Hitting The High Note
Based on my recent road trip singing, it would take a miracle for me to hit the highest note sung by a female.
But it has been done by someone else.
Audrey Luna is credited with singing the highest note at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Luna accomplished this record-breaking moment, singing the A above high C, on Nov. 7, 2017, during the opera “The Exterminating Angel.”
According to Aaron Johnson, a speech pathologist at the Voice Center at Langone Health at New York University, three main things are required to hit this note: an energy source, a sound source, and a resonance chamber. This speaks to the technicality of it; however, Live Science’s article points out another key factor:
“‘People trying to sing in extended ranges need talent, natural gifts, and good training,’ said Dr. Robert Sataloff, the chairman of the otolaryngology department at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia.”
For each one of us, there’s a “high note” we want to hit for our individual career journeys.
Will we hit it or not?
Every now and again we need someone to come alongside us to nudge us towards the greatness that exists within us. Surrendering to the calling on your life is about more than just you. It is about those you will impact by using your natural gifts and talents.
When interviewed about this amazing feat, Audrey Luna knew she could go higher. As reported by Rebecca Seales with BBC News, Luna states: “I’ve sung a C above C - a couple of notes higher than the A, just in a practice room…”
Having the talent within us is sharpened and strengthened by use. If we are allowing these gifts to remain dormant, then they are weak and simply need to be exercised and used again. In Luna’s story, I loved learning that though she practiced equally important, she also rested. It is a requirement to not overstress the vocal cords and to be ready for the performance night.
There is power behind practicing your talents and resting totally. You cannot operate at 100% all of the time. Learning to rest is incredibly impactful to have the supercharge in you to go again. Perhaps you need to assess the boundaries in your life to know if you need to protect your time to be able to rest.
We may not be opera singers, but there exists in each of us a natural talent that we were blessed to receive. It can take a bit of self-discovery work to find it, but yes you definitely have a unique talent that only you can do. It’s the combination of the natural gift inside you, the story that has shaped you to this point, and the beautiful personality that again is uniquely you.
The good news is that it doesn’t take miracles to hit the high notes in our careers because we’re gifted to do the work that we’re created to do.
If I had been called to be an opera singer, I’d have the talent to do it.
Instead, I’ve been gifted to help professionals navigate the twists and turns and re-directs in the career landscape. I’m hitting high notes consistently.
So how about you?