“It’s Not Too Late to Sing Again: Why Ages 40–70 Are the Prime Years to Rediscover Your Voice”

If you used to sing — high-school choir, community theatre, church solos, or even university or conservatory — and then life happened (a sensible career, kids, bills), and now you feel the quiet ache that something is missing….you’re not alone. The gift of a beautiful voice, and the dream of being recognized for it, has a very particular way of haunting the people who carry it. It’s a quiet, persistent whisper that says, “You might have missed your calling.” Ironically, that same inner haunting voice is the one that led us to compare ourselves and criticize and doubt our singing while we were working on improving. I like to call that voice Fritz, or Mother Gothel. Well-meaning but supremely unhelpful. (More on Fritz and Mother Gothel in a different blog post.)

I recently had a gentleman in his early 50s come in for a vocal evaluation after suffering a heart attack. It made him wonder — in a very honest, stripped-down, mid-life way — What am I even doing with my life? Did I miss my chance? He has a wonderful family and a successful career. As soon as he sang, I could see why he felt that ache. His voice is truly beautiful and his musical instinct apparent.

Most adults don’t actively choose to stop singing. Caregiving, children, marriage, divorce, relocation — all mute the creative self in favor of survival and stability. On top of that, the reality of the performance world is uncomfortable. There are very few actual singing jobs in opera or classical performance. Broadway and contemporary styles have broader audiences, but the opportunities still don’t match the number of young singers universities push out each year. Renée Fleming said it bluntly in her G. Paul Moore lecture this August:

“There’s the occasional miraculous talent. But even those students, if they don’t get on the right track quickly, by their late 20s, the possibilities start to decline significantly.”

She’s not wrong. A dear college friend of mine — a leading tenor in several European houses — eventually left the business altogether. He now sells whisky at medieval festivals in Europe. And no, he didn't leave because he wasn’t talented; he was extraordinary! But when management knows there are thousands of hopeful singers for every role, the imbalance produces behavior that would trigger lawsuits in any other field. For a harrowing account of his experience see here.

I would never discourage someone from pursuing their dreams. Truly! In my experience, our real regrets tend to be the shots we didn’t take. I am, however, very careful and realistic about what the performance industry demands. I am honest with my young singers about the true cost — and I’m not just talking about student loans, but the grit, discipline, determination, rejection, sacrifice, and the skills like entrepreneurship, sales experience, and negotiation they will need. And in the end, acquiring all of those still doesn’t guarantee an outcome.

So if you’re reading this because part of you wonders whether you missed your moment, here’s the hopeful truth:

It’s not too late. Singing now is so much more rewarding.

Professionals must sing well even when they’re sick, because if they don’t sing, they don’t get paid. Their financial security depends on their vocal reliability. They’re constantly evaluated, compared, replaced, and judged. Their nervous systems never really rest.

But you? You’re in the best position of your life to improve. You aren’t relying on your voice to pay your rent. You don’t need to chase approval from casting directors. You’re doing something for you.

Adults learn faster because they’re emotionally intelligent. They can regulate themselves. They understand nuance. They have rich life experience to give their suffering meaning. As young singers, we pretend we know what heartache, loss, and pain sound like. Now, our singing reflects it — because we know what it feels like. One of my very favorite quotes is:

“You gotta resurrect the deep pain within you and give it a place to live that’s not within your body. Let it live in art. Let it live in writing. Let it live in music. Let it be devoured by building brighter connections. Your body is not a coffin for pain to be buried in.” — Ehime Ora

The human soul longs to create! If you look at the children of the ultra-wealthy — the ones who have zero pressure to pursue practical careers — many of them choose art. When survival is guaranteed, creativity naturally rises to the surface. It’s how we’re wired.

The reality is that singing is one of the best hobbies for your physical health and psyche. My acupuncturist once told me — not knowing that I was a professional singer or having any idea I could sing, but simply seeing me completely overwhelmed and stressed as a young mom living in a foreign country with two autistic sons — “You need to sing. Daily. Singing restores your body, your circulation, and your mind in ways no other activity can.” This advice was echoed by a psychologist I consulted after my divorce. He said, “Your first order of business is to get a piano. Play! Sing! It will do more to restore your mental health than anything else can.” It is quite possibly the most sound medical advice I ever received (pun entirely intended).

Later I learned why: on a neurological level, singing boosts dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins — all the good chemicals your brain keeps pleading for. It shapes identity, regulates mood, and rewires the nervous system. And one thing I’ve learned: singing in a choir or ensemble amplifies all of these benefits — and multiplies the joy.

Can the voice return after years of inactivity? Yes. Can technique be learned at 40, 50, 60, even 70? Absolutely. Are there age-related changes? Of course. Hormones shift, muscles adjust. I personally developed a lower register I never had when I was younger, and I’m having a lot of fun with it. The brain remains astonishingly adaptable. If you ask it to do something, it starts finding ways to comply.

Your 40s–70s are the moment in life when you finally get to do something that isn’t for your job, your children, your partner, your aging parents, or an audience that might applaud you one day and forget you the next. This time is yours.

People often say, “If I could just touch one person with my gift, it would all be worth it.”

I agree. But consider this: Maybe the one person your gift was meant to touch, comfort, and lift is you!

And maybe music was always meant to be a portal to another level of existence — where harmony, love, and meaning are the norm — and by engaging in it, we can recreate and feel it here and now.

If you’re reading this and something stirred, this may be your sign. Whether you’re local to Utah or planning to take lessons online, there is a place for your voice here.

I’m gathering an interest list for adults who want to return to singing — quietly, gently, or boldly — at their own pace. No pressure, no commitment; it simply lets me keep you in the loop as I open spaces for adult students, private instruction, or a small “Returning to Singing” class I’m considering for the near future.

If you’d like to explore lessons now, I do have limited openings for adults re-starting their vocal journey.

You’re welcome to add your name to the interest list or reach out directly.

Join the Adults Returning to Singing Interest List

Either way, I’m glad you’re here. Your voice still matters — perhaps now more than ever.

As young singers, we pretend we know what heartache, loss, and pain sound like. Now, our singing reflects it — because we know what it feels like.