Why Do I Sing?

There are things in this life that are worth thinking about and worth pondering. I have a habit of thinking deeply about current events, world issues, ideas that I either agree with or disagree with, and I am not afraid to express my opinions (obviously in a loving-non-violent way). What I want to tell you today is something that I have thought deeply about for a while. What I want to address today is why I sing.

First of all, I want to share with you some of the negative thoughts on my “bad days” that sometime cloud my mind and blind me. Some days the “expectations” and demands of singing get me down and I don’t always love it. Maybe my fellow musicians/singers have thought these as well:

Why do I even sing? What is the purpose? I’m not even making that much money off of it. Does music even matter? Why am I making music, for me? For my audience? How do I make a living off of this? Does that matter? I hate how I sound. Is anyone even listening? Does anyone care? What is the purpose of making music? What is the drive, the goal? I can’t remember, and now it isn’t fun anymore.

Although these are negative thoughts, I have decided to flip them upside down and ponder deeply until they are positives. Before the negativity was wrapped around hopelessness, but now I can answer this thoughts with confidence. Now understand that these are MY reasons for why I sing/make music, and I know that many will not agree with me, share my reasons, and even think me foolish. I totally get that, and I don’t think of you any less. But these after all are MY reasons so you can either take them or leave them, it is up to you.

So, why do I sing? What are the reasons? What is the purpose?

I sing because I believe my purpose is to bring honour and glory to God. I have been blessed with this gift, and therefore I want to use it instead of hiding it away. Whenever I get onstage whether it is musical theatre, opera, worship, coffee shops, etc. it is for the glory of Jesus and no one else. It is not for me, it is not for the applause, it is not for fame, it is a gift that I get to share with the audience and give to Jesus. I don’t mean to preach, but that is my number one reason and purpose for singing. “A singer starts by having his instrument as a gift from God . . . when you have been given something in a moment of grace, it is sacrilegious to be greedy” - Marian Anderson

I sing because it brings me great joy. It simply brings me joy. Being able to be a part of creating art, hearing beautiful music, singing beautiful music, words cannot describe the joy I feel when I sing. And I think it draws into my main purpose for singing, I have the joy of knowing that I am singing for His glory and giving something back to humanity.

I sing because it expresses my emotions. Artists are very emotional people. We want to feel something, we want to be moved. Singing is my way of letting out emotion, good or bad it can be felt in a song. I can feel happy, sad, broken, empty, hopeful, playful, peaceful, angry, jealous, content, so many emotions in various songs and styles. When I hear music, when I hear someone sing, play an instrument I am moved by their pathos and I find that beautiful because it connects us all. “For me, music making is the most joyful activity possible, the most perfect expression of any emotion.” - Luciano Pavarotti

I sing because I would hope that it would inspire other people, that is would bring peace, and that even one person would be moved to share their gifts with the world to bring people united together.

I sing because that is how I want to live my life. It is what I love to do and it is something that I want to pursue as a lifestyle and a “career”. Eventually I want my Masters in Opera, and where or when is up to God to decide, I will follow where I am led. I may never make it onto the great stages like the Met, and that is ok with me. I don’t care where I go, as long as I am doing what I love. And If I do end up at the Met (I would praise Jesus for an amazing opportunity like that!), I will always keep grounded and remind myself why I sing.

So perhaps something that you can take away from this is: Why do you do what you do? What is the purpose? What are your reasons? Find out why you love your craft and do it for those reasons. These are things that I have to remind myself every day and it is a daily struggle but worth it, oh so worth it.

“Every day I remind myself of all that I have been given. With singing, you never know when you are going to lose the voice, and that makes you appreciate the time that you have when you are still singing well. I am always thanking God for another season, another month, another performance” – Luciano Pavarotti

 “I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.” Psalm 104:33