When I was young, back in the '40s, I actually had a teacher of a school chorus tell me and others to "just move your lips; don't you dare sing. You'll NEVER be able to carry a tune." Now, I know I've only got about an 8 note range to this day, but somehow, I managed to make a living for over 3 decades by singing and being an ear musician.I developed a system that I've never, ever mentioned anywhere. I'd generally hit a note on the guitar or banjo or jew's harp A FRACTION OF A SCOND BEFORE I'D ACTUALLY SING IT! It was like I was following a personal pitch pipe and probably the reason I liked being a solo---control of the WHOLE SITUATION! And only recently have I been able to think I had a halfway decent voice. Those teachers and parents who did and said the completely wrong things were truly hard to get out of my head. BUT, it did make me stubborn enough to make it work. Been pissed off at authority figures ever since! That stood me in good stead in the '60s. Not too helpful in the '90s though, so I chased those stupid dead folks out o' my head!

Art Thieme