Do you just want to listen instead of reading? Watch the video below:

Programs and pay-to-sings are a great way to build your resume, fill in the gaps of your education, and build a network. They provide a structured and safe environment to better your technique and learn roles. However, programs are also expensive and time consuming. Sometimes they are not in the realm of what is financially feasible. Some of them are very competitive, and sometimes life events may prevent you from doing a program in a distant city. If you are lucky enough to get into one of these competitive programs, it is also okay to walk away from a program that is very expensive for financial reasons. This begs the question, “What can I do with my summer to move my career forward?” If you are not in a program this summer, there are many ways to move you knowledge and opera career forward. 

Do a Recital or Cabaret

As professional singers, we spend a lot of time doing music planned by outside groups and companies. Most of the time we do not get a chance to perform a song we desperately want to sing, or we keep putting off exploring repertoire we have always wanted to try. A recital or cabaret gives you a chance to do this! It is also a great opportunity to learn how to effectively plan and market an event. Ask your local church if you may use their space in exchange for singing a Sunday or two at the church. This way you can also network and promote yourself at the service. Recitals can also be used as a fundraising tool for your favorite charity, or for your next artistic venture. This is also a great way to use your education to help the community. If you need some ideas on how to fund your recitals, check out Patreon, YouCaring, Kickstarter, and Indigogo. 

Do a Role Study

Take a role you know you will definitely sing someday and go through the complete motion of learning it. Translate it, thoroughly learn the diction, read the libretto, read the original text, and take time to really sit and learn the role top to bottom. This will show you where your strengths and weaknesses are in the process of learning a role without the pressure of an upcoming show. Remember companies are occasionally looking for people to fill roles last minute. If you have a role studied and ready to go on your resume, you are ahead of the game. If you cannot afford a coach or teacher to help you with this process, there are many resources available in the library. Buy a few DVDs of people playing the role or an IPA book that has a full translation. 

Take Acting Lessons or Classes

I took a few months of private acting classes last year, and I can say it was one of the most helpful things I ever did for my opera career. I studied with a director whom I had previously worked with for a production of Pirates of Penzance. Primarily having worked on Shakespeare monologues and memorization techniques, I found it helpful to study acting as an art separate from the musical world of opera. The memorization technique my acting teacher gave me is the best technique I have found thus far for music. Even though it is a straight acting technique, it has helped me directly as a singer. The lessons I took were far less expensive than any formal acting course, and I felt like my teacher really did a great job of catering to my strengths and weaknesses. If you are more interested in a class, many professional theaters also offer acting classes at reasonable prices. 

Study Languages

There are many ways to study languages in today’s hyper-connected society. There are meet-up groups, apps, and classes. An app we highly recommend for language study is Duolingo. It’s a great way to learn on-the-go. It starts off with grammar basics and becomes progressively harder as you work through levels in the app. It keeps your languages fresh and promotes healthy competition with friends. If you are looking for a more formalized class, many colleges, community centers, and universities have summer classes for various languages. Many public libraries also offer a free online service called Mango Languages. There are also many audio programs available on Spotify to study languages. Spotify is free with ads and is ad-free for about $10 a month.

Study Bodywork: Yoga, Alexander Technique, Dance Classes, or Working Out

Yoga is an excellent option for bodywork. Yoga is taught in many summer programs to promote a body-breath connection, which is extremely important to us as singers. In many cities, there are free or low-cost outdoor yoga classes throughout the summer. In New York City there is free yoga offered in many local parks. Dance is also becoming increasingly popular on operatic stages. Many dance companies offer adult classes for a nominal fee. You may also take this time to make your body stronger with a gym membership. Planet Fitness is only $10 a month with a few other small fees throughout the year. Alexander Technique teachers and their availability are dependent on the city you are in. 

Update your Audition Package

Take extra lessons and coachings in the summer to solidify your audition package. If there are any arias you feel need to be changed, shelved for later, or switched, this can be the time to do that. Learn your pieces so well you are ready for the auditions to come. Take your audition package and perform in a recital or for your acting coach. In addition, you can take the time to pick out the perfect outfit, get headshots done, and rewrite your resume. Look up resumes and what other successful singers are doing. All of these things are time-consuming, so it can be a great use of your summer.

Community Opera and Community Arts Projects

There are many musical theatre groups, opera groups, and arts organizations that perform during the summer. These are a great way to build your skill sets and network with other singers. Most community arts projects can be found by searching on Google or Facebook. Take the time to like the Facebook pages of all the community opera companies in your area. This will help you stay up-to-date on auditions and performances in your area. Another way to find community arts projects is by checking bulletin boards at local libraries and coffee shops. 

Build an Online Presence

Build or update your website. Look into setting up a mailing list using an email marketing company like MailChimp. Create an account on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Building and maintaining a website can be time-consuming. The summer is a great time to sit down and get this work done. Wix, Weebly, SquareSpace and Wordpress are all user-friendly sites to start with.

Try Admin/Production Work

Many companies need people to help with administrative and production work during the summer. Even if this is not your end goal as a singer, it behooves you to learn other aspects in the field. I have worked administratively, as a costume designer, and as a stage manager and have found those experiences have made me a much more effective singer. Any office work, accounting work, or marketing work helps you learn valuable skills needed to be a freelance singer. These are also great skills to add to your resume, as some smaller companies need multitaskers to help with this kind of work. 

Work on You

In 2011, Joyce DiDonato made a YankeeDiva video on YouTube for Young Artists. Her first piece of advice was to be a "student of life.” A summer when you do not have a lot to do is a great opportunity to be a student of life. Read books about things you are interested in to give you ideas regarding your next recital or cabaret. Go see operas you have always wanted to see, travel to a nearby town you have never explored, have a stay-cation, go to therapy, find another creative outlet, pick up a new hobby, or go to wine and cheese tastings. Remember, all art informs other art. We work in an art form that is all about living, so this is a great time to live life to the fullest!

Know that sometimes the most interesting artistic opportunities come from not doing what everyone else is doing. Sometimes working on yourself and taking time for what you need is exactly what you need to grow yourself as an artist and a person.