A VOICE FOR ‘UNCERTAIN SINGERS’
SEATTLE — Students who want to be accepted for Elneta Cooper’s course “The Uncertain Singer” must deliver barely recognizable renditions of “America the Beautiful” or “God Save the Queen.”
“I only work with the ones in the worst shape,” says Cooper, a University of Washington music professor who is convinced she can teach anyone to sing.
“The Uncertain Singer,” which Cooper began teaching eight years ago, is one of the most popular not-for-credit courses in the UW division offering evening community classes.
Cooper, who has taught at the university for 13 years, said she got the idea for the class while taking a lengthy car trip with a friend and the friend’s boss, who insisted on crooning, “I’m an Old Cowhand.”
“She didn’t sing very well,” Cooper recalled.
“That’s when I got the idea to have a class for people who may be very successful in other areas, but who have trouble singing.”
The semester’s ultimate goal is a proper rendition of “Happy Birthday.”
“(It’s) probably the second-hardest song to sing after ‘The Star-Spangled Banner,’ ” Cooper said.
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