Practice with CATS!

     Today I will be expressing my feelings about practicing with pictures of cats. You're welcome.

How I feel about Warm-ups:

How I feel about Vaccai today:

How I feel about Britten:

How I feel about Handel:

There will be more of these in the future, I guarantee it.

One of those days

     So I started today, and it was more a fizzle than a bang. I expect to have to ease into this, not just vocally, but everything-wise...
So I guess I've started with "one of those days". To be honest, I only practiced 30 minutes. I did my warm-ups and started on my Vaccai. I'm in the stage where I'm "relearning" the lessons from the front of the book. Oddly enough, the first exercise on the scale is the one that continuously stumps me. I think it's because I've been singing it since Freshman year...there are some rough habits internalized in there. The others were obviously easier while I tried to keep my mouth open and the sound in my cheekbones. I didn't achieve the best buzz--something to work on.

     Otherwise, let me say a little something about my at-home practice space. One day, when we came home from family vacation, the person taking care of our animals hadn't done the greatest job. There was cat poo and pee on the carpet in the living and dining rooms. My mom had had just about enough, and ripped up the carpet then and there in both rooms. The carpet was replaced with tile. Much to my dismay (as I only played the piano in those days), the piano lived in the living room.
     So today was spent getting used to the super duper uber uber high reverberation in the small room. Luckily, I can hear myself. This is a plus. However, I can't tell if my voice is being sparkly, or the room is making it sparkle. Hmmmm. This will take some getting used to.
     I ran my two Bellini's, and I did a little "re-learning" of Warum willst, and learned notes in my Boulanger.

The Boulanger piece, particularly intrigues me. I'm excited to learn this one. I've had a little trouble finding recordings on Youtube, because Boulanger is a 20th century composer that isn't as nearly as popular as her sister, Lili. Here's this one, though. I liked the sound, and the French. It might be one of my reference recordings....

Getting Acquainted

     I'm  a singer. I like singing. I sing at school, and that is why I go to school. This is not always easy, in fact, at times it's extremely difficult. During the school year, life is a fine balance between practicing voice and piano, working insane hours at Campus Safety, going to all of those other classes, and trying to fit in time for eating and sleeping. Summer seems to be the time when most of my friend (and me, trust me, I'm guilty...) give up on singing, because school has made singing an academic activity. And summer academic activities....are hard.
     My project (which will unfold to you if you keep reading!) was proposed to me by my voice teacher during our last lesson of the school year. There are multiple situational circumstances that have led to this project becoming a good idea for me. One of them is this:

Tendinitis is a jerk. While I have discovered activities I can partake in, it has unabashedly taken away my ability to work this summer. Thank you, Tendinities. I'm sure my voice teacher will. 

Also, I tend to go a litttttle wonky when I have nothing to do during the summer. This includes agoraphobic moments, Netflix watching marathons, unsuccessfully attempting to learn the guitar, dyeing my hair odd colors, talking to my cats, contemplating Hemingway and just plain bizarre musings. 

   
     Those are the main catalyzing circumstances that have popped off the top of my head. If you continue following my blog, I'm sure more will pop up. So what is this wonderful project I speak of?!

     This will be my summer getting to know Nicola Vaccai, or, more precisely, getting to know his Practical Method of Italian Singing. I generally feel like getting to know an individuals music is much like getting to know them--so this summer I will be spending a wealth of time with Nicola. We'll be buds. There would be nothing more fulfilling than sitting in the backyard, sipping lemonade, chilling out with Nicola. So here I go.
     This summer's goals are as follows:

1. Get through all of the vocal exercises Vaccai's Practical Method of Italian Singing. This includes being able to sing the notes, not necessarily perfection. (Though, wouldn't that be nice?)
2. Not being a wimp. I've been forcefully instructed that wimping out is a bad thing, especially vocally. (Thanks, Holly ;]) 
3. Keep enjoying singing! After all, isn't that the point?
4. Finish learning and memorizing all of my repertoire for my Jr. Recital next Fall. Curious? Maybe I'll let you try to figure out that program by reading my blog.
5. Derive my own conclusions about swimming being good for singers' breath control. Swimming is about the only aerobic activity I can partake in.
6. Give YA'LL a source of entertainment!! Not only will I be writing about technical aspects of singing, I'll being doing some reading (Richard Miller, dundundunnnnnn), some research, laughing, crying, whining, singing, humming, youtube watching, and allowing you all into my rather interesting head for the course of the summer. This will result in some hilarity, I ensure you.

So there. Stay tuned for musings on life, opera, and art song, frustration with Benjamin Britten and miraculous vocal breakthroughs. ;)