Ok, darned good week of singing

I got to have my first lesson in a month on Monday, and I have to admit, I have had a marvellous week of learning and growth.  The Macbeth aria feels very good, and the "Donna non vidi mai" is beginning to feel like something I have sung for years.  Now I just have to go out there and sing them in front of people.  That is what sets it apart.

I am at the point now that the text is becoming mine.  I was incredibly blown away by the sincereity of the text to "Ingemisco."  I groan for God, who forgave May Magdelene, to redeem me.  I get that, and I can groove on it...

Text.  That is always what creates the drama.  Music enhances it. The voice, the body, and the face convey it.

Good lesson today

Beggan with the "Ah, la paterna mano" from Macbeth.  Felt good.  I just over sang it.  Did the same with the "Donna non vidi mai" from Manon Lescaut.  But I learned a lot from the "Ingemisco" today.  That was the piece that set me up.

I had gotten a bit heavy with my last Barbiere, and I misunderstood a couple of things from my coaching with William Hicks.

I also appreciate Jackson's faith in me.  Never had that before in a teacher.  Pretty danged cool, if you ask me.

Craziness of school beginning

I hate panic attacks.  Hate'em.  But whenever I leave for a gig, I get them.  One has to remember that you teach kids, but they're at that weird, in-between stage of travelling to adulthood.  They will be fine, and I will make up every, cotton pickin' lesson.  That will be a month of saturdays, and at least I will have the spring breaks o work, also.

Doing this is good for the Department and my students, but good for me and my family.  It would take take two months work at VCU to come close to making what I make on these gigs.

I will miss most Sheridan and the girls.  I love the Christma Holidays.  That is when I get my most intimate time with my family.  I get very emotional the first few days when I am away, and it is worse when I go to Europe.  Eight weeks there will be extremely fun.  Well, at least the first week won't be...

Great lesson today

In the midst of all the garbage, i had a great lesson with Jackson today.  "Just sing like you speak" has become my new mantra.  

Sang through six arias after the warm-up.  The best of the bunch was the Carmen.  That is what I am talking about.  It eliviates the worry when I begin the "Puis, je m'accuse de blaspheme" that I don't have the space, because the voice is sitting in the same space as if I am speaking.  A lot more ring and a lot more ease.  

The "Donna non vidi mai" was pretty danged good today, and the "Celeste Aida is'nt far off the mark.  But the Freischutz was spot on.  Spot on!!

Gonna have problems choosing what to sing on auditions, especially in Europe this coming fall....

Ok, I am reminded why most modern Musical Theatre makes me feel stupid

I just spent the evening watching Mama Mia with my wife's family.  Ten minutes into it, I felt so let down and stupid.  I also realize that Americans are mentally lazy.  You would take that over a work like La Boheme or La Traviata?  You have got to be kidding me!!!!!  

Then there is Avenue Q.  Or Springtime Awakening.  Just stupid fluff.  

Nobody does it like Porter and Richard Rogers.

There is true crap on Broadway these days.

Listening to yourself though others

Well, nice to know that I don't always listen to my own advice.  Sing like you speak.  

How many times have I said this to students?  An absolute plethora of times.  Definitely makes the B flat, B, and C so much easier, and like money.

And I sound like myself.  Like a tenor.