The Teacher Told You to Mime in 7th Grade? Here’s Why That Was Never About You

Hey there,

If you're one of the many people who were told to "just mime" during a school choir, classroom sing-along, or 7th grade music performance — this one’s for you.

I hear this story all the time in my studio.

A grown-up walks in, nervous about their voice. I start talking to them and it doesn’t take long before they say something like…

“My music teacher told me to mime in Year 7.”
“I was told to mouth the words.”
“They told me I couldn’t sing.”

I find it unfathomable… but there you have it. People who don’t think about the power of their words and yet the memory of that has the power to shut people down.

It Had Nothing To Do With You

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That teacher? They were probably overwhelmed. Maybe they were under-trained. Maybe they didn’t know how to work with developing voices. Maybe they were just trying to get through the school concert with minimal chaos.

Either way — the words left their mouth and made an indelible imprint on your brain.

We have such a personal relationship with our voices because they are literally part of us. When someone attacks our voices, it feels like an attack on us. We feel stupid and ashamed and we never open our mouths again.

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If That Happened to You…

Please know: you’re not broken. You’re not tone deaf. And your voice is not something to be ashamed of.

It might be rusty or clumsy at first. But it’s still yours. It’s your right to sing. It's a primal, feel good thing. And you don’t get more comfortable or skillful by never singing

But it takes a leap of faith to choose a teacher, make a call, send an email or a text and book a lesson. What if they tell you you ARE flawed and broken and hopeless?

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Reclaiming Your Voice as an Adult

 You’re allowed to be a beginner - even if you’re 47 or 67 or 97.
You’re allowed to explore your voice with curiosity, not judgement.

You’re allowed to make sound. All kinds of sound, as you begin to play this most mysterious instrument

Singing is a skill, not a talent. And skills can be learned.

In my studio (online or in-person in Canberra), I work with adult singers — beginners, returners, even people who’ve been silent for decades. We focus on  finding freedom, building confidence, healthy technique, and reconnecting to your voice in a way that sends joy through your whole body

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Come Sing (or Talk About It)

If this post hits close to home, I invite you to reach out.

👉 Click here to learn more or book a free intro call 

studio@lisarichardsmusic.com

Take the leap. You won’t regret it.

Warmly,
Lisa