Make Your Own Garden Grow

Make Your Own Garden Grow


Before my graduation recital with Nicole Malcom and Amanda Chin at York University.

Dear Voice Student,

So—you’ve decided to study your passion and perhaps even pursue a career in the arts. Bravo. Choosing to follow your calling, especially one as vulnerable and personal as singing, takes enormous bravery. You are not just entering a profession; you are charting a map in unmarked territory. Every artist becomes, in some way, a cartographer—mapping the landscape of their own path in a career that is as unpredictable as it is rewarding.

The arts are strange that way: they’re always changing, yet somehow always the same. In a future post, I’ll dive deeper into the practical side—income streams, the many hats you’ll wear as a musician—but for now, here’s what I believe you truly need to build a career as a singer.

Musicianship

Good musicianship is your foundation—your compass. This means developing strong ears, solid theory, and a deep understanding of how music works. If you were fortunate enough to start piano (or any instrument) and theory lessons early, you already have an advantage. These skills are the lifeblood of your artistry; they determine how you learn, interpret, and memorize music.

If you’re a parent of a young singer, here’s my advice: get your child in a choir. Choirs teach sight-reading, harmony, and ensemble awareness—skills that become invaluable later on. I credit much of my own musicianship to those early choral experiences; they taught me not only how to sing but how to listen.


With Cantabile Chamber Singers in Apocalypsis in 2015.

Starting Voice Lessons

Can you start singing lessons before 15? Yes—but patience is key. The voice changes dramatically through puberty, and it can be disheartening when it doesn’t sound or feel “right.” Vocal development is a long game. In my experience, the voice begins to truly settle around 16 and continues to blossom well into one’s 30s. This is a lifelong instrument that matures with you.

Choosing a Teacher

A good teacher guides your technique and artistry. That’s their job—and really, that’s all their job should be. Be wary of anyone who promises career advancement through their “connections,” especially if you’re under 20. That’s a story as old as time.

Research your teacher’s background. Listen to their recordings. Remember: every teacher is the master of their own voice, and what worked for them might not work for you. That’s okay. Each voice is beautifully unique.

Also consider logistics—lesson frequency, cost, and time. In university, weekly lessons are standard and ideal during your late teens and twenties. After school, seek out a teacher whose career reflects what you aspire to.

How You Handle “No”

Here’s a hard truth: “No” will be one of your greatest teachers.

The first few will sting. A string of them might feel like the flu. Every singer—no matter how talented—hears “no.” The real test is not whether it hurts (it will), but how you recover. Instead of asking “Why not me?”, ask “How can I improve?”

Me as Gilda and Andrew Tees as Rigoletto in Opera York's production of Rigoletto. 


It’s okay to feel upset; we’re human. I’ve learned to redirect that frustration into action. If I’m too discouraged to sing, I’ll work on my website, plan future lessons, or organize new repertoire. If you find that rejection breaks you beyond repair, then perhaps a professional singing career isn’t the right fit—and that’s okay too. This is a path that requires resilience, humility, and a deep love of the process itself.

The Reality of the Industry

A career in singing is often unfair. You can be a brilliant musician, a magnetic performer, and still find yourself waiting for opportunity. Privilege, nepotism, and politics exist. You’ll hear it in audition waiting rooms, in the whispered names of expensive schools, or in stories that make you question the point of it all.

But dwelling on that unfairness only drains the joy from your art. Instead, turn inward. Focus on your own craft, your own growth, your own joy. There will be people who see you, who believe in you, and who help you forge your path toward artistic excellence.


As Cunegonde with Talk is Free Theatre in Candide. 

A Final Thought

As Voltaire reminds us, “Il faut cultiver notre jardin.”
We must cultivate our own garden to find happiness and meaning in this life.

Tend to your art. Nurture your musicianship. Protect your love for music fiercely. The path may not be easy—but it is yours, and that makes it worth every step.

Warmly

Holly 


as Lucia from Lucia di Lammermoor


Location: Toronto, ON, Canada

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