I love to sing, but not in front of people - I know I’m not good. At home or in the car, when I’m playing music, I usually sing along. Rock & pop stuff, occasionally folk. I also have a habit of making up goofy songs to amuse myself, especially ones about my husband - that’s the only time I sing in front of him.
1. When and/or where? Whenever, usually at home, in the car, or at work. I sing a lot, and sometimes will sing along to music on the iPod/radio without realizing it (luckily, my officemate wears headphones and doesn’t usually hear my spontaneous burstings into song … she does tend to notice when I spontaneously start dancing in my seat, though). I sing a lot, 'cause it’s what I do.
2. In front of people? Many times, both in bands and in musicals. I also had a voice recital once back in high school, when I was taking lessons (I am – or at least, was – a classically trained soprano).
3. Professionally? Nah. The closest I ever got was when my old band split a (small) percentage of the door: I think we wound up with $5 to distribute among the 4 of us. We even had to pay for our own beer.
4. What kind of songs? All kinds. I even like to sing some music that I don’t like to listen to (like operettas).
5. Are you any good? Yes.
6. Any further comments or anecdotes appreciated! Alcohol is an effective way to combat stage fright, but it may lead you to think that you have a better voice than you actually do. 
**1. When and/or where? ** I sing in my full voice in the car, or if I’m home alone, and sometimes I’ll sing a little bit while other folks are around.
2. In front of people? Only my husband or if it’s some sort of singing party. I have definitely sung in front of my voice class, but even with an audience of 20, I’ll end up shaking like a leaf. However, I did karaoke in front of a HUGE crowd once, and was totally fine. Bizzare.
**3. Professionally? **Even if I was good enough, I wouldn’t be able to get past the stage fright
**4. What kind of songs? **Mostly jazz, but I’ll sing musical theatre, art songs, folk, or whatever is on the radio.
**5. Are you any good? **I have very good pitch and a nice clear tone.
**6. Any further comments or anecdotes appreciated! **I played french horn and trumpet for lots and lots of years, and I find it very interesting that the tone of my voice is similar to the tone when I play the horn. Kind of like how Chet Baker’s voice sounds like his horn playing. I wonder if it’s a common thing.
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When and/or where?
These days just along with the radio and the occasional family event. But I was in school and church choirs for most of my life. -
In front of people?
Sure. My largest audience was a solo in front of about 1000 people during Christmas Vespers. -
Professionally?
No -
What kind of songs?
Anything from Gregorian chant to Queen although choir repertoirs leaned a bit toward the religious and classical. -
Are you any good?
I used to be. Now I’m out of practice and my range has shrunk.
All the time.
Sometimes, if they’re the kind of people who don’t care and/or alcohol has been consumed.
Good God, no.
Anything I can remember the words to.
No, I’m freaking awful. Really. Way way way below average.
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When and/or where? All the time, everywhere
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In front of people? Yes, I play in a swing band.
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Professionally? Yes (see post #2) but I’ll never give up my day job.
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What kind of songs? Western Swing, Classic Country
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Are you any good? I’m OK. Some people really like my voice, others seem unimpressed.
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Any further comments or anecdotes appreciated!
I’ve had a little success and found the key to be song selection, staying within my range, and being able to project like I actually know what I’m doing.
1. When and/or where? In my college’s concert choir and women’s chorale, though I had to drop those when it became too much with all my other classes–y’know, the ones that actually contribute to my major. I also sing when I’m bored or in the shower or doing chores or writing a paper or in the car or breathing.
2. In front of people? Only in choirs and in front of people I’m comfortable with. I’m not a very confident singer.
3. Professionally? Oh, hell no.
4. What kind of songs? Well, classical choral stuff and lots of Latin requiems and those sorts of things when in choirs. When I’m just singing for myself, then I like pretty much anything but opera, country, and hard rock. Last night, my mom and I serenaded the calves with “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” while we were feeding them. We had no complaints, though I know we were in the wrong key.
5. Are you any good? Like I said before, I’m not a very confident singer. I have nowhere near perfect pitch, but that might be a result of being nervous about singing in front of people. I’ll never be a soloist, but the girls I stood next to in choir said they listened for my voice when they got lost. Apparently I have a nice, warm alto voice, which my director described once as lovely (though that might have been an effort to get me to sing louder).
6. Any further comments or anecdotes appreciated!
This spring, my college choir was invited to perform at Orchestra Hall in Chicago with the Paderewski Symphony Orchestra and the Chorus of PaSO (they’re Chicago-area groups), in celebration of Wojciech Kilar’s work. It was amazing. I really can’t explain it past that. Some of the hardest work I’ve ever done for a concert–we had about a month (about twelve class hours) to learn two works (one in Polish, which nobody in the choir had ever sung before). The choir that we sang with was so very kind and helpful, and when we were done, they told us that we were the best college choir that had sung with in years. The entire experience was a complete performance high.
