Courage to Voice

Hello dear ones,

I've been a singer for over 30 years, and singing has been one of the practices that's taught me courage on the deepest level. Few activities are as vulnerable. Once you're a skilled vocalist, it's easy to step on stage — but getting there means wacky sounds, strange warm-ups, self-scrutiny, wrestling with your inner critic, pre-performance nerves, discipline, and going mute for stretches. All worth it.

That said, I'm fascinated by people who want to play with non-performative voice work too. Sounding and singing are your birthright. Making music, unlike listening to it, fires up your whole brain — you're growing neurologically, building healthier breathing and posture, and building the confidence not just to sing but to express yourself, because singing is a way of taking up space. Marginalized groups — women, POC, LGBTQ+ folks, and others — are often socialized not to take up space.

Like everything, there's nuance here. I deeply value listening and making space for others. But choosing that consciously feels very different from the energy of fear or feeling unable to speak. One is respect and consideration; the other is hiding.

For me, singing built the bridge to self-expression in a way that connects to my sense of mattering. If we don't feel we matter, why would we add our voice to a room?

Vocalizing in any form — structured music practice or wacky, random sounds — is a great way to release overwhelm and move closer to courageous expression. Are you ready to enter Into the space of your courageous voice? Reach out!