Amanda Frawley joined the Basingstoke Sing for Fun workshop in April 2009, this is her story.

Amanda's Story

Today, I achieved one of my life time ambitions.  I sang, as part of a choir, at the Royal County of Berkshire Show in front of hundreds of people, and I loved it!  If you had told me five months ago, when I went along to a free taster for Sing for Fun, that I would be singing in public enjoying every moment, I would have laughed in your face. I first heard about Sing for Fun from my friend, Wendy, who had recently completed a ten week course and couldn't stop singing its praises, not literally.She urged me to come, insisting I would love it, but I have always been rather shy and would never draw any attention to myself.  It's true that I love to sing, in private, in the shower, where I imagine myself as the next Barbra Streisand, but never in public.

But I was intrigued; a free taster meant I could find out what Sing for Fun land was like without any commitment or cost and have a free cup tea and biscuit, for my trouble.  Also, I reasoned that if I was clever, I could position myself close to an exit and run away if it all got too embarrassing!  So before you could sing Evergreen, I had agreed to go and offered to collect Wendy on the way.  Well, taster day arrived, my feet turned to ice and the last thing I wanted to do was sing in front of a room full of strangers.   Having all my teeth extracted whilst giving birth on a vomit educing roller coaster sounded much more appealing!

I was very nervous and felt like a lamb to the slaughter. Wendy introduced me to my executioner, Jane Cole, who smiled and invited me to take a seat. There were probably twenty other fellow lambs of various ages, sixteen ladies and four men.  Jane introduced herself and assured us that no-one would have to sing alone.  She was warm, funny and very down to earth.  She told us to blame the person next to us if we made a mistake, which made us all laugh. She told us "anyone can sing; if you can talk, you can sing."   We learnt a few singing techniques, particularly how to support our voices and with Jane's gentle guidance and encouragement we were soon making some nice sounds.  After the promised free tea, coffee and cookies, we even sang our first song, with harmonies.  It was amazing!  I couldn't thank Wendy enough for encouraging me to come to the taster.

So here I am, after just a ten weeks course, and I've sung in public.  I don't feel self conscious, I don't feel ridiculous and I don't feel like the dunce of the class.  I just feel fantastic.  I want everyone to experience the same joy I feel when I sing.  Yes, I make mistakes, but do you know what? I really don't care!   The Sing for Fun course is absolutely, by a million miles, the best course I have ever attended.  I have more confidence than I've had in years and I‘ve found a piece of me.

Amanda Frawley

Follow Amanda's continuing story on her workshop weekly blog...... Click Here