I Feel Better When I Sing

A reminder that singing isn’t just for performers — it’s for everyone.

Before I ever studied voice, before I cared about posture or resonance or vowel shape, I sang because it felt good. I sang because it felt like me.

And honestly? That’s still why I sing.

Somewhere along the way, though, many people start to believe that singing “doesn’t count” unless you’re performing. That if you’re not on a stage or in a choir or holding a microphone, you must not be a real singer.

I want to push back on that — gently but clearly.

You don’t need to be on a stage to be a singer.

You don’t even need an audience.

If you use your voice to express something real, to feel something deeply, or to connect with yourself — you are a singer.

In my studio, I have students who have never performed publicly and don’t plan to. They sing in lessons, at home, in the car, and in the congregation at church. They’re not chasing applause — they’re chasing connection. And that is more than enough.

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Singing Is Good for You — And Science Agrees

Even if you never perform, singing brings measurable health benefits. Research has shown that singing:

• Reduces stress by lowering cortisol levels (https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-singing

• Boosts your mood by releasing endorphins and oxytocin (https://www.singupfoundation.org/about-singing-for-mental-health/understanding-singing-for-mental-health/singing-health)

• Improves respiratory function through deep, controlled breathing (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11086531/)

• Supports your immune system by raising levels of immunoglobulin A (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15669447/)

• Strengthens brain function and memory (https://www.operanorth.co.uk/news/creating-melodic-memories/)

Singing isn’t just expressive — it’s restorative. It connects mind, body, and spirit in a way that few other activities can.

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You Don’t Have to Be “Ready”

Yes, technique matters. Yes, performance can be a powerful goal. But it’s not the only goal. Sometimes the most meaningful musical work happens when no one else is listening.

I’ll always be the first to tell a student if I think they’re not ready to perform. Not to crush dreams — never that — but to protect their confidence and make sure they feel truly prepared when the time comes. Because the point of singing isn’t to prove anything. It’s to say something true.

And here’s the best part: you don’t need to reach a certain skill level to earn the right to sing. You can sing because you're grieving. You can sing because you're joyful. You can sing because your body needs it, or your breath demands it, or your soul just has something to say.

Singing is brave. Singing is human.

So if you’ve been waiting for someone to give you permission — here it is. You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to be a professional.

You just have to sing.

"All I know is I feel better when I sing.

Burdens are lifted from me, that’s my voice rising."

— Conor Oberst, “Method Acting”