Macrine (RIP) and I are in this Choir of 250 Voices, 1954, UP Theatre, Diliman, QC, Philippines
In
my last blog I discussed the genetic components of musical talent and
artistic abilities. Today, I will answer the question "Is being a good
singer Genetic"?
"Musicians are often described as talented or gifted, but is the ability to sing a talent or a gift? Are we born being able to sing or can we learn to sing? Singing is a very complex ability and its origin may not be as simple as a matter of nature vs nurture.
Genetics undeniably play a role in singing. Your physiology affects the timbre of your voice and some singers are born with vocal apparatus that naturally makes their voice sound good. But there are many factors aside from genetics that create a good singer.
The ability to sing isn’t necessarily something you’re born with. You can be born with the right genetics and physiological features that put you at a better vocal disposition to become a singer, but that doesn’t mean singing is innate. You have to learn how to use this vocal apparatus to be able to sing.
Singing is partly innate, and partly a learnt skill. You can be born with vocal tracts that are physiologically sized and shaped to give your voice a more pleasing sound, naturally leading the way to becoming a singer. But controlling and configuring your vocal muscles in order to sing well is a learnt skill.
Singing can come more naturally to some, but having a good voice isn’t something that’s determined from the moment you’re born. Singing is something that can be learnt, taught, and developed".
Here's the article on both Macrine's(RIP) and my own singing activities in our younger years.
Macrine
and I loved singing in the choir here in Northern California. In the
late 1980's, we sang in our church choir on Sunday masses in Pinole, as
well as with the UP Alumni, Berkeley Chapter Choir based in El
Sobrante, California.
Nine years ago, we sang in our Church Choir here in
Fair Oaks. We even sang a duet of Silent Night in Tagalog at the
concert before the Christmas midnight mass. I am terrified to sing solo for the public to hear.
Macrine and I had also
organized the Marinduque Association of the Capital Area( MACA)
Christmas Caroling Group in Colesville, Maryland in the late 1990's.
Macrine
used to be a soloist. She sang soprano coloratura in her younger days.
Today her voice is ruined by her cigarette smoking. Her last singing
activity was being paid to sing for a friend's wedding in the
Philippines as well as here in US.
 | |
| Singing solo and duet with Macrine at our residence in Silvercrest Street in Pinole, Ca. The bottom photo is view of our backyard and deck with the setting sun in the background hanging over the Pinole hills, 1989 |
Personal Note: There was an incident in my
singing activities that I will never forget. For some reason or
another, my solo voice( Church choir) was heard for a few minutes during
mass at communion time when we were still residing in Pinole, CA. The
whole congregation was surprise to hear a new soloist that they have
never heard before. I was frozen with anxiety that my voice was
horrible, but judging from comments I heard later, my solo voice was not
that bad. That was my first and last solo performance for the public in
my whole life. I later learned that the microphone of the other singers
were off and mine was the only one working. This is a true story.
Hearing my amplified voice in the church did not sound too bad. It was
terrifying but at the same time exciting to hear your own amplified
voice heard by the whole congregation of more than 300 people. I am not a
bad singer after all! But I am still a frustrated singer and will never
sing solo again in public except in my bathroom.
https://marinduquemyislandparadise.blogspot.com/2019/10/choral-singing-reminds-us-of-our.html
https://www.openmicuk.co.uk/advice/can-you-learn-to-sing/
Meanwhile enjoy this photo from my collection.
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