Possible goal: Learn to sing or at least to not screech

[luckykaa]

Something that often bugs me is that I can't sing.  Even Singstar tells me I'm Tone Deaf.  I really can't carry a tune, and have never had any aptitude.  However, according to the experts, anyone can be taught to sing.  I read a BBC Magazine article about this only the other day, where they do things a little differently to help encourage the singers.  They also have a musical test.  I scored extremely lowin almost everything except beat matching.  I had performance slightly lower than a coin.

I'm tempted to learn.  The problem is I'm a little intimidated.  Most people have some basic ability to hit the right note.  I'm way down near the bottom of the scale.  I'd need someone to teach me who's aware that I need a lot of handholding and confidence building at the start.  I have absolutely no idea where to go for that.

Lack of confidence to get started is a problem for everyone.  I need to get over it but I need to take baby steps at first and I don't know what these steps are.

Comments

[ingaborg.livejournal.com]

If you are really tone deaf, then I think that's a problem. However, if you can hear when something external (e.g. another singer) is out of tune, you should be able to learn to sing. Some areas run 'singing groups for the terrified' where people are encouraged to come along who have no experience and don't believe they have any skill. Is there anything like that in Brighton? They sound like fun anyway, and I think a group like that might be pitched at the right level for you, and the teacher ought to have some practical advice for you.

[luckykaa.livejournal.com]

Yes, literal tone deafness - as an analogue to colour blindness - does exist, but it's uncommon. A lot of people claim to be tone deaf because they don't have a natural aptitude for distinguishing between different pitches.

I shall look for a singing group for the terrified. Sounds like they're pitching at me. Then ponder. It's on the reserve list for New Years resolutions, but I need to complete last year's lot first.

[xenaclone.livejournal.com]

I'm willing to have a discreet [or otherwise] chat/sing with you at Redemption.

[Sympathetic Pro standard lyric mezzo]

You may be pitching too high/low for your voice's natural comfort zone.

[luckykaa.livejournal.com]

Well, I've got some way to go to the lofty heights of "can't sing". I have trouble distinguishing which note is higher if they're close to each other.

But I shall track you down at Redemption.

[masterofapath.livejournal.com]

Good to see you'll be at Redemption too xenaclone!

Mr luckykaa you have a smartphone type thingy don't you? There are some ear training apps available (certainly on iPhone so there should be on your flavour of android). I found practicing on those helped my ear get past that which is higher point (though it still needs a lot more practice).

The only problem I had was they came with poor interfaces and no help - I took a fair while to work it out as I wasn't sure what it was trying to do or how it would do it, or what some of the words meant!

[penguin-worship.livejournal.com]

If you find one in the Brighton area, and would appreciate company, i'd be up for comming to. I can't sing either - and have been petrified about even going to a singing tutor/group for those who can;t sing, because everyone else who says they can't sing can still sing better than me! But then something bizarre happened at WITW. My rabbit, somehow managed to hold notes and harmonize at Lapinalia. This must meanthat i do have more of an ability that i think - but just cannot access it.

[luckykaa.livejournal.com]

Well, your rabbit could. Doesn't mean you can... LARP characters seem to do that sort of thing sometimes:)

I do need to look into what's on offer. Googling seems to give misleading information. I do have one offer from a friend but not sure how serious she is or how committed she'd be.

[nayela.livejournal.com]

I recommend talking to Pete's mum at some point. She used to have exactly your problem, but she's been part of a 'can't sing choir' for a year or so and they're tackling some quite advanced pieces now. It seems that singing groups for the terrified may be the way to go. :)

[luckykaa.livejournal.com]

That sounds good. Where/how did she find the choir?

[lordofthewheel.livejournal.com]

She found it at Morley College, through the college of the third age, so to be accepted that route you may have to ait 30 odd years ;). However, they will almost certainly know of other groups for other people. Also, one of my friends is just starting out as a singing teacher (Mich, who you met at the roleplay weekend we had at my place a couple of years back. Erm, were you at that one, I am having doubts now...) based in East London, which may be too far for you to easily get to but I can probably pass on information and contact details if you want to ask...

[harukoraharu.livejournal.com]

Tone deaf is a bit of a different problem. I went to a harmony singing group a few years ago and there was one woman who had a lovely speaking voice but just couldn't tell how off note she was when singing. I had the opposite and would gladly have swapped, a terrible speaking voice but can distinguish between notes some I can some I can't reach. Guess with coaching that would get better but speech therapy is a lot more expensive. Actually it some areas like here it is just as hard to find singing teachers who teach adults (as speech therapists).