Hey! I CAN sing!

Subject: RE: Hey! I CAN sing!
From: MBSLynne
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 07:38 AM

Thanks guys!

Sandra..that's a wonderful song...what is the tune?

Subject: RE: Hey! I CAN sing!
From: SINSULL
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 07:32 AM

Good for you! Isn't wonderful to sing because you enjoy it? Now remember the experience and gently encourage others to join in.
SINS

Subject: RE: Hey! I CAN sing!
From: GUEST, Hamish
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 07:27 AM

I remember when I was little - about 5 or 6 - being singled out by the teacher because I could sing in tune. "Listen, Jim, to Hamish. Try to sing like him." Of course I was pleased, but even then I realised that she was knocking all confidence out of Jim (name changed to protect etc.).

Years later, when I'd discovered guitar and folk-rock, I used to sing in the house regularly. I overheard my brother saying to my mum that it was a pity about my voice. Knocked me for six. Took decades to recover. By which time my boy-band good looks, etc...

Careless words, careless words.

Anyway, you've banished the demon, Lynne: don't look back and enjoy!

Subject: RE: Hey! I CAN sing!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 07:21 AM

the best thing I read about singing was in a review of a workshop for folks who "could not" sing. Everyone can sing, it's just that some of us sing to a different harmony.

Someone must have told me years ago I could not sing, I don't remember who or when, but I knew I couldn't.

Well, I mean singing along with the radio or records at home is not really singing, is it? but I couldn't do it in public, not with all the real singers around, cos I can't hold a tune on my own.

Fortunately the first time I sang along with the audience at a folk club & the sopranos nearby looked down their noses at my quiet effort, I just sang a bit softer & didn't allow their sniffs to squash me.

Now any chorus going includes my voice & I spend a lot of time in singing sessions & still sing along with my CDs.

I still can't hold a tune on my own, but that doesn't stop me singing & no-one ever will - the people have songs.

sandra
.................

The People have songs - Miguel Heatwole

Here voices are tuned to each other in gladness
To all here in common affection belongs
Hear joy and laughter meet keening and sadness
Here tyranny's cursed for the people have songs

CHORUS
Let us set the room ringing with the sound of our singing
When we come to the end let us hold the chord long
Hear the harmonies rise and all close our eyes
'Til the last cadence dies the people have songs.

Here is war parting sweethearts
Here are strong sweating sailors
And poets for beauty who ardently long
Here are people at work singing loud at their labours
Here are marriage & drinking for the people have songs

CHORUS

Respect for each other gives each one a hearing
And whether the voice be uncertain or strong
We listen with love if the heart is endearing
Supported in harmony the people have songs

CHORUS

Distaining oppression like others before us
Our gentleness angered by history's wrongs
Our tradition endures, and our voices in chorus
Are lifted in hope for the people have songs.

CHORUS

...............

Subject: RE: Hey! I CAN sing!
From: Leadfingers
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 07:05 AM

When we were in our teens my brother couldnt carry a tune in a bucket - Now he is a guiding Light in the church choir !! The more you practise ANY musical instrument the better it will sound - and dont forget that the voice is JUST another instrument !!

Subject: RE: Hey! I CAN sing!
From: jacqui.c
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 07:02 AM

Good for you Lynne - I had the same problem, but decided "what the hell - I'm doing it because I want to".

So long as people don't obviously leave the room when you start singing just keep on - I thought your voice sounded pretty good in December anyway!

The ones who really criticise under the guise of 'advice' are generally those who are insecure themselves and need every one else in the vicinity to feel the same!

Subject: RE: Hey! I CAN sing!
From: shepherdlass
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 06:13 AM

Good on you - keep at it. And remember, for every person who loves even the voices of Sinatra, Pavarotti, the Watersons, there's another who can't stand them - sometimes all you get is the critic's personal taste (with added candour when they realize you're already lacking in confidence!)

Subject: RE: Hey! I CAN sing!
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 05:37 AM

That's fantastic! Good for you! One of my vocations is showing women they CAN sing- by giving them the support of lots of happy voices around them in my chorus (called Animaterra)

Keep singing, don't let the critics get you down, and just enjoy it!

Allison

Subject: Hey! I CAN sing!
From: MBSLynne
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 05:14 AM

Ok..I've been singing in folk club singaround type things for about 25 years, but I've never had much confidence in my singing and considered myself a very second rate singer. I do it for my own enjoyment and am happy that people will be polite enough to let me. Having such shaky confidence, it takes very little to knock it back even further and over the years some people have done that....a 'friend' who thought he knew all about music told me I sing slightly sharp, someone else said "Well you may not be the greatest singer in the world..." which is true, but taken by me to mean I'm rubbish. I thought...well, if I practise more I could be a BIT better, cos practice does that. Then I thought...if I record myself, I can hear where I'm going wrong and perhaps put some of it right. So I did...and I was really pleased! I'm not such a bad singer after all! Ok, I couldn't be professional and I doubt if anyone would ever go anywhere just to listen to me, but I'm ok! Nothing to be shy or embarassed or diffident about when I sing. There are still an awful lot of people better than me, but there are also quite a few who sing regularly and happily, who are no better. Hooray! I feel really good! Now I shall go out and od it more often!

Love Lynne