Singing - some stories from Lil'b

I practice my singing. I have one more week until I have to record, so I'm doing more than usual this week.

I usually practice about 20-30 mins a day, 4-5 times a week.

I've had singing lessons since I was 8, when my mother, in her wisdom, put me into classical vocal training. That only lasted 2 years, because I suffered very bad stage fright (it is required you perform in front of others to pass grades. I froze and cried and ran). So my parents brought me a karoake enabled stereo, where I could play a tape, sing over the top (they also brought me a microphone and headphones, put a couch in front of the stereo, enabling me to 'hide'), record myself and play it back, analysing all mistakes and re-recording until there were many less/none.

Thanks to Janet, Madonna, Cyndi, TLC, Mariah (yes it's true), the wilson sisters, NWA etc.

Since the age of 20 I restarted singing lessons and now practice a technique called 'vocal calisthenics'. It sounds awful to the outside listener but does wonders for pitch, range and holding notes etc. Small world but the teacher ended up being the guy whom I used to babysit for, Antony Hodgson,'s Dad.

He went overseas after about a year of giving me lessons, and I have carried on since.

That's my story of trying to be a good singer.