Years ago a voice teacher shared a thought with me that made a lasting impression. “An amateur practices until he gets it right,” he said. “A professional practices until he can’t get it wrong.”
Singers are apparently not the only ones who find this quote applicable. Keith Miller, featured in this month’s cover story, first heard this idea from a coach—not one seated behind the piano, however, but rather one tossing him a football out on the field. Taking this advice to heart, Miller developed an incredible work ethic playing fullback first in college and then in Europe, working toward an NFL career.
When he didn’t “go pro” in the NFL, he set out to go pro in a different career: as an opera singer. His story is a remarkable one of tenacity, determination, and endless hours of hard work to make up for his late start. And it has paid off. As one vocal coach described him, “What makes [Miller] different from other singers is that he’s always willing to go the extra mile. And once that’s done, he’s willing to go another. It’s indicative of the artist he wants to become.”
I have thought a lot about hard work and how it separates the amateur from the professional while preparing this issue devoted to vocal coaches. So many amazing coaches work tirelessly to help singers perfect their craft. They have also spent years refining a vast yet distinctive skill set required to be a truly great coach. They must be proficient pianists who are fluent in or at least familiar with the major operatic languages and well versed in a myriad of musical styles.
Every vocal coach has arrived at this profession via a unique path—or so says Dorothy Randall, a coach who has worked all over the U.S. and abroad. In a delightful interview with Catherine Corcoran, Randall shares the details of her own unexpected journey that led her to what she considers the greatest career ever. A huge part of her success was her own willingness to dive into the unknown and work tirelessly and without fear to gain the skills she needed to succeed.
For all the hard work coaches like Randall have given to first develop and then share their knowledge, singers must put forth an equal amount of hard work to grasp and implement those ideas. Coaches from our online Coach and Accompanist Directory discussed with Corcoran the important relationship between coach and singer, shared in this issue in a two-page spread of quotes on everything from what makes a good coach to the joys and frustrations of the job. Nearly all agreed that the real reward of coaching is seeing singers work diligently to fine tune and perfect the nuances of language, rhythm, interpretation, dynamics, and style—the hallmarks of a true professional.
In this month’s “Teacher’s Corner,” vocal coach Joseph Smith discusses the many nuances required to bring the popular Neapolitan song “Musica proibita” to life. His road map to a compelling interpretation of the song through a complete understanding of the text and dynamic markings can likewise be applied to other repertoire you are currently studying. This attention to detail—something that again requires concentrated work—can make all the difference.
Yet even after hours of hard work have seemed to put all the minutiae in place, remembering the staging, words, and music of a three-hour opera can be very challenging. Greg Waxberg tells an interesting tale of those who come to a singer’s rescue in such moments: the prompters, who are very often vocal coaches. Don’t miss reading what exactly goes on in the prompter’s box and how singers can best make use of these saving services.
Making that jump from amateur to professional comes down to first finding the right teachers and coaches to act as guides, and then rolling up your sleeves, digging in, and doing the work. Such commitment and dedication truly can set you apart as a singer for, as Miller says, “You can’t hide hard work.”
