My friend, Amelie, took this black and white photo back when we were in high school.

I love music and my rediscovery of it has been very recent. I started this writing blog about in February, and at that time I had only begun to avidly play my guitar again after 30 years.

I have decided to begin to share my recent music.

I am a passionate songwriter.

I wish I were a better singer, but at this juncture in my life – I have no constraints. I have no vanity. I simply have excitement over the release and expression that I can achieve through singing and songwriting.

There is nothing more meaningful for me than singing my own words and music!

I play acoustic guitar, and I have written approximately twenty-five songs. My songs are like my children. Each one is unique. Each one is special for me, and addresses different emotions. My songs have a life of their own.

Sometimes I feel like my life is a musical!

I started taking voice lessons about a month ago at a local park. I am hoping to have my songs recorded. I have no illusions that I’m an accomplished singer, however, I am eager to share my melodies and lyrics!

There is so much vulnerability when I think about sharing my singing on the Internet. However, sharing my progress through singing is also part of my journey.

Because of my trepidation about opening up in this area, I originally thought I might do a separate blog for my music. However, I’ve decided to keep music as part of this blog. It’s all one package – it’s about my life and my insight. Music is a form of expression about my life!

Taking this chance is something that I’m hoping everyone could relate to. Without risk, there are no rewards.

I can only remember about twenty of the approximately thirty, original songs that I wrote prior to age 21. I did rewrite the lyrics to a few of my songs.

The small, digital recorder I’ve been using to record myself in the bathroom has been helpful for me. It wasn’t too expensive and it’s an improvement over my cassette player.

Recently, I’ve learned more about working with audio on my computer. My daughter showed me how to use Garage Band.

I was very sad when John Denver died. His songs were a significant part of my repertoire. There were two in particular that I used to sing quite often.

Just mentioning these two songs invokes beautiful memories for me. I would watch the sun setting, and my fingers might even be quite numb in the salty air. I would be sitting on a beach blanket as I sang my heart out. The songs were, “Looking for Space” and “This Old Guitar.”

Here’s an excerpt of the lyrics I loved from This Old Guitar:

This old guitar taught me to sing a love song; it showed me how to laugh and how to cry. It introduced me to some friends of mine, and brightened up some days. It helped me make it through some lonely nights. What a friend to have on a cold and lonely night . . .

Here’s an excerpt from Looking for Space:

On the road of experience, I’m trying to find my own way. Sometimes I wish that I could fly away. When I think that I’m moving; suddenly time stands still. I’m afraid ‘cause I think it always will.

And I’m looking for space, and to find out who I am. And I’m looking to know and understand. It’s a sweet, sweet dream – sometimes I’m almost there. Sometimes I fly like an eagle, and sometimes I’m deep in despair. . .

I’m typing these words from my memory. They might not even be exact. I still have a songbook of the music I used to sing.

At one time, I had at least two hundred songs memorized. I loved Bread, Jim Croce, Judy Collins, Joan Baez, Janis Ian, The Carpenters, and I could go on and on!

I’ve appreciated the sound of Joni Mitchell, and I used to listen a lot to Carly Simon and Jennifer Warnes. I am certainly someone who appreciated the singer/songwriters from the 70’s.

I don’t have to be any other artist. I don’t have to sound like anyone else. I am just Judy.

There can be a place for me!

I’ve also decided I might try some live performing again. I’m going to investigate some “Open Mic,” venues and give it a shot. Why not?

I feel what is more significant than musical perfection is my message.

My message is this: Life can be joyful for me now. I am fifty and I have gotten ten years younger in only a few months.

I am passionately alive and I love what I am doing. Sharing my feelings with other humans has been wonderful.

For anyone that has suffered or is suffering, please don’t give up!

In honor of Peaches, here are some illustrated peaches of mine!

“My life lessons”

I’m always amazed that I walk into a gymnasium at a public park for my voice lessons. Two years ago, I took my youngest son to have voice lessons at this same park. His teacher’s name was Peaches.

About two months ago, I lamented the fact that I had lost my singing voice because I hadn’t sung in 30 years. My son said to me, “Mom! Why don’t you go to Peaches? I’m sure she can help you.”

Well, he was right.

I have written about my voice lessons with Peaches, aka Sienna Ray Star. I’m so enthused about the turn my life has taken that I’ve decided to share more. I don’t know how to share video yet, but I’m hoping to down the road.

I went to my last lesson exhausted from the rigors of being a “sandwich.” I wish I could eliminate all of the stress in my life. I told Peaches about my recording session with George. She shared a lot of her insight and experience with me. I am going to share that on some audio files.

There is a major, major drawback to recordings done at my voice lessons. While I am in that back room working with Peaches, there is a dance class going on.

Unfortunately, that translates to a lot of extraneous, background noise.

I wish I had the skill to edit those distracting sounds out.

Perhaps my readers are not interested in my musical journey. That’s okay with me. I’m thrilled that I have been improving in so many areas of my life.

If my dreams don’t go anywhere, it doesn’t matter. I’ve already arrived at a destination I could not have dreamed of a few short months ago.

LESSON EXCERPT WITH PEACHES #1

LESSON EXCERPT WITH PEACHES #2

LESSON EXCERPT WITH PEACHES #3

My diary from 1979

© Judy Unger and http://www.myjourneysinsight.com 2010. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Judy Unger with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.