Q&A: Valerie Stroman, on learning new skills

Valerie Stroman began taking voice lessons at the Columbia Arts Academy in 2011 with her daughter, who has moved on to piano lessons.

Tell me about your decision to take voice lessons.

I could not, as they say, hold a tune in a bucket. That was my lifetime goal, to take a voice lesson.

Have you learned anything about yourself?

Each lessons gets me there, and it’s much better than what it was. ... I’ve learned that I am able to persevere. My goal, it may take me awhile to reach it, but with perseverance and really having the hunger for it — even at my age, as an adult, you can attain anything you set out to do. And there’s always room for improvement, always.

Has this inspired you to try anything else?

I’ve done some painting. It’s been years. I want to study it.

Dawn Hinshaw

This story was originally published June 25, 2014 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Q&A: Valerie Stroman, on learning new skills."