Beginners summary

When was the last time you sang? Did you do a little crooning this morning in the shower? Or, perhaps you hummed along to the radio while driving to work. Maybe you’ve recently belted out a pop classic at a karaoke bar. 

It seems that humans are just wired to sing. However, most of us don’t feel confident about our vocal abilities. In fact, when scientists at the University of California wanted to study embarrassment, they asked people to perform the doo-wop hit “My Girl.”

Walk through Manhattan’s Lower East Side on a Monday night, and you might hear something strange. It will start softly, but, as you stroll down Rivington Street, the sound will become louder and louder. When you reach the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center, all will become clear. What you’re hearing is 50 people belting out the 1995 Oasis classic “Wonderwall.”

Meet the Britpop Choir. They’re an amiable pack of amateur vocalists, and they gather each week to sing songs that used to top the UK’s charts. Together, they work through yesterday’s hits from artists like Blur, Pulp, and David Bowie. 

Imagine yourself out at the beach bobbing in the water just offshore. You’ve been taking surfing lessons all week, and now, after hours of practice, you’re starting to feel more confident. So, as the next wave comes, you spring into action.

First, you paddle along the growing swell. Next, you train your eyes on the shore and steady your body. And finally, as the wave crests, you push down and pop yourself into a crouch. For a moment it all goes as planned. Then, suddenly, you come toppling down into the water.

Let’s say you’re riding your bike down the street, and suddenly, a ball bounces into your path. To avoid a disastrous collision, you need to turn left. Sounds easy: after all, all you have to do is turn the handlebars.

Well, not exactly. Before you jerk your wheel to the left, you must lean your body to the right. This subtle movement redistributes your weight and keeps you balanced. Of course, as a skilled cyclist, you’ll do this automatically. 

In 2017, Google released a list of the most popular searches which began with the phrase how to… Topping the list was how to tie a tie, followed by other practical queries such as how to write a cover letter, and how to lose weight.

Curiously, fifth on the list was something a little more whimsical. A lot of people searched for how to draw. Now, drawing is one of the first activities we pick up as children. Nearly every kindergarten offers kids crayons and markers.

Meet Patricia. She’s lived a rich life which included a successful career working in French new wave cinema. After retirement, she moved to the rustic mountain town of Chamonix to ski, play tennis, and relax. Then, at age 70, she wanted something more. She wanted to swim.

Now, Patrica was a pack-a-day smoker who’d never swum before. But she was determined. Unable to find a local instructor, she watched tutorials on YouTube. Each night she would pace her apartment practicing strokes. Each morning, she would head to the pool to test her progress.