If I were auditioning for a show, I would be extremely nervous and excited! I used to be in plays and operas a lot, but since I started teaching, I haven't been in any productions. After doing research about the part, I would try to choose a song that fits my voice, but also shows off what the panel is looking for. I would probably choose the song "Tonight" from "West Side Story." That song shows off a wide range in a more "classical" style. I am not really a "belter" anymore, and I think my voice sounds better when I sing classical pieces, rather than the more "pop"ish musical theatre songs. I love musical theatre, and would love to be in a show again someday.
I have almost completed my first year teaching at Pentucket! I am so excited to have this year under my belt, because I have so many ideas and plans for the future. I feel like I have been so far pretty successful, and I have two goals for the end of the year.
My first goal is to finish organizing the music library in the Middle School Music Room. I have "inherited" a lot of sheet music from previous teachers, and I have started to reorganize the music library so I can better see what music I have for student use. This is a huge task, but I would say I'm about halfway there. (Maybe a little less.) I chose this goal because I want to make sure I complete this before summer, so that next year, I can start off fresh with an organized library! I will be working after school on Mondays and Wednesdays to complete this project.
My second goal is to teach my students 2 more pieces of music. The first one is "She's Like the Swallow." I hope to apply my teaching methods so my students know the theoretical knowledge behind the piece (minor key, 3/4 time, haunting melody and lyrics), and how to sing accurately and stylistically appropriate. This is a beautiful piece, and I hope to help my students understand the beauty and purpose while singing this piece. That's it for now! I can't wait to read about your goals! :)
Watch the video below. In your first paragraph, describe the music you hear (instruments, tempo, texture, dynamics, language, feelings, etc). In your second paragraph, please make some comments about the singer’s vocal technique. How is there alignment? Evaluate their emotions. Comment on their breathing. Then, add a link to a video or picture of someone who you think is a great singer.
Source: Diana Damrau singing "Der Holle Roche" from Mozart's "The Magic Flute"
Even though I have been singing and performing in front of people for a really long time, I still get stage fright. I am a firm believer in the saying, "If you're not nervous about something, it means you don't care about the result." If I care about what I sound like, what people think of me, or what I am presenting, I think it is ok to be a little nervous! One thing I do to prevent or deal with my stage fright is called "square breathing". I trace a square in front of me with my pointer finger starting in the bottom left corner. As I trace the side of the square going up, I breathe in for 4 beats. As I trace the square across the top, I "suspend" my air for 4 beats. As I trace the side of the square down, I breathe out for 4 beats. Lastly, when I trace the square across the bottom, I suspend the air again for 4 beats. Then I repeat. This helps me focus on my breathing and distracts me from my nerves. Also, it allows me to relax and slow my heart rate down. I love this method, and have been doing it for a long time. I also do some "square breathing" if I am feeling anxious or nervous about other things in general, and I find that it really helps me. Here is a diagram of square breathing:
source: https://goo.gl/VyZl7d
Some other techniques that I use to prevent or address stage fright are: drinking water, looking in the mirror and giving myself a "pep talk," going for a walk, and of course, PRACTICING! If I feel practiced, I will be more confident in my performance.
I also have a presentation that I used for my Public Speaking class that addresses Stage Fright. You can view it here!
What are your tips for stage fright? Let me know below.
I am always trying to improve my vocal technique. This year, I joined the Newburyport Choral Society. It is a choir of about 100 people and we sing large-scale choral works. I really enjoy it because it makes me feel like I am contributing to something bigger than myself. Also, it makes me practice difficult music and it is a challenge for me. I feel accomplished as a singer when I can accurately sing a difficult passage of music! You can learn more about the NCS here. As a choral singer, I have been working on my technique. One technique that I have been practicing is breathing - yes, still. After all of my years as a singer, breathing is still something that I work on regularly. Recently, I have been working on moving my air forward while I'm singing to add dimension and direction to the phrases. I have to budget my air to make sure I get through the phrase without running out of air, but also, I have to use my air in a way that is optimal for the phrasing of the passage. To practice this, I mark the dynamics or phrases in my music with a pencil. Then, I sing the whole passage on a neutral syllable like "ooh" or "ah" to practice the phrasing and budgeting my air. Lastly, I sing through the phrase with the correct text, keeping in mind the feelings and techniques that I practiced with the neutral syllable. Of course, it depends on the piece of music I'm learning, but that is a way that I like to practice breathing and phrasing. My advice for young singers is to always keep your breathing in mind. Take deep, good-quality breaths and budget your air for singing. Proper vocal alignment is key! Making sure that you're standing up tall and that your body is free of tension is a great way to make sure that you are getting the most out of your air. I have many nuggets of wisdom that I share with my students about breathing, but that is my main piece of advice! Comment below and tell me what techniques you are working on!
