DR. WALLACE: I'm a girl who's never been considered musical, although two of my close friends sing in the choir at our school. They both have great voices and truly enjoy singing.

Apparently this summer their teacher told them to feel free to set up some informal summer choir groups themselves to continue practicing and working on various vocal techniques. There are not many current choir students still in town to create a group big enough to be able to practice together, not even as a mini choir.

Because of this, they've been begging me to sing in the choir practices this summer with them since they need as many people as possible. They are assembling a group about a week from now, and although they haven't pressured me heavily, they have mentioned it to me a couple of times each, and I know they really want me to join them if possible. My problem is, I have no singing voice at all, and I know I would be tremendously embarrassed. I do want to help my friends out, but I'm afraid it'll come at perhaps a humiliating personal cost to me. What can I do about this? Or, perhaps more specifically, what's the best way to gently decline their invitation? — I'm Not Choir Material, via email

I'M NOT CHOIR MATERIAL: My advice to you is to simply go for it! Let your friends know that you've never sung a note in your life, and ask them for any tips or pointers they can give you. Tell them in advance you'll do the best you can but that you don't want to impinge on their practices by singing off-key!

They will likely laugh, reassure you and let you know that there's no pressure at all on you. They fully understand where you're coming from, and their enthusiasm to get their practice in is the main reason they've requested you to step in and help them. Look at this as a fun, frivolous experience for yourself with some of your good friends. If anything more comes out of it, that's gravy for you.

Realize it'll only be during the summertime, and perhaps you may know another person or two in your situation without any musical experience. If you can invite another such person, there'll be "safety in numbers" for you as well!

MY LITTLE BROTHER IS FEARLESS!

DR. WALLACE: I'm one of four siblings, and I'm the only girl. I'm 16 and have two older brothers who are 18 and 19, and we have a little brother who is only 6.

Lately, my youngest brother has picked up one of the smaller, older skateboards that my older brothers used when they were younger, and he wants to ride it. My older brothers at least got him to wear a helmet, but they just laughed and let him go for it. Even though he's falling down all over the place, they actively encourage him even though he swerves sharply and loses his balance very easily. The other day I heard all three of them out in the driveway, then about 10 minutes later I didn't hear any more talking, but I could still hear the skateboard wheels moving around on the pavement.

I went outside, and to my amazement, my older brothers had left in the car, and they allowed my little brother to wheel around on the skateboard unsupervised! I immediately told him when I saw him that he needed to start wrapping up his practice, and he begged me for five more minutes. So for five minutes, I stood near him, talked to him the whole time and explained what he needed to do and why he should slow down until he learns to develop his sense of balance. Long story short, with my coaching he made great improvement in the 10 minutes we worked together. (I extended the time because he was behaving and listening to me.)

Now I'm wondering if I did the wrong thing, because he's obviously now hooked on skateboarding. If I hadn't gone out there, he might've gotten bored or frustrated with it and just stopped doing it entirely. Did I make a mistake by coaching him? — He's Mad About Skateboarding, via email

HE'S MAD ABOUT SKATEBOARDING: No, I don't think you made a mistake — you actually helped him. Little guys his age are going to be bold and do things they think they can accomplish, whether or not it's feasible or practical. Had you not stepped in, he might've indeed injured himself in some way. He was much more likely to continue trying it on his own than stop!

At this point, you need to make sure your parents are involved, and they need to tell your older brothers that if they allow the little brother to skateboard in front of them, they can't take off and leave him on his own. Rules need to be in place, and he should only be allowed to skateboard supervised, and as long as he's listening to instruction and being careful. It's good that at least one of your little brother's three siblings has some common sense.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at rwallace@thegreatestgift.com. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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