Shows on Stage v.s. Vocal Competitions

This is something I always ask about myself. Why am I less nervous for a vocal performance on the stage, than a vocal competition? I’ve been doing vocal competitions since my freshman year of high school, and it never ceases to amaze how nervous I am for it. I’ve done pop shows in High school, and Operas here at UMHB. But there is something about the stage that screams home to me. The lights hitting the stage, the smell, and feel of props, and the every so itchy, and uncomfortable costumes, just hold so many wonderful memories of performances, and the amazing colleagues that I got to work with in those shows. Also getting to perform for so many eager, and mostly non judgmental audience, is a key factor as to why I love performing on the stage more than a vocal competition.

Whereas vocal competitions such as NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing), just brings bad memories, even though I have been successful at some of the competitions they have held. This competition brings the memories of judgmental voice teachers, who feel like they have the need to give their negative opinion of your voice if they don’t like it, or hate your voice type. For example, I had a judge write that I was trying too hard to make my voice sound mature. Which really didn’t make sense at all, considering there was nothing I could do about my voice being naturally mature for my age. Or one time one of my judges from the second round of vocal competitions, felt the need to give me a very strange, and odd look, as [said judge] was going down the stairs. Don’t forget! We also have to add in the very insecure, hateful, and catty singers who want to get into your head, and try to get you to crash, and burn when you go in to sing. Seriously, I could go on forever about this, but I hope by now you all can see my dilemma. Even though I try my very best to stay confident, and composed, I can’t help but feel more nervous at times, because it just brings to many bad memories. Nuff said…..

Opera and the struggle to stay healthy

Throughout many articles, tweets, and Facebook posts that I have read about opera, and it’s singers. I came across one article that talked about a women, who was fired for being too fat! Now I do believe that no one should discriminate against weight, but with this situation even the singer Soprano Deborah Voigt, agreed to this happening. Which was really interesting. Nevertheless, in the article she talked about how she always struggled with her weight, and was addicted to food. This occurrence in turn, was a harness to having a successful career in opera. After being fired from Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos at London’s Royal Opera House, for being ‘too fat’ for the role, this incidence was a long journey to her becoming healthy, and to start her career up again. Though she faced more struggles throughout her weight loss, Deborah was finally able to obtain her confidence again, and was hired for certain roles, that she would have never gotten when she was 300 lbs. From a size 22 to 14, Deborah, is still at a healthy weight, and is continuing to enjoy her career as an opera singer. The lesson that I would like you to take from this is that Opera, is a very competitive career, and you must be able to at least stay healthy. It doesn’t mean that you need to be stick skinny, but it means that you need to be able to stay at a healthy weight to be able to sing well, and to be able to fit into certain roles. Take for instance, if a mezzo-soprano had a voice that suited a young male pants role for an opera, you would likely be choosing someone who had the physical features that are required to look like a young male. This situation is very difficult, nevertheless, this is the hard truth, and we as opera singers must all face this in our career.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2910181/I-poster-child-food-addiction-350lbs-opera-singer-fired-fat-reveals-lost-half-weight-new-memoir.html

 

“Let it Go” from Disney’s Frozen

Blog Post #2: Let it GO! From Disney’s Frozen

From 5 year olds to teenaged Disney film fanatics “Let it go” from Disney’s frozen has been the most popular song released from any Disney movie released in the past. But why is it so popular amongst all ages? Well to start the beginning piano solo in E minor, already sets the mood for Queen Elsa, as she isolates herself from Arendelle, after the her people discover her powers, and are freighted by it’s potential to destroy. As she is going up the mountain to build her own kingdom of ice, she starts singing about her isolation in a low, and mezzo piano voice. Although throughout this time it’s pretty gloomy, until the build up starts in chords to C major. At that point Elsa runs up the hill to start building her castle of ice, and starts venting, about her now obtained freedom, and her oppressive past. Another reason why this song is so attractive, and catchy is because the same chord progression G major, D major, C major, E minor, B minor, B major, and C major, set to a very modified strophic pattern, set to different lyrics, as Elsa continues to build her castle of ice. For Example:

 

First Section:

Let it go, let it go

Can’t hold it back anymore

Let it go, let it go

Turn away and slam the door!

 

I don’t care

What they’re going to say

Let the storm rage on,

The cold never bothered me anyway!

 

Second Section:

Let it go, let it go

I am one with the wind and sky

Let it go, let it go

You’ll never see me cry!

 

Here I stand

And here I’ll stay

Let the storm rage on!

 

Third Section:

Let it go, let it go

I am one with the wind and sky

Let it go, let it go

You’ll never see me cry!

 

Here I stand

And here I’ll stay

Let the storm rage on!

 

 

 

So the first, second, and third section we see Elsa bringing in the theme of letting go of her powers, and her fears of holding back, and we still keep the same chord progression of G major, D major, C major, E minor, B minor, and B major. Until we get to the third section of the “Let it go” sequence, that leads us to completely different lyrics with chords progressions of in C Major, G Major, A minor, F Major, and etc., that leads all the way back to Bb Major, that leads to the climax of the fourth “Let it go” sequence, where else elsa is about to finish her ice castle, and finally release her pent up energy, which she releases when the vocalist Idina Menzel belts a scary Eb on the lyrics “Let the storm rage on” :

 

Third Section:

Let it go, let it go

And I’ll rise like the break of dawn

Let it go, let it go

That perfect girl is gone!

