I've been keeping a pretty low profile since Christmas. I did survive, voice intact, but I'm very, very tired, so I'm trying to keep tabs on my sleep habits. My big singing related task right now is to get my communion solos together up through Easter, so I'm off to do that now. I also have 3 concerts in the works to sing with friends, so I've got that music to work on too. Not much to report on with Artist's Way right now, but I'll do a brief To Do list to get myself going for the new year.


Artist Way CheckIn:


1. Set up diction coachings with my Spanish speaking friends for the FUUS concert

2. Get back into a good warmup routine both physically and vocally. including eating right.

3. Keep decluttering

4. Work in journal

5. Don't forget the novel

6. Artist's Date: ushering Big River at Syracuse Stage.

7. Decluttering

8. Music: communion solos

FUUS Spanish concert

Viennese music for concert in Feb with John English

Pull together ideas for benefit concert with other soloists from Atonement

Rosina from Il barbiere di Siviglia

9. Keep working through Boundaries

10. Mail out apps for remainings summer programs and company listings from Opera America Career Guide

Ok - in case there's any question, 3 performances in 12 hours is a bit much. We did two performances of Amahl on Friday, plus a group that several of the adult cast members belong to had a concert that night, and the kings and I were invited to join them and sing the quartet as a promo for Amahl. A very generous gesture, but a couple of us are utterly exhausted. I've been keeping it pretty low key since then, and am only posting this brief note to remind myself to be more careful in the future. Fortunately, all I am is exhausted - not sick. Now that I've pampered myself a bit this evening (a nice mineral bath), I'm headed back to sleep. Rule #1: Always take care of yourself! Don't let your health suffer!


On a positive (brief) note - Amahl is such a wonderful experience for me personally. It's the first time an opera and my faith have intersected in such a direct manner. It's nice to be able to present such a positive message!

Just got back from a thoroughly enjoyable evening of caroling at the Linklane House in Cazenovia for the Chanson Fundraiser for Syracuse Opera. The carolers truly sang for their supper (interesting singing inbetween the courses!), which was fabulous. A couple of us had a portabello mushroom and pasta dish that was to die for, not to mention the truffles for dessert that several of us just picked up and ate with our fingers, as they otherwise would have spent the better part of the dessert course sliding around our plates in the cream sauce as we attempted to pierce the yummy dark chocolate exterior with our knives! I was even able to fit into a smaller dress than I had in the past, which was my high point, actually. It's been so long since the weight has really wanted to come off. Every little bit I can do to help myself lose the weight is going a long way right now. I know, I know, the chocolate truffles were probably not fantastic for the diet, but they were small!! And I've discovered that if I treat myself now and then, it isn't too bad. Back to work on Amahl!

Sigh. So many people have so much crap hanging on - illness wise, that is. I've got to get healthy for this show. I'm spending the evening sucking down soup and juice. Yay. The neti pot is my best friend right now, followed by the cool mist vaporizor and eucalyptus and peppermint essental oils. Must stay healthy.


Great link of the day:


FitDay


Free nutrition and fitness tracking. Great site!

Just as a reminder to myself, I'm posting today to cement the idea that we do not need to "do things" when on stage - just let it happen. This includes vocally, in some respects. I do not need to force a bigger sound to my ears - just let the sound float on the breath, and everything will work out. When I push, I get small, so forget about being heard. Let my voice be my voice. Be unique. (Go - rah, rah! You can do this). My weekend is being taken up with cleaning and focusing on the technical exercises Patrice gave me at my last lesson. (which was faboo!). Don't be afraid to take your technical exercises and overlay them over whatever music you are working on. It really helps to do that - and not just keep singing the same thing over and over again.


Quick Artist's Way Update:


I'm taking time to declutter lately, which is making me feel better. I forget where in TAW Ms. Cameron talks about decluttering as a sign of artistic growth. A shedding of the skin, so to speak.


Exercising is going well. I do miss my daily walks outside, but it's getting too cold for me. I did pick up a Walk Away the Pounds Tape. I'm hoping that that and a few other exercise DVDs will get me through the winter. My favorite so far is the Windsor Pilates series, as I feel very energized afterwards - not sluggish and definitely not too tight to sing, although I am following the advice of another singer I respect who does yoga afterwards.


Writing isn't going so well right now, due to all the decluttering, I guess. At least the urge is there. I can keep working with it.


