Where there is a will, there is a way...

This post is a response to a student I have who is truly wonderful and I expect will have a nice professional career in musical theater.

A few years ago, I posted on the necessary tools and talents one needs to succeed in the music business.  Besides the obvious one of have an exceptional voice, you must excel in acting, entrepreunerial ability, self-motivation, etc...

But I left one big detail out.  And it is the most important one in terms of whether your child should pursue music as a living, as opposed to a nice hobby.  Does the student have an innate NEED to communicate through acting and singing?

This need will often show up in a strong work ethic, but it is much more than that.  For whatever reason, some students literally NEED to sing.  It is the physical, visceral, and emotional desire to communicate through song and move people.

If you were to ask me whether someone will succeed in music, it is this NEED that I look for most of all.  Lots of people have pretty voices.  Many of those work hard, are smart, lucky etc...but only a few really need music in their lives to be happy.  If they have this DESIRE, they have the best shot to making a music career.

DWS