At yesterday morning’s service at St. Peter’s, the rector turned to the choir as she always does every Sunday and offered her thanks for the musicians at the service. Note, friends, that she referred to us as “musicians,” and I appreciate it every time.

That’s because, unfortunately, the music world tends to perceive singers as “less-than.” To some, we are simply either lucky or, at best, trained monkeys. It is often assumed we do not know anything about music and that we can only copy what we have heard on a recording. I have literally been asked in an audition what key a song was in, and after I answered correctly I was immediately interrogated on how I could possibly know such a thing. Another time, I was a paid section leader in a choir, and when I offered to help a bell ringer with his part he told me “thanks, but it’s in bass clef,” as if that would be a hindrance. Another church I worked at neglected to provide me with a name tag after a year of me asking, yet the new pianist had a name tag his very first day. How many times have I heard “there’s a budget for the string quartet/pianist/bagpipe player but not for the singers.” (Countless.) And of course, there are the multitudes of masterworks performed where the conductor thanks the “musicians and singers,” which doesn’t ever help.

I have news for y’all. A singer is every bit as much of a musician and artist as any instrument player. Our music comes from within our body – we create something from nothing, with no help except for, well, I don’t know, THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF TRAINING AND PRACTICE. People applaud the concertmaster and muse they must have spent their youth practicing and a fortune on lessons, but what of the singer? I have spent so much time in practice rooms, classrooms, choir rooms, lessons, plus a four-year degree; and we’re not even going to discuss the cost.

Of course, I do not mean to detract from the skill and knowledge of the instrumentalist; I only argue that singers are entitled to the same respect and this is a stigma I work very hard to correct in my daily life.

But, what really breaks my heart is when my students are defeated before they begin – I hear “I don’t know anything about music” from the most unbelievable sources. Singers who can bring a house down and mesmerize every audience member from here to Tokyo, stand there and say they don’t know anything about music and don’t feel capable of learning. ABSOLUTELY NOT.

First of all – you are already a musician. Full stop. You create art with your body in a way that is entirely unique to you. That makes you a musician.

Second, if you want to learn music theory, terms, definitions – you are FULLY CAPABLE of learning! You are not at a disadvantage just because you’re a singer – again, absolutely not. Find the right teacher, the right environment, and you can learn anything you want.

Ok, I’ll get off my soapbox now. But remember, friends – if you make music, you’re a musician, and don’t let any fool tell you otherwise.

Break a leg out there!