Artist's Dates: Nothing this week, unless you count getting up to the rehearsal site early and practicing in peace and quiet. Not exactly what an AD is supposed to be, but I'm feeling energized. T-day kind of took over the whole week, which is fine. It was good to see my sister again and spend time with her.


Goals for the week:

1. Amahl and the Night Visitors

2. Solos for church

3. Keep decluttering

4. TAW exercises

5. Keep working through Boundaries.

6. Exercise program

7. Good food and suppliments

Well, two auditions and two callbacks in two days. Not too bad! An audition for La Commedia's spring production of Music Man in Springboro, OH got me two callbacks - a dance callback and a reading callback. The initial 16 bars went pretty well - it felt like the voice was sailing. The director/choreographer is a fun guy with tons of energy, and everyone was really nice. Fabulous piano player too! Sight read through my 16 bars like it was a walk in the park, and followed me beautifully as well.


I also managed to get into Ohio Light's auditions down the hall. I was planning to go out to Wooster to audition - just so I could see the place - but my rehearsals for Amahl conflict with those dates. It would have been a tight fit, and I was thinking of not doing them at all, but perhaps God is intervening. I hope I get to work with both groups. I love Music Man, and Ohio Light does mostly operetta, which I love, and a musical - this year, it's Man of LaMancha - one of my favorites. The big one that peaked my curiosity, however, was that they were doing Sorcerer, which I just got through singing for Syracuse. It would be great to do that again!


Well, of to Amahl rehearsal. I'm going up early to drill some of these intervals into my head. These recits are tough! I have, however, found out how much I really appreciate Menotti's writing. Everything is set up so intelligently, and the emotions are all right there in the music. (Reminds me of my first thoughts on hearing Otello, Act I, Scene 1! Interesting correlation!)


Oh - I just realized that I never posted on Impresario. More later, but it was a total fun. Rose and I even got to pitch Halloween candy at each other at the end of the trio - trying not to hit Todd, Ben, Juan. Everyone involved up there is so good to me.


Now I'm off to rehearsal!

Things have been so busy between Otello and Impresario being back to back. Not that I didn't think this was going to be the case, but a staph infection in my foot complicated the whole thing. Yay. Despite that, getting to sing in Otello and hearing some fabulous voices, including one of my favorite sopranos, Megan Miller. She sang Desdemona and has sung Marguerite (Faust) and Fiordiligi (Cosi fan tutte) for Syracuse Opera before. She's always an audience favorite, and one of the nicest people to work with, too. I think Act III was my favorite. We began reading through it at the first full cast rehearsal, and the tears just came. Such an amazing piece of music, and I'm priviledged enough to get to sing it. It's such a blessing, being able to sing. And I'm beginning to be able to earn my living at it. As my grandfather said, it's not work if you enjoy it!


Impresario is going to be a load of fun. I'm on my way now, but I wanted to take an opportunity to post my thoughts on Otello before they escaped me. Photos will be up on the web site as soon as I get the chance to scan them in.

Ok. I think I have the comments feature fixed. On to my Artist's Way checkin! I'm getting back to business!


Progress for the week: I reworked the web site quite a bit. Took off the blog and the link to the personal page on the advice of a friend whose opinion I respect. I still may put them in the Links page as a compromise. Need to mull that one over. Good musical work this week, even with the extra duties I had filling in for the vacant teaching position. I love the strength my voice is gaining. The lesson felt pretty good today too, as I already stated.


Synchronicity: First, subbing in Spanish and finding out that the FUUS concert for the season is all Spanish music/Spanish based music. Ok, I'll keep working on this one too! Second, finding out that the district allows substitute teachers to buy in to the health insurance plan and then getting the sort-of-long-term sub job. Ok, it was only a week and a half, but the paycheck will more than cover the first payment. Needless to say, I'm calling the doctor, the chiropractor, etc to get all the appointments I've been putting off - and off, and off..........


Morning Pages: As I'm just starting back up with Artist's Way, none for the week. My goal is for 5/7. I know how I am when I'm starting back up. It won't be perfect at first.


My own addition to the AW program: DQT. I know - the MPs sort of work in here, but I want to include my DQT (Bible study) as part of my personal improvement program. This will be 7/7 at the end of the week.


Artist's Date: Again, I'm just starting back up, but I think I just found some more synchronicity. My mom just handed me a duplicate family membership card for the local nature center (and window sticker, but that's not important.) Interesting that it was right as I was thinking about what to do for this week's Artist Date.......... Hmm. Maybe God is trying to tell me something?


