Untitled #8

Today I began my practice session with lip buzzes and singing my vowels in the mirror.  The Ah and Oh vowels in my upper register are so difficult.  I always feel so much tension.  I didn't work too much on that because I had just finished choir and madrigals and my voice was already feeling really tired.  Uhg! everyone around me is sick! Anyways, I sang through Ici Bas once and Lullaby once all the way through and then went back to work on some parts.  The first place I looked at was the second system on the second page.  My vowels and ending consonants on that page line are terrible.  I went through it several times slowly note by note, and then up to tempo when I felt it was solid.  Then I began singing through That's Life.  I didn't use the piano as a guide because my piano skills are no use on this song but I found that it was already beginning to sink in.  I was able to check my notes every once in a while to make sure I was still on track and so far I didn't get too severely off the pitch.  It's the tempo changes that really throw me.

Untitled #7

So for the past couple days I have been listening non-stop to my tape that Dr. H made me so that I can learn "That's Life" more efficiently.   I begin by playing the first line and then stopping the tape and repeat what I just heard.  It's way easier and now I won't be so tripped up by the notes and rhythms.  So far so good and I've noticed a huge improvement in both the Lullaby and Ici Bas.  I've been keeping more aware of my space when it comes to vowels and being more conscious of ending consonants.  I've gotta tell you though, it's super hard to watch myself sing in the mirror because I am constantly stopping and fixing my face!  I am always forcing my mouth to open up and stay long not wide.  I now feel like I have officially unhinged my jaw. Lol.  I have definitely noticed how tiny of a space I typically give my self to sing with and I am surprised I make noise at all. 

Untitled #6

Today I began practice by warming up with lip buzzes up the scale and I practiced my AH and OH vowels because I've noticed that they tend to be my weak vowels when I sing.  After that I sang through "Lullaby" and worked on memorization.  Then I began working on "That's Life".  I reviewed the first three pages and began working on the next page.  It was quite difficult and I skipped some parts that I had questions on and moved on.  I noticed that some of the parts in the melody are repeated and that makes it a lot easier. Later I am going to consult a youtube video for help.

Untitled #5 cont...

Again I sat down at the piano and tried playing the melody of "That's Life" and I am rather proud of my progress.  So far, I have made it as far as measure 21 on the third page.  I really like the song! Its fun to sing and it's kinda sassy.  I think I could really have fun with it once I get it down good:)  I'm just really concerned about learning the next part.  The rhythms have me pretty confused and I really don't want to learn it wrong.  If Phil had not been sick on Tuesday I would have been able to have him play it for me.  I think tomorrow I'll ask for some help from you, Dr. H, if you have the time or someone else like Dr. Phil if he's feeling well and has time or maybe Dr. C.  I just feel this urgency to get this learned and memorized.  I'm actually really kinda nervous about even having time to memorize it.   

Untitled# 5

Today I began my practice session with some lip buzzes up the scale.  Then I began singing through my Ave Maria.  I noticed my vowels weren't as pure or well shaped as they should have been like the long O vowels or the Ah and Eh vowels.  So after I finished the song I practiced singing those vowels the way they should be sung.  I also had a lot of  tension.  It was really hard to get rid of it and now my throat n jaw feels sore :(  I think I'm going to rest for a bit and after choir I'm going to come back to it and work some more.

Untitled #4

Today I began my practice session with lip buzzes up the scale and some "I Love to Sing" exercises.  The rest of my practice time went towards learning the melody to "That's Life!".  So far I have only made progress on the first verse, but even then I still have questions on some parts.  Like the very first measure I come in on...I'm not 100% sure that I am playing or singing it right.  I will double check with you, Dr. H, in lessons on Monday.  This is not all I plan on accomplishing yet today...I still plan on practicing later today yet:)

