I have my first meeting with a potential vocal instructor tomorrow.
I was maybe 10 or 11 when I first saw her. She had just come to America, and had been invited to perform at a birthday party of a prominent person in the Chinese American community here in LA. I was astounded. My dad had actually asked her for a phone number, because we were both interested in taking lessons from her.
That never happened, and the phone number’s probably long gone.
I had contemplated the prospect of taking formal vocal lessons for my senior project since before summer. I actually wanted to begin in the summer, but nothing quite excited the whole process.
My mom did talk to my great aunt one day, and she refered us to a friend of hers who was fairly well known in the Chinese community for her performances.
She agreed to possibly instruct me. Lo and behold, she was the same singer that I listened to for the first time way back when.
Unfortunately, I think I caught a cold, and whether or not taking these lessons can be the fruition of my senior project depends largely on one uncontrollable factor. I don’t know if my voice has fully matured.
I thought it did. I do recall a stark contrast from the time my singing voice noticeably began to change. I struggled so much back then. That was 7-8th grade. I think it’s settled by now, but I guess I won’t know for sure until she hears me sing.
I’ve read elsewhere that girls’ voices develop between the ages of 12 and 18, and that many (serious) instructors do not take on pupils under the age of 18, because improper vocal training for a still developing voice could be catastrophic. Ironically, this voice change is far less apparent in females than in males, and only when a female sings does this change become more pronounced.
So I’m nervous and worried, but I look forward to being able to work with her.
What an opportunity! Good luck!