Spirit animals are believed to guide us and protect our magnificence. Although I have scientifically and spiritually1 assigned spirit animal totems to specific voice types, it is possible you may identify with a secondary spirit. Just as voices grow and develop unique qualities, so do your spirits. Find your guide below and go back to the practice room with your spirit animal’s guaranteed approval.Majoring in music is demanding, and the curriculum will consume your life if you let it. When you are preparing for lessons, rehearsals, and performances in addition to your class studies, the responsibility can feel overwhelming. Here, you can “research” the spirit animals of vocal music majors and find some comfort. The ideology of the spirit animal totem, or symbol, comes from the Native American tradition of looking for energy and protection in the living world.
Coloratura Soprano—Shih Tzu
Showstopper/Lovable
If you relate to the shih tzu as your spirit animal, you are a small, adorable creature that expects to be treated like royalty. Your loving qualities save you from an entitled aura, but you need regular grooming and fan love to feel content on the daily. Your princess status will be recognized when you deliver crystal clear coloratura and ridiculously long high notes.
When the shih tzu is your spirit animal, you are a devoted friend and you thrive on affection. Coloratura sopranos will easily garner attention, but should remember to offer abundant gratitude to remain grounded when you are not hanging out on high C.
Soubrette Soprano—Fox
Cunning/Curious
The fox as a spirit animal is a master of trickery, guidance, quick thinking, and curiosity. Fox wisdom can maneuver the plot in a Mozart opera as easily as a night out with friends and their exes. Soubrettes connect with the fox because they stealthily concoct plans with a feather duster while the upper class is singing downstage.
Fox spirits have an increased awareness of their surroundings and the powers of discernment and adaptability. Soubrettes and other followers of the fox are playful partners onstage and work well at night—especially if you take one home.
Lyric Soprano—Show Horse
Leaders/Lookers
If the show horse is your spirit animal, you are simply beautiful—never over the top. You are dependable to a fault, which serves as a warning not to find fault in yourself or others, as it will detract from your beauty of spirit.
Show horses are worthy of every prize, so under the protection of this spirit animal, you must practice prancing to demonstrate this worthiness. Lyric sopranos often portray royalty onstage, and your leadership doesn’t end with the curtain call. Your followers are drawn to your majestic presence and your actions speak louder than words. Carry yourselves with the pride of a show horse and always bow with grace.
Young Spinto Soprano—Lion Cub
Born for Greatness
Lion spirit animals represent the best in the face of a challenge—including power and bravery. The lion cub guides young sopranos with dramatic qualities because their voices can be wild and will need to be tamed as they grow. The playful lion cub and young dramatic voice both need nurturing in the pack while they develop their prowess.
The strength of the lion’s spirit will aid the endurance and struggles that lay ahead. Dominance is in your nature, so use your strength to lead others and bring ensembles together. If you let your aggressive side emerge, you will struggle with colleagues and your own path to the spinto or dramatic soprano life. Once you have mastered the drama of your roar, the cougar spirit will become your guide as a powerful presence overseeing your rise to greatness.
Lyric Mezzo-Soprano—Butterfly
Transformation/Playfulness
When the butterfly is your spirit animal, change and transformation are part of your journey onstage and off. The rebirth of the butterfly charges the ability of the mezzo-soprano to play a boyish Cherubino one night and a sultry Carmen the next. The butterfly guides singers who can internalize change and transform characters as easily as flitting from bush to flower.
Mezzo-sopranos will find joie de vivre in their soul when they allow the butterfly within to emerge onstage. The butterfly also symbolizes honor and prosperity. Mezzo-sopranos will be wise to embrace changes in their careers to enrich prosperity while always striving to honor their loved ones.
Contralto—Cat
Fierce/Independent
When the cat is your spirit animal, you are a born diva. You do not like to get your hair wet, you do not like many other cats, and you have a resting bitch face. It’s not your fault—it’s just your face.
Cats were worshipped in ancient Egypt, and colleagues should worship your work onstage—but not too much, because that would be annoying. Cats like to nap, eat, and meow. If you are a cat contralto, you are probably equally shy and sly, but ready to slay when it is your scene. Take your time preparing for performances—your cat spirit will bolster your esteem so you can fiercely pounce onstage.
Leggiero Tenor—Deer
Grace under Challenge
Deer as spirit animals are ready to move quickly and they will grant you the power to deal with the challenges of multiple high Cs. If you identify with the deer, you are a sensitive artist in touch with your inner child. (Maybe too in touch, if you want to make any Bambis.) Deer change directions, moving quickly and almost magically with grace and strength. Leggiero tenors that connect with the deer can trust their instincts and navigate their course with musical showmanship.
Light, high tenors have a unique spiritual reason to sing from the heart: the tradition of the Hindu heart chakra includes a deity riding a deer or antelope inside a six-point star. “The hexagram is made of two interlaced triangles, one pointing up and one pointing down. They symbolize the power of spirit and the power of matter coming together, the feminine and masculine in harmony.” (www.chakras.info/heart-chakra-symbol)
Character Tenor—Parrot
Friendly/Sarcastic
When the parrot is your spirit animal, you are the life of the party. You like to make people happy and you know how to have a good time. Parrots can be diplomatic or a little “extra”; they can copy sounds or squawk their own tune and delight others.
Parrots serve as a muse for character tenors because they understand the service of entertainment on demand. The constant work for a laugh will drive tenors to throw some shade when they have had enough—and in these times it is best for others to simply back off. Tenors look to their brightly feathered guides for that je ne sais quoi that propels them into flight. The rainbow feathers speak for themselves.
Dramatic Tenor—Eagle
Courage/Resilience
The eagle is an iconic source of wisdom, strength, and freedom. Dramatic tenors will find vocal strength and personal resilience in the spirit eagle’s presence.