Walking: (from the Walking in the World book): Pretty good. I started a walking program this summer. I'm walking at least 5,000 steps per day. If I do once in the am and once at night, I should be able to get in the 10,000 steps for weight loss for my cardio. One will be a breathwalk. 6/7 at least. Probably 7/7.


Goals:

Acting: Work on one monologue this week. Do acting exercises.

Cleaning: Work on FlyBaby steps. Focus on decluttering bedroom for my own personal mission for the week.

Voice: Get Impresario fully in the voice. Put role on index cards. Keep working on aria package. Have O luce di quest' and Manon Gavotte ready to go for Barbara next week.

Dance: Ballet barre every day.

Physical/Weight: try Windsor Pilates weight loss (do the video every day). Keep up the yoga for the breath. Don't eat after 8 pm.

Fabulous lesson with Patrice today. Bester Jüngling - oops - Come My Love (we are in English, after all) is going much better than I expected. Old pieces can be a pain in the butt, after all - all that old muscle memory. I was feeling it while working on it this week, but with the new techniques Patrice showed me for practicing, it felt like a brand new piece. Singing it in English probably isn't hurting any either. This show is going to be so much fun!

How I Spent My Summer Vacation.


Well - not really. Performers never have summer vacations - or holidays with family either, sometimes. Church jobs have a way of taking up your time around the holidays. But hey - the money is good, and I'll be singing some good music too.


At any rate, although I do wish there was some way to have gotten back to

Rising Sun for the Rising Star Singers' Audition Works in July, I found ways to keep myself busy. (Rising Star is a fabulous program, BTW. I highly recommend it.)


First, my church job with Atonement Lutheran Church kept going through the summer, with some lighter (meaning pop) solos than I usually do, including some great stuff by Keith and Melody Green. If you don't know their music, check it out. I love the no-holds barred presentation of the messages in their lyrics.


Now, for the theater: first was Cortland Rep's Music Man. I had a blast with everyone there and learned a lot in the process. I got to be one of the Pick-a-Little Ladies (Maud Dunlop, who utters the immortal words: "Linus, play to me son, play to me!" at the end of the show. A big thank you to my sister (her blog is at: http:closetdiva.blogspot.com ), who put up with me singing the Pick-A-Little number every time we drove up to camp when we were younger, and for never complaining about singing the "Good Night, Ladies" parts. And a big hug to all my fellow Pick-A-Littles! I think we did kick some "pickle butt"! I miss our Shipoopi dancing offstage!


In the middle of all that came an offer to do a voice over with Full Cast Audio, a book-on-tape company started by fabulous children's author Bruce Coville. The book to be recorded was Tamora Pierce's Wild Magic. If you don't know Full Cast Audio, check them out. The concept is that the book is not recorded with one person doing all the parts, but with - well - a full cast of characters as well as the narrator. I got to read the part of Buri, for those of you that know the books. Fascinating character. I'd love to tell you more, but just do yourself a favor and go read the books. I knew her writings before, but found time to delve into them this summer while sitting backstage at Cortland Rep when I didn't have to be on stage. It was interesting, being a female warrior during the day and a prissy, gossipy Pick-A-Little at night!


Lastly, but not least, Syracuse Opera Ensemble did a concert version of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Sorcerer. I got to sing the role of Constance, sighing and falling in love with the wrong person with that great waltz number at the beginning of the second act! I wouldn't mind doing that part on stage some time. If you don't know Gilbert and Sullivan's music, check out the following web site:


Gilbert and Sullivan Archive


Hey, check it out, even if you are familiar with their music. It's a wonderful resource!

It certainly has been a while since I've checked in - not for a lack of news or anything. I'll be singing Mlle Silverpeale in The Impresario and Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors this fall, both for Oswego. I know - different fachs. But Amahl is with piano, maybe a string quartet at the most, and the lowest stuff is unaccompanied for the most part. I would never even consider it with full orchestra. And before that is Syracuse Opera's Otello - fabulous choral music there! And auditions in the middle of all of that!


I had a wonderful time again with the Civic Morning Musicals group in the recent "Glitter with Gershwin" concert benefit they did up at Arrowhead Lodge on Oneida Lake. It was a big success. I got to sing Summertime from Porgy and Bess, along with some ensemble numbers. Music Man is next.


I am dealing with allergies right now. I've been subbing all week (yay - money!), and fortunately the kids I was working with today were really pretty quiet and respectful about my lack of voice, especially considering it was the end of the year. The teaching assistants in the class were wonderful as well. It was just too bad that we couldn't end the day with more camp songs as we've done the last couple of days.

