VOCALS
ARE YOU A GIFTED VOCALIST?
There are probably not a lot of folks out there
that think they are amazing singers, but I often
hear people who refer to their voice as a “gift”
from God. Many people believe that God has
gifted them vocally and therefore they need
to use this gift. Whether or not that is true,
and how to determine that, could have many
ramifications overall, but what I would like to
deal with is how that affects the way you view
your voice and ultimately how to care for it.
In Malcolm Gladwell’s book “Outliers: The
Story of Success” he takes a look at the world
of “outliers”--the best and the brightest, the
most famous and the most successful. He
asks the question: what makes high-achievers
different? It’s a fascinating book that researches
everything from their culture, their family, their
The Apostle Paul said in I Corinthians 9:24-
It can be a humbling experience to admit that
generation, and the idiosyncratic experiences
25: “Do you not know that in a race all the
you need to learn how to do something that
of their upbringing to come to some startling
runners run, but only one receives the prize?
you seem to be able to naturally do already.
revelations. I suggest you read the book for a
Run in such a way as to take the prize.
To quote Eric Liddell again “The exercises
more thorough (and interesting!) look at this
Everyone who competes in games trains with
seemed unimportant at first, but later one finds
concept, but one of the most remarkable
strict discipline. They do it for a crown that
how useful they have been.” There are many
conclusions is this: the biggest difference
is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is
things that can cut short an athlete or a singer’s
between “gifted high achievers” and others,
imperishable.” The issue here, as a singer and
professional life. Knowledge and training are
the next level down, often comes down to this:
leader of worship, is more one of whether or
keys to a powerful and sustainable career as a
10,000 hours of practice.
not you are personally pursuing a crown that is
singer. Humbling yourself to admit you can use
“perishable or imperishable” not whether or not
help and get better is a great start. Following
Whether or not you have a “gift” from God
you should work toward perfecting your craft.
through with discipline and exercise is the next
with regard to your voice is, in many ways,
That is something that you may need to get
step. Don’t be afraid to invest in your gift so
irrelevant to how you pursue your craft and
straight between you and God, but the idea of
that you, like Eric Liddell can say “I believe God
your service to Him. Eric Liddell, Scottish
perfecting your craft should not be a question.
made me for a purpose, but he also made me
athlete, Olympic champion, and athlete known
fast (gave me a voice)! And when I run (sing) I
for his decision not to run his preferred race on
If you believe you are called to lead worship
a Sunday, was quoted as saying: “Many of us
with your voice, I believe you need to grow as
are missing something in life because we are
a singer and as a worshipper. These are things
after the second best.” I can’t agree more.
that take time and commitment, but serving Him
We so often set our sights so low when
is a worthy calling and worthy of our time and
it comes to our performance in ministry.
investment. Spending time in personal worship
We somehow mistakenly think that working on
will help you to lead others into worship. And
our craft might undermine the value of the “gift”
spending time becoming a better singer,
that God has given us. Or, somehow make it
regardless of your “gifting”, can only improve
appear as though we have a worldly mindset
the experience for everyone. I encourage you
and are focused more on performance than
to pursue training, whether it’s getting personal
pleasing God.
vocal lessons or simply starting off by investing
feel his pleasure.”
in some training tools to get started.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
16
Nov Dec 2016
WorshipMusician.com
SHERI GOULD
Internationally acclaimed
vocal coach with a degree
from U of Illinois. Coaching
since ‘79 and leading worship since ‘85.
www.SheriGould.com