Singing was something I never thought I’d be able to do. Oh, I sang a bit in the high school glee club. I think I was a second soprano. And after I had children, I bought an autoharp to accompany songs for the children, especially on trips. I have memories of singing and strumming “She’ll be Coming Around the Mountain” as we traversed the continent by auto, with the children singing along.

Later, I became interested in speaking. I didn’t like my speaking voice. It seemed hoarse and raspy to me, and got worse with the years. As a staff minister at my spiritual center, I was called upon to speak at Sunday services and teach the occasional course or workshop.

I had gotten over my stage fright by taking acting classes at a local community college, and I didn’t worry about the content of my talks. But I didn’t have confidence in my voice quality. I would gargle with Biotene mouthwash for dry mouth and warm up on the way to the Center by calling out the names of the streets. I seemed to have phlegm in my throat or simply a hoarse, tiring way of speaking. I’d wonder: Is my voice going to fail me today?

I had doctors check my throat at various times with that video contraption, but they didn’t find anything other than a bit of post nasal drip.

So recently, at my now advanced age and some ambition to expand my speaking opportunities, I hired a vocal coach. First, he said I was speaking from down in my chest. We needed to raise up my voice, and not only that, I was to learn to sing.

Sing? No! I can’t sing. But then we went to the piano and did some exercises, including breath work, and he pronounced me a soprano. I need to sing above the phlegm. And even talk above the phlegm. Huh!

Long story short, after a few weeks I’m actually singing, and moving up the scale where I reach B flat…only a short reach to high C. It sounds a bit reedy to me, definitely not ready for prime time. But still a revelation.

One of the first songs we worked on was the Italian “Caro Mia Ben.” Why Italian? Because of those vowels! So I’m learning this song, and enjoying it. My coach, Richard, is able to play the songs in different keys…amazing to me. And he sings along with me at first. He notes I have a high, sweet tone, good pitch, and excellent sight reading. I do have a bit of musical education from my school days and a bit of piano training at mid-life, so I’m not a total novice at music.

But one night, I’m watching the film “Amadeus” and notice the scene where Saieri (Mozart’s rival) is teaching a student … the piece is “Caro Mia Ben.” Really?

I went to the Internet and there it was on YouTube…everyone from Pavarotti to multiple divas to even Sting on an Italian tour had clips of singing “Caro Mio Ben.” Of course my own singing paled by comparison, but I suddenly realized my musical education was enormously lacking. Here’s a link to YouTube with Pavarotti singing “Caro Mio Ben.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ_xRL3uxTA&feature=kp

I now had a personal connection to not only this classical Italian song but to classical music and music in general. I was very motivated to continue with my singing, and possibly with the piano again.

So what’s the message for you Senior Dynamos out there? It’s never too late! What are your passions? What’s on your bucket list? Is there something you’ve always wanted to do but have been limiting yourself with false beliefs? Get over it. Find something you love, something that will stretch your dynamic range, and get going.

As Brian Tracy says, “Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.”