How to be a "Natural" Singer

I used to be someone who exercised in bursts- I'd go running, I'd lift some weights, feel really motivated, then fall off the wagon for weeks.

It was a cycle of excitement, guilt, and starting over.

But something shifted when I decided to go on a walk every single day.

No exceptions, no matter the weather, no matter how busy I was.

At first, it was hard. I had to coax myself out the door, remind myself why I wanted this habit, and push through the resistance.

Then one day I realized: I couldn’t not walk.

It had become part of me.

A small, consistent action repeated day after day turned into something bigger than I ever thought possible.

And the same is true for singing.

👉🏻 Overnight success is a myth. 

We love the idea of the prodigy, the star who “comes out of nowhere” and dazzles the world.

But here’s the truth: nobody actually comes out of nowhere.

Behind every “overnight success” is years- sometimes decades- of steady, unglamorous effort.

It’s the auditions you don’t get.

The vocal warm-ups you do when nobody is listening.

The practice sessions squeezed in between work and dinner.

The small choices that add up over time.

When I was living in the city as a young performer, there were dry spells when I wasn’t getting hired.

Months without gigs.

And let me tell you, that silence can be brutal.

It can make you doubt yourself, your talent, your future.

But instead of waiting around for the phone to ring, I made my own opportunities.

I collaborated with friends.

I organized concerts within my community.

I created my own performance moments to keep myself invested and to remind myself why I loved to sing in the first place.

Those little performances didn’t make headlines, but they kept me going.

They kept me sharp. They mattered.

Here’s the truth: big leaps are rare. 

The accumulation of tiny, consistent actions is where the magic happens.

• Five minutes of vocalizing before breakfast.
• Reading through one new song a week.
• Journaling about your creative process.
• Choosing rest instead of burnout so you can keep singing tomorrow. 

None of these things feel dramatic in the moment.

No one is applauding you for choosing to do your SOVTs instead of scrolling your phone.

But these are the things that compound over time.

They build strength, stamina, artistry, and resilience.

Just like my daily walks, they shift from being something you make yourself do into something you can’t imagine skipping. 

Listen- the difference between singers who thrive and singers who burn out is rarely talent.

It’s persistence.

It’s the willingness to keep showing up, even when it feels like nothing is happening.

Because here’s the secret: something is happening.

Every time you show up for your creative practice, you’re planting a seed.

It may not bloom immediately, but it’s there, quietly growing roots, preparing to emerge.

When the big opportunity does come- an audition, a performance, a collaboration- you’ll be ready because you’ve been tending your craft all along. 

So what does this mean for you?

It means you don’t need to overhaul your life overnight.

You don’t need to wait for perfect circumstances or a big break to “finally” feel like a singer.

You can start now. Today. With one small, consistent action.

Maybe it’s singing for 10 minutes while you make coffee.

Maybe it’s jotting down one lyric or phrase that inspires you.

Maybe it’s stretching your body before you sing.

Feed your creative practice like you’d feed a plant- with steady, daily care.

Not with sporadic floods of attention that leave you exhausted, but with small, nourishing habits that keep you rooted and growing.

Here are some ideas to make consistency less of a chore and more of a lifestyle:

• Shrink the task. Instead of “I’ll practice for two hours,” tell yourself “I’ll warm up for five minutes.” Small starts are easier to keep.
• Attach it to something you already do. Sing scales while the coffee brews, hum on your walk, do your SOVTs as your meditation/centering time. 
• Track it. Checkmarks, sticky notes, apps- whatever makes you feel like you’ve accomplished something. (Because you have.)
• Celebrate tiny wins. Nailed that high note once today? That’s a victory dance moment.
• Remember the long game. Consistency is like compound interest for your voice- it pays off in ways you can’t always see right away.

If you take nothing else away from this, let it be this:

The work you do day to day, often unseen and uncelebrated, is what moves you forward.

Overnight success is a myth.

What’s real-and infinitely more powerful- is the steady, unshakable progress that comes from choosing not to give up.

Your small steps are not insignificant. They are the path.

So lace up your shoes, do your warm-up, take your walk, sing your song.

And trust that these small acts are shaping the artist you’re becoming.

Your future self will thank you.

Have a wonderful week!

Erin

P.S.  Remember: five minutes of singing > zero minutes of singing. Every time.

P.S.S. And here’s the beautiful part- five minutes today makes tomorrow easier. Tiny steps stack up, and before you know it, you’re standing on a foundation you built note by note. Keep going- you’re doing more than you realize.