Sing! Sing a song! Sing out loud! Sing out strong!

Like many people, I really enjoy music. I usually can't be still with music playing -- I'm either keeping time with my hands or my feet or dancing. For me, dancing is easy, natural. Singing, on the other hand, not so much. But this morning, I listened to an interview with Bobby McFarrin (OnBeing with Krista Tippett – recorded a couple of years ago but relisted on her site recently) and it made me think differently about singing. It was a fascinating interview and included a bit of a challenge from Bobby…

Here’s the link to the challenge: Bobby McFerrin's Daily Singing Exercise

I can’t imagine myself singing, out loud, for 10 minutes. I’m a little intimidated to even try it. I have no idea if I have a good, ok, or lousy singing voice – I mean, I sing great along with the music really cranked up  but I’m very self-conscious about singing where people can hear me. Even the birthday song. I intentionally sing it badly, in a funny way, if I can't hide behind someone else's voice.

I know why I don’t sing for others. I remember quite clearly. In 6^th grade, I was in the school choir. I took the class because one of the options for being in the choir was to learn how to play the guitar and I really wanted to learn. After about two months, we were busy getting ready for the fall concert and I was having a hard time playing and singing, at the same time. I would get so focused on putting my fingers just right and strumming that I would stop singing or get off if it took me too long to switch chords. It was my version of rubbing your head and patting your stomach.

Anyway, our choir teacher had each of us come in, individually, and play/sing the piece we had been working on. I did not do well. She didn’t think so either, because she told me to pretend at the concert. Just act like I’m playing the guitar and singing. From that point on, I did not sing for anyone. I kept working on playing the guitar but not for much longer. I just quit. That one directive – just pretend – changed my whole outlook on my musical abilities (or rather cemented the belief that I had none).

So, I really, really am intimidated about trying this 10-minute improvisational singing – out loud. But, I’m also curious. What if my singing isn’t that bad? What if I discovered I could sing ok enough to let go of my fear that someone will hear me and let me know, like that teacher did, that I wasn’t good enough?

I did sing today, though – just not 10 minutes on my own without any instrumental accompaniment. I was home, by myself, so I popped in a favorite cd and sang. I am pleased to say that Rigby did not howl, not even once. She wasn’t real sure what I was doing but she didn’t voice her disapproval. Progress for me!

One of the things Bobby shared in his interview was the amazing way that singing can shake you out of a bad mood. I wasn’t necessarily in a bad mood but I can say that I had such fun singing for me that my mood was certainly uplifted afterwards!

I don’t know all the gifts God has given me. I am comfortable with the idea that we receive gifts at different times in our lives and that we also lose them. I am not at all ready to claim that I have the gift of singing. But I am more than happy to claim the gift of joy that singing brings me.