A Singing Career Starts in School

I'll start this off by saying I don't really have the "career" part of my singing life going yet.  It's in a fledgling state if it exists at all.  This is due to the fact that I have been in school, for singing specifically, for the last 5 years.*  Despite this fact sometimes leading to feelings of stunted growth or being chained down, being in school teaches singing students so much about how to become//BE singing professionals, if we're willing to learn the lessons.  In my experience, these include: 

Discipline - in study (akin to all parts of musical practice) and in attendance (would I skip an opera rehearsal just because?) 

Preparation - studying thoroughly (would I be unprepared for my recital jury?), putting in my share of the work (would I let my scene partner down by not knowing my part?), and caring enough to put forth my best effort ("C's get degrees" but would I want my director to think of me as just average?) 

These go hand in hand with the production of quality work, which shows a level of self-respect, which in turn leads to gaining others' respect.  Earning and maintaining that respect with employers/co-workers (aka director, stage manager, leads, chorus, costumers, make-up folks, set construction folks, etc.) is what helps us keep up a good image in the singing world, thus helping provide jobs.  And news of those acting less than professionally travels fast in the small world of singing.

The way we act in school is a chance to practice these lessons which are essential to professional well-being!  For me personally, these are hardly my reasons for working hard in all aspects of school - I really just like academia - but they are skills I recognize having built along my journey, both naturally and through some hard lessons learned.

There are many singing professionals who have written about this, too, and in greater depth.  One of my favorites is Cindy Sadler in her Classical Singer column "Ask Erda."  Look her up!  She doles out the tough-but-best love.

Love&Harmony,

Erin

*Of course I say this and my brain starts singing The Last 5 Years soundtrack... :)

Monday, Monday

So sorry you were missed.

No other reason other than being distracted by a good book and the call of sleep.

Downton Abbey Season 4!

Downton Abbey season 4 premiered tonight, for the U.S. !!!  It sucks being behind the UK in that regard, but I don't believe in cheating when it comes to Downton or Sherlock.  They give me something to look forward to for January when the weather is grey and dreary.  More specifically, they give me emotional schizophrenia... but it sure is exciting.

So, season 4, episode 1.  It was a relief not to be dragged through some sort of devastating heartbreak (the season 3 finale was quite enough, thank you!) though it was certainly re-lived via Lady "Zombie" Mary.  Michelle Dockery has certainly mastered the stone-cold statue look.  However, it was easy to suffer some emotional whiplash with all of the new beginnings of scandal - especially in the downstairs of all places!

I'm not going to go crazy into detail in case anyone reading (...anyone?) cares about spoilers.  But I will say that my bad inklings about the lady's maid Edna are absolutely right.  There's a new O'Brian in town -- that didn't take long at all.  (Really, Lady Cora, are you so naive?!) I'm curious about Cousin Rose.  She always seems up to something, but she seemed to have just the right amount of romantic adventure and close it out before the end of the two hours.  Nothing is ever that simple though, so we'll see.  I hope that Edith is finally getting some happy days, but her romantic stars seem forever crossed.  I have a bad feeling that Germany is not going to to over well and that a bad decision may have been made that will lead to some complicated -what else?! - happenings.  I think I'm not alone in feeling that Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson are probably my favorite characters and Mrs. Hughes is the particular heroine in this week's episode.  All she ever wants is the best for everyone around her, even when they aren't sure of what that is themselves.  Of course, cue the teary eyes when Lady Mary finally breaks through her hardened exterior in Mr. Carson's arms.  And I will always, always, always want to punch Mr. Barrow in the face.  I swear that man has just one good bone in his body and it's his pinky toe.


Whew, ok!  I think this is going to be the theme of Sunday posts until the season is out - it's a good decompression method.  :)  Woohoo Downton!!  And Sherlock on the 19th!!

Here's to the best month for PBS ratings!
Love&Harmony,
Erin

Silver and Gold

"Make new friends, but keep the old; one is silver and the other gold."

Today was a day of seeing "old" friends back down near PLU.  Cue nostalgia and happiness.  :)  Several days of break have consisted of this - friends that go wayyy back and some I've only known well for a few years (but it feels like a lifetime).  As the saying goes, they're gold.

But there's plenty to be said for silver, too.  Home and hometown (or relatively close to it) friends are comfortable and returning to comfortable is always nice.  I'm finding I'm missing the new friends, too though. Not that I thought I wouldn't, since they're awesome people!  The thing is, you can only talk so much about new experiences in new places with old friends.  There's not a way to convey who the people are that I am talking about.  While telling the amusing - at least to me - anecdotes, the jokes, the quirky things about school and the city, there is no benefit of mutual understanding.  

It's that interesting "dual-life" phenomenon.  I am not two different people (superhero and super-secret-identity); rather, my singular identity exists in two places.  Or, at least, it kind of feels that way... Interesting.  

Veering off "topic" though... haha.

