Watching Sinatra at Carnegie Hall. What a treat!
Is it wrong that I feel like a glass of wine on a beautiful Sunday afternoon with Sinatra in the background?
...No, it is not wrong at all.
I'll fly with you, Mr. Sinatra!
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
My moment
I had an "Oh, there she goes again" moment today.
During my voice lesson, a wonderful tenor who also studies with Audrey sat in for my lesson to help me out with my French.
I am working on the hardest piece EVER.
The Doll Song.
Uhmm...yes, THE Doll Song. It is the Mount Everest for most coloratura sopranos.
To me, singing this piece is like climbing Mount Everest without knowing what a mountain is. I feel like I have just been hiking on hills these last few years.
And somehow began climbing my way up...a MOUNT!
Anyways, this wonderful tenor is fluent in French and God knows I have some work cut out for him. We were chipping away through my pronunciation errors.
Wood shedding here.
Wood shedding there.
It was then that I realize...uh-oh, Evelyn is having her control freak out attack!
If you don't know what that means or feels like, allow me to explain.
Control freak out attack is when you are trying to control and hold on to every single error you can find about anything and everything. But for some reason, you're not able to control anything and everything. On top of that, the errors somehow become worse everytime you try to correct them.
And then, everything becomes tense and you begin sloping down. It's like running up a descending escalator. Some people recognize it as a "stuck" motion or getting cornered in your own home.
Knowing that I was beginning to slide down or fall off the wagon or whatever, I decided to keep my head up. There was no slope and I was secure on that wagon or whatever. (Yay, positive thinking!)
Everything became effortless once more. The sun was out, and beauty was in the air.
And then, I couldn't help it. Because having Evelyns pity party moment is more familiar, easier, less mental work.
And I immediately rolled back down and fell hard on my ass...my computer did not crash, it exploded.
At this point, you might like to stop reading this entry and conclude that I am just a crazy artist--Doomed for life.
There is a slight chance you're right. But if I may, I'd like to suggest that today was a successful day. I did more right than wrong. Normally, I'd just do a horrible job in everything purposefully and give up on myself during days like this. You mind as well feed me to the lions or push me off a cliff.
But I didn't allow that. I had more than 1 successful moment today despite my negativity.
I somehow was able to talk myself into having fun. It was hard work and it took longer than I would have liked to get there. And I left fun a little too soon. But I did get there.
All I need to do now is to do the same thing a few more times for the rest of my life. I'm sure it'll eventually become easier. :)
Patience and kindness is key. Success awaits...
During my voice lesson, a wonderful tenor who also studies with Audrey sat in for my lesson to help me out with my French.
I am working on the hardest piece EVER.
The Doll Song.
Uhmm...yes, THE Doll Song. It is the Mount Everest for most coloratura sopranos.
To me, singing this piece is like climbing Mount Everest without knowing what a mountain is. I feel like I have just been hiking on hills these last few years.
And somehow began climbing my way up...a MOUNT!
Anyways, this wonderful tenor is fluent in French and God knows I have some work cut out for him. We were chipping away through my pronunciation errors.
Wood shedding here.
Wood shedding there.
It was then that I realize...uh-oh, Evelyn is having her control freak out attack!
If you don't know what that means or feels like, allow me to explain.
Control freak out attack is when you are trying to control and hold on to every single error you can find about anything and everything. But for some reason, you're not able to control anything and everything. On top of that, the errors somehow become worse everytime you try to correct them.
And then, everything becomes tense and you begin sloping down. It's like running up a descending escalator. Some people recognize it as a "stuck" motion or getting cornered in your own home.
Knowing that I was beginning to slide down or fall off the wagon or whatever, I decided to keep my head up. There was no slope and I was secure on that wagon or whatever. (Yay, positive thinking!)
Everything became effortless once more. The sun was out, and beauty was in the air.
And then, I couldn't help it. Because having Evelyns pity party moment is more familiar, easier, less mental work.
And I immediately rolled back down and fell hard on my ass...my computer did not crash, it exploded.
At this point, you might like to stop reading this entry and conclude that I am just a crazy artist--Doomed for life.
There is a slight chance you're right. But if I may, I'd like to suggest that today was a successful day. I did more right than wrong. Normally, I'd just do a horrible job in everything purposefully and give up on myself during days like this. You mind as well feed me to the lions or push me off a cliff.
But I didn't allow that. I had more than 1 successful moment today despite my negativity.
I somehow was able to talk myself into having fun. It was hard work and it took longer than I would have liked to get there. And I left fun a little too soon. But I did get there.
All I need to do now is to do the same thing a few more times for the rest of my life. I'm sure it'll eventually become easier. :)
Patience and kindness is key. Success awaits...
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Our Björling
I woke up needing some sort of inspiration.