Untitled #3

So I began my practice session with lip buzzes up the scale as high as I could go, which was a "C" today, and I felt that was pretty good.  I also did a few lip buzz slides or glisses and arpeggiated pure vowel sounds.  The first song I worked on was "Lullaby" from The Consul.  I worked mainly on cleaning up a few pieces of the melody that I found difficult.  When I finally got it down, I decided to try singing it without the piano's guidance.  This went fairly well and found that there was only one place I questioned and that was the key change on the last verse.  After working on "Lullaby", I decided to start learning the melody on "That's Life".  Whooo! Man that one is really difficult!  I'm not really sure I'm playing the right notes sometimes because it just doesn't sound right.  Maybe it makes more sense with the accompaniment.  I hate to be this way, but I'm getting a little frustrated with my confusion.  I wish I could find a decent recording of this song.  Then, maybe I could have a half decent idea of what this song sounds like.

Untitled #2

So, the last couple days I didn't blog because I had my scheduled lesson with Dr. H on Monday and Mr. P on Tuesday.  I did some work outside of those scheduled practices but it really wasn't worth documenting.  I didn't warm up, I just read the lyrics and thought about what they meant.  I also spent a considerable amount of time looking for an MP3 of  "That's Life"  that wasn't done by Micheal Buble or Frank Sinatra.  Today however, I did spend an acceptable amount of time with the music.  I started my practice session with lip buzzes up and down the scale and warmed up with some EE-AAH kind of exercises.  I was mainly working on my "mush mouth" feeling.  Try to practice relaxing my mouth and using less of my jaw.  After I warmed up, I sang through my Ici-Bas by memory a couple times.  This went pretty well, but i need to review my expression markings.  I noticed that I kinda forgot what the music had and that I was just putting in what I thought fit well enough.  I also worked on "Lullaby" from The Consul.  That's going really well right now.  So far, I am just working on learning the melody.  There are a few sections that are particularly difficult like mm. 24-32.  The accidentals have been throwing me off as well as the fact that some of the notes do not fit the chords the piano gives me.  The last piece I worked on was my Ave Maria.  But I just sang through it once to keep the melody fresh in my mind.

Untitled#1

So today I began my practice session by doing some lip buzzes.  I started at middle C and worked up two octaves.  I wasn't making very good progress up towards the top, so I tried some "sing ee" exercises up in that top register.  Those always seem to get me warmed up pretty well for some high notes.  Lol:)  I then began to sing through my Ave Maria.  I have the first three pages down really well, but I always seem to be getting mixed up with the last three.  It's still not memorized, but its getting there.  I thought briefly about ignoring the first three pages and just concentrating on the last ones, but I was afraid that I'd forget the first three and have to rework on them all over again.  All in all, I think this practice went very well, however it was slightly short because I had to get to work this afternoon.  Maybe I'll get some more time in later.

learning new music 2

I have to admit, I didn't do a whole lot today.  After choir, I decided to start practice by reviewing "Ici Bas" and "I Do I Do in the Sky!".  I sang that in the musical I did this summer called the Drowsy Chaperone.  Next Tuesday I will be singing it with the remaining cast members who go to college at WSC for a class that Mr. Phil has at 8am.  I'm very excited!  It will be great to see the cast again and perform this song.  It's very upbeat and fun to listen to as well as perform.  So, I guess I just figured that it would be good to probably do a little review some time this week before I perform on Tuesday.  After I reviewed "I Do I Do in the Sky!", I then reviewed what I had been working on with the Ave Maria by Robert Franz.  So far, it's not completely memorized, just the first line, otherwise I have the melody very well understood and I should have this song down in no time.

learning new music

Yesterday I felt like I set myself up for a better practice today.  I began my session with a couple of lip buzzing scales.  Then I decided to work on improving and relaxing my upper-register so I did a few Ah Eh Ee Oh Oo  arpeggios for as high as I could stand it.  Its sounding really good.  I have half of my Ave Maria learned pretty well, so I reviewed what I had taught myself the day before and moved on to the rest of the song.  Now...all i have to do is memorize it! yay!

