Choir practice went well past its usual ending time last night. There's a lot of music to learn (new) and we got some intense rehearsal of passages in the music we're singing Sunday. My voice is so tired I can hardly croak. It keeps playing in my head, though, and I keep trying to sing along, so this morning I've put Bach on the CD player. I wouldn't dream of mutilating such glorious music by trying to sing with it.

John was right about the singing quietly being hard on your voice. I have been just letting the tone come out naturally and my voice is improving and is not so strained (though I still can't hit F above high C yet). Thank you, John.

I sing every day in the car going to and from work. It's a great way to monitor what I'm doing without annoying everyone when I go over and over a section. I can hear when I've taken a breath at the wrong place or when I haven't quite held the note properly. It drives me crazy when singers slide off a note. Remember Frank Sinatra?

The other great thing about choir practice, besides the music, is the camaraderie and the shared expertise and in-jokes. I always leave exhausted, but in great good humor.