I can't sing soprano

While I was growing up I was told that I couldn't sing and that I was tone deaf because I couldn't hit the right notes. So I didn't sing. Last year singer and song writer Charlie Post was at Chateau Colombier and playing the piano and doing a singing session with my daughter Eleanor. After a couple of glasses of wine I decided to join in and have a go.

Charlie is great singing coach. She quickly identified that my singing range is alto. No wonder I couldn't hit the soprano range. (and also remember that for the Rationalist big picture logical type preferences competence, with an unhealthy dose of an escalating requirement for perfection is a key component of their type). Also, as sports coaching has identified, NT see / watch how things are done first in order to learn how to do it.

Fast forward to yesterday. My mother is 82 and still sings in the Rossendale ladies choir. They're just trying out a new choir master (and what a richness of change stories choir master comings and goings reveal). She sings soprano.

She commented that she didn't understand why the altos ways needed more repetition to 'get' their part.

And I was reminded of the examples of Malcolm Gladswell in The Outliers. Basically, repetition and practise, as well as time and place (or where the opportunities are aided by time and place) are part of the secrets of successful mastery.

The general 'sing along' range for women, and the 'tune' is soprano. So altos wouldn't have had the same repetition opportunities through their early years as their soprano sisters. So yes, they will need more repetition. Plus alto is never the main tune.

Sadly I'm not sure that I can now make up the requisite 10,000 hours to mastery to develop my singing voice. But there is a lesson here in how to foster and unlock talent both in yourself and in others.