[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]
Sarcastic remarks from X Factor judges. Teachers telling kids to “stand at the back and just mime”. Being made to stand up and sing solo to get into your workplace choir. Scary!
And enough to put anyone off singing! However, there are plenty of other ways of singing with others without the fear of being judged or ridiculed. Here’s what you can do.
Most people who come to my choirs and singing workshops have a story from their past about being told they couldn’t (or shouldn’t) sing.
It might be parents (“Stop that awful noise!”), teachers (“Just stand at the back and mime”), friends (“You couldn’t carry a tune in a paper bag!”), auditioners (“Next!”), choir leaders (“If you can’t sing in tune, you’re out!”).
Whoever it was, it is damaging and can last a lifetime (see Never tell someone they can’t sing – it is brutal, damaging and untrue).
People become scared to sing in front of others, and even worse, scared to sing at all, even when alone. And if they do manage to pluck up the courage to sing after all these years, they fear that they will still be judged and found lacking.
The X Factor judges ridicule singers on the show. Gareth Malone makes people stand up in front of their peers to sing a solo audition for their workplace choir. Your mates take the piss if you dare to sing at work or at the karaoke session in the pub.
No wonder there are loads of potential singers out there who won’t even try!
The main thrust of my own work is to make singing accessible to as many people as possible and to show people that it isn’t scary but can be joyous and freeing.
If you had a bad experience when you were younger, or watch too many talent shows on TV and think you’re not good enough, here are some things you can do to (re)discover the joys of singing.
If you know someone who won’t sing for fear of being judged, try to find a way of gently encouraging them and introducing them to the joys of singing. That can be your good deed for the day!
Chris Rowbury
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