I can't Sing!

Oh, if only I had a dollar for everytime I've heard this phrase!  I'd be a millionaire, surely?!

Often it comes from mature adults and chances are it is a self-held belief that developed in childhood - where they were laughed at, or told by a teacher that they shouldn't sing, 'just mouth the words'. 
 It is such a limiting belief that has been carried for a lifetime.  A limiting belief that has robbed that child/person from one of the great delights of being alive - the sheer joy of making music.

The reality IS that anyone who can talk, can sing.  Singing is a natural gift given to all of us [show me one newborn baby that doesn't exercise its lungs before anything else!]
In some families, some cultures, singing is encouraged, fostered, celebrated.  In other homes it is not and so the art can be lost.

Singing in a group is a great way to re-discover that natural gift, to foster it, and to develop it into something lovely.  It's also a great opportunity to meet new friends and be part of a like-minded community.

Don't let a limiting belief - a FEAR - limit your life.

Yes, You Can

How many of you reading this can remember when you first joined a chorus, fearing that someone would discover your guilty shame – that you can’t really sing...?  That you’re here because you’re just longing to do some singing -because you love it.  ? That if you sing softly enough, no one will hear you and you can stay a little longer. ?

   This self-defeating belief is more common than you can possibly imagine and chances are it was a seed that was sown in your childhood, took root, and became a sturdy tree.     

   Yet human beings are wired for music and for rhythm. Ongoing worldwide research continues to prove the value of making music for good mental, emotional, and physical health. Singing calms and exhilarates us, releases lots of feel-good chemicals in the body, stirs memories, gets the blood moving around our body, stimulates healthy breathing and good heart/lung health.  And nothing compares to the absolute joy of raising your voice with others to make music.

   So here’s a thought  or 3 ... 

• instead of judging someone who is singing in a not-so-pleasing voice, how about offering some encouragement [or help if you are an experienced singer!];  
•  instead of laughing at a child [or heaven forbid an adult] who is singing out of key, how about offering a kind word and a tip for improvement;   
• think about the fact that music  - like art – is relative ...  what pleases one ear or eye, may not please another, and just because a singer is famous or lauded by millions, doesn’t mean they are the benchmark for correctness.  After all,  if there was only ONE standard – imagine how much wonderful music the world would miss out on!  And how boring if the only thing we had to listen to was one genre, one style, one pitch/key!

   The world of music is a generous world.  It welcomes ALL who want to participate.  And like all disciplines, the more we do it, the better at it we get!

Here's an article I found through the week which reminds us to be gentle with those young hearts. http://www.gypsythugmom.com/quit-telling-your-kids-they-cant-sing/

Back into the Swing of Sing

This week all choruses are back on deck ready to swing into 2017. 
And what a year it will be!  I have some exciting new challenges, opportunities and ideas in mind for our chorus groups this year.

In reflecting on the nature of community music, it reinforces the 'pebble in the pond' concept.   We never know just how much effect we have on others, even with the smallest contribution. 
In Newcastle, Mark Jackson's  Ukulele initiative is a perfect example - from a small beginners session a few short years ago, the Newkulele initiative has exploded to thousands of community members now experiencing the joy of making music, as well as making new friends and finding their connection to their community.

As singers, we make a difference when we share ourselves and our love of song with others in the community - whether that be in a concert format to groups or events, or simply busking in the street.  The thing IS, that we never know just how far our ripple may spread!   For example;   this comment from someone recently - "I went along reluctantly, I was having a tough time and a bad day, the music just lifted me to another place as if a load on my shoulders was being lightened.  I felt so much better at the end of the concert and when I got home I was so relaxed that I had an inspired thought which  just might solve one of my problems.  Thank you so much for a lovely afternoon.

Now, we'll never know who the person was or what problems they had, or what solution they found or what effect their change in attitude had on someone close to them....but simply doing what we do, made a difference to somebody.   And how many OTHER somebody's might we have helped at that same event?  We'll never know. 
And that's the ripple effect of a pebble in a pond.  We never know how far the ripple will travel.

Wishing you all a more music-filled year ahead

a Friendly Thank You

What a grand effort made by our choristers last weekend!  The "Voice of Spring" was a most delightful afternoon and we made a nice tidy profit for Lifeline.  Everyone worked hard to make the day a success and all 3 chorus groups sang better than they've ever done!   We had close to a full house on the day and everyone was so very generous.  Big thank you as well to our generous sponsors:  *Creative Imaging Photography  *A Little Bit Tender Massage Therapies  *The Duke of Wellington Hotel, New Lambton  *MacLeans Books, Hamilton  and various private donors [you know who you are].

It was a truly hand-to-hand community event which made everyone feel good, valued, worthy.  And that's just one of the side benefits of being part of a community chorus group.  The sense of having contributed in some way to your local community and your larger community provides all of us with the sure knowledge that we CAN make a difference. 

Sometimes, the crisis' and tragedies happening across the world can be overwhelming and it's a natural reaction to "switch off", feeling that we have no way of helping or making a difference.   But we CAN do something to help at our local level ..... and every little bit helps.  When we volunteer to help others, we get more out of it than we give via that sense of satisfaction in doing something.

As a member of a community chorus, giving your time effort and vocal talent,  you are helping to support local NFP and charity organisations which in turn help those in need.  And that's no 'little' thing.

You can catch a glimpse of the groups saying "thank you"  here ....
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntkeVJ1ekWA  ...
{apologies, the person who took the vid was behind the Director - and that didn't leave a lot of space to fit in all the chorus members! :) }

Taking the Plunge

This week chorus members return to their groups as we start a new year.  That means new material!  And that's always exciting.  Challenging, definitely - but exciting as well.  Most members won't have done any singing since mid-December so inevitably there'll be a little 'rust in the pipes' ...but a good first sing should clear that out.
A new year is a time when many people make new-year-resolutions ....and things they've been procrastinating on finally get to the top of the list.  So I'm never surprised now when new members tell me "oh, I've been meaning to do this for years! why did I wait so long?!".  And I love seeing the joy that singing in a group brings to existing - and new members.  But particularly new members who are experiencing for the first - or at least for a very long - time, that magic buzz that just fills you up when you've finished a singing session.
Who needs drugs when you sing out loud with like-minded folks!
So if you've been thinking about it for awhile, maybe NOW is the time to take the plunge.....you won't regret it.