Can't Sing

There is a curious phenomenon I call the  'Can't sing' phenomenon.  There are some things that people can do well and others they can't do so well and people tend to say, "I'm not so good at that,".

BUT, when it comes to singing, people say to me, "I can't sing."  I have encountered this in so many different spheres of life.  Teachers tell me this, people I meet at churches, random friends of people, you name it.  Especially when they find out I am a music teacher.

But, of course, they can sing (a lady at the Baptist church said this to me and then sang quite nicely next to me) but what they mean is, "I am not a professional sounding singer," or "I can't totally hold my tune," or "I find it hard to sing high notes." or "I think my voice sounds a bit nasal." I have taught children who find it hard to follow a tune but the majority of them, will have developed their voice by the time they've left me so there are differences in pitch at a certain register.  I've only ever had one child who left me without any of timing or singing in tune (curiously, a very clever child, was in Drumming Club and choir and somehow was still very, very a-rhythmic and sang in a monotone- I could never understand it- he was so enthusiastic! The point was- even though he sang quite loudly completely at a monotone and played his drums out of time, I never asked him to leave, made him feel uncomfortable or like he couldn't do it- I would just offer advice where I could and position him with strong singers.  And he was there, doing it and that was the main thing- he loved music and kept doing it.

The thing I always say to my classes at school is that I thank them for their singing- I say, as long as you are trying to sing, that is the most important thing for me.  And they do improve gradually, some more than others, but still they progress.

I've known people at church keep quiet when they are singing because they think there voice is no good.  But it reminds me of a story I heard a vicar tell once. There was a monk/priest who used to sing quite out of tune.  He used to really enjoy singing all the hymns in church until one day someone told him not to sing because he was out of tune.  He was very sad and never sang up in the hymns again.
When he went to heaven and he finally met God, he said to him, "I missed you! I always used to look out for your voice- I could always hear it above everyone.
Or something of that ilk.  The point I am trying to make is that we can all sing, but as long as we enjoy it, that is the main thing.  When I go to church or a carol concert,  I always sing my heart out (unless I have a sore throat in which case I croak as best I can!). Even if I get the notes wrong.  I am always sad when I go somewhere and people don't sing.

Remember, when you sing with joy, that's a wonderful thing!

xx