Confidence vs Courage

When students first come to voice lessons, many believe their main obstacle is a lack of confidence. They've been told over and over: "You just need to be confident!" But because they don’t feel confident, they often think singing just isn’t for them. So, they come to lessons hoping to find this elusive confidence. But what they’re really looking for is courage.

Think about the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz. His journey was to find his courage, and yet, despite his initial fear, he had the heart to face challenges and help Dorothy along the way.

The word courage actually comes from the Latin word Cor, meaning “heart.” This gives us an important clue: courage isn’t about bravado or pretending we’re fearless. It's about tapping into the heart, the core of who we are, and taking action despite our fear.

Confidence, on the other hand, can sometimes be a mask for fear. Too much confidence can come across as arrogance; too little can leave someone feeling inadequate. But courage is different. It’s the sweet spot—the heart of our humanity—that moves us to act even when we’re uncertain or scared. It’s what pushes us to step outside of our comfort zones, to take risks, and to embrace vulnerability.

Courage is what it takes to navigate the world, and it’s what it takes to sing, and I like to think of courage being the stuffing inside of confidence. Confidence is a million little courageous steps that natural evokes a feeling that could be called, well - confidence.

Here’s the thing about singing—true, heartfelt singing—it’s not about projecting confidence to impress others. It’s about connecting with your self first and then your audience is made aware of this connection. Confidence can often feel like a barrier, while vulnerability can create a much deeper, more genuine connection. When we try too hard to be confident, we inadvertently throw vulnerability under the bus.

If you’re waiting to feel confident before you sing, you may find yourself waiting forever. However, if somewhere inside of you there’s a teensy bit of terrified excitement in you that wants to sing, now, there, right there that’s the stuff that courage can help you to transform into a lions roar.