Skipy,

At an early age, I was told I could not sing, and for many years I believed it.

About five years ago I was at an early music summer school, (playing recorder) and an optional session was posted called "So you think you can't sing". I thought "Nothing to lose" so I signed up for it and found actually I can sing, though I was not very confident. Some months later I got a brochure for an adult education centre which included a weekend workshop called "Singing for the tone deaf", so I signed up for that too. I had a great weekend and one particular thing that a learned was finding out where your voice lay in the aural spectrum (mine was in the baritone range) About 18 months later, I went on a carol singing weekend which involved singing harmony as well, a satisfying if difficult weekend. About the same time I started going to a local folk club. The format was a singaround and at first I used to just play jigs and reels on my recorder when it was my turn. One night, however, I decided to have a go and sing and no one seemed to think it was bad, so I carried on.

What I am beginning to find now is that;

1. I am becoming more conscious of my voice and its qualities.
   
2. As I keep singing, my voice seems to be getting better and
   
3. I am not nervous about singing a song when it is my turn at a local folk club.
   

At the carol singing weekend this year, the tutor asked who had been told they could not sing at some time. Every member of the group raised their hands, yet everyone was able to sing and to help produce and participate in arrangements.

So, Skipy, go for it. You are probably better than you think.

My new year resolution - look for a songwriting workshop. I write tunes, but have never written a song and feel I would to give it a go, but am not sure where to start. Maybe it just the need for confidence and a supportive environment to get me started - I don't know, but that's certainly what got me started composing music.