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The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has taken a big toll on people from all walks of life. Nobody was spared from this time that will be remembered as “The Great Pause”. Singers and instrumentalists in the industry are out of work for the entire year and our jobs will probably be some of the last to return. So, how do we continue on doing what we love when it seems that there will never really be an end to this lull in creativity and music?
Keep Busy - This could be finally learning that piece you never have time for. This could be looking over any old repertoire and finding how it sits in your body now. This could be doing a lot of table work. Anything that can give you some sense of structure and progress will help keep your momentum alive. I am guilty of sleeping all day and then sitting on the couch and binge eating and getting nothing done all day, so keeping busy has been really important for me in this quarantine. Writing out a daily schedule with mundane things like taking a walk, eating breakfast, writing in a journal, and anything else you can think of has been really helpful and can really get you out of the funk you may be feeling right now because it forces you to do something besides watching TV and it gives you structure in your life.
Don’t Apologize - Do not apologize for not being on your A-game. Do not apologize for making mistakes or for feeling like the progress you were making before is going backward. However you’re feeling, it is okay and it is normal. Our homes are not meant to be our places of work. There is a reason that stepping on a stage makes us feel alive. It is OKAY if practicing in your living room does not put you in your best singing shape. Take this time to take your time on projects you had before. A lot of your gigs may have been canceled and you probably don’t know if the ones in the future will be as well. This is really unsettling and difficult to face, so do not apologize for feeling like you can’t be the best you usually are. You are the best you can be now and that’s okay. You might even find that taking this time to be okay with where you’re at will set up your future to be even more successful than before this pandemic hit.
Take Breaks - I know this might contradict my first point, but this is so important. If you don’t feel like singing for a week or two, don’t sing for a week or two. I’ve found that sometimes taking breaks like this will actually give me a reset and I will come back feeling and sounding much better. Taking breaks will prevent burnout that is very easy to come across when we are trapped at home and constantly micromanaging our sound. Because of the tension you may be feeling, resting from overexertion will allow your muscles to relax and be ready to bounce back when you feel like singing again. Breaks do not necessarily mean sitting on the couch and watching tv (although that is totally what I do). You can take the break to do things to keep your mind occupied (like mentioned in my first point) because being left alone to your thoughts can either be really rewarding or really anxiety-inducing. What you do on your break is completely up to your own personal choice.
Set Little Goals - Instead of focusing on the big goals that we are so used to setting up for ourselves, such as the next gig… set a little goal. “By next week, I will learn and record this aria that I have been trying to get down for a while.” Or maybe find an online concert and ask if you could participate in it. These goals could also be as simple as getting out of bed every morning at a certain time and going on a walk. Create your own opportunities because you are the only person that can make them happen in a time that there seem to be none. There are many different apps that can help you instill the goals you make or the habits you’re trying to keep. My personal favorite is the app called Streaks. It costs a little bit of money, but it can really help keep you accountable.
Watch Live Recordings - For those of us that are avid performers, we miss being on stage and exchanging the beautiful, uplifting energy between the audience and our cast-mates. Watching live recordings of operas and musicals can bring you back into that creative space. This is also a good time to see some of your favorite performers that you never got a chance to see live. There are so many resources and outlets for watching these productions that you will never run out of operas and musicals to watch, even if we are stuck at home for a year. Listening and watching to some of your idols perform can be very educational and rewarding. You can take mental (or physical) notes of how they move on the stage and what their phrasing may be alluding to. You might even get inspired to learn a role or an aria you never knew existed!
Go Outside Your Normal - If you feel like you’re not making any progress, go outside the box and try making music in a different way. If you sing classical music, record a cover of a pop song or a jazz standard. You could even try to learn a new instrument (I’ve recently started learning to play the ukulele) or a different type of art, such as dance or drawing. A lot of times when we feel stuck and unmotivated, doing something different will help to get us out of that funk because it can help show what we love in a different light. Most of us love to sing because of the ability to create and be vulnerable while expressing ourselves and our love for music. Looking at something from a different angle can reignite the spark that used to be there. All of the arts connect through the same creativity and self-expression that you feel with singing, so if you are stuck on one thing, try another.
These are just a few of the things you can do to tap into your creativity and motivate yourself during this strange and confusing time. I hope that my tips help!
If you do feel yourself starting to get sick, the most important thing to do is to read my blog on singing when sick (and also see a doctor, get tested, and rest)! Happy Singing!
P.S. Wear a mask!
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