I Sing... Therefore I Am

Let me just preface this by saying, that I did not start this because I thought I had a great voice and wanted to perfect it.

While at the beautiful Braemar Country Club, sunning with my great friend Laura Tanger, she casually mentions that she is taking voice lessons by the Grammy-winning Darlene Koldenhoven... casually, mind you.  Because those are the types of names that are "normal" in LA (hence the reason I love LA).  I am instantly intrigued!!

I've secretly been wanting to take voice lessons since I was 3 years old, and had I been been given the type of mother that would have played the role of a stage-mom, instead of the insanely brilliant mom/dad, working type of mom, who worked her butt off to make other things happen for her girls in other arenas, I would have been your regular Disney teeny bop idol.  But... I wasn't (thankfully).  So, now, at the ripe old age of 29, I'm doing the things I've always wanted to do... though maybe too late, hence voice lessons amongst many other lessons.

So, upon the invitation from my great friend Laura, although reluctantly, I accepted!  And thus, I am the now a student of Darlene Koldenhoven... for the next 5 weeks.

I went in expecting nothing.  Just open and ready for anything, but I knew this would be raw, baby skin-ish, untouched territory.  I was "green" in all senses of the word.  I've never explored my voice (besides singing in my car by myself, by the way I am brilliant all alone), let alone with a Grammy-award-winner, I can see her award from our practice room, nor with a bunch of theatre veterans, whom I admire more than they know.  Subtext- I've always wanted to be one.

It is a converted back-house with 8 chairs, some serious recording equipment, one black Baldwin piano and many many crystals and geometrical triangles, for which Darlene uses for spiritual uplift (loooooove her!!!!).  We 8 students gather on our Wednesday evenings to support each other to be better versions of ourselves than the week before... I think in any way really.

Laura and I have both agreed (over our gingerbread and mocha coffees) that it's more about our mission to conquer our fear of performing in front of a group and bettering ourselves in general, rather than perfecting our fabulous, sumptuous voices.

Every Wednesday, I go into that class with anticipation, doubt, and some left-over resistance, and come out on the other side with support of 6 other strangers, whom I did not know before, who root for me, hug me when it's over and tell me I have nothing to be ashamed of.  They give me confidence, support and perspective!  Total strangers...

I didn't start this mission to show off, be controversial or to push social boundaries.  I started it to learn more about myself and better myself in any way, and my mission is paying off.

So Miss Laura, here's to you, Darlene Koldenhoven, and the strangers that have now become our friends!  And to all of my followers (though you be few) GO DO SOMETHING NEW AND A TAD BIT SCARY!  I PROMISE, YOU'LL COME OUT A BETTER VERSION OF YOURSELF, AND WITH SUPPORTERS!

Life is good.  Comment if you dare.