Reach for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.
Norman Vincent Peale
Of all the silly myths perpetrated by Hollywood about The West, there is perhaps none more iconic than the two people standing, hands poised, squinting in the late-morning sun. Then, as the clock in the town square strikes “High Noon” one of them calls out: “Reach For It!”
Hollywood silliness aside (and it is just that), whether or not you realize it, each time you knock or ring the doorbell on my Home or University Studio or hear the little “ding-dong” as you log into your Zoom session, that’s exactly what you do: you reach for it.
The above quote is one of my favorites and is often used a motivational saying that encourages individuals to set ambitious goals and pursue their dreams despite the difficulty of the journey and the uncertainty of eventual results.
In our world, the world of Vocal Training, here’s what it means for us:
Aim high: The phrase encourages us to set our sights on learning to sing through the hard work and discipline of high-level vocal training. It emphasizes the importance of aiming for something significant and transformative in life. Learning to sing certainly is this, so that we might grow as artists, but also learn to move others through the expression of our art.
Embrace failure as progress: Even if you don’t achieve your ultimate goal, or if it takes much longer than you think it “should” (avoiding the “should” will be a future topic) the saying suggests that you will still be in a better position than where you started. It highlights the idea that pursuing ambitious life-long goals –like learning to sing – can lead to other great achievements and personal growth.
Have a positive mindset: The saying promotes a positive mindset by focusing on the potential for success and the opportunities that come with aiming high. It challenges the fear of failure and encourages individuals to take calculated risks for the possibility of extraordinary achievements.
Perseverance and resilience: The saying implies that missing the moon doesn’t mean giving up. It suggests that setbacks should be seen as opportunities to learn, grow, and continue striving for success. It emphasizes the importance of resilience and the ability to bounce back from the failures that always happen when training at this level.
Full Disclosure: for those of you who’ve been at this for a while, the idea that Vocal Training is hard is nothing new to you.
But for those of you newer to the process, know this: yes — training at this level is hard. But it also holds the potential for incredible personal and artistic growth.
And the prospects for your eventual success and what you can accomplish as a vocal artist are quite literally boundless.
Keep Reaching.
#reachforit
#dothereps
#majovta