 

Here I stand

In the light of day

Let the storm rage on (Climax on the word “on”)

The cold never bothered me anyway!

 

Afterwards Elsa finally shuts the door after she coolly proclaims that “The cold never bothered me anyway,” and shuts the door, ending the song altogether. In general what really keeps the song a hit it it’s recurring build ups to the climaxes, and it’s modified strophic theme, which in turn helps us to remember the lyrics “Let it go”. I mean if you are basically singing, “Let it go” fifty billion times in one song, you are just bound to remember it for eternity.

Music and the Christians Daily Life

As a Christian, and a musician it’s easy to sing hymns at church, or regular contemporary Christian music just on a whim in our daily lives, and without any thought of worship to the Lord. But the word of God states that we should “Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; Break forth and sing for joy and sing praises. Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, and the sound of melody. With trumpets and the sound of the horn shout joyfully before the King, the Lord.” (Psalm 98:4-6). Though our forms of worshiping may be different in our daily lives, in terms of contemporary and traditional, our ultimate goal is to give God the glory, exalt his name, and to praise him for all the wonderful things he has done for us in our lives. “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name.” (Heb.13:15)

In general, something that I’ve noticed, now that I’m actually in a church choir, is that music is a form of expression that helps us to truly connect with the way we feel and think, just the other Sunday, as we were singing a piece called “We Will Serve Him”, by Robert Sterling, I really connected with the lyrics that said “We will serve him for the rest of our days, We will serve him with the highest of praise.” At that moment I truly realized God made music not only to glorify his majesty, but also to be glad, serve, and rejoice in him. “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all you lands! Serve The Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.” (Psalm 100 1-2).

Should I be nervous before a performance as a performance major?

This is a question that I get very often, and to be honest being nervous, and anxious before a performance is completely normal. At least for me, I become nervous when I have to wait to make my first entrance, and aria. Basically, I’m nervous to break the ice, but afterwards I feel so much better, and eventually I become comfortable on the stage. Surprisingly, I feel more comfortable on stage than a recording setting, performance lab setting, recital setting, and etc. In a live performance you can barley even see the audience, it feels like they are not even there. However, in a recording, performance lab, and recital setting I feel more pressure since I am able to actually see the audience. Nevertheless, being is just a natural part of being a performance, and something you learn at accept over time.

P.S. Being nervous actually helps with energy on the stage! Surprising right?Just don’t psyche yourself out! Also please watch the video above. Hope you enjoy!

Why is practicing so hard?

Every morning I wake up, and my first though is “What should I practice today?”, and “How much time do I have?” , and “How should I spend it?” Practicing is not something I rejoice over everyday, however it is a necessity for me to able to become a better musician. However, time constraints, and quality of my practice times, are one of my many problems with practicing. Lets examine this a bit shall we?

1.It’s either I have very little time to practice, or too much time.
•If I have to little time to practice I feel very unprepared, even if I have practiced the piece over, and over again. If I have too much time, I have to fill that time with as much practicing as possible. Meaning that I alternate between practicing piano, and voice. If not I will probably get off task check my social media, contemplate on taking a nap, and etc.
2.The quality of my practice times concerns me every week.
•Even if I practice for a certain amount of time, I worry if I am even practicing like I should. Am I using the right vocal techniques? Are my fingerings correct on the piano? All of these questions fill my thoughts every time I practice both voice, and piano.

Even when practicing can be rough sometimes, it is through those moments where you have to push through it, and do the best that you can do. You are more likely to succeed in doing this, than not practicing at all. God Bless!

Proud of your Boy

Blog Post #2 Changing preference

It took me about a month before I warmed up to “Proud of your boy” by Alan Menken, this song was one of my least favorite from the Aladdin on Broadway soundtrack. In fact I was pretty tired of this song, mostly because it was just another disney ballad made for the main character. Now it wasn’t that I hated disney ballads, but it was because I was more interested in the more upbeat pieces of the soundtrack. Plus, it was a deleted song from the original movie that hit theatres back in 92’. However, eventually I gave it a chance, and listened to it to and from class to see if my mind would change. To my surprise I did enjoy this song not only because of the artists wonderful voice, or the beautiful instruments that accompany him, but it was the message itself. In this song Aladdin is expressing his desire to change, get off the streets of Agrabah, and make something of himself to make his mother proud. This song is really beautiful, and touches my heart the way he desires to make his life better, and make something of himself.

Here are the Lyrics to go along with the video above:

Proud of your boy
I’ll make you proud of your boy
Believe me, bad as I’ve been, Ma
You’re in for a pleasant surprise

I’ve wasted time
I’ve wasted me
So say I’m slow for my age
A late bloomer, Okay, I agree

That I’ve been one rotten kid
Some son, some pride and some joy
But I’ll get over these lousin’ up
Messin’ up, screwin’ up times

You’ll see, Ma, now comes the better part
Someone’s gonna make good
Cross his stupid heart
Make good and finally make you
Proud of your boy

Tell me that I’ve been a louse and loafer
You won’t get a fight here, no ma’am
Say I’m a goldbrick, a goof-off, no good
But that couldn’t be all that I am

Water flows under the bridge
Let it pass, let it go
There’s no good reason that you should believe me
Not yet, I know, but

Someday and soon
I’ll make you proud of your boy
Though I can’t make myself taller
Or smarter or handsome or wise

I’ll do my best, what else can I do ?
Since I wasn’t born perfect like Dad or you
Mom, I will try to
Try hard to make you
Proud of your boy