This blog is a whole new adventure! I am starting it because I want to try and keep a record of what I am doing with my music and chart my progress.
First of all here is a summary of what I have done over the years. I started learning to play the piano as a young girl - far too long ago to remember. I had regular piano lessons and did quite well until I was encouraged to try a music exam! It was a fiasco - fingers turned to lead and pieces I could play I massacred - so quite understandably I failed! Never again ...... In spite of this I kept on trying to play as it was always a way to relax. As a young teacher, I even found myself trying to play the hymns in assembly! Now, many, many years later I hardly play as other things have evolved.
When I was about 14 my Grandmother gave me my first guitar. This was a real joy! Since she was a music teacher, she showed me the basics and I carried on teaching myself. I loved learning to play chords and sing songs as well a some classical stuff. I even got to sing in a few amateur concerts.
I always wanted to learn to sing, so when the opportunity arose when I was at college at the age of 18 I took it. The teacher was determined that I was a Mezzo Soprano .... we had a few disagreements about that, and I remember being made to lie flat on my back in order to try and reach a top A! This adventure came to a halt after attending a musical soirée she organised. All her students had to sing something in front of a group of other students. I was not confident at all, nerves took over and I dried up totally! So end of singing lessons at this stage! Meanwhile I continued to tinker about on my guitar, and joined choral societies as well as a church choir.
Many years later, now married, I discovered another singing teacher. This was a whole new ball game. We got on well, and I thoroughly enjoyed developing a fairly classical repertoire. Each year the students put on a concert, and although very nerve-racking I had a great time. I learned to sing solos and duets and of course accompanied myself a couple of times on the guitar. Occasional workshop weekends were also arranged. Fantastic!
A few tears later we moved to France. My husband noticed an advert from a singing teacher in the local pharmacy. Needless to say I was thrilled and followed this up. I remember trying to sing a German folk song. I didn't do it terribly well, but we both liked each other and I decided I wanted to continue. This time I was embarking on a totally new style of music - Jazz -Swing. That was five years ago! All lessons are in French,and I am discovering some wonderful new French songs. I have even had the opportunity of singing with live musicians in concert. This new adventure is providing tremendous challenges, but I feel I have made huge progress in technique - for the first time I was taught about breathing - which is pretty fundamental! I am also having a wonderful time learning about musical theory.
This year my Mum died and I inherited my Grandmothers' lute. Sadly it is in need of restoration,as you can see from the photograph, but I dream of having it done, and eventually playing it as a tribute to both my Grandmother and my Mum. This means that I need to really get back to playing my guitar more regularly! So I have invested in a guitar course which has prompted my to set up this blog! I am just waiting for the materials to arrive, and then - well who knows, one day I might be able to realise the dream....
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