Rising Star Read Online Free Page A

hadn’t been Chloe’s thing since she was eight years old and her elementary school teacher hadn’t let her sing in the choir. She’d said Chloe’s voice didn’t fit in with the rest of the children’s voices. In a way, the teacher had been right. Chloe’s voice didn’t fit, but only because it had been so powerful, and so much louder than all the others. She hadn’t sung out of tune.
    At home, it was almost as bad. Once Ben had been born, Chloe couldn’t sing loudly because of disturbing her baby brother’s sleep. Over the years, she’d gotten out of the habit of singing in anything much more than a loud whisper. Had she forgotten how to do it?
    â€œCome on, Chloe,” urged Mr. Player. “Give it all you’ve got!”
    She tried but he winced.
    â€œNow you’re shouting,” he complained. “And even your shout isn’t very loud.”
    â€œSorry,” Chloe mumbled. This was terrible. How could she make her voice louder? Her first voice lesson was going dreadfully.
    â€œIt’s all right,” Mr. Player said. “Don’t panic. But you’ll have to work on this. You’re going to need power as well as your excellent range to sing professionally. Even using a microphone, to get real expression into a song you need to be able to sing quietly and power away as well.” Chloe nodded miserably.
    â€œThe school day is about to start,” he said, looking at his watch. “And we haven’t gotten through as much as I’d hoped. Never mind. Don’t you ever sing loudly?”
    Chloe shook her head. “I’ve always just sung in my room because my teacher in elementary school, Mrs. Pendle, said my voice didn’t fit the choir. And I have to keep quiet because of my little brother,” she explained.
    Mr. Player shook his head. “Poor you! Well, some people instinctively use their tummy muscles when they sing, but you’re only singing from your throat. Don’t worry. You’ll get it. You have to learn to use your tummy muscles to push the air out of your lungs. That’s your problem. I should think being told to sing quietly all the time hasn’t helped, but here you’ll be able to sing as loudly as you like! And that’s what I’m here for, to help iron out any problems. Once we’ve got you over this hurdle, we can move on to more exciting things.” He smiled at her.
    â€œThe most important thing is that you don’t strain your voice by trying too hard. Don’t overdo it. I just want you to think about where the sound comes from. It should come from deep inside you. If you put your hand on your tummy while you sing, you should be able to feel your muscles working. All right?”
    Chloe nodded uncertainly.
    There was a knock on the office door and Mr. Player closed Chloe’s file. “Don’t worry,” he told her. “It’s still early. I’ll see you later in the week.”
    Chloe had to rush to get back for registration at Paddock House. She felt dreadful. Instead of being on the way to fame, she felt as if she was on her way to disaster!
    She had worked so hard to convince her parents that singing was what she really wanted to do. After the argument to get them to agree to her trying for a place, and the nail-biting audition, she had finally gotten to Rockley Park School, only to find that she couldn’t sing properly.
    Mr. Player had told her not to worry, but how could she not worry? What if she couldn’t get her voice right in time to sing in the concert? Chloe desperately wanted those Rising Star points, but they felt a million miles away now. Then an even worse thought crept into her mind. What if she never got her voice right? No, that was too terrifying to contemplate.
    Ambition had gotten Chloe to Rockley Park, that and determination. She took a deep breath and decided that she would sing well at the concert, come what