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When and/or where? These days, in the car, at my desk, wherever there’s music playing. If I know it, I’m singing.
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In front of people? I used to. That came to a screeching ass halt about a year and a half ago.
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Professionally? Nope. I wish like hell, though.
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What kind of songs? Everything. I find that my voice is best suited to country, but I like classic rock. I guess the only things I don’t sing are hymns and acid/speed metal.
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Are you any good? I’m not a good gauge of that, but I’ve been told I’m damn good even by people who don’t like me.
I used to think that my constant singing in the car would eventually get on my husband’s nerves, but he told me once that he LOVES the sound of my singing, and actively encourages it. I have no doubt that he’d tell me if it was bad. He doesn’t aggressively let me make an ass out of myself in public. I ran karaoke off and on for about 10 years…sang it for 13. -
Any further comments or anecdotes appreciated! Kind of a downer, I’m afraid, but I feel like telling it. About a year and a half ago, I was ahem unceremoniously “let go” from a burgeoning cover band. Someone I worked with who became a friend played in a country band. He invited me out to a gig they were doing at a local Eagles Lodge, and had me get up and sing with them. It became sort of a regular thing to have me get up and do a song or two, but I was a little shy about it, because while I had been singing in front of people for years and not feeling a thing about it, not having sound equipment and lyrics was a new pressure. Anyway, that was all fine and good, and then my friend and a friend of his decided that we ought to form a band. We got together for rehearsals once a week or so and started to get really good…well, they were already good. Both guitar players, it was fantastic when they played together. I learned to go with it, and was really getting excited about things when my friend got back together with his ex wife. He and I had NEVER NEVER EVER been anything other than good friends, but when he and the ex got back together, she told him that he was no longer allowed to speak to me. So he didn’t. Ever again. I got the explanation from a mutual acquaintance. I haven’t wanted to sing again since.
Rat bastard.
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When and/or where? In church on Sundays (from the pew, but I’ve sung in choirs and briefly in bands also)
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In front of people? Oh yeah. No fear about it at all.
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Professionally? I played guitar and sang in a band or two, and we got paid. If that’s professional, then so be it.
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What kind of songs? Rock, pop, blues for pleasure and in a band context. Sacred music in church.
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Are you any good? I have pretty good range and a decent falsetto. Most of what I know about singing popular styles is from listening and imitating what i heard. I may or may not have perfect pitch. You’d think I’d know for sure, wouldn’t you? I’ve also had just enough instruction from a vocal teacher and later a choir director that I know how to sing with dark, rounded tones. I could use bigger lungs, though.
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Any further comments or anecdotes appreciated! I can remember being quite little and amazed that my mom could carry a tune whistling. For ages now, I can’t imagine not being able to sing. I’m also constantly amazed that people who are proficient on an instrument cannot sing a melody.
I do, whenever and wherever the mood strikes me. Mostly in the car where no one can hear me because I have an awful singing voice.
**1. When and/or where? ** I’m absolutely horrible, so only in the shower or when forced at gunpoint to sing at karaoka. :eek: Usually people only force me to sing once, though. 
**2. In front of people?**See above.
**3. Professionally?**I would starve
**4. What kind of songs?**At karaoke, “Yesterday”
**5. Are you any good?**I’m presuming you can figure that out.
**6. Any further comments or anecdotes appreciated!**I usually try to steer the group away from karaoke, and I won’t sing until everyone is pretty drunk. I would have like to have the ability to sing, but some people just don’t.
I sing often and whenever the oportunity presents itself. In showers, hiking, or in front of an audience in plays. Too bad that I’m really only a good choir singer. But that never stops me.
Singing is a release for the soul/
Oh, yeah, I love to sing! That’s why I picked this Doper name!
1. When and/or where?
At home, at church, karaoke clubs
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In front of people?*
Yes–I’m actually less nervous with a larger crowd, because I don’t have to focus on anyone for too long–I can look around more.
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Professionally?*
No, but I think I’d enjoy sessions work as a back-up singer.
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What kind of songs?*
Country, pop, rock, and religious
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Are you any good?*
I’ve been told that I’m very good. But I don’t think I’d cut it on American Idol. Still, I think I’m pretty good!
6. Any further comments or anecdotes appreciated!
My four year old daughter loves to sing as much as I do. And her speech and singing is extremely clear. Well, we'd watched *Chicken Little*, and she was singing one of the songs she'd heard from it one day. The definition of "disconcerting?" Hearing your four-year-old, sitting in a booster in the back of the car, sing, "If you wannabe my lover...!" Plainly--and LOUDLY.1. When and/or where?
