It can be frustrating to make mistakes in singing—whether it’s during your own practice time, in a voice lesson, or even in a performance in front of others. But guess what? Mistakes can be your allies, gently pointing out areas where you can shift or improve for the better. Here are empowering strategies for handling mistakes that actually support your confidence and growth as a singer.
Mistakes happen to all of us whether we are novice or professional singers. Let's look at two examples of professional singers making mistakes during their solo voice recitals. Both chose to start and restart a song in their program. There are pros and cons to consider both for the singer, the performance and the audience in making such a choice.
Your voice is a very personal part of who you are. For that reason it is no surprise that harsh criticism can shake your confidence in your singing or your voice. This is not only true for beginners. Even experienced, professional singers can sometimes suffer from a lack of self-assurance or confidence in their voices when they receive harsh criticism of their singing.
Sometimes unreasonably high expectations of ourselves can get in the way of self-love. We're not productivity machines but human BE-ings. Rather than push ourselves relentlessly, we can give ourselves grace by cutting ourselves some slack. Not only do we benefit, but those around us do, too.
Take heart. Many people have negative self-talk around their singing. No need to puff yourself up with false pride. Chances are you are further along than you think! And besides, singing is so much more than comparing yourself to others.
