We had to interact as our characters (I’m using Adele due to an upcoming audition) in a variety of ways. The most interesting was “You’re at a train station, waiting for a train”. Adele interacted with Nemorino, Donna Anna, Dandini, Beppo, Nedda, Blondchen, and Daisy Buchanan (imagine Daisy Buchanan teaching Adele - er - “Olga” how to Charleston and telling her to chop off Rosalinda’s dress above the knee.....) That kind of play is very freeing! There are moments, despite the pressures and intense schedule, that this whole program has been like one big artist’s date.
Play is important. It’s crucial!
Off to a concert - don’t forget to Play!!!
Thursday, July 31, 2003
Wednesday, July 30, 2003
I had an inadvertent artist’s date when I attempted to drive into Cincinnati from Rising Sun - I accidentally
turned up another road, heading north on Indiana Rt 1 (oops!). But Nigel Kennedy was playing some Bach with an orchestra, and the weather was lovely, so I had a nice recharging drive. I also had a small shopping spree, looking for new audition shoes, that turned into clothes buying when I found this little Indian-styled clothing shop with some beautiful hand-embroidered clothes (perhaps useful for playing around with Lakme...;-) I never buy clothes for myself, so I felt funny. In amongst them is a beautiful hand crocheted shawl with beads that I haven’t used yet, but I feel like I’ve given myself something really luxurious.
Acting class today was highly productive: we worked in partners, singing our arias to each other and placing small beads (our acting teacher went to the Party Store for them) around important words: could be beginning, middle, or end of the word, but it had to be when the thought impulse lead us to do it. It really opened up Adele for me! I practically was throwing them at my partner in a couple places. She was really impressed at what this did for my performance of the piece.
We also worked with beginnings, middles, and ends of our arias: ie, Mein Herr Marquis would be
Beg: Darum rate ich, ja genauer sich, die Leute an zu sein
Mid: Der gleichen finden Sie bei einer Zofe nie
End: Mir scheint wohl, die Liebe Macht Ihre Augen trübe, Der schönen Zofe Bild Hat ganz Ihr Herz erfüllt!
We had to assign qualities of movement/emotion to each and work through, making them flow together and explore the distances between them. Quite interesting!
Anyways, most AW stuff has flown out the window - a few morning pages (sometimes I do them at lunch under the trees outside the school where we are working), but not consistent, and only the accidental artist’s date. Lots of walks (I walk to the library, to the grocery store, so I’ll try and fit the walks in there), but the only thing that’s been consistent has been reading “Walking in the World”. I’ve actually been rereading the first 2 chapters, as they really are making more sense to me with what I’m going through. I was thinking about processing the personal experience more before sharing it with y’all, but one thing I’ve learned here is that I edit myself too much, so here goes nothing:
I’m moving. Probably to New York.
They’ve recommended a teacher for me to contact, plus my current one may also be moving there, as well as the contact with the coaches I’ve been working with. There are many wonderful things to do where I am currently, but I almost feel constrained in terms of artistic growth - no challenge any more. I just found out what the outreach program wants to do this next year and am having second thoughts, sort of, but I know what it says in Chapter 2 - some things will seem comfortable and easy to slide back into. The quote that sums up the whole thing for me is from Center Stage (the ballet movie): when presumably offered a chance to the in the chorus of one of the best dance companies in the world, the main character says something to the effect of: “I don’t want to spend the best years of my performing life waving a tulip in the back of the chorus.” I can’t really complain about any of the opportunities I’ve had over the last 2 years, but I’ve become lacksidasical (sp?) in my performing.
turned up another road, heading north on Indiana Rt 1 (oops!). But Nigel Kennedy was playing some Bach with an orchestra, and the weather was lovely, so I had a nice recharging drive. I also had a small shopping spree, looking for new audition shoes, that turned into clothes buying when I found this little Indian-styled clothing shop with some beautiful hand-embroidered clothes (perhaps useful for playing around with Lakme...;-) I never buy clothes for myself, so I felt funny. In amongst them is a beautiful hand crocheted shawl with beads that I haven’t used yet, but I feel like I’ve given myself something really luxurious.
Acting class today was highly productive: we worked in partners, singing our arias to each other and placing small beads (our acting teacher went to the Party Store for them) around important words: could be beginning, middle, or end of the word, but it had to be when the thought impulse lead us to do it. It really opened up Adele for me! I practically was throwing them at my partner in a couple places. She was really impressed at what this did for my performance of the piece.
