Lisa P Writes

I’m very excited – Ingrid asked me to sing at her wedding! In Puerto Rico! Well, I’ll be singing backup with her sister as Ingrid sings the lead. Pheww, I’d rather sing backup.

Last Saturday, I went to my dad’s choir concert – Lutheran Choir of Chicago. It was fun to watch them sing the peppier songs and especially in harmonizing a cappella. That’s my specialty – harmonizing! I’ve always had a talent for singing. It started with the lead role in the junior high musical. I can’t remember the name of it but I do remember singing a song about becoming thirteen and going on to fourteen . . . la la la. I’d cringe if I saw it. I don’t think it was very good and I say that I have a natural talent for singing but not the training, so there was no passion or umpf behind it. And I didn’t have the confidence. I’m sure that I hit the notes but it probably came out a little squeaky. My music teacher continually tried to get me to sing after that, but I refused, turning to the trumpet instead. I wasn’t all that great with that either . . . because I didn’t practice. But it was fun to be involved with music even though our band teacher was a lunatic and would throw the baton, sweaty towel, the music stand or anything in the way of his anger when we wouldn’t listen . . . which was often. I think we liked to watch him throw a fit. He was a very animated conductor, flinging his arms up and down and moving his mouth.

After I graduated from college and was completely directionless, I thought why don’t I take singing lessons! I found a teacher, a rotund, young woman, who taught me privately in her apartment. She would play her electric keyboard and I would sing along. Then we would take a cigarette break and talk about her ex-husband who she loved passionately but it was a candle that was too intense to last . . . as she saw it. Then I found another teacher who taught me operatic songs . . . I have a wide soprano range and found it challenging (I’d rather sing alto). I’m kind of scared of my vibrato. I had a recital that I thought I was prepared for but once again . . . I lacked the confidence.

I auditioned for Cinderella the musical and at the audition I had to wear a skirt with pantyhose which I never wore then or even now. As I walked out of the bathroom, through a hallway in front of all the men and women auditioning, a girl pulled me aside. My skirt was in my pantyhose and I had just shown my ass to everyone. I got the part! Heh, a bit part with the chorus singers. It was such a great experience because it was there and then that I decided didn’t want to do theater (I had taken improvisation classes and on camera acting, too). Backstage all the actors tried to one up each other, everyone was so dramatic and I thought “what am I doing here?”. Just not me. Those days have actually helped me with my writing.

Watching my dad’s choir, I did realize that I kind of miss music in my life. It’s been years since I’ve sung but I’m looking forward to singing with Ingrid and her sister!