But I'm a lost cause! My voice is appalling!
You are not a lost cause. Repeat after me... "I am not a lost cause!".
You probably just have never learned to pitch correctly. If you weren't encouraged as a child, it's highly likely that no-one ever took the time to show you what you were doing wrong. As you've got older, you've opted-out of singing in your life, so you've never gained that control over your voice which you need in order to sing. It's not too late to discover this. This book will explain this in detail and show you how to go about learning to pitch properly.
What if I'm tone-deaf?
The vast majority of people who think they are tone-deaf are not. Ironically, if you can hear that you're not in tune when you sing, you're less likely to be tone-deaf (because you can actually hear that you're out of tune). If you really think you might be tone-deaf, you can try this online test to find out for certain. It'll take about 15 minutes, and you'll need a pair of headphones. Among other things, it will measure how discerning you are when it comes to spotting the differences between short melodies. If you are genuinely tone-deaf, you won't be very good at spotting when things sound unpleasant to the ear. To reiterate, if you're able to spot when you or other people don't sound in tune, you are probably not tone-deaf.
What's the point of learning this now?
That's up to you. What's the point of learning to do anything new? Longevity science is showing us that the reason time seems to slip away as you get older is that you have fewer experiences of doing something for the first time. Trying out a new activity and practising to become proficient is a fantastic way to keep your brain agile. It's also been proven again and again that singing is really good for your health and your mental well-being. And it's really fun to do! Plus, you might find yourself joining a choir and meeting new friends. It's potentially life-changing! And purchasing one book isn't really much of a risk. What have you got to lose?
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING...
'I wish I’d read this years ago! What a difference it would have made.'
'Warm and encouraging, reading this makes me feel like maybe I can sing after all!'
'An eye-opening read! Perfect for Christmas gifting…'
'Richard's insightful explanations and targeted exercises are sure to help you discover your voice!'
'This book is uncanny. It feels like it's talking directly to me. It focuses in on all my insecurities about my voice which stop me from trying to sing, and it's made me believe I really can overcome them'
'This is a wonderful book for anyone who has ever been put off singing'
'Joyous and kind, a singing handbook like no other’
'An encouraging, no-nonsense and achievable approach to the art of singing'
‘This is like a conversation with your favourite teacher - insightful, challenging and encouraging'
