Anatomy Lessons

Last week while I was teaching school, I asked the kids what the difference is between our speaking voice and singing voice. They looked sort of puzzled, then one girl offered an explanation. She said that when we sing, the sound comes from the gut (hoots of laughter around the room) or stomach (further hoots plus furious blushing). I couldn't help laughing (not the first time I've been guilty of that), but I gently told her she meant the diaphragm, and that we actually can speak from there too. And I went on to tell them the difference. So do YOU know what the difference is? :-)

I was giving a harp lesson to a little third-grade girl, who has a tendency to get sidetracked. I was talking away about something and she appeared to be paying close attention to my words or at least my mouth. But I was kind of surprised when she very politely said, "You have a little black thing between your two front teeth." Oh, gracious. I informed her that it was a little gap, not a black thing. Actually, that's not the first time someone's pointed that out to me. If someone's eye-level with my mouth and paying close attention to it, they'll undoubtedly notice the little gap. Hopefully braces (Invisalign) will take care of that!

I wish I could remember all the funny things I hear from kids! It's pretty rare for me to go through a lesson or class without laughing. Kids - gotta love 'em.