When I was a little girl I loved to sing. I was in the choir and sometimes got too enthusiastic. One day my aunt told me that Mrs. G told her to tell me not to sing too loud because I couldn't carry a tune. That was the end! No more singing for me.
Fast forward 60+ years we discovered karaoke. I still loved music but there was no way in hell I was going to get up and sing. My husband had no problems singing without even rehearsing.
Something inside of me wanted to get up and sing just like I loved to do as a child. But I was too scared. And I mean SCARED. I couldn't carry a tune, remember?
Two of the regulars invited me to sit between them and sing a song I knew and they would sing with me to make it easier. They let me pick out a song. It was the Girl From Ipanema. I sang it with them and I think I shook for the rest of the evening.
"All you have to do is practice," people would say trying to be helpful.
"Practice what? How do I know if I am practicing the right notes?" No one could really answer my question.
Someone told me a male that came to karaoke was a high school choir director and pointed him out to me. "Maybe he could help you."
For a few weeks I was too nervous to ask him but finally I did. I asked him how does one practice singing and know if they are practicing the right way? He told me things about vocalizing and cupping my ear so I could hear my own voice when I sang. I asked him if he would be willing to teach me and if so how much did he charge. We made an appointment for me to meet him where he teaches and he would listen to me sing and see if I was teachable.
I don't know where I got the nerve but this voice in my head that was put there by my choir director through my aunt wanted healing. So at 70 1/2 I took singing lessons. I was anxious before every lesson but once I got into it I had fun. I learned I had a bigger singing range than I knew. But because of a hearing loss in one ear I couldn't always hear when I went sharp or flat. But I kept on.
One thing he told me is that if I don't keep up with vocalizing my voice would go back to what it was before and even worse. He was right. When I sing I cough now. I found some really fun vocalizing videos online and keep promising myself I will sing again. Maybe I will, maybe I won't, but I did heal that voice from my childhood and I am pretty proud of myself whether I sing again or not.
Here I am singing one of my favorite songs at karaoke.
4 comments:
I love that song too, so beautiful! Such a fabulous musical. And so cool on you for taking singing lessons and getting up there on the stage. I think you sound wonderful :)
I'm going to put the soundtrack on now. :)
I so admire your willingness to try new things and grow past the old messages we've been given. Thanks for sharing!
What a sweet story Jean Maurie! I love that you healed your little girl voice. You are right, whether you sing again or not, the important is that you have healed your little one voice. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Mrs. G. was an idiot! It should have been her job to teach you, not to discourage you and put you off singing, when it was something you obviously loved!
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