Thank you everyone for your kind thoughts, considerations and opinions.

It is very difficult to pinpoint what the issue is. I don't believe it is a physical problem; I am actually quite good and doing different things, if that makes sense. For example, if you want a strong natural vibrato, I can give you one. If you want a light natural vibrato I can give you one. You want a breathy tone? I know how to place that too. I can do trills and sing purely with no vibrato at all. I know what to do with my breathing to create these different tones and effects (although I always struggle with the beautiful melisma!) I think one thing that /i could do a hell of a lot better physically, is to improve my confidence. I know that I CAN sing loudly and with force and gusto, but I just don't. My voice almost goes back inside me when I sing in front of others and feels tied in my throat.

This lack of confidence is because I know that I can't sing on key, no matter how much I tell myself "it doesn't matter, this about the words!".

The thing is, the people I hang around with are all very talented musicians. The type who can play any instrument, sing wonderfully and I know that if I'm even a little off key they will notice. This does not bother me and they are very encouraging, but it bothers me. It embarrasses me and I feel stupid for trying. Silly I know, but how can we help how we feel?!

I do also believe I have a slight musical disadvantage- as previously mentioned, I find it quite hard to dance. So, I think what the issue is, is a combination of all these seemingly minor problems. Combined, the lack of confidence, the lack of musical presence and the natural difficulty with music make it very difficult, although I do try very hard and I imagine that I will keep trying.

A lot of people have mentioned my current singing teacher. He is not a teacher by profession but he is a very talented musician who took me under his wing after my last singing teacher, the one I was classically trained with said to me "I'm sorry, I can not teach you anymore. I don't know how to help you any further- you just can't stay in tune." She then emailed me to say sorry and that she could help me because I was not always out of tune and I replied but I have never heard from her since.

My current teacher, having heard me sing has vowed to keep trying everything until I can sing. And well, it'll be two years in November and I have improved a lot, I just can't help comparing myself to his family and friends (who are all gifted with music).

I will try some of the things that you here have suggested and I thank you for your words of wisdom. I think I will just keep trying and try and attend as many workshops as I can from now on, or join a choir.

For the benefit of those who asked, the first time I got "into" music was when I was about 12. I liked Heavy and Symphonic Metal. Then I liked Classical Music a lot and some Musicals. And then when I was around 15 I got into folk music and that's pretty much all I listen to now. I started learning the whistle a couple of months ago and I'm getting a harp this coming Tuesday for my birthday (been saving for ages!) so, hopefully, I'll be able t enjoy music in some way, even if singing doesn't work out (although, try and stop me from doing it when no one's around...ha).

Thanks,
STM.