Basically, it makes sense to value the gold more than the silver.  But who's to say the weightier substance of the gold carries any more value than the silver?  The value of either relationship stems from that of shared experience.  And if we invest our true selves in any experience with friends - new or old - that's what is always invaluable.

Love&Harmony,

Erin

(I hope that made sense.  It's a little late and I'm a little ramble-y.  Gute Nacht!)

What I'm Reading

Catching Fire 
     - By Suzanne Collins; from the gigantically successful YA series The Hunger Games.  If you haven't heard of it -- have you been living under a rock, or someplace where books are censored?  Those are your only excuses.  Personally, this is a re-read for me.  Just saw the film today... re-reading to catch all those details!

XO Orpheus, Fifty New Myths
     - A short story collection edited by Kate Bernheimer; modern takes on myths from many different cultures.  For some reason, I really enjoy short stories (probably ever since taking that short stories English class with Dr. Seal at PLU.)  Collections of them are like an appetizing plate of bite-size morsels at a holiday party where you really only know a couple people.  The plate becomes your new best friend and that's okay because its offerings are delicious and leave you wanting more.  But the short stories are better because they stay off the waist-line -- guilt free!!

The newspaper comics in the Seattle Times
     - This is a daily thing whenever I am home; I just like them.  And my mom and I do the crossword puzzle together.

Coming Soon: Things I've Read Over Break

For Yesterday

Oops - missed yesterday. Off to a great start. But sometimes family time is more important. Played Bananagrams with mom, watched Foyle's War with dad and then we all caught an episode of Bones! :) Good times. Gotta get 'em while they're here because I won't be back til March (I think).

Here's to being on track and letting the good things distract us.
Love&Harmony,
Erin

Resolute

Happy New Year!

Seeing as it's been 2014 for almost 24 hours, and I have been ruminating on my resolutions all day -- it's time to get to it.

1 - Write every day on this blog.  Even if it's just a sentence.
2 - Focus on health.  Not losing weight (although that would be a pleasant result), but being healthy.
Meaning:  Less sugar.  Little to no soda. Going out to eat no more than 2-3 times a week, and only as time crunches necessitate.  Find something active and enjoyable and get moving.
3 - Spend less, save more.  (The limit on going out to eat will help this immensely.)
4 - Quality music practicing 5-6 days a week.
5 - Make time for yoga 3+ days a week.

I also really hope to find some quality time to pick up that dang guitar and learn to play it!

To go along with the most of the rest of my FB newsfeed, a bit of reflection on 2013...

Senior year of PLU finished out on many high notes (no pun intended).  Choir of the West was one of the biggest highlights and I will treasure my memories of our tour in Canada and of course of ACDA in Dallas.  I so immensely enjoyed being able to serve the choir as student president, even in the times when I felt really stressed out it was seriously the greatest.  Because at the end of it all I knew I was helping people have a better experience.  It took me until recently, but I realized that I just really love helping people and I feel successful when I know that I could contribute to others' happiness.  Serving as choir president was a big part of figuring that out.
I took a leap of faith and learned to trust in God's plans when it came to the whole graduate school thing.  It was quite a journey to go from relative confidence down to the humbling realization of "it just probably won't happen."  After accepting the fact that I would most likely be living at home for the next year, SFCM came through.  Since finishing out fall semester down in San Francisco, the moment of that acceptance phone call feels forever and a moment ago all at once.  I still struggle with the insecurity of what is in store, but it's all about learning from that moment of accepting what I didn't plan on (both times!).  It's about stepping out onto stormy waters and knowing I'm not going to drown; rather, it's a new adventure ahead, and there is Someone who will be holding my hands all the way.
Moving to San Francisco has been a giant mixed bag.  So much of it is wonderful - especially related to the school side.  I feel that I have grown immensely in the last three months in my understanding of vocal technique that works for me, what being a professional musician means, and especially coming away with a stronger sense of self.  "Starting again" with school at this point means stretching myself to discover new parts of who I am (or develop existing bits) but also having a much firmer foundation to build from.  And of course the people!!  We're all in similar sailing vessels when it comes to this sense of starting fresh and that seems to translate to everyone generally being nice and supportive of each other.  That, and/or I just lucked out by getting into a program of excellent individuals.  I'm lucky to be able to say "I love you" to one particular person.  :)
At the same time, this move away from everything comfortable exposed me to big fears and doubts about what I'm doing.  Part of getting stronger is confronting those.  At times it has been difficult missing home, family, friends, my dog, PLU, the rain... SF has many of those things in different versions, but of course it's not the same.  It's been good to be home for break and I've got some change to look forward to when I get back, and I think those will help settle my heart.

That turned into something much more long-winded than I intended, but there we go.  In short, 2013 was a big one for change and trusting that those changes are going to turn out.  Somehow, they always do, even if it's not the way we expect them to.  What's that line from The Sound of Music? When God closes a door, somewhere He opens a window.
So, with resolutions and reflections written and posted to the internet for some semblance of accountability -- Here's to 2014!

Love&Harmony,
Erin