I tried not to talk to people that much because I was ashamed of my horrible, ruined and broken voice … I want to be able to SPEAK, and I no longer want to be afraid… It was as though you were telling me at each lesson “Look, you are doing fine, you’re beautiful and you can say anything you want. Don’t be afraid.”

I wish I could start believing in what I have done over the years and regain a sense of how to sing and teach. I’d like to find a bit of inner strength to help me escape this absurd self-concerned attitude where I see others grow and struggle as I sit on the bench and wait for my turn. I’ve absorbed so much information, taken so many journeys, and covered so many kilometers just to come to a halt without knowing who I am and what I want.

I am very proud of what you did for me. I was like a big book full of blank pages, and you gave me the opportunity to start writing on them. I hope you’ll continue to do so. I thank you for giving all of yourself to the voice, I thank you for coming back to Italy, I thank you for your patience, and I thank you for that bit of magic that you put in my life.

I want to acquire a beautiful voice, both high and low. I trust you. Help me do everything there is to do… vocal exercises, etc., … and if I start to fall behind … don’t allow it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-)))))

Suddenly, in the silence, I realized that all of my small muscles were like ants and they were reacting and despite being so fragile. They responded a bit to my commands. I think I should try to be like my muscles because they continue to fight even though they must confront hardships. If I can manage to attain this ability little by little I will be able to attain the rest, and this gives me the strength to go forward and overcome obstacles.

I’ve been thinking of you these days, Rossana, and remembering how much I liked to come and sing. Rereading my diaries, I recalled the good times. Just last night a friend of mine reminded me of the time he ran into me as I was happily coming to you in Signa, “you were beautiful that day”, he said, “you were happy”…I was feeling good.

As soon as I got up this morning, I began to sing LISTEN by Beyoncé. I sang only that one word in the chorus. It had a different sound, a sound that I had never released. It came to me a few times and then I lost it. I have a sense of how I sang it, I know I felt the parts that I was using as it came out of me. I’m trying to find it again; it was a beautiful feeling.