1: Why It’s Never Too Late to Start Singing
Heather Maîr Thomas 
If you’ve ever thought, 'I wish I could sing, but it’s too late for me,' this post is for you.
Why It’s Never Too Late to Start Singing
I grew up in a small Cornish fishing village in the 1960s and 70s, surrounded by music. It was as much a part of life as salt in the air.
My grandfather was a bit of a local hero and everybody knew him. As well as playing for the rugby and football teams - with a broken nose to show for it - Norrie was the musical director of the male voice choir, chapel organist, dance band leader and conducted the operatic society. Quite the credentials!
In those days, music was part of everyday community life in Newlyn, Chapel, school assembly, funerals, down the quay, chapel, choir practise and in the pub afterwards.... People sang as naturally as they spoke. No one questioned whether they had a ‘good voice’ we just all joined in.
That sense of musical belonging shaped me, growing up. I never questioned the ease of it. But when I moved to London and into the wider world, I began to see how special that ease was.
People would say, 'Oh no, I can’t sing,' or 'I was told to mime at school.' Somewhere along the way, singing had become something for the gifted few, not the many and I always wished there was something I could do about it, years before I ever started teaching.
The Myth of 'Too Late'
I've noticed that people associate singing with childhood or early talent. If you weren’t in the school choir, if you didn’t have lessons, or if you didn’t feel confident, you may have just assumed singing wasn’t for you.
But why on earth not? Your voice hasn’t gone anywhere. It may be quiet or unsure. But it’s still yours, and it can still sing.
Singing isn't something we age out of. In fact, once they get started, most adult beginners have more emotional depth and self-awareness now than they ever did as children. That makes your voice even more expressive and your singing more meaningful. Also if you've never sung you won't have injured your voice with bad technique. It will have been untouched!
What We Really Mean When We Say 'Too Late'
Often, 'too late' is a mask for fear. Fear of sounding bad. Fear of judgement. Fear of embarrassment (that's the most common fear, in my experience), Fear of confirming that voice in your head that says, 'You can’t.'
Those fears are completely understandable. They usually stem from memories of lived situations, someone mocking your voice, being left out, being told to be quiet.
But those memories can't define your voice for a lifetime - and we certainly can't give them the final say.
What Happens When You Start Anyway.
When adult beginners start singing in a safe, relaxed environment, something changes. There’s often relief. Very often there’s emotion. There’s often surprise , 'I didn’t know I could do that.'
Singing becomes about reconnecting. With your breath. With your body. With a part of yourself you put away a long time ago.
That first hum, the vowel sound, the simple phrase - often feels like coming home.
In the next post I'll be exploring what stops us from singing (and how to begin to let it go!)
Until then,
Oll an Gwella
Heather~Maîr
PS - It’s Not Too Late , Maybe It’s About Time.
If singing has been quietly calling to you, my new mini-course, "Permission to Sing* is a gentle, supportive, low-cost way to begin.
There’s no pressure. No performance. Just gentle guidance, space to explore, and a light-hearted welcome.
Because it’s never too late to begin - and it’s never too early to be kind to yourself.
Permission To Sing - Mini Course
Categories: : BEGINNERS, PERMISSION TO SING
