Reading My Way Around the World

Monday 18 June 2012

Who said you couldn't sing?

I've just come back in from a walk in the mountains - our visitors haven't left yet after the Festival and it sort of feels like I'm on holiday still and it's very hard to sit down and do some constructive work!!  A blog feels a bit half and half - work and holiday:) 


People ask me regularly can they learn to sing cos somebody told them they couldn't sing .... and I thought that would be a good subject for today's blogalong...


Everyone can sing ... if you can talk you can sing!  
And you already know how to do it ... but sometimes we all need a bit of coaxing to trust what we can do...

Who said you couldn't sing?!

Was it a teacher?  or a relation? or a friend? who said that you should keep quiet and stand at the back and just mouth the words? .... what abuse!

I recently had a student who was told when she was very small that she couldn't sing  - she's now retired.  So she kept joining in, wanting to sing, but always felt that people were laughing at her and saying she wasn't brilliant...or so she felt.     After her initial nervousness and doubt about coming to class, we discovered a lovely sweet voice in there... totally in tune and with  a perfect sense of time - not a big voice, but lovely all the same.  What a waste! ... all those years of believing she couldn't do something she loved so much.  


Let me repeat this ....

"Everyone can sing ... if you can talk you can sing!"  
I feel like I need to shout that!

Now the big problem is, if we can't sing like Pavarotti or Streisand or Ella or whomever our ideal voice is, then we think we can't sing at all .... 


Total rubbish!!  


The thing is ... you can never sound like one of them because our voices are totally unique - there can only be one Pavarotti or Streisand or Ella, just like there can only be one you.   But you can still sing!



I believe that we have a physical need to sing - just see how much your spirits lift after singing to yourself in the shower or the car.  


So, if you've always wanted to have a go, just get on with it and practice - sing more in the shower or in the car and perhaps find a community choir or a teacher near you - someone who will encourage you and guide you.  And your voice will get stronger every day.   


Blogalong with Effy Day 2



Wednesday 13 June 2012

The BIGsing @Fiddler’s Green – Sat 28 July 2012

The BIGsing @Fiddler’s Green – Sat 28 July 2012 

Calling all singers - or would be singers - or any of you who'd like to exercise your vocal muscles for a day:)

The BIGsing in aid of Amnesty International has been left to my care for the 2012 event at Fiddlers Green Festival on Saturday 28th July.   Laura has handed me the reins and I'm really looking forward to having a splendid day.

This is the 3rd annual event and we'll be tackling simple harmony songs, fun world rounds, some old pop songs, folk music and whatever else takes my fancy between now and then:)  And after a day working at the pieces we'll put on a scratch performance at 6pm that evening in front of an audience:)
Are you up for the challenge?

Here are all the details:

Ticket price: £10 in advance; £13 on the day.  
Registration: 10.30am
Workshop: 11-1 and 2-4
Performance: 6-7pm

To book your advance early bird place please send a cheque before 21st July, payable to AI Mid Down Group, to AI Mid Down Group, 2 Cluinard Heights, Annsborough, Co. Down BT31 9JB


Last year’s event was a great success with lots of positive feedback from the participants and a really good festival atmosphere. We are hoping this year will be even better! 
 
Why not bring a friend and treat yourself to a day singing with the opportunity to perform at the festival? 




Tuesday 5 June 2012

Singing - Grace Jones - what stamina

Grace Jones at the Diamond Jubilee concert - hula hooping the whole way through her song ... now that's stamina:)

Grace Jones