I have never been able to sing well. This was quite a problem when I was a high school theatre student wanting to participate in our spring musical, and one of the more challenging things I had to do in high school was sing a very brief solo right before the dream ballet sequence of Oklahoma! I'm fairly certain that this was the extent of my solo:
Out of your dreams
and into his arms
you yearn to fly . . .
This itty-bitty sentence caused me so much grief, mostly because it was to be sung by a soprano, and I don't know what our music director was thinking when she gave me that part.
I practiced and practiced and practiced. It was my little solo that started the entire song, and I wanted it to be perfect. My parents were so irritated by my vocal inability that they would make me sit in the car in the garage and not allow me to practice inside the house. The only practicing I did outside of the car was on stage and on the basketball court outside the theatre. My friend would go to one end while I stayed at the other so I could practice projecting my frightened alto voice that was forced into a falsetto soprano.
The show came and went, and I survived (although right before the song I locked eyes with a boy I had dated very briefly that did not end well who was sitting in the front row of the house, and I completely misread the conductor and screwed up the opening of the song at our very first performance).
After Oklahoma! I avoided musicals and stuck with the things I could actually do well. My singing remained in the car with me, and to this day I have no problem singing along with the music, even if people in other cars can see me. I figure, 'Hey, they can't hear me! As far as they know, I'm a star.'
This evening when I picked up the twins from day care, I had the radio on and found myself singing along with the music. Kyle commanded, "No Mommy! No song!" In my car! My musical refuge!
I decided not to torture my children with my singing and took to "dancing" along to the music as I drove (yes, a feat, I know) "No Mommy! No dance!" Kyle scolded.
Fine, fine . . . No fun for me.
A few moments later I peeked back at Kyle through my rear-view mirror, and he was dancing.
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6 comments:
Its obvious that my grandson Kyle is a budding theatrical producer! If given the chance, he probably would've next said to you:
"Thank you Ms. Spencer. That's all for now. Don't call US, WE'LL call YOU"!!! :0)
When I was little and my mom would sing. I would put my hand up to her mouth and beg her to stop.
She and her sisters called themselves the Off Key Sister when they would sing at family events.
Ok, Jen, let's hear a chorus of...
CHICKS AND DUCKS AND GEESE BETTER SCURRY, WHEN I TAKE YOU OUT IN THE SURREY, WHEN I TAKE YOU OUT IN THE SURREY WITH THE FRINGE ON TOP!!!
Y'know, after just one chorus, you won't be needing any exterminator at your house! :0)
Love,
DAD (Just being honest, honey!)
Fuggedaboutit! Everyone knows I am the best (car) singer in the family!!! ;-D
I heard aunt laurie was good with her oral skills but i didn't know it was for singing!
Oh, Joe! I bet you say that to ALL THE GIRLS!!!!!!! :0)
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