Episode 298: Your Singing Hero Journey

Every hero has a journey, and every great singer has their own singing hero journey. From the earliest stages of learning to sing, mastering technique, crafting original compositions, and finally performing confidently in front of large audiences, we'll look at what it takes to go on this awe-inspiring adventure.

On this episode of The Intelligent Vocalist Podcast with John Henny, he provides insight into why understanding the Singing Hero Journey is essential for aspiring singers to attain their goals. Read on if you want to take your singing career up a notch or gain insight into what makes a great singer!

The "hero's journey" is a term coined by scholar Joseph Campbell to describe the common patterns he observed in many stories and myths around the world. In his book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Campbell outlines the basic steps of the hero's journey:

As John shared, this hero's journey myth frequently recurs in literature.  This basic structure can be seen in everything from ancient Greek mythology to modern Hollywood blockbusters. It is a powerful narrative tool that can help us make sense of our lives and experiences.

In that same way, he points out that you also have a hero's journey ahead. There is always more road to travel in your singing career, wherever you are, and if the hero stays home, nothing will happen.

Individuals whose courage, strength, and selflessness identify them as heroes can be held back by various challenges. In the podcast, John discussed some of the most significant roadblocks that prevent heroes from taking action.

Reticence, or the act of being unwilling to commit to something, can be a hindrance to heroism. We know a hero steps up to meet obstacles head-on. They don't hesitate or hold back but charge forward with everything they've got. A reticent individual, on the other hand, may be hesitant to take on a challenge or opt not to act at all. This could originate from a feeling of inadequacy, worry, or self-preservation.

When someone has done something great, it's easy to become complacent and think they don't have to try as hard anymore. John associates this outlook with the Dunning-Kruger effect. It happens when someone overestimates their competence due to a lack of knowledge and skills in a particular field.

The minute you start thinking that you're better than everyone else or that you don't have to work as hard, you've lost the battle. Complacency is the enemy of progress. It's what makes people lazy and content with mediocrity. It's what causes people to give up on their dreams and settle for a life that's just okay.

When you're complacent, you're not living up to your potential. You're not pushing yourself to be the best that you can be. You're not striving for greatness. You're just coasting along, letting life pass you by.

The singing hero journey is a process of self-discovery and growth that can help singers reach their full potential. It involves moments that lead you to know the fundamental pieces that make you a hero, taking the time to reflect on your current skills, setting goals for yourself, and developing the necessary skills to achieve those goals. Familiarizing yourself with these steps is essential to maintain focus and motivation on your singing journey.

Accepting the call to adventure is the first step in your singing hero journey. This means acknowledging that you have a unique singing talent and are willing to put in the hard work required to develop it. It recognizes that your journey will be filled with challenges and setbacks but that you are up for them. Along the way, you may also find allies and mentors who can help you on your quest.

Everybody encounters challenges at some point in their lives. We all must overcome challenges to accomplish our goals, whether mustering the courage to audition for a role in a musical or choosing to pursue singing as a career. With that, John discusses the challenges you might encounter on the road to your singing hero journey.

As an aspiring singer, getting caught up in negative self-talk and feeling like you're getting worse instead of better can be easy. The pressure to be perfect can be overwhelming, and it can seem like no matter how hard you try, you just can't reach the level of success you desire. This hurdle may be very challenging to overcome, but it is essential to remember that you are on a journey, and it takes time to reach your goals.

In the podcast, John associates his experience as a drummer with the singing hero journey. As a teenager, he felt like he was already the best version of himself as he received a standing ovation from the crowd after a performance. But lo and behold, college was different. He encountered highly skilled musicians in large ensembles who knew a great deal about the instrument and he had to grapple with the fear of not knowing if he was doing the right thing.

At some point, you are bound to have doubts and frustrations. After all, you are trying to achieve something challenging. Everyone who has ever achieved anything significant has had doubts and frustrations.

Note that these feelings can feel magnified. You might doubt your talent, wonder if you're good enough, or worry that you'll never make it as a professional singer. You might feel frustrated with your progress or the need for opportunities to showcase your talent. These things don't necessarily mean that you're not good enough or that you shouldn't pursue your dream of becoming a professional singer. Instead, use these doubts and frustrations as motivation to work harder and strive for excellence.

It's no secret that becoming a successful singer takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and talent. However, several vocal setbacks can prevent aspiring singers from reaching their full potential. Here are just a few of the most common vocal challenges faced by aspiring singers:

1. Vocal fatigue. Because singing uses a lot of muscles in the face and neck, it can be easy to experience vocal fatigue, especially when first starting out. It can result in a loss of pitch, breathiness, or even complete loss of voice.

2. Hoarseness. Hoarseness is another common side effect of singing and can be caused by overuse of the voice or incorrect technique.

3. Vocal cord damage. Vocal cord damage is a severe problem if you sing with improper technique or strain your voice too much. This can lead to permanent changes in your voice, so it's essential to be careful when singing.

4. Nodules. Nodules are growths that can form on the vocal cords due to overuse or strain on the voice.

The music industry is tough to crack. For every successful artist, countless others have struggled for years without seeing their big break. It's easy to feel like quitting when the going gets tough. Still, it's important to remember that while success is never guaranteed, staying home will never lead you to reach your potential.

When you face obstacles in life, it can be difficult to know what to do. Despite these things, John reminds us that this is a common chapter that heroes will experience. You'll really be challenged where the journey becomes the darkest. But you'll eventually find a guide that'll help light your path.

The guide is an essential part of the hero's journey, as they're here to help the hero by giving advice and guidance. An experienced vocal mentor can be a great asset when it comes to developing your musical talents. They can guide you through the basics, help you uncover your unique voice, and give you the motivation needed to achieve your goals.

The singing hero's journey is long and arduous, but it is also gratifying. As you progress through the stages of your journey, you will gradually start to notice the improvement you have been striving for. You will find yourself regaining the confidence lost along the way, and the fear and doubts that made you hesitate will begin to dissipate.

John asserts that you are the owner of this journey. Neither your fear nor your guide holds power to decide your next steps. Ultimately, you want to be the hero of your own story. And sometimes, the best way to do that is through song.

If you want to know more about John, you can visit johnhenny.com. There you can listen to previous episodes of The Intelligent Vocalist podcast, as well as access his blog posts. Join John's mailing list to get special offers that are exclusive to his mailing list, and stay up to date on new courses and books.