26 years of Vocal Lessons?!?!!!!

I ran away from private vocal lessons at about 20, - believing 16 years of classes had taught me enough. But with every new song written, a lesson is learned, and my voice seems to be my teacher. How much power to push into one word? How big a breath before the climactic line in the chorus? How low can I fall into a tenor range without losing the sound into a sensitive microphone? How high do I need to sing to prove a thought is a vital emotion- or to prove to myself I can HIT THE NOTE?!? My voice tells me. 

Strangely enough- I am much more comfortable in my own 'private lessons' with my voice as the enlightening teacher, than I was with most human teachers. I am able to make sounds I think a teacher might cringe at. I am able to express Soul, some might consider out of context, or too bold.  And since the voice is its own instrument . . . shouldn't it have the smarts to tell me when it hurts or feels peaceful- because it does.

The voice is a quality of Soul, an expression of Mind, and it teaches me more every day about it's precious chords and harmonies. Although I would like to think I have enough 'tools and tricks' to call myself a studied vocalist. . . I am in training always . . . as long as I keep on writing songs. - And this is inevitable. I am a humble student of Soul.