I always wanted to learn to sing. Not professionally, just be able to sing along with a song and keep in rhythm. Singing in a church choir would be nice or at least feel confident enough to sing loudly as a part of the assembly.

Everybody is born with ability to sing, the key to being a good singer is for a person at a young age be introduced to music. introduced to music at a young age.There are many ways this can happen;listening to music at home, taking music classes at school, taking private music lessons or being exposed to music by a parent who has some musical knowledge.Todays music class in school provide basic skills; singing in proper key, following a music sheet, some basic musical instrument introduction and reading musical notes. Listening to music at home is most beneficial if an adult has some musical talent. Taking music lessons early in life is best way to go, the problem with this is family situation doesn’t allow for this luxury.

In my case several of the above factors were not available to me. Being from a broken home money for lessons was not an option.We listened to music a lot growing up but nobody in the home as musical abilities.  Low self-esteem was another barrier, I hated the sound of my voice, it is a very loud and deep. So my singing remained out of key, tune and out of timing with songs.

One christmas I was given an organ a very small one but nonetheless an organ. I was so happy for this gift that the thought of how I would learn to play it never entered my mind. My mother bought me a book with various songs in it, but it was not for beginners but for talented musicians. She wasn’t being mean or teasing me but having no music skills herself she thought she was giving me something to help me learn with.  Now, I know some people can teach themselves, but I was not one of those people. I quickly got bored with organ due to not being able to learn to play it.

 

Once I left home I was occupied with other things and forgot about learning to sing. There was travelling, kids to raise, college ;and just living life.  I sang along when listening to music and occasionally a great song would play that made me dream about being musically inclined. I could hear my own voice and was very critical of it. I could also hear myself sing out of key, tune and either starting a word too early or late. As harsh as I was on my singing I continued to sing along with songs I loved.

Some of my favorite singers were the: Carpenters, Eddie Money, Elvis Presley, Jackson Five just to name a few. When I would hear my favorite song I would sing my heart out no matter how bad I sounded. But, I was always aware of my lack of music talent. Even today at 55 years old I am aware I can’t sing but I find myself thinking a great deal on taking singing lessons. Not to be a professional, just to be confident enough to sing in public as a I walk or singing along with the radio. I also would like to have enough music talent to be in a church choir.

Who knows, maybe one day I will take singing lessons and at least be able to carry a tune when singing along.