Much of my earliest faith formation came from singing in children’s choirs. Before learning the words and music of our anthems, we always went through a series of vocalizing exercises: singing “lu lu lu lu lu” on a descending scale, or “ma meh mi mo mu” on a single pitch, working to purify vowel sounds (a definite challenge for some of us Southerners). I think about such exercises occasionally now that I am part of the congregational choir that sits in the nave of the church rather than the choir loft. The nonsense syllables come to mind when I realize with some measure of chagrin that I have just sung through an entire hymn, resumed my seat and not registered a single word of what I have intoned. I might just as well have been vocalizing on “lu.” While I doubt I am the only person to have had this experience, I am all the more sheepish about admitting to it, because I should surely know better. After all, I am a professional hymn text writer with a decades-long commitment to … [Read more...]

First things first: You can sing. You are sound. You are song. You are meant to sing with others. Others are hungry to sing with you. You are naturally musical. Your ears are perfect. You are a feeling-based instrument. Your body is an instrument. You are meant to feel good. You are built to feel. Your voice is beautiful. You sound great. Your heart beats. You have rhythm. You are rhythm. You are sound. You can sing. You are song. You are these things. If you’re in acceptance of your naturally musical, beautiful self, you may beam a little brighter reading these words. If you’re experiencing some disconnect in relating to your body as an instrument, you may feel your brow furrow and lips tense. Maybe you’ve nurtured your naturally musical self. Or maybe you could use a little nurturing. Most of us fall somewhere in between, and many of us are desperately hungry for musical nourishment from the inside out. In my work as a leader of a voice teaching community, … [Read more...]