by Margaux Joy DeNador
As you read my story, I'd like you to think about your story!
Just over seven years ago in December 2004 I walked in the door of a Toastmasters club for my first time. As I entered the room I was feeling both fear and excitement. Last month, in December 2011, I gave a speech at our Toastmasters club about feeling both fear and excitement again as I thought about what I’d be doing for the first time the following week…
While I was growing up I loved to sing. I loved to sing for my family, while riding my horse, and I especially loved to sing while listening to music in my room.
Then, when I was 12 years old, I spent a summer with my Grandmother in Los Gatos, California. While there, I overheard my grandmother telling my mom that I should forget about singing.
Hearing my Grandmother say that made me feel sad but since she sounded so sure she was right, I believed her.
I decided to give up singing!
Looking back on the situation I realize that Grandma didn’t know what was possible. She just knew what she wanted for me. My Grandmother wanted me to be an artist. She wanted me to paint oil paintings like her – that was HER “dream” for me.
Years later, during college as an art major I got a part-time job working in a record store. I loved working in a place where there was music!
While going to college and working in the record store, I met three members of a rock 'n roll band called HUSH. One of them, Robert Berry, became a treasured friend of mine. I loved to watch and listen while he was working in a small recording studio in San Jose. I also loved to watch his band play but every time I watched, I wished I could be up on stage singing!
In 1982 I got married. My husband, Dudley DeNador, has always loved music. It's his passion. But I found it hard to encourage him to sing because it was something I had always wanted to do. The problem was I still believed that I didn’t have a good enough voice to sing.
In 1993 when our son, Zander, was three years old he inspired me to try singing again. When Zander and I were alone in the car, he loved to sing songs from the Disney movie "Aladdin." Thanks to Zander’s encouragement, I began to sing Jasmine’s part for the song “A Whole New World” and he would sing Aladdin’s part. After practicing with Zander I got brave enough to sing the song with him when we were in the car with Dudley. I was amazed and delighted when Dudley told me that I did a good job!!!
Robert Berry - Soundtek Studios, Campbell, California
In 2003 I suggested we ask my friend Robert Berry if he would record some songs Dudley had written. Robert owns a recording studio called Soundtek Studios. At first Robert kept saying it was too far away for us to have him record the songs. But we were persistent and Robert recapitulated and began to record Dudley's songs. During the recording of the first album, our son wrote his first two songs and they are also on it as bonus tracks. The second album, D2, has songs by both Dudley and our son, Zander.
I went to every one of the recording sessions. I loved watching and listening while each track was recorded. Going to Robert’s recording studio to watch, to listen, and every once in awhile make a suggestion for the music or lyrics made me feel joyful and fully alive. I loved being part of the song creation process even in tiny ways.
In 2007, Dudley wrote a song intended for Shakira and Carlos Santana called Sensory Overload, and he needed to have a female singer sing it. His goal at the time was to have it be a new song for Shakira to sing. I REALLY wanted to sing that song! Dudley found a girl that he thought was perfect to sing it, and I got so upset and jealous that I decided to finally try singing lessons. I signed up for private singing lessons with a woman named Lenora Black here in Marin County. Lenora told me that I am a “coloratura soprano.” I was excited to hear that Lenora believed I could sing! She helped me begin to change my belief about what was possible for me.
The singing lessons helped me learn how to breathe and how to control the flow of air. Lenora said I needed to practice, practice, and practice some more. I was thankful to have a guide to help me sing!
"Life is Music, Music is Life"
soundtekstudios.com
In 2009, I decided that it would be great to have some songs to go with my book, The Art of Living a Life You Love. My idea was to have musical mantras that remind us that we can love our life. The first song I wrote lyrics for is called “Imagine.” I asked Dudley to write music for it and he got inspired to do it.
We sent the music Dudley recorded on our limited version of ProTools recording software to our friend Robert. He added keyboards, bass guitar, drums, and mixed the recording.
We wanted to have our vocals recorded by Robert, at Soundtek Studios, but we had to wait because of the time and cost involved. We knew we would do it as soon as we could.
Seven years ago in December 2004 I walked into my Toastmasters club for the first time. As I entered the room I was feeling both fear and EXCITEMENT.
In November 2011 we booked a “session” to have Robert record our vocal tracks for “Imagine” at his recording studio. The session was scheduled for December 22 just three days before Christmas and my birthday!!!
After scheduling the session I was feeling both fear and EXCITEMENT as I began to imagine singing at the recording studio for the first time!!! But what I’ve learned is that when something is both scary and exciting it is well worth it. I’ve learned to say to myself, “FEEL THE EXCITEMENT… AND DO IT ANYWAY!”
Photos of me singing Imagine at Soundtek Studios 12.22.11
My first ever recording session singing in the vocal booth at Soundtek Studios was an awsome experience. I was feeling lots of fear when I got there and thinking OMG what have I done but then Robert and my husband Dudley talked me through the initial fear. Robert has helped people get over their fears of singing in his studio for years. I had seen him do it, and I knew how kind he can be. Robert helped me move up the emotional scale from fear to hope, to excitement, and then to actually having fun.
It was a great learning experience. It feels so good to do something new and exciting. I want to write and sing more songs!!! (To hear our song Imagine, please click on the link at the end of this message.)
I’ve told you part of my story. Now I'd like you to think about your story.
Is there something you’ve been afraid of doing but have always wanted to do?
Each of us is the star in the story of our own life.
We each get to write the script for the story. If there are any scenes we want to add or re-write, we can do it!! Because you’re still alive, your story is a work in progress and that means there’s time to add some exciting new scenes.
I hope you feel inspired to decide how you want to tell your story!!!
If you would like to read the lyrics for Imagine, click here.
To hear our song, IMAGINE, with the vocals recorded 12.22.11 at Soundtek Studios, please click on this link:
PS: To feel fully alive we must be willing to do things that are both scary and EXCITING. I would love to hear what scenes you decide to add to your story! Please post a comment or send me an email about what exciting thing you decide to do.
What a wonderful story Margaux. I'm so excited for you on this path of discovering your music voice. You have a great voice! Your confidence and passion will show more and more in each song your record.....and perhaps one day I can be one of your background singers. ;-)
Thanks so much for sharing this beautiful story and new song. I could not stop myself from singing along with you. hehehe oxox Rebecca Maddock
Posted by: Rebecca Maddock-Dombrowski | January 21, 2012 at 06:02 PM
Hi Rebecca, Thank you for your message. I appreciate you letting me know that you are excited and that you enjoyed the story and the song. :)
I want people to sing along with it. Keep singing it Rebecca. While you sing it, imagine what you want to see, hear, feel, create, live, and give.
And let's imagine the fun we can have singing it together one day!!! I love your idea. :)
Hugs, Love & Joy,
Margaux :)
Posted by: Margaux Joy DeNador | January 22, 2012 at 01:46 PM