He will get the girl in the end of the opera every time because what poor female is immune to the irresistible nature of a free spirit? The eagle is a predator, which sounds cold but is meant to keep balance in the universe. This trait has been interpreted as a healing spirit, and dramatic tenors will need this to sing high and loud for hours every day.
Zeus was said to have transformed into an eagle to control thunder and lightning. Like Purcell’s Aeneas, the eagle is often described as “God-like.” For dramatic tenors, the eagle will serve to remind you that where much is given, much is required.
Baritone—Grizzly Bear
Strength/Confidence
The bear is a grounded spirit animal that will act and inspire others to stand against diversity. This is a strong spirit animal that originated the term “bearihunk.” 2 The baritone will hold an opera together, but it might kill you in the end. So if the bear is your spirit animal, you will benefit from moments of solitude to stay grounded and practice projecting your low roar.
Baritones may stand out in a choir because a conductor with a baton can be easily mistaken for a hunter. It is best not to taunt the bear; perhaps the conductor could just look at the altos until the “bear-itones” settle down. Baritones have the confidence of Don Giovanni but the gentle heart of Winnie the Pooh. Heed the instincts of your spirit bear and open your heart to those you trust.
Bass—Golden Retriever
Loyal/Trusting
The golden retriever is a compassionate spirit animal that loves easily and forgives others if they miss their high notes, because basses never have to sing above their passaggio. If the golden retriever is your spirit animal, you are a reliable friend and colleague. You can unconditionally love yourself and others, which may manifest with excess slobber.
You possess the skills to achieve your goals and you are loyal to your pack/fellow singers. Basses often portray protectors onstage, but they can also play the villain if that role pays the bills. The golden retriever will inspire you to enjoy your journey and trust your purpose: a low D.
Basso Buffo—French Bulldog
Comical/Amiable
The French bulldog is the spirit animal of the basso buffos, not only because it is prone to snoring and farting, but it is also entertaining and comically adorable. The sturdy, small dog with a wrinkly and glum face endears itself to all humans with any size heart. The French bulldog shares its comic timing and friendly nature with buffos and, like all dogs as spirit animals, they are man’s best friend.
Although challenging to train, the basso buffo will find his stride in cabelletas and codas onstage. After hours, the basso buffo, like unto his spirit guide, will need to chill with a drink, a couch, and a partner to scratch behind his ears.
Countertenor—Flamingo
Truthful/Coordinated
The flamingo is the spirit animal of the countertenor because it stands out with its unique color and form. The flamingo is a truth seeker, and this spirit assists countertenors in developing their upper register as their true voice. Known for balancing on one leg, the flamingo aids in coordination, both in vocal technique and movement onstage.
When the flamingo is your spirit animal, you are a rare and beautiful creature. You may be prone to gossip, blunt or insensitive words, and cutting corners, but the flamingo is not bitchy. It will guide your words so that you can build up others with positive truth and love. This sensitivity to communication will help you build a trusted reputation—which you will need, because mezzo-sopranos do not want you taking their roles.
Soprano/Mezzo Zwischenfach—Dolphin
Peace/Harmony
The dolphin is a peaceful spirit animal that serves the soprano/mezzo Zwischenfach (a singer with dramatic soprano color but the range of a mezzo-soprano, which enables the ability to sing more opera roles but is usually sentenced to sing alto in choral or concert works). The dolphin swims gracefully under water and dazzles human audiences by emerging above the sea—this is your Zwischenfach destiny.
Dolphins are intelligent communicators and will bless Zwischenfachs with the balance to sing in two Fachs and the trust to work with a trainer that knows how to navigate your waters. The dolphin will remind you to be gentle and playful with others when you feel trapped in an alto section. Your inner peace can be found both above and under water—i.e., C5.
Potential Voice Teacher—Swan
Awakening/Developing/Commitment
The swan spirit guides voice teachers. The swan breathes as it glides along the water without making a ripple, like a beautiful legato. This ability to “go with the flow” and “follow your gut” is the reason the swan guides voice teachers. When the swan is your protector, you will see the potential in others. Swans mate for life, and those that identify with the swan will find fulfillment in monogamy and commit to the best interest of their students.
Your natural grace enables you to communicate professionally, balance family with career, and still put on a magnificent show. The swan symbolizes songs and poetry in nature. It follows that voice teachers would be in tune with the swan as they awaken a love for classical singing in their students.
Potential Stage Director—Spider
Creativity/Weaver
The spider is the spirit animal of stage directors. It symbolizes energy, receptivity, patience and, in some cultures, the creation of life itself. The spider weaves an intricate web and can inspire stage directors to create a visual space for an opera and weave singers in and out of the story.
The spider has a strong feminine energy and can symbolize both the light of creation and the darker aspects of life. If you connect with the spider, you are patient and you can create a connection with your “prey.” Spiders will protect you in relationships by helping you seek light in life and save the unnecessary drama for stage.
Not Sure of Your Fach Yet?—Rabbit
Timid/Creative
If the rabbit encapsulates your spirit animal, you are among a group of bright-eyed and bushy-tailed shy, yet creative artists. There is luck, cleverness, and fertility associated with rabbits, but you might battle some anxiety. Do not immediately dismiss your fears with inability if you identify with the rabbit. Shyness can be associated with cleverness and a natural protective demeanor.
Those who overcome their fears can achieve success and wealth. Keep singing, and your spirit bunny will hop you to your lessons, where your teacher will help cultivate your technique so you will find your Fach before your spirit animal can create a new fluffle of spirit bunny rabbits.
Endnotes
- Not exactly scientific or spiritual—“whimsical” would be more accurate.
- Not really.
