15. Learning to Sing on Key, Part 2

Those of you with natural singing ability don’t know how lucky you are.

Since my first ever singing lesson over a month ago, I’ve been practicing and continuing to work with voice teacher Akela Franklin. When you’re starting from scratch, learning to keep a tune takes a lot of hard work, both physical and emotional.

Not only did I have to learn to breathe differently and coordinate that with moving my facial muscles in a certain way, but I also had to overcome a lifetime of belief that I lack the music gene and would never, ever learn to sing on key.

I’m sure I presented a challenge for Akela. As she said, I was the first true beginner she’d ever worked with.

We decided to focus on This Land Is Your Land, a simple enough song. The trajectory of my lessons went from silliness the first time, to “Oh my gosh, this is hard,” to despair. I was almost in tears during my second-to-last lesson, sure that I would live up to my belief that I could never learn to sing. The fourth and final lesson? I’ll let you judge for yourself.

There was certainly a lot of this:

Then there was this:

So here’s my attempt at This Land is Your Land, with Akela accompanying me on the piano. Much easier than singing it with no accompaniment!

And here I am singing it on my own:

Will I ever sing like a pro? No way, not ever. And I’m sure I’ll still hear lots of “Aw, Mom, please don’t sing!” But 93% on key? Thanks, Akela! I’m calling that a success.

Akela Franklin Voice Studio, $25 for a half hour lesson, $35 for 45 minutes