No ‘R’s…

I always try to encourage my choirs to remove agressive ‘R’ sounds from their singing. Usually, the best way to accomplish this is to either replace the ‘R’ sound with an ‘uh’ for word endings, and to simply avoid the ‘R’ in other places.

After a few years of demonstrations and encouragement, I’ve finally found another way to get the point across…

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Latin Pronunciation for Singers

After pondering GFC rehearsal the other night, I realized that my Latin pronunciation may be a bit rusty. To help me brush up, I decided to check into a pronunciation guide. As it turns out, the authoriative text (the Liber Usualis) is rather easily and often condensed. One of the users on ChoralNet placed this Latin pronunciation summary online; I’ll be using this as my guideline.

Topics, topics everywhere

As with any new undertaking, it takes a bit of experience to move things along smoothly. So tonight, I’m trying to focus on what I’ll focus on; in other words, what should I write about?

So far, I can envision these topics (in no particular order):

• Oracle database technology
• My home recording studio
• Photography (digital nowadays, maybe a few flashbacks…)
• Vocal music, voice teaching
• Performance anxieties in public speaking and singing
• Choral music
• Music technology
• Tech toys and gadgets
• Church music
• Creativity

Along the way, I’m definitely hoping to produce some podcasts related to improving choral and vocal singing skills. I’ve written some articles and papers, so I’ll probably make those available as well.

I’m currently enamoured of the ‘auto-blogging’ capabilities now available with Google Reader shared links, delicious, Flickr, etc. Just clicking on content to publish and/or refer to it sounds great to me; it provides an almost stream-of-conciousness method for communicating. Nice.

If you have some suggested topics you’d like me to address, or questions to answer, just place them in the comments. I’m moderating the comments anyway, so it’s not going to get too wild.

Today’s performance: TGAFC

Just got back from leading 3 back-to-back concerts for the GA Festival Chorus (www.tgafc.org). We sang for the corporate open house at Chick-fil-A – wow, what a company! This was not your ‘average PR gig’; the acoustics were pretty good, especially for a corporate setting. Also, the ‘corporate citizens’ were super; friendly, helpful, and interesting to talk with.

Our group sang well, even on the 3rd concert. What more could you ask for?

Tonight’s performance: Messiah

As as musician, the Christmas season holds both tremendous excitement and anxiety; the thrill of performance, and the reality of… reality. For example, tonight’s performance of Handel’s Messiah; I was the featured bass soloist. Months ago, I accepted the ‘gig’, and you can hardly ever accurately anticipate the multitude of events that will impact the performance.

It all went well, though! The other soloists were fun to work with and the choir, orchestra and director were a joy. All in all, a fun evening.

The alto soloist was smart – she hid a bottle of water underneath her seat before the performance began. I often do the same, but neglected that detail at my own peril this time. It would have been welcome in between my sets of recitatives and arias.

No, I really don’t get nervous. Excited, yes, but nothing negative. I actually enjoy this and look forward to it.

People from the audience were so complimentary, but there was one unusual and profound compliment. One of the basses in the chorus said that he had been watching me during the performance, and that I looked interested, pleasant, and supportive. He liked my singing too, but having someone notice my expression was a plus.

This is actually important to me; as a soloist and music “leader”, I do want other musicians to be encouraged. I wish I knew this person’s name; I could likely learn a lot from him.