"Why do you need music in my daily life?" The real answer to that question is that music IS my life. As a music teacher, that of course I need music in my life. If I couldn't teach music, I am not sure what I would do for a living. Aside from the obvious reasons that I need music in my life, I believe that music is a way for me to express myself. I love to sing and play piano, and I find that when I am singing, I feel free. Sometimes it is hard to be inspired to sing if I am feeling down or anxious, but after I start singing my favorite songs or a song that I can relate to, I always feel better. It is a hard feeling to describe, but singing is one of the only activities that makes me feel free, whole, and content.
Source: https://goo.gl/u4t7yN This is a picture of the UNH Chamber Singers before we went to Germany for a choir competition!
In college, I was a Music Education major. In my courses, I had to analyze, study, and interpret a huge variety of music from the year 800 C.E. to now. It could be extremely overwhelming, and at times felt more like a "job" than something I enjoyed doing. One way that I was able to get through the hardest times of college was singing with my A Cappella Group, Alabaster Blue. That was a great way for me to "escape" my demanding course load. I loved being in an A Cappella group because it was a way for me to continue studying and practicing music, but in a more relaxed and fun atmosphere. I arranged a lot of songs for my a cappella group, as well. I miss singing with those crazy people a lot, and I loved the experience. I think joining an A Cappella group was one of the best decisions I ever made because it helped me find a balance between the "serious" side of music and the "fun" side of singing.
Alabaster Blue performing "Give Me Love" by Ed Sheeran
I come from a musical family, so when I was growing up, there was always someone singing, dancing, playing trumpet or saxophone or piano, or listening to music. That has also shaped my into the musical person I am today! Overall, music is a huge part of my life. I could go on and on about how important music is to me, but I don't want to make this post too long. I love music (duh) and I hope to spread that joy and passion on to my students.
What a game! I have never considered myself the biggest Pats fan ever - in fact, I really don't like watching football at all. Tom Brady annoys me, and Bill Belichick is pretty grouchy. However, I found myself getting really into the Superbowl game this year. This is probably because the Pats had the greatest comeback in NFL History, and everyone likes an "underdog"! I am a big Red Sox fan, so the NE sports spirit is important to me.
Source: https://goo.gl/vCfI2c
My favorite part of the Superbowl this year was Lady Gaga's Halftime Show performance. I remember in 2008 when Lady Gaga had her first hit song, "Just Dance". I remember liking it, but getting creeped out by Lady Gaga's extreme outfit choices that she wore to public appearances. I couldn't help but like her music, though. I learned that Lady Gaga is actually a trained musician. She went to Tish School of the Arts (At NYU) and studied theatre and music. She is an amazing singer and songwriter, and has performed at many different events. I love how Lady Gaga has such a diverse range of abilities in her singing - from Pop/Dance, to Jazz (her album with Tony Bennett is amazing), to Musical Theatre and beyond. This year, she performed the Superbowl Halftime Show in Houston, TX, and I loved watching it.
She opened by singing two Patriotic songs on top of the stadium and then was suspended down to her stage. She sang a bunch of her songs like "Just Dance", "Poker Face", "Telephone", and "Million Reasons". My favorite moment was when she sang her hit song, "Born this Way". That song is a great anthem for the LGBT community, and can be interpreted many ways. I like the message of that song because it instills pride in many people. I thought this was her strongest singing performance of the night because she sang that song with so much passion. Her voice was probably getting tired at that point, but she still sang with so much feeling and strength. Her voice never cracked or sounded unsupported. Her awesome singing was supported by her entertaining dance moves and costumes. I loved watching her march around the stage in her super tall boots - I was afraid that she was going to fall!
I was a little disappointed that she didn't have any guest performers. Sometimes, Superbowl Performers invite another artist or two to share the stage. There were rumors that Beyonce or Tony Bennet were to make guest appearances, and I totally fell for them. I am not disappointed in Gaga's performance, but I wonder what it would have been like with other guest performers. I think Lady Gaga was a great choice of artist for the Superbowl Halftime Show, and I enjoyed her performance a lot. What do you think of Lady Gaga's performance? Comment Below!