(Some days are just tougher than others)
Got out of bed and went directly to my computer.
I needed to hear something.
Something good.
Something sincere.
Something that can offer me a sense of security.
Something to shut out the negative drill that was running through my head.
Youtube.
THANK GOD for Youtube!
It brought me to links of Björling recordings.
How blessed are we to have such a voice that once lived on earth?
And to have the opportunity to hear him within one click?
My goodness...
All I can say is thank you Mr. Jussi Björling for all that you have done for music.
You have made it possible for us to hear, smell, see, and feel the way you do through your singing.
"The Lord will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged."
(Some days are just tougher than others)
Got out of bed and went directly to my computer.
I needed to hear something.
Something good.
Something sincere.
Something that can offer me a sense of security.
Something to shut out the negative drill that was running through my head.
Youtube.
THANK GOD for Youtube!
It brought me to links of Björling recordings.
How blessed are we to have such a voice that once lived on earth?
And to have the opportunity to hear him within one click?
My goodness...
All I can say is thank you Mr. Jussi Björling for all that you have done for music.
You have made it possible for us to hear, smell, see, and feel the way you do through your singing.
"The Lord will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged."
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Singing makes me HAPPIEEE
Audrey Stottler's Opera Workshops are the bestEST thing that has happened to me since the golden age of Opera recordings.
It's our first week of summer workshop and let me tell you, it has just been the highlight of my year.
I leave wanting to sing more than ever. Isn't that AWESOME?
I want it...!
I want more!
Gimme, gimme, gimme!
It feels so good to be back singing again. 10 days is waay too long of a break.
Self-Reminder: Never go on a vacation without singing. EVER AGAIN.
It's our first week of summer workshop and let me tell you, it has just been the highlight of my year.
I leave wanting to sing more than ever. Isn't that AWESOME?
I want it...!
I want more!
Gimme, gimme, gimme!
It feels so good to be back singing again. 10 days is waay too long of a break.
Self-Reminder: Never go on a vacation without singing. EVER AGAIN.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Why not?
So many days have I just sat at home. Wondering and worrying over what steps I must take.
I repeatedly conclude those questions with...
" I don't know. "
And frustratedly bit my nails till the end of those day.
Why do I not know?
Well, because I have not done enough. I have not done anything.
What I do have is lack of courage.
And the ability to blame others.
Because I have just been depending on the vehicles around me to drop me off at places and pick me up whenever I needed them to.
I have done nothing to find out what I must do and want to do for myself.
My husband and I have come to realize that we must go for it.
Why not?
What's stopping us but ourselves.
It is such an energetic phrase, isn't it?
Why not?
The excitement that comes with it.
The only way to answer that question is to go out into the unknown.
Is it not our lives to live?
And our adventures to fulfill?
We were born into this world not knowing...
in order for us to have a reason to live--to know.
So why have I just been sitting here-
not really happy about not knowing..
not content...
dissatisfied...?
So, why not change that?
Right?
I have the passion, I have the training, I have some knowledge.
Why not?
:)
I repeatedly conclude those questions with...
" I don't know. "
And frustratedly bit my nails till the end of those day.
Why do I not know?
Well, because I have not done enough. I have not done anything.
What I do have is lack of courage.
And the ability to blame others.
Because I have just been depending on the vehicles around me to drop me off at places and pick me up whenever I needed them to.
I have done nothing to find out what I must do and want to do for myself.
My husband and I have come to realize that we must go for it.
Why not?
What's stopping us but ourselves.
It is such an energetic phrase, isn't it?
Why not?
The excitement that comes with it.
The only way to answer that question is to go out into the unknown.
Is it not our lives to live?
And our adventures to fulfill?
We were born into this world not knowing...
in order for us to have a reason to live--to know.
So why have I just been sitting here-
not really happy about not knowing..
not content...
dissatisfied...?
So, why not change that?
Right?
I have the passion, I have the training, I have some knowledge.
Why not?
:)
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Be Still My Soul
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end...
Everything happens for a reason. Only God knows...
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end...
Everything happens for a reason. Only God knows...
Sunday, May 8, 2011
A chance of shower?
Not much to say but God is good.
Inside, I have so much that I should be freaking out about.
But I somehow am still able to keep it cool.
Fuhh...
Must be thankful for all that I have.
Must be thankful for this life that I live.
It's dark out. Might be a rainy night today.
Pull out your umbrellas...or not.
It's sometimes nice to get yourself drenched in the rain.
Refreshing.
Inside, I have so much that I should be freaking out about.
But I somehow am still able to keep it cool.
Fuhh...
Must be thankful for all that I have.
Must be thankful for this life that I live.
It's dark out. Might be a rainy night today.
Pull out your umbrellas...or not.
It's sometimes nice to get yourself drenched in the rain.
Refreshing.
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