Learning to sing

My musical adventure had really restarted with challenging myself to learn to sing after watching Gareth Malone’s ‘The Choir’.

I fortuitously chose Olivia Hyde, from a directory promoting Performing Arts on the Kirkees Council Intranet coupled with a mention in the local newspaper.  Liv provided a fun and safe space for me to explore and develop my voice and provided motivational challenges along the way. Very different from my parallel choral / group singing adventures that she had also enabled.

I really enjoyed learning with Liv and remain amazed that she managed to get me singing at all, never mind solo!  In addition to the vocal lessons I experienced several student workshops (nay, boot camps!) and student showcases leading to appearances at local venues. 

A secondary aim at the time was to improve my confidence when doing presentations, staff training sessions and teaching adult learners at the local college.

We’re not done …

Having achieved my initial aim Olivia challenged me further to sing solo, within the safe space of the first of several student workshops. Soon that led on to my first public showcase event at The Black Lounge in Huddersfield, covering The Airborne Toxic Events song ‘Sometime Around Midnight’. What a ridiculous choice that was, with loads of lyrics to learn and every verse different! Still, first with backing track and later with guitar accompaniment, I took it on.

As a student with Olivia, I also performed acoustic guitar and vocals at several Bar 1:22 / Small Seeds Open Mic nights in Huddersfield. Mainly doing covers but I also braved performing my first original song ‘Sign on Again’. 

With fellow students I performed as support at the Bad Pollyanna Album launch party in July 2013 with a cover of Ralph McTell’s ‘The Streets of London’.

A memorable final performance at The Black Lounge came in December 2014, backed by Liv and two fellow students doing a cover of Shakin Stevens, ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’. The drunks propping up the bar finally took to the dance floor! I had found my niche!