Okay - so I found these on the web site from Bravo. Here they are with my responses afterwards. And if you haven't seen The Actor's Studio with James Lipton, check it out - especially if you are into acting! And while you are at it, check out the new CD of James Lipton's musical Sherry - I love it! (Just be warned - there's absolutelyl noone famous in the cast! LOL) I went to Amazon, put in "James Lipton" and searched under "Popular Music". The link's too long to post here - I tried it, and it messed up my blog because it was so long.


http://www.bravotv.com/Inside_the_Actors_Studio/


The Questions



01. What is your favorite word? Love


02. What is your least favorite word? Hate


03. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?


Creatively: Someone committed to their craft having fun doing what they do best.

Spiritually: Signs from God that I see around me all the time - especially the natural world. I don’t know how people can look around and say this universe is a random thing.

Emotionally: Pure love


04. What turns you off? Anger. Hatred.


05. What is your favorite curse word? Snickers. (Thank you Rising Sun ‘04!)


06. What sound or noise do you love? Rain in the forest. A child’s laughter. The cello


07. What sound or noise do you hate? Percussion class at 8 am. An air horn. A drill of any kind. Screeching brakes.


08. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Massage therapist or chef


09. What profession would you not like to do? Telemarketer


10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? I love you - Welcome home. (followed by a great big hug!)

Things have been hectic. Pirates was a wonderful learning experience. I want to work with Tony Sallatino again. I learned so much just watching people work. I need to process my thoughts more, and I need to get back to my Rising Sun program and get life in shape.

I really love singing for a living. When you have a great director, conductor, and a hard working cast, things can really be fun. And I’ve been blessed twice in less than 6 months. First Little Night Music, and now Pirates. My grandfather is right. It’s not work if you enjoy it. I hope I always get gigs like this. And I hope I have great work for the summer. I’d love to get Schroon Lake (Seagal Colony). It seems like a great company to work with, and I can do the rep. Either that or a good summer musical would be nice - Cortland Rep has stuff I can do - especially Music Man.

Musical Thought For the Day (I am still trying to find time for myself in all that's going on - I've learned the hard way how important it is)


In re-reading some of the Artist’s Way notes, I want to jot down an idea I need to follow through on in greater depth:


True North: know where yours is, and have a role model. Three singers to look at: Edita Gruberova, Beverly Sills, and Ileana Cotrubas.

I’m living up to my promise to take care of me, so I’m really learning how to use this lovely new laptop. So far, I’m not impressed with the “Radio” portion of iTunes - it rebuffers way too much to really enjoy a piece. Although I’m sure its just me needing to learn how to use it. But it’s annoying to have something rebuffer every 10 seconds. I’d like to have it playing in the background, but when I do, or Entourage checks the email, it rebuffers. Very odd for a Mac. I’m thrilled that I’m going to be able to burn my own CDs. Very handy. And to have exercise DVDs with me when I’m on the road. Ok - so I’ve checked preferences - buffering stream was on medium. Well, a small buffering stream is worse - about a 3 second clip of music. Let’s try large. That rots too. I know - you’re saying “Why don’t you get your user’s manual out and read the blasted thing.” I will - I just need to find time to do it. However, I’m not opposed to playing around to figure things out on this machine. I know enough not to do anything stupid. Any advice is greatly welcomed. I’ll just stick in a CD for right now. I need to upgrade my internet connection.


I keep forgetting to include a link of the day - or entry - whatever. Anyways, today’s site:


http://aria-database.com/



It’s a good starting place to research an aria - it gives range and tessitura, or double check a translation (I firmly believe in translating as much as you can on your own, but if you need help, get it so you can give a literate, well-thought out performance).

It was wonderful to have my sister home over the holidays. I'm hoping her surgery goes well - she has a cyst on her thyroid. I'm praying it doesn't muck up her voice - it's really pretty. Mom and Dad will be going up when she has it done, so I'll be dog-sitting. More practice time.


While here, she introduced me to this fabulous web site:


http://www.digitalblasphemy.com/


These wallpapers are great. I wish I were that talented on computers. I think I'll stick to singing.


New Year's Resolutions:


1. Keep up with the weight loss and physical fitnesss

2. Keep eating better - less junk

3. Focus on singing business.

4. More auditions

5. Better financial control

6. Start with new acting coach - YAY!

7. Improve piano skills

8. Keep working on languages

9. Do a formal recital 1x/year

10. More quality Quiet Time