My journey commenced with the Beginner's Group (Level 2) and I found myself in a warm, friendly environment with a handful of others who were at a similar level. The aim of this course was to perform a group song acapella at the concert at the end of the course. Knowing I wouldn't be called upon to sing solo took the edge off my nerves and the method of teaching, gentle yet effective, allowed me to feel relaxed and safe enough to experiment.
Having built my confidence sufficiently over the six-week course and performed a duet at the Singing Circle, I progressed to the next level where I chose one song to perform solo at the next concert. We broke it down into beginning, middle and end and worked on each part over the weeks that followed. This was when it began to get tough for me. Singing is such a personal thing, and it is necessary to lay yourself bare and make yourself vulnerable. The emotions it aroused within me were overwhelming. I discovered many blocks that needed to be worked through stemming back to childhood, and I found that I was required to step outside of my comfort zone repeatedly.
I completed two Level 3 courses before I felt I was ready, vocally and emotionally, to progress to Level 4, which involved recording two tracks on to a CD. Realistically I knew that both my voice and my confidence had not quite developed enough for such a huge leap, however I also knew the learning curve would be enormous, so I bit the bullet.
I have now just recorded my CD, a truly mind-blowing experience! And inspite of my eternal quest for perfection, I think I will be genuinely pleased with the result. I'm now preparing to perform my tracks at a PA gig in September.
Looking back, my voice has developed enormously and my life has benefited profoundly since my first course with Lorrayn 10 months ago. The courses aided my emotional development as well as my vocal technique and I've found it a truly valuable and life-changing experience. The benefit is not just apparent in the quality of my voice, but I can also apply the techniques I've been taught to other areas of my life: my confidence has soared when speaking publicly or at meetings at work, and I've learned that anything is possible if you apply yourself 100%. Nothing gives me greater joy than singing with others- there's an amazing energy at the concert at the end of the course that I've never experienced anywhere else. For those of you who want to sing but lack the courage, now's your chance! You won't look back - I haven't.
About a year ago, I decided that I wanted to do something in my spare time. I have always enjoyed the performing arts and during my teens, I used to do some amateur dramatics. Consequently, I decided to look for a singing course, however I was well aware that it had been about eight years since I had even sung a note, except for at a couple of 'blurry' karaoke evenings! I decided that I wanted more from singing lessons than just one-on-one tuition, where I would be taught the technical side of singing. I wanted to sing with a group of people and really build up my confidence. After some deliberation, I chose Lorrayn de Peyer's "THE COURAGE TO SING" course.
At first, I was absolutely terrified of getting up and singing in front of other people but the warm and inviting atmosphere within the group encouraged me to take those first big steps towards having THE COURAGE TO SING. Furthermore, knowing that I would not have to sing a song solo on the beginner's level course really took the edge off my nerves. Hearing other people's stories and knowing that everyone else in the room shared exactly the same feelings and had the same fears that I did, was a major confidence boost in itself.
To start off with, I did a beginner's level course not knowing what to expect or what I was capable of but now, ten months on, I have just completed the level 4 course where I recorded two songs of my choice onto CD! This was a truly exhilarating experience and one that I really hope to repeat in the near future. Working with a three-piece band was wonderful and I really gained an in-depth understanding into what exactly is involved with the production of a CD.
As with the other courses, sharing this experience with like-minded people boosted my confidence and provided me with emotional support throughout. Thank you.