In her first column, Joanna Forest, No.1 award-winning Classical Crossover soprano shares the highs and lows of being an independent classical crossover artist.
Just like a melody, the life of a singer is full of highs and lows.
So here it is. I am so delighted to be bringing you my first column for Classical Crossover Magazine.
My aim is to give you a true insight into my life – the life of a classical crossover artist and to share the highs, lows and everything in between!
But what exactly is a high? And what is a low? This can vary for everyone, but for me, as a singer, the ultimate ‘low’ would be to lose my voice and the ability to sing.
My heart sinks everything time I think of my idol, Julie Andrews and the fact that she is no longer singing.
For me, a high isn’t about what I have, it is about what I ‘feel’, and it is the same with a low.
What does bring me down is when our profession isn’t seen a ‘real’ job. I’m very much aware that the steady income one might receive from a stable corporate job will help with those monthly direct debits, but that’s not who I am and I am sure I am not alone in that and many musicians feel the same. It’s not our passion, it’s not in our blood. No, our DNA is purely musical notes and time signatures, and that means being strong when the times are not all we had hoped, when we are all musical notes and not pound notes!
There is no clear career path in the music industry; sometimes you can be beavering away in the background planning future projects, which may look to others as if not much is happening and that your personal job sat nav has got you totally lost on the road to claiming success financially.
The hardest part at this point is when you’re told that “it’s really just a hobby’;
Following your musical dreams can drive us all to tears at times. I am sure I am not alone in this. But the highs of doing this job make every tear worth it and can come from the most unexpected places.
For me, my biggest high has been introducing my music to children.
I believe that music has magical powers, and one of the greatest joys to date has been making my album “Rhythm of Life” and taking it into schools to run music workshops.
My passion has been fuelled by the lack of school music funding in the UK. I do my workshops for free and seeing the children come to life in such a beautiful way is wonderful. But at times I am full of sadness that I can’t help every child. There seems to be a somewhat dismissive attitude of music as a sensible and steady career is one that has led to a slow decline in its education available in schools making way for more academic subjects.
Ofsted repeatedly finds that music education, if there is in fact any at all, is ‘severely lacking’ behind every other subject. Despite evidence that music reinforces discipline, relieves stress, sparks creativity and massages both the left and right side of the brain, children choosing to take music at GCSE is the lowest it has ever been, and I can’t help but wonder if that is because it isn’t encouraged?
I believe we should be welcoming music not turning our backs on it.
Not every child will have the opportunity to attend music classes as an extra-curricular activity. We could be missing out on the next Mozart, David Bowie or Maria Callas. What a loss that would be. For them and us.
Who cares if the child can sing? We can ALL sing. It’s about getting them to tune into to a place where their imaginations can really soar and feel the music.
Seeing the sheer excitement as they join in singing ‘Let’s Go Fly A Kite’ is one of the most magical feelings.
Knowing that I have introduced and shared my greatest friend, music, to hundreds of younger ears and little smiling faces in the room, and that they now have a new friend called music is something I cherish. It’s worth more than the hundreds of millions in the bank, more than the company car, and certainly more than the upturned noses of those who think that this is a mere pastime…It’s pure magical musical heaven.
This is my high. And long may it last.
Beautiful.xxxxxx
Thank you so much Lovely Joanna for this wonderful insight into your life revolving around a “career” that, unless you are “employed“ by a “Promoter” in the form of a Musical Management Team, or have gained a Massive Market of regular listeners & followers, this chosen career does not give back a regular or guaranteed financially secure income..!
With this very “Special” love & feeling you speak of & experience when you are performing & singing to an appreciative audience, I can easily understand keeps you on the “Highs”..
However, I can also easily understand how your music & the lyrics that you so wonderfully present to an appreciative audience, which are the food of your existence in this magical career, cannot always provide a regular & steady income and must lead to the “Lows” that you speak of & inevitable frustration sometimes..
Over the years, from my “teens” listening to music during the late 50’s & through the Rock & Pop, Motown years of the 60’s & 70’s ..! & onward through many other genre’s of the 80’s, 90’s & onward into this century through the “Noughties” of 2000 – 2009 & retired now for 10 years my love of music has, like me, matured & now loving Classical Crossover, I love your voice & musical talent, plus others in this beautiful music genre that I follow, my love of music remains as strong as ever & only wished I could find a magic formula that solves, for all independent musicians, the very accurate description from your article of experiencing & coping with the many different “Highs & Lows” in an otherwise wonderfully rewarding career… especially with children as you mentioned, providing a very special kind of appreciation that helps to give you some of your “Highs”..
I for one Joanna, will continue to follow, support & listen to your music for as long as I am able to and send to you my thanks & best wishes for your wonderful achievements in the magical gift of music to all your fans.
Excellent article Joanna. I love what you do in the community especially introducing music to children. I know that you can’t help everybody but please know that what you do is very much appreciated. My life is the better for having known and met you. Thank you.