We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jan Shapiro a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I always knew I wanted to sing…I  loved singing as a child. My mother played the piano and taught me to sing songs with my little sister. She was my first voice and piano teacher ….

My mom, Virginia Shapiro noticed I could hum melodies back . When she would play instrumental songs ( classical, or popular songs) my mother said I was only 2 years old …. I  would be playing with my toys while humming portions of a melody she had played on the piano!

My sister and I also took dancing lessons . For the dance recital , the dance teacher needed someone to sing. I was 5 or 6 years old at the time. I could sing a melody straight through without any mistakes!  I was the only one on the program who sang and danced in the recitals. 

I also liked to sing and made up my own songs while playing on our ‘swing set’ outdoors. It was my entertainment . I began formal piano lessons when I was around the age of 6 or 7 years old. 

At the age of 15, I began formal vocal training . I participated  in high school musicals , choir . I also sang in talent shows — accompanying myself on guitar. I also played flute in the high school orchestra. I loved music and loved to sing–even to myself!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Jan Shapiro and I am a professional vocalist and voice teacher. After a full-time career singing nightly for 15-16 years, I decided to take a full-time position as a voice teacher at Berklee College of Music , Boston Ma. Eventually I became the Department Chair of the Voice Dept., 1997- 2010 and then resumed teaching full time afterward -and still at Berklee. 

 I was at Berklee College for thirty -one years , retiring the end of the Spring Semester 2017. I decided to move back to my home town roots where most of my family resides , in St. Louis MO.  I still teach voice in my home studio and online. At present I am adjunct professor at Webster University , St. Louis Mo. I still do some professional gigs too, although the music business for live performing is not the same as it was regarding local musicians. And, I am older now.

My perspective : 

–Taking formal voice lessons changed my life and perspective . I became a better singer over time. It took lots of  concentration and discipline to work on overall vocal control which involved low relaxed breaths , articulation of notes, lyric pronunciation. All of this took considerable amount of time and practice. ..

 — Becoming patient in regards to working on better overall vocal technique which in turn freed up my voice and expanded my range .

— Listening and learning vocal styles and what worked best for my natural voice.

**Lastly,– when asked I always tell students or the curious that I may not have been always the very best singer, or the greatest singer ‘on earth’  but I was never a ‘dumb’ one. In other words, I made good and/or practical decisions regarding my career. I learned about contracts ,professional accountability etc. 

I don’t think an arts career should  be an ‘ego’ thing , it has to be a professional one to survive . You don’t have to be a ‘star’ – but if you can make a good living in your art,  you have everything.

When I was young, of course I wanted to be famous –as most vocalists/musicians do. But as I kept performing nightly I realized that I did not need to be ‘famous’—I just loved what I was doing professionally. 

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I had excellent classical training from the age of 15 years old until I graduated from high school. I came from a small town about 35 miles away from St. Louis Mo. and was fortunate to have such a great teacher . My parents – particularly my mother ( who was a talented pianist and singer ) was thinking I should be a nurse or teacher in regards to having a solid steady career.

 There was a junior college that offered a new college program, an  Associate Arts Degree in Nursing – in St. Louis Mo.  At that time I was too afraid to tell my parents I wanted only to do music. So I did get accepted into the Nursing college program at the age of seventeen.  While taking taking my college classes I eventually resumed voice lessons while going to school in St. Louis Mo. I  was able to do this by working extra hours as a hospital ‘aide’ to help pay for my lessons. Also , when I came home to visit my parents, ( and do laundry) my father would secretly slip money in my pocket, quietly whispering to me “ this is for your voice lessons”. 

Once I got out of school , I worked at a hospital and saved my money to buy a used piano. Within a year, I was able to enroll at the ‘St. Louis Institute of Music’ . At first I was only able to take one morning class -which was at 9am.–while working as a nurse.-. ( I would work afternoon shift of night shift in the emergency room so I could attend this music theory class ). I still took voice lessons too .
The following year, I gave up my little apartment to rent just one room and bathroom in a house. I saved enough money so that I could go to school for music full time. I think I was then about 21 years old..

None of this was easy but I knew in my heart that this is really what I wanted to do. Eventually  both of my parents became very supportive . I continued my music studies , but did complete my degree because I started singing professionally –traveling ‘on the road’ as a performer—six nights a week at that time.

I later did complete my degree in music ,May 1978. I went to Howard University  Washington DC as a full-time student on a scholarship for two years to complete my degree in Music.  I also worked steadily at least 5 nights a week as a vocalist in local hotels, club rooms around Washington DC. -every night except Sunday. .. not always easy but I was a woman with a mission. Later while at Berklee I completed a Masters in Education and also attended classes for ‘post-graduate’ studies .
Fast forward , I feel fortunate I persevered in what I wanted to do with my life . I feel very fortunate to say I actually made a living as a professional vocalist—even though I was not a famous star! 

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think the most important part is to follow your heart –even if it makes no sense to friends and family . What you feel inside is worth more than all the money you might make doing something you do not really love. If you have talent in a specific area , you must follow that path …Always follow your heart ..

Contact Info:

• Website: www.janshapiro.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jan.shapiro.56
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-shapiro-374205288/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClXDjSqOxmpfbn3jy81_Thw
• Other: https://www.youtube.com/@janshapiro7068/videos