So you think you can’t sing…? but you really want to…..?

Choir member Lynda J tells us about her singing journey....


Take it from one who spent 40 years not singing (because I was ‘tone-deaf’, ‘couldn’t hold a tune’) that it is 99% certain that you can. I am not tone deaf and I can hold a tune …… and it does make me feel good! 


So what changed and what have I learned along the path from non-singer to singer? In this blog, I will pass on my thoughts and invite others with similar stories to share their experience. 


 My first good singing experience (aged about 40) was at a fortnight of workshops run by the inspirational teacher/folk-singer, Frankie Armstrong. Frankie’s view is that singing is just one part of using our voices to speak, to call and to sing – “if you can talk, you can sing”. She builds confidence through exercises to speak rhythmically and call (as if your cows had wandered away across the fields), and to chant rhythmically to support an activity (as in hauling in nets) using our full-bodied voice rather than our pretty performance voices. She says there is no such thing as a wrong note, only interesting harmonies! 

• From Frankie, I learned that women’s voices can be strong and loud and don’t have to be gentle a high. Also, that how you stand, and most importantly, breathe is absolutely key to making a ‘good’ sound. So singing I discovered is not just a given – there is technique that helps! 

It was a great start – although I was still very, very scared! But I really wanted to sing so I took an enormous leap and joined a women’s choir – very quietly and hoping no-one would notice me at the back – let alone hear me! I was still terrified of ruining the sound and making horrible noises …. but I hung on.

• From this choir, I learned more about women’s voices and solidarity in singing but also – shock – singing is hard work! It is hard physical work – breathing takes effort! More important, few people just pick up a tune and sing it well – it takes time to learn and to practise. I had unthinkingly imagined that everyone but me just sang perfectly with no effort at all. Not true – there is of course a range from those with incredible musicality and great voices to those who can follow a tune and sing along – most important of all, with hard work and technique, everyone can get better! 

 I started to have individual singing lessons with a wonderful teacher and indie rock singer, Gena Dry. Gena knew just how frightening it is to sing on your own in front of even one other person – she was very empathetic, creative, supportive and funny - her approach was very different from Frankie’s and based on releasing the emotional blocks to singing. Her exercises including singing notes as loud as possible before quietening down and thinking about the feelings to be conveyed in a song – communicate the emotion and the notes will look after themselves!

• From Gena, I learned that singing is very emotional! This is double edged – don’t we love being moved to tears or experiencing the joy of singing but many of us are held back by strong emotions. Mainly fear – getting it wrong, being put back in our place, being too loud – our whole self can be tied up with a wrong note so we are terrified to try. Much of this goes back to childhood – how many people (like me) were told not to sing at a very young age or were told off for being too noisy. Gena taught me to stretch myself, get out of my comfort zone and make a lot of noise – I was amazed to discover that I have a very loud voice! She also helped me find the joy in singing and the power of expressing emotions through using my voice. 

Gena also helped me explore my own voice to understand my range and where I am most comfortable singing – again, something I had never thought of and have found that my range is much higher than I would have expected. Women particularly, tend to go for the mid-range ‘alto’ as it seems safest but it is worth trying out the lower and higher ranges – you might be surprised! 

So, where am I now? I joined TCC in September 2011 – and have enjoyed every minute. I wouldn't call myself a great singer but I know I can sing and I know I can get better and more confident the more I work at it. I know the world is not divided into those who magically sing perfectly and those who can’t. I know that technique and work are important and I know that it is mainly fear that holds me back. I know that I love singing … and it really does make me feel good.


So if you think you can’t but you want to – take the first step – join us (or a choir near you) and ask for help – you will find TCC very welcoming, great fun and very supportive. I look forward to meeting you on a Tuesday night. And everyone - don’t forget to give us your stories of learning to sing. 


 Lynda J 


With enormous gratitude to all the people (too numerous to mention here) who have helped me find my voice and especially a great debt to, and very fond memories of, Gena Dry (1964-2010).