Dianne Stewart Singing Lessons

Friday, June 4, 2021 by Dianne Stewart | Blog

People who know me know that I love to sing.  I love singing in all different types of styles, I love great songs, and catchy songs, from arias to rap.  But I didn't come from a household full of music, in fact, the music experience in my home was watching Count Down, recording songs from the radio top 10 onto blank cassette tapes so you could listen to them later and listening to whatever tapes or records we had in the house - and I can tell you that wasn't much.

So how did I get into singing?  I was lucky enough to have been given opportunities as a part of my schooling.

When I was in grade 6 there was this project where all of the grade 6 classes from all of Catholic schools across Bendigo came together to put on the musical Godspell.  From those schools we had a number of music and drama teachers (my primary school did not have a music or drama teacher) and each class put on one of the scenes from the musical - and somehow in all of that I was picked to sing a solo (so excited right) - Turn Back Oh Man. We performed 6 shows - with 2 sets of cast to give everyone a chance -  and I was also chosen to sing in the chior for the shows that I was not acting in.  It was an experience that really kicked off my love of singing and performing.  And what better show - Godspell is fantastic!!

Side note - I was not to sing a solo in a musical production again until I moved to Stawell - and even then my first stage show - Groovy in 2008  - did not see me sing a solo - I had a speaking part and was part of chorus (note to self if you want something chase after it because not all opportunities fall in your lap!!)

In high school, singing was a part of the curriculum - and part of the life of the school.  I went to Catholic girls school and we sang each week as a part of music lessons, we sang as a year level and whole school as a part of our church services. And of course I wanted to be a part of the musical productions and in year 7 the whole of year 7 were a rainbow of chorus up the back of stage for Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat.  Not the stand out I wanted but I was still singing and I loved every minute of it.

In my year 8 year the musical moved to being a year 10 production - ok I could wait.  When I got to year 10, there was a big change at my school - we merged with the boys school (now that was a big year in the life of a young hetero girl but that is another story) but the worst thing was the musical moved to being a year 9 program - I had been skipped over.  True, I was a part of every choir or back up vocal group for every production - but never had the opportunity to even audition for a part. *sad.

But as they say one door closes another door opens, I was presented with a different opportunity.  I was selected to audition for a scholarship ... for the Sacred Heart Cathedral Choir and I got it, and a whole new musical journey opened up to me.

I come from a Catholic background but being a very blue collar and rurally isolated household we didn't go to church every Sunday - but that was now to change.  The scholarship paid all of my school fees and so the 2 hour commute twice a week to Bendigo for a Wednesday evening 2 hour rehearsal and again on Sunday for an hour pre service rehearsal and an hour of church didn't matter to my mum - it was vastly cheaper than paying my school fees.

So there I was, singing in choir.  I hadn't even heard this music! Faure's Requiem, mass sung in latin, four part hymns and carols ....I didn't know how to read music and was completely out of my element .... but I loved every minute of it.  The music was so beautiful and the people were so nice.  Older sopranos helped me to find my place in the music and I started to learn.

After spending year 9, year10 and year 11 singing in choir I decided I wanted to do singing for VCE Music -  so that meant getting a singing teacher.  I started with a teacher in year 11 but in year 12 I needed to get serious and that is when I really started to take singing lessons - classical style (there was no other style then - VCE music lists were classical lists none of this contemporary stuff!!)  And it was hard.  Really hard.  But I really wanted to sing so I just kept singing.  My teacher was very strict, very critical, very old.

So I was telling you why I love singing.  Throughout this whole time of being provided with opportunities to sing - although at times it was hard, and I didn't get to sing what I wanted or what I thought I wanted, each experience exposed me to more singing and in I discovered that it didn't matter what style, what genre, what part of the singing I was doing, I loved to sing.  It made me happy - it moved me to a place of joy.

So, I love to sing because I love the act of singing - and it has taken me a while to think that through and get there because for a long time I just through I wanted to perform - but that is not it.  I just love to sing, in the kitchen, on the stage, to a small group or to an auditorium full of people.  Singing brings me joy.  

And I love being able to provide opportunities for others to sing - and I hope it brings them joy too.

Special thanks to the people in my life who saw me, who chose me, who provided me with the opportunities to sing - you gave me a lifetime of joy.

So enjoy your singing whatever type style or way you can.

Dianne