lamarca, 'bellowing shanties' is probobly how everyone sings them so I wouldn't be too worried about that,but singing in itself is a strange one. My grand father was a singer and so was my father.... they were 'my' teachers just from singing along with them, much the same as a youngster would learn guitar or whatever by playing along with the session and asking how certain chords are played.I'm not sure that going to lessons is what it's all about really. Myself, I'm a great believer in the 'doing'. Every chance you get .....sing out. Lots of luck though.

Doc