

 You must evaluate all opinions and maintain an open mind before delving into the opinions you think are right for you. You never know when you could receive the advice you’ve been longing for from a masterclass, during a rehearsal, while talking to a new colleague, or even in the middle of choir. If someone gives you technical advice, try it out in the practice room. If you receive suggestions about repertoire choice, listen to recordings online and search for the score. If someone talks about a program with you, look it up and take note of who has done the program before and/or try to scope out reviews. Just because you haven't considered a suggestion before or it sounds off-track from what you have been working on doesn’t mean it won’t be helpful. Remaining receptive and listening to different perspectives will often lead to the advice you've been hoping for all along.

A common mistake that many singers fall into is getting stuck on one opinion, whether it be their own or one that their teacher hold, and dismiss anything that goes against that one opinion. So how do we know when to put the blinders on and move forward with what we know is right for us or when to change directions? The answer is repetition. If you are receiving similar comments and opinions over and over again, it might be time to re-evaluate your own opinion. You must remember that your main mentor in this field is not always right as everything they say to you is subjective in and of itself. If you happen to be in a position where you are receiving repetitive comments and feel stuck in your advancement, it's time to remind yourself that you are always your own best teacher. You may not have to switch teachers/mentors, but consistent comments are usually a sign that something needs adjusting and requires action.

Amidst the varying opinions and comments, there is one more element we haven’t talked about yet: intuition. I define intuition as the immediate desire to work for one thing over other options. We always hear things like “go with your gut”, but there’s rarely an explanation on how to do that. Realizing what your intuition wants you to do is not necessarily a time for relaxing - it's like choosing between two huge staircases to climb. You're going to struggle no matter what you choose, but one staircase will feel far more triumphant at the top. If you are stuck in a situation in which you don’t feel motivated to work harder, it may be time to question your environment and tap into your gut feeling. However, it is important to make sure you are not allowing fear to influence your intuition. Fear can be quite deceptive and can trick you into thinking you're following your gut, but it is actually urging you to choose what is safe and comfortable instead of challenging and fulfilling. A dilemma we can use for an example is university choice. In this case, you can choose between going to a large school where you would have to work for opportunities, or a school where you know you would be the biggest fish in the small pond. Here's where it gets tricky: there are certainly times where you do want to be that big fish. However, if it is against a program where your opportunities depend on your effort, it sounds like the question is more about comfort versus healthy challenges. Every time you lose sense of what your intuition is telling you, ask yourself what direction is comfortable and which one will challenge and improve you. If you're lucky, there will be an answer that is actually both. Take some time to sit down and reflect on the decisions you have made thus far. Which ones were made for the sake of comfort vs. improvement? What choices could have been better and why? Once you honestly evaluate your past, you can then think about how to advance your career more consistently. 

So many opinions and so little answers! This singing life was not meant for the faint of heart. As you deal with all the different opinions being thrown at you, never stop working towards being a better you. Nothing is worth loosing yourself in the opinions and reputations of others, so it's time to be honest and tap into your intuition. Somewhere, buried beneath the thoughts of others and the opinions you yourself hold, is your "why." Find it, hold onto it, and believe in it. Your "why" grants you the power to accomplish more than you ever thought you could. Be beautiful, creative, resourceful, and most importantly, brave enough to live your "why."