(no subject)
Well, I came back to school tonight to practice, and yet I'm sitting in the "GA Bay" (aka Grad Assistant Lounge/Computer Lab thing). I am SO intensely frustrated right now, because this is the third day in a row that my voice has been completely malfunctioning. When I got here, I wasn't sounding like myself, but I managed to snap myself out of it last Monday and I was singing really well. Then this weekend, my church gig was insane and I think I really screwed up my voice. We had our usual 4 hour day, plus an additional 2 hours.. making it a 6 hour day of straight tone. Yes, that's right, my church director is a straight tone nazi. The ONE time I sang with vibrato, he stopped and told all the women that we sounded "wobbly" and to remember that it's not "YOUR Jesus, it's OUR Jesus". Add to that the fact that I'm singing Alto (which is usually fine, but church alto is in the baaaaaasement.. never sing above an A, and low As aren't that unusual).. well, no wonder my voice is screwed up. Then we had a rehearsal right before the "performance" last night and then the "performance" itself. All in all, I put in about 10 hours of straight tone singing this weekend, and now I'm facing the consequences. I have a coaching tomorrow morning and then I'm supposed to sing in Scene Study, and I'm more than a little concerned. I really needed yesterday and today to learn/practice the music for the coaching, and the Scene Study stuff (Ain't it a Pretty Night) just won't come out with my voice in its current state. I don't usually throw hissy fits in practice rooms, but I definitely threw my aria book at the floor tonight. That's when I realized it was time to walk away. So here I am, waiting for my roommate (who can actually use her voice correctly) to finish up. I just want to go home. *sigh*
I'm also taking this Vocal Lit class that is a HUUUUGE waste of time, and I have a ton of stuff to do tonight before I sing in class tomorrow. This is basically the horrible version of the rep class I took with Martin Katz last year. It's taught by 2 profs, a voice one and a collaborative piano one, and they don't seem to communicate outside of class, so things are always very unclear. Most of us are taking it for 1 credit, but there is a TON of work required. I should have dropped the class, but there were actually more pianists than singers who were taking it (because it's required for them and optional for us.. stupid!!!) and I felt guilty. Memo to self: don't take a class because you feel guilty opting out.
Up until this weekend, though, things were really great. I feel like I just let out all the negativity I'm feeling right now, but it really is a wonderful program. I think I've made some really good progress already and I know there's a LOT in store. It's been a challenge in some aspects, but I hope that I can rise to the occasion and get outside my comfort zone. I've met some really wonderful colleagues and some who aren't my favorites. Luckily the good ones far outweigh the bads at the moment.
Ok, I feel better now that I ranted to cyberspace. I would try to go back into a practice room, but I know there's no point tonight. I'll explain the situation to the coach tomorrow and hopefully she'll be understanding.
I'm also taking this Vocal Lit class that is a HUUUUGE waste of time, and I have a ton of stuff to do tonight before I sing in class tomorrow. This is basically the horrible version of the rep class I took with Martin Katz last year. It's taught by 2 profs, a voice one and a collaborative piano one, and they don't seem to communicate outside of class, so things are always very unclear. Most of us are taking it for 1 credit, but there is a TON of work required. I should have dropped the class, but there were actually more pianists than singers who were taking it (because it's required for them and optional for us.. stupid!!!) and I felt guilty. Memo to self: don't take a class because you feel guilty opting out.
Up until this weekend, though, things were really great. I feel like I just let out all the negativity I'm feeling right now, but it really is a wonderful program. I think I've made some really good progress already and I know there's a LOT in store. It's been a challenge in some aspects, but I hope that I can rise to the occasion and get outside my comfort zone. I've met some really wonderful colleagues and some who aren't my favorites. Luckily the good ones far outweigh the bads at the moment.
Ok, I feel better now that I ranted to cyberspace. I would try to go back into a practice room, but I know there's no point tonight. I'll explain the situation to the coach tomorrow and hopefully she'll be understanding.