I admit that at the moment I have a tendancy to sing from words. This is largely because I have such a small group of songs that I have any chance of knowing by heart. I find that I go out twice a month and I have every intention of learning the songs. I know that I sing better if I know the words by heart - maybe with the paper held in my hand just in case I panic, as I can then concentrate on when to breathe. However, more often that not family life has interfered and I have not has the practice time that I wished. My options are: I go out and sing the two songs I know by heart, I sing the ones that I'm working on but don't know by heart or I don't sing. Admitedly my trips out are to places where I feel I am completely welcome as an absolute beginner and when I work up to going somewhere else - I will use a song that I know by heart.

I know that I need to make more time to practice and I'm working on it but I certainly wouldn't have had the courage to sing in public without the words to start with

Julie