We also worked with beginnings, middles, and ends of our arias: ie, Mein Herr Marquis would be
Beg: Darum rate ich, ja genauer sich, die Leute an zu sein
Mid: Der gleichen finden Sie bei einer Zofe nie
End: Mir scheint wohl, die Liebe Macht Ihre Augen trübe, Der schönen Zofe Bild Hat ganz Ihr Herz erfüllt!
We had to assign qualities of movement/emotion to each and work through, making them flow together and explore the distances between them. Quite interesting!
Anyways, most AW stuff has flown out the window - a few morning pages (sometimes I do them at lunch under the trees outside the school where we are working), but not consistent, and only the accidental artist’s date. Lots of walks (I walk to the library, to the grocery store, so I’ll try and fit the walks in there), but the only thing that’s been consistent has been reading “Walking in the World”. I’ve actually been rereading the first 2 chapters, as they really are making more sense to me with what I’m going through. I was thinking about processing the personal experience more before sharing it with y’all, but one thing I’ve learned here is that I edit myself too much, so here goes nothing:
I’m moving. Probably to New York.
They’ve recommended a teacher for me to contact, plus my current one may also be moving there, as well as the contact with the coaches I’ve been working with. There are many wonderful things to do where I am currently, but I almost feel constrained in terms of artistic growth - no challenge any more. I just found out what the outreach program wants to do this next year and am having second thoughts, sort of, but I know what it says in Chapter 2 - some things will seem comfortable and easy to slide back into. The quote that sums up the whole thing for me is from Center Stage (the ballet movie): when presumably offered a chance to the in the chorus of one of the best dance companies in the world, the main character says something to the effect of: “I don’t want to spend the best years of my performing life waving a tulip in the back of the chorus.” I can’t really complain about any of the opportunities I’ve had over the last 2 years, but I’ve become lacksidasical (sp?) in my performing.
Thursday, July 24, 2003
I’m taking extensive notes in the masterclasses and taping everything I possibly can. My big relevation today is that we tend to rely too much on recordings (people making notational mistakes from recordings - even if you aren’t practicing with them - just stuff we pick up secondhand, as it were). Also, try what the composer has on the page (ie. rests for me - I was glossing over a few), as there’s usually a reason for what’s there - for acting as well as musically. I just spent the better part of an hour rerecording a “melody only” tape of all my arias, just to be sure all the pitches were there. I’m going home to hum (closed ng, that is, for my new space that I’m finding) to it, just to double check things. I’ve already found 2 spots in different pieces where the pitches aren’t quite perfect.
The best thing overall that we’ve done so far is acting class - not just coaching, but regular acting classes, as well as movement. We all start the morning off together in a yoga/dance class - we actually sweated big time this am (Thursday), making up dance steps to “Shake Senora” - that song from the end of the movie “Beetlejuice”. But the bulk of the class is yoga style breath and strengthening, along with a short ballet barre so we learn to move gracefully on stage. My teacher from home is the diction instructor and alreaady notices more of a freedom in my breathing. The closest thing I can think of commercially is Rodney Yee’s AM Yoga for Beginners - some of the breathing stretches and poses are on there.
I’ve had other relevations of a personal nature - AW related, that I need to work through and share at a later time.
The best thing overall that we’ve done so far is acting class - not just coaching, but regular acting classes, as well as movement. We all start the morning off together in a yoga/dance class - we actually sweated big time this am (Thursday), making up dance steps to “Shake Senora” - that song from the end of the movie “Beetlejuice”. But the bulk of the class is yoga style breath and strengthening, along with a short ballet barre so we learn to move gracefully on stage. My teacher from home is the diction instructor and alreaady notices more of a freedom in my breathing. The closest thing I can think of commercially is Rodney Yee’s AM Yoga for Beginners - some of the breathing stretches and poses are on there.
I’ve had other relevations of a personal nature - AW related, that I need to work through and share at a later time.
Tuesday, July 22, 2003
Well, here I am in Indiana. The one on one coachings are great, but getting up for these masterclasses is really scary. I have such a fear of them, it's ridiculous. I hate it. I wish I could have more confidence in myself, but I feel so far below everyone else sometimes. Or that they think I suck. or something. I love the coaches I'm working with. I had two - one extra(!) fabulous coachings today. I shouldn't let the masterclass bum me out. I just wish I could show the confidence I feel inside - my mental practice was fine, but I got up there for Beginnings and Endings and screwed up the pronunciation of my last name, of all things. Wish I could change it! It totally threw me off. I need to not let that happen. I love the acting coachings and acting class the best. I'll do better tomorrow. Off for more prep. At least the journaling helps.
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