Blue Ridge
Vocal Connection
Conductor Thomas began this evening by going around the room and asking for perspectives and reactions to the workshop last Saturday. To hear from many of us, Thomas tossed around a small beach ball, giving the bearer the chance to express him/herself, without interruption from others. I’m always taken by the differing reactions people can have to the same event. The impressions were universally positive; everybody got something from it that will make them better singers.
The most common theme I latched onto was that Justin, our invited speaker, although clearly enormously talented himself and versed in instruction to far superior groups than ours, treated us all with respect and encouragement.
One of the things that makes my experience with Blue Ridge Vocal Connection so rewarding is that everyone is completely positive and accepting. As a conductor, Thomas is demanding but understanding. We have different skill levels, for sure. But we’re all making music together and the blending is a beautiful thing. I’ve heard neither scolding nor discouraging words.
As I’ve written about, the transition I’ve made in my singing is the acceptance that I can actually do it. I’ll never be James Taylor, but I can’t hide behind my insecurities any more. I have all the tools and I CAN sing, so why not do it?
The next phase I’m facing, as I started to grasp with tonight’s session, is to actually LIKE my voice. I don’t sing in the shower. I don’t sing in the car. I don’t have tunes floating around in my head and I generally don’t like what has heretofore come out of my mouth. My voice seems weak, meek, and wavering to me, scratchy, insufficient, and insecure.
But that’s due to change.
I spoke after our session tonight with my mentor, Joe, who told me he’s always got a melody either being actively sung or in his mind’s ear. Constantly. He loves his voice. That’s where I need to be. I think the more I sing, the more I’ll like to hear myself sing.
My girlfriend Susan is our accompanist now, and I’ve always envied her gift of music. Now I have to wrap my head around my own gift of music, and to use it whenever I can and begin to really appreciate it.
So I need to go from “I can sing,” to “I love to sing and to hear myself sing.”
Oh, what a beautiful mornin',
Oh, what a beautiful day.
I got a beautiful feelin'
Ev'erything's goin' my way.
Stay tuned.