“Do What You Love, Love What You Do” by Jeralyn Glass
“Music is Love in search of a word”
Sidney Lanier
I cannot remember a time in my life without music. Music wrapped me in a blanket of safety and love. Music was home. Singing was creativity and joy. I knew at the age of four that my life would be spent in the field of music.
My parents grew up in Brooklyn, fell in love at an early age, married and moved to California. My dad had lost his father when he was 10, maturing out of necessity, determined at a young age to learn skills to be able to take care of his family. He chose accounting. He attended NYU at age 16 and graduated at age 19. When my mom was little, she sang on the radio in New York. I followed in her footsteps. When I was in the 6th grade, I was given a solo with the choir and people remarked to my parents that I should be guided and receive training.
(there was no 'Americas Got Talent' or 'The Voice' at that time). My mom brought me to a neighbor who was a well-known singing teacher. I began voice lessons and my life was forever changed. I am grateful to my parents for their encouragement to follow my dreams. My parents taught me this practical advice which has shaped my life as a person, an artist, a teacher, and a visionary:
“Do what you love, love what you do! Work at doing it well. Be willing to work hard and commit to excellence. Allow yourself to dream. Have courage to follow your dreams. Do a reality check with yourself. What is the price you would have to pay to achieve that dream? Ask yourself honestly, ‘Am I willing to pay that price?’ If your answer is ‘yes,’ go after it with everything you are. If the answer is ‘no’, choose again. My dad always said, “Have infectious enthusiasm. Be persistent. Don’t ever, ever give up!” And my mom, “Be flexible and be open to what Life offers you. Be true to your inner voice. Follow your intuition.”
These were the thoughts I held in my heart as I ventured across the country to New York City to make my dream to sing on Broadway come true. Within a few months I was singing the role of Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar and shortly there after, I landed a National Tour and a Broadway contract. The musical star Barbara Cook said, “If you're able to be yourself, then you have no competition. All you have to do is get closer and closer to that essence.” This is so true. The honest expression of your authentic self, without judgement or self criticism is what determines one’s life path and true sense of fulfillment and happiness. I never had a plan B. I trusted and I believed.