Strength from Within

The chapter describes how young singers, female and male, can be helped as they traverse times of great vocal challenge. If psychological and emotional needs are not met, it is likely that adolescents will not endure vocal difficulties and will stop singing. Until coordination of the vocal mechanism returns, students must be provided with something to keep them going, to keep them from quitting singing. This chapter focuses on ideas of resolve that are essential to the navigation of voice change; perseverance is explored under the designations of grit, vulnerability, and relentlessness. An additional section considers perseverance in practice and provides strategies for music students and educators to utilize during voice change challenges and beyond.