When I was young I was always singing and as a result of that, I would be asked to sing by my family and friends.
In about 1980 I was actively looking to have my voice trained, and I was lucky enough for find somebody in my home town.
I remember going along to my first voice training session, which really was more of "do I have any sort of voice" event.
I always knew in my heart that I was a tenor, and at that first session it was confirmed by my prospective coach.
He told me that he had heard one very good sound, and that he was sure we could build on that.
That was very exciting to me, I now had the vocal coach I was looking for and we could now work together.
To extend the range of my voice and improve its sound quality, plus getting it placed right to secure my technique.
At the next training session i was told that the method he used to train voices, was called "Benkhe Bel Canto".
I had to say it sounded impressive even though I was clueless as to what it involved at this stage.
He started my scales training in the middle of my voice and over time tried extending my range by adding extra notes to the range of my scales.
Both above and below to see where the voice would truly find itself.
I remember well the "poo poo poo poo poo" and the "poo paw pah pay pee" for months it was all that we did, but my patience really did pay off and my voice started to really come together.
My coach also held local concerts, so we could gain valuable experience in performing as well.
If I remember correctly my first attempt was "Nessun Dorma" with my knees knocking I got through it, and felt so good afterwards even though it needed a lot of work.
As the months turned into a year and beyond, I really became the tenor I had always wanted to be, I had been going to a variety of local repetiteurs, and my range was now g below middle c all the way to top c.
Later I would find out I also have a top d to use as well, as one of my repetiteurs tried to start me including "cujus animam" in my repetoire.
I progressed along nicely and even had auditions for covent garden and went to the welsh college of music, and asked to audition for them.
There were other places as well and I was told that I obviously had a voice, but my technique needed securing a bit more.
My biggest thrill was auditioning for la scala, standing on that famous stage and looking out to all that gold and crimson.
I sang "Che Gelida Manina" but was completely overawed and heard nothing back (but what an experience that was) Then life as it does sometimes with personal circumstances, came my way and I began to sing less and less.
Looking back I cannot believe that I let this happen, because the major responsibility must lay with me.
Over twenty years lapsed in the end and I had to virtually start again, my previous teacher had sadly died, so I set about doing all the exercises and scales I remembered and started to make some headway again.
To cut a long story short its now 2010 and I am back with my voice and have started singing publicly again, I do diaphragm exercises (which are inbuilt with training and scales) but I do extra breathing exercises.
My voice has pretty much placed itself again, and I feel secure in my technique as well so all is good.
The way you feel emotionally has a big impact on the way you sing, and your desire to go out and do it.
Like so many other people in this world, I have had some large knocks in life.
But the feelings are locked inside me, and are there to come out in my interpretation of arias and ballads.
One aria that always affects me when I sing it is "Vesti Le Giubba", it is not uncommon for me to be in tears by the end of it.
I tend to live and feel it so much.
Lastly I would like to say this to you as friend and comes with real feeling, if you have a voice and you want to sing.
Do not let anything stand in your way, it is the only way in the end to achieve anything in life that is worthwhile.
I really have wasted 20 plus years and I feel I could have gone places.
Do not let this happen to you, but above all love what you do and keep singing whatever life throws at you.
Love the music, Steve Thorn