Collective Energy & Ability - When Your Own Energy Just Isn't Enough
Written by Julie Taylor
Collective Energy
When Your Own Energy & Ability Just Isn't Enough...
-by Julie
One of my 'best things' to do is to sing with the One Human Family Gospel Choir. On Saturday night we performed at a beautiful old stone church - with lovely stained glass windows - called the Peace Centre. And it was full to bursting!
To be a part of a beautiful collective voice never ceases to fill my heart - and cover me with goose bumps. Alone my singing is pretty ordinary and it's a real challenge (after ABI) to sing in tune, remember the notes and the words and the timing, stand for a couple of hours, clap, dance, smile... I worry every time that I won't be able to do it. But after the first few bars of music, energy from the whole choir runs through me.
Perhaps before you join a choir, you want to train your voice a bit? Try this: Voice Lessons To Go Volume 1: Vocalize and Breath by Ariella Vaccarino. We have a professional voice trainer who comes in to the choir for a 30 minute warm up before we sing and she is excellent. Click on the images or on the blue words to see more...
And here's something I just discovered a few months ago - I was too shy beforehand - it's a karaoke machine. Singing Machine 5.5 TV Monitor Karaoke System with Lyrics and a CD
of great songs Party Tyme Karaoke: Oldies. Fill your 'Joy quota' for the day by singing with some friends. I never realized how much fun this was until I tried it! ReBuildingYou depends on your support to grow - BUY HERE - the prices are exactly the same, Amazon is a completely safe and trustworthy website and you’ll be supporting RBY at the same time. Thank you!
I am transcended somewhere special and for those precious hours. I'm no longer confined by my abilities alone or by my body. Alone, my voice was broken. Yet with some practice and as part of this incredible choir I am whole again - at least for an hour or two. I am grateful for such an amazing gift. It wasn't always this way.
As a young girl I sang with my school choir and even sang one of the solo parts of Silent Night at Christchurch in England. Then my head injury damaged the part of the brain that governs the voice (along with many other parts) and I could never guarantee or control my pitch or tone - even in speech. I was sad to think that I would ever sing again...
My lovely friend Carolyn encouraged me for 2 whole years to join her choir - and when I eventually went, she was away! That first night I was terrified. Another good friend, Dominic, accompanied me and I tried several sections of the choir to try and find where I fit. Eventually I found the alto section. I struggled for weeks to remember the words and to try and learn how to use my voice again. Instinctively I knew how important it was for me. New friends with strong, clear voices stood around me and gradually I found my way - thank you Laurie...
ReBuilding yourself is a journey - actually more like a Pilgrimage (which was the name of the OHF Choir's Album that I sang on). So why not build it into something you enjoy and love? Singing is fabulous exercise - it challenges you and your brain in so many different ways. I can imagine hundreds of tiny, threadlike new pathways being formed in my brain every time I open my mouth!
It's also a wonderful thing when you're not that impressed with your self - maybe you think your voice sucks? - to be part of a group that is collectively as good (or in this case with the choir, way better) that you ever were on your own. Wow... What a great way to remember and enjoy a short taste of the best you can be... How much easier it is to ReBuild when you have such a clear vision of just how good things can be.
