How You Can Sing Like Nobody is Listening - Start Singing to Benefit Now

When I was a child, singing was something my family could do together and it was free. We had little money and times were hard. Family dinners consisted mostly of bread and gravy made from flour, water, and sometimes a little bacon grease. On occasion, daddy would ask if he could pick some green beans for his family at a nearby neighbors patch. Dessert was mostly bread pudding which I hated. I was the oldest of three and responsible for washing the dishes and taking care of my little sister and brother. We all sang songs taught to us by mamma and learned to imitate tunes that daddy would sing . As I said, singing required no money so we did a good deal of it.

On weekends, mamma would take the three of us to visit "old people" that we never even knew and would sing for them in what appeared to be some kind of hostpital. I remember how the nurses and staff would smile at us and give us such graceous compliments as we sang. I don't know if I had the better voice of the three of us, or was just more out-going, but I always ended up singing solos. Sometimes I was told that I had a mature voice and that I sounded like an angel when I sang. Mamma always loved to hear that. I guess I did too.

I learned that the sound of the human voice as it moves from one pitch to another with "feeling", can actually touch another human being. Musical sounds produced by the voice can change a persons chemistry. I learned that through singing, I had the power to help heal pain and sorrow. I learned that a song which comes from the heart can turn sorrow into joy. And I knew that this was a gift I could give to others that cost nothing and at the same time fulfilled a need within my soul. Every time I sang, I felt so good. The mental and physical abuse that I suffered daily, was replaced with a feeling of happiness - I experienced a type of joy that I had never known through singing. I decided to keep singing for the rest of my life. This is what I was born to do. And because singing made me feel good about myself, I made a vow that someday I would help others to achieve the same wonderful feeling through singing. I would become a teacher.

Think back to the very first time you ever began to sing. Was it at a birthday party when you were a child? Maybe it was in kindergarten singing a song with the other children. Or it could have been in church when you were just a little tyke. Singing is an important part of child developement. If the feedback is positive and fun, the child grows up feeling confident when he sings. The opposite is also true. If the child sings and people laugh at him or give negative feedback, he immediately says to himself, " I am not good at singing and people don't like my sound". Then the child grows to percieve himself in such a way, that he will not sing again. His confidence has been attacked. This is very sad.

When teaching adults to sing, the biggest hurdle to overcome is the persons own lack of confidence. Most of my adult singers are still listening to the old, negative and critical messages that linger in the mind. Also, we must stop comparing our singing to others. We think that if our singing does not match the exact sound of a recording artist, then we are not good at singing. This type of thinking is incorrect and self limiting. My goodness, if we all imitated one another, we would all sound like a bunch of parrots.

The beauty in the singing voice is the unique sound in each one of us. As we express ourselves honestly, the tone takes on an emotion which connects with our heart. How can singing from the heart be anything but beautiful?

When we sing freely, without being concerned about what another person may be thinking, our voice sounds rich and open. Consider the shower singer. With just the right acoustics, the body soaped up with lather and very relaxed, we sing like nobodys listening. Ahhhhhhh, yes. The singing voice seems to reverberate from somewhere else - outside of us. "Not bad", we tell ourselves. Then we continue singing.

Here are a few very easy tips:

Open yourself up to your own voice, without judgement or expectations.  Simply allow your voice to soar, as if it had wings.  The root to every successful action is desire.  You must have the desire because desire is your engine, your motivating force .

Your imagination houses your desire. (Picture what you want). Will you sing with passion?  Perhaps you want to sing jazz.  Imagine that you are a Broadway Star, or the next Pavarotti.

Singing is a wonderful way to give thanks to the Lord.  Make up your own songs and begin exercising your imagination. You did this as a child and it was easy as well as fun. This is also a good way to exercise your brain as you age. You cannot sing what you first don't think of. Your mind becomes the control room for training.

Your desire to sing will release your energy, which is used to help manifest your desire . So when you sing - imagination, desire, and energy become one with breath and sound.

Let me begin by saying that singing is your natural birthright.  In fact, as you took your very first breath upon entrance into this glorious world, the first sound you made (in the form of a cry) was a descending 5 tone scale. Whaaa!..could be heard several rooms down the corridor. Your sound was supported by air from the diaphragmatic muscle and into those tiny little lungs. Furthermore, your first sound was perfectly placed resonating with a full vibration and not an ounce of fear present. What a performer!

Singing exercises your lungs. As you learn how to breathe by using the diaphragm (your breathing muscle), you exhale toxins (carbon monoxide) and inhale pure oxygen.

Singing is fun. A good way to start your day is with a song (Oh what a beautiful mor'nin).

Professor Graham Welch of the University of London has studied developmental and medical aspects of singing for 30 years and says.

“The health benefits of singing are both physiological and psychological. Its physical benefits include increasing oxygenation of the blood stream and working major muscle groups in the upper body.

Psychologically it has the positive effect of reducing stress levels through the action of the endocrine system which is linked to the sense of emotional well-being.”

Singing is something the entire family can do together - and it is free.

As you learn to sing, you develop an appreciation for good singers.

Feeling down? Just sing the blues away.

Singing provides us with a way to worship and thank our Creator.

"Singing reflects a state of balance and a positive inner glow of contentment and equanimity. It is the audible resonant reality of our existence."
Professor John Lennon

There are many more benefits that can be added to this list. But mostly, singing must be a joy to be had by all.

In conclusion, the well known song, "Amazing Grace" is provided for you to listen to. What would be even better, is to sing along and experience singing itself.

And remember to - Sing Like Nobodys Listening.

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