From: "Todd A. Moore"
To: VOCALIST <vocalist>
Subject: Rude Awakening
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

I am a budding tenor singer. I say that because I only started singing
when I turned 31. Left my ex wife, heard "La Donna e Mobile" on the
best of Pavorotti and sang along, discovered I could emulate some of
what he does, and started on my path to making my voice a good one.
This last Saturday, I made an audition tape recording in a recital hall
at a local college. Listening to the raw recording session, I got
rudely awakened to the fact that I am not nearly where I thought I was.
My vocal quality is not yet where I thought I was. After wallowing in
despair, my wife, and my vocal teacher both encouraged me that every
singe goes through this process. I have decided to use this tape as
very expensive (both fiscally and emotionally) lesson fodder. Where I
am is clear, but how to get where I am going will be a long uphill
battle, and my patience has and will be tested, but I feel encouraged
that I have come a long way, but may only be half way toward my
destination.

My teacher is Tom Sherwood, a frequent contributor to this list, and I
know that with his help, I can get where I want to go. He told me of a
similar awakening he had before he reached the level he is at. Knowing
that, I know that I can get where he is some day.

Todd A. Moore
Tenor (burgeoning)
Cincinnati, Ohio