When there’s a song I know
2. In front of people?
Rarely
3. Professionally?
No
4. What kind of songs?
Whatever I know and I know a lot–show tunes, standards, folk and popular songs
5. Are you any good?
Not as good as I was
6. Any further comments or anecdotes appreciated
From age 9 to 20, I was in some sort of performing choir, usually in chamber singers or double quartet. In 1980 I went to Europe for an 8 week tour with the California Girl’s Choir. I was a very good alto with an exceptionally low range and can still sight-read well.
1. When and/or where?
I used to be in several bands back home, little thrown together deals, various styles but usually punk. Now-a-days, though, I usually sing while I’m doing housework, or if a song hits me just the right way. All by myself, though. I don’t think my husband has heard me sing anything but “Dare” by the Gorillaz.
2. In front of people?
Not anymore. I’m shy when I’m all alone and I don’t have a raunchy guitar to hide behind. My brother has heard me sing all alone, though, and he loves it. I sometimes sing in a church, but that doesn’t really count. I’m drowned out. “This Little Light of Mine”, indeed. I don’t have a strong voice.
3. Professionally?
Hell, no.
4. What kind of songs?
Almost anything, except country. Some gospel, lotta pop, J-pop, all kinds of stuff. And once in a while, you might catch me pretending to be a kid in a band again, jumping around and snarling and snapping to NOFX, Dead Kennedys, and the Vandals.
5. Are you any good?
That really depends. Sometimes, not too bad. Other times? Atrocious.
6. Any further comments or anecdotes appreciated!
I used to use a megaphone on stage sometimes. That was neat, but not really singing. I once did an awesome cover of ELO’s “To the End of the World”, arranging it all myself. I did a pretty damn good version of Blondie’s “Atomic”, too. I wrote a few songs that several people still remember years later, the two most famous being “You Tear Me Apart”, about my family, and “A La Belle Etoile” about… flying up really high into the sky, and then falling down very fast and being smashed to pieces at my lover’s door. It made sense at the time…
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When and/or where? In the car, mostly
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In front of people? Not on purpose! I did karaoke once, and luckily everyone was really drunk, and there was an issue with the mic so nobody could hear me. I get credit for having done it, but nobody really remembers the details. Win/Win!
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Professionally? I wish!
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What kind of songs? Rock of the Styx/Journey/Boston/Kansas variety, folk, what DH calls ‘protest music’ (Byrds, Dylan, etc.) The song I karaoked was “Breakin’ Up Is Hard To Do.”
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Are you any good? I’m OK singing along - I need the guide, I guess - but left on my own, I never know if I’m in the right key or not.
I sing all the time by myself and in the car. I don’t love music anymore than I love to breathe – it’s just a part of me. I feel sorry for people who never have a tune running through their head and never listen to music.
I sang in a girls’ chorus in high school and in my early 20s I sang some torch songs and ballads in a club. Even when I quit I would still get drunk enough to serenade friends in bars and at parties from time to time. Like all drunk girls who like to sing, I thought I was Judy Garland. Now, I don’t drink so people are spared my “song stylings” and little numbers that “go something like this. . .”.
Alas, smoking has taken a toll on the voice. I look at pictures of the great girl singers of the 40s and 50s, and they all have cigarettes in their hands. How did they sound so great?
I can carry a tune and stay in key, but I would love to be able to do consistent harmony. My voice range is similar to that of Graham Nash, and I can start with him but rarely finish with him.
In my car when I’m driving- whenever I can. I’ve taken a few lessons, but those are only when my teacher/friend can get away from her conservatory. I hope I’ll have regular ones over the summer.
Not really. But it wasn’t that long ago that I stayed silent in crowds during “Happy Birthday.” These days I’m not above singing a few bars in a conversation or walking around the house and singing quietly.
Blues stuff, mostly, both old stuff and electric stuff.
I’m now willing to admit that I’m okay.
The results of my first lesson, which was in February, really came as a shock to me. It was fun and low-stress, but more importantly it turned out that even when I was just messing around in the car, I had a pretty good idea of what I was doing as a singer. I didn’t see that coming.
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Mostly with the Sydney Philharmonia Choir in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House. Also at various other concert halls in Sydney and around Australia. Overseas too - the Royal Albert Hall in London. Lots of church choirs too.
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Yes
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Not full-time but I do regular professional gigs. They’re mostly weddings and funerals, with some freelance advertising gigs thrown in.
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Not pop songs. Classical choral, opera and religious stuff.
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Pretty good I think. I’ve done plenty of solo work and I get quite a few offers which I can’t take up simply because my full-time (and much better paid) job as an actuary gets in the way.
Here’s an example of the singing I’ve been doing this weekend.