Class encourages the tone deaf to sing

NEWTON, Mass., Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Organizers of a Massachusetts town's "Glee for the Musically Challenged" program said the group is designed for residents who love to sing but lack the talent.

Lenna Kutner, 54, who created the course for Newton Community Education, said the program forgoes the usual musical instruction in favor of focusing on the physical, emotional and social benefits of singing karaoke, the Boston Globe reported Thursday.

"It's a forum to just sing and not worry about how you sound,'' Kutner said. "It's a safe place where people can just sing. No one judges how you sound, no one cares how you sound.''

"It's physically good for you, emotionally good for you,'' she said.

The students, who meet weekly at a Newton North High School classroom, touted the benefits of singing despite their lack of harmony.

"I usually sing in the car with the windows up, so it's fun to sing in public,'' said Elayne Baskin, 60, who took the class with her husband, Marc. "When you sing, it's infectious. It just makes everybody happier.''