Slate Daily Feed How To! | Sing in Front of Other People
Dec 9, 2025
Rebecca Onion, a Slate staff writer seeking to improve her singing, gets guidance from G. Phillip Shoultz III, an experienced choral conductor. They dive into the emotional power of communal singing and how it can create a sense of belonging. Philip shares practical tips for finding choirs, overcoming audition anxiety, and even starting a singing circle. He emphasizes that everyone can sing and discusses the inclusive environment that community efforts create. Their conversation turns into a heartfelt exploration of voice, confidence, and connection through music.
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Singing Is Widely Loved But Misunderstood
- Many people already love singing but avoid it because they believe they "can't sing."
- That mistaken belief blocks emotional expression and communal joy, not ability.
Family Singing Hour That Moves Her
- Rebecca describes a family "singing hour" where songs and stories are repeated across generations.
- She says those sessions sometimes move her to tears and feel spiritually cleansing.
Singing Is A Trainable Human Skill
- G. Phillip Shoultz III argues singing is an innate human skill: if you can talk, you can sing.
- He reframes singing as trainable muscle memory rather than a rare gift.