Any other singers in here?

I'm strictly amateur, but I practice a lot and always try to keep my voice in shape. You never know when you're going to need it. I love to be a singer because I don't have to drag an instrument around everywhere I go. I have a bright tenor, which was annoying at work because nobody takes you seriously when you sound like you're fifteen years old. On the other hand, tons of pop music is in tenor, and it's awesome to do people who are singing higher than they strictly should be. I can even do most stuff in alto, but not everything.

Just wondering what others' experiences are

My friend is in the church choir.
She finds participation very meaningful and is really connected to the other members.
Have you thought of joining a choir?

I think it is great that you have a special skill that brings you joy.

Take care,

Me me me!

I sing my own stuff some but also sing in a choir which I totally love - it has had a huge impact on my MH and has helped keep me more stable than perhaps I might otherwise have been. I think singing is wonderful for mental health and keeps people well- as does all music imo. I have had a lot of music input in my recovery and it really is wonderful - I am a big believer! Choir is great for making friends too and the one I sing in comprises staff from the local MH trust, service users, carers and basically anyone who is interested in coming along. There is no audition but I think we are reasonably good. We get a lot of gigs and have done one CD with possible plans to do another in the future. our choir guy is amazing - very muscially talented but a lovely guy too, very down to earth and good at getting the best out of us He also helps a lot with technique. For example I have noticed that my breathing technique is far better now than it used to be. In terms of style we sing gospel and pop stuff mainly and learn it off by heart, both lyrics and music and this has been good for me in terms of working on my brain a bit which otherwises might wither away with being off work- or that is what it feels like.

The other singing I do started when I was in hospital for the first time when an OT gave me a guitar to play and within half an hour I had written my first song. things took off from there esp when I got involved in a music charity who reach out to those who are vulnerable and isolated - something I very much was at the time. I have written a lot with them and performed my own stuff at gigs and got things on CD which is lovely. I am not in the same place as I was when I first got involved with them but I still keep in touch and they are also like a family to me. I even helped interview for something they were involved in which was a great opportunity.

I also rock when i sing in the bath

Anyhow yay to the topic. How do you fid singing affects your mental health?

Hugs in A

Cracked

PS I sing soprano tho have the range to sing alto too - I actually have a friend who prefers my lower register. I have my buddies in the sopranos tho and to be fair we only sing up to about a D or an E usually so it is fine. I think my voice prob is naturally leaning towards lower as I like writing songs in A (also easy to play lol) but I am happy singing soprano

I actually would love to do something like that, but I don't think I'm quite recovered enough yet to be able to commit myself to anything. The area I live in is very musical, and I often jam with random other musicians at kitchen parties, which is really cool.

People keep trying to suck me into barbershop choirs, because apparently they're always short of tenors. It would really help me with harmonies (I've only done duets), and the rust layers on top of my music reading. But I just can't resist being the star and soloing and generally showing off my hypomanic awesometude.

One day, I shall write my autobiography in Rock Opera form (a criminally underutilized medium)! All my amps go to eleven.

I'd love to have a soprano to sing with, we could do duets that sound like razor blades, and you could do magic with the shared alto range. Freestyle counterpoint!

I find it incredibly helpful to my mental health, along with writing (which is the only art that I'm pro-level at).

Hey

I wish everyone with MH issues had good access to music. It is there but not always easy to find.

sixprime wrote:I actually would love to do something like that, but I don't think I'm quite recovered enough yet to be able to commit myself to anything. The area I live in is very musical, and I often jam with random other musicians at kitchen parties, which is really cool.

When you feel up to it do think about it. I honestly have found it so beneficial to me and to my MH. If you do then shop around so you find the choir/group which really suits you and you feel at home in. I am glad that the area around you is good for music. I jam with ppl too at times. There was a scene in Boyhood depicting this and it made me laugh as it is very descriptive of some of the ppl I hang out with

sixprime wrote:People keep trying to suck me into barbershop choirs, because apparently they're always short of tenors. It would really help me with harmonies (I've only done duets), and the rust layers on top of my music reading. But I just can't resist being the star and soloing and generally showing off my hypomanic awesometude.

Barbershop stuff I can imagine would be great for vocal technique and harmonies etc. I think that it would be a lot of fun too. Their harmonies are really impressive at times from stuff I have heard. Lol about hypomania- yeah that is a sure way to thinking you are Freddie Mercury Also I think everyone is short of tenors- you guys seem sort after. We certainly need more of them in my choir.

sixprime wrote:One day, I shall write my autobiography in Rock Opera form (a criminally underutilized medium)! All my amps go to eleven.

Excellent

sixprime wrote:I'd love to have a soprano to sing with, we could do duets that sound like razor blades, and you could do magic with the shared alto range. Freestyle counterpoint!

This sounds fab And maybe we could both be hypomanic at the same time and be totally awesome and the best singers ever. And the Queen would invite us to perform at Buck Palace and we would win a Nobel Prize for services to music

sixprime wrote:I find it incredibly helpful to my mental health, along with writing (which is the only art that I'm pro-level at).

I am glad you find it helpful along with other things

My MH trust think that the arts are so important in MH that they have a director of performing and creative arts- I think this is great

Hugs

Cracked

Tenors do seem to be uncommon. There don't seem to be many people in the no-man's land between baritone and soprano. Freddie is the Final Boss of pop tenors! I'm at the Garfunkel level But I love that I can also do Tina Turner and Annie Lennox. People keep trying to get me into drag shows.

-- Sat Aug 09, 2014 6:58 am --

CrackedGirl wrote:

sixprime wrote:I'd love to have a soprano to sing with, we could do duets that sound like razor blades, and you could do magic with the shared alto range. Freestyle counterpoint!

This sounds fab And maybe we could both be hypomanic at the same time and be totally awesome and the best singers ever. And the Queen would invite us to perform at Buck Palace and we would win a Nobel Prize for services to music

THIS MUST HAPPEN!!!

Being able to do Annie Lennox always is a good thing

And yes it must happen!!!

Hugs

Cracked

I'm not a singer, but I want to congratulate you all on having an awesome talent.

Prospero wrote:I'm not a singer, but I want to congratulate you all on having an awesome talent.

Thanks It really is a blast, but it's hard to get over the initial shyness and do it in public. I practiced on my own until I was satisfied that I could do it without bringing shame on my family.

I have to say, the feeling of a perfect performance while hypomanic is beyond description.

Prospero wrote:I'm not a singer, but I want to congratulate you all on having an awesome talent.

Thank you

I am of the belief that with the right help everyone can sing. maybe you should have a go

Cracked