First Practice Session of the school year

Today I decided to warm-up with some lip buzzes.  I started at middle C and worked my way  up almost two octaves. Then I did those "Wee!" things.  I'm not sure how to explain this exercise. Lol. I guess its like a scooping upwards gliss.  After that, I did some "I Love to sing" exercises. I love those. They always seem to warm me up pretty well.  The First piece I started with was Ici Bas because I know it already.  So I sang through the song a couple of times just to refresh my memory.  The next song I worked on was my Ave Maria.  All I did today was work on learning the melody.  I've been listening to my recording, and I have a fairly good idea of how it should go, but today it was time to sit down at the keyboard and try to plunk it out.  So far I have the first three pages down really well. After I had sang it with the keyboard for guidance, I decided to sing it acapella and see how well I remembered the melody, and guess what?! I could sing it back exactly how it was written!!  I am really excited about my progress that I have made already!!!!!

Lullaby from "The Consul" by Gian Carlo Menotti

Character Study:

I.  Before
1.)  The event that has occurred prior to this song that has led me to this point is that my Grandchild is lying deathly ill in his cradle and I must watch over him while his Father (my son) hides in the mountains from the police and his Mother (my daughter-in-law) tries to obtain visas so that we can safely leave the country.
2.)  My thoughts and feelings just before the song begins are sorrow and fear because I know my Grandchild is suffering and dying of cold, hunger, and sickness and there is nothing I can do.  I try to bring him comfort by singing him a lullaby.

II.  During
1.)  I am the mother of John Sorel and Grandmother of the child I am singing to.
2.)  I am a poor old woman who cares very much for her family.  I am used to taking care of people.
3.)  The other character involved is my dying Grandson.
4.)  My Grandson is a dying infant.
5.)  I am in the home of my son John Sorel.  We live in a small and shabby apartment in a totalitarian European Country sometime after WWII.
6.)  I am singing to my dying Grandson.
7.)  My Grandson is present for the song.
8.)  I am singing this to comfort my Grandson as he dies.
9.)  My thoughts and feelings as I sing this song is that the baby should sleep for me because sleep for the old is too close to death.
10.)  While this is happening, my daughter-in-law, Magda, is trying to meet with the Consul to get passports for the family so that we can get out of our impoverished and oppressed country to a better place so that we can have a better quality of life.  My son, John Sorel, is hiding up in the mountains after being shot for attending a secret revolutionary meeting.

III.  After
1.)  As the song ends, I am full of woe because of the death of my Grandson and that the situation I am in has not improved, but at the same time I am happier that my grandson is no longer suffering.
2.)  The events that will occur as a result of this song is that my Grandson and I both die, and my daughter-in-law contemplates suicide in order to save my son from risking his life to return home.

Lienst du um Shonheit by Friedrich Ruckert and Clara Wieck Schumann

Lyrics and Translation:

Liebst du um schonheit, O nicht mich liebe!
If you love for beauty, then do not love me!

Liebe die sonne, sie tragt ein gold'nes haar!
Love the sun, with it's golden hair!

Liebst du um jungend, O nicht mich leibe!
If you love for youth, then do not love me!

Liebe den Fruhling, der jung ist jedes Jahr!
Love the Spring, which is young every year!

Liebst du um schatze, O nicht mich liebe!
If you love for treasure, then do not love me!

Liebe die Meerfrau, sie hat viel Perlen klar!
Love the Mermaid, who has many shining pearls!

Liebst du um liebe, O ja mich liebe!
If you love for love, Oh then love me!

Liebe mich immer, dich lieb' ich immerdar!
Love me always, as I will always love you!

Character Study:

I.  Before
1.)  The event that has occurred prior to this song that has led me to this point is that someone I have been dating has told me that they love me.
2.)  My thoughts and feelings just before the song begins are uncertainty and skepticism that this person who has just proclaimed their love for me, doesn't love me as much as I love them.  I wonder if they only love me for my assets.

II.  During
1.)  I am a young lover.
2.)  I could be a man or a woman because the lyrics do not specify my gender.  Because of my vocabulary use and my thought patterns, I am most likely from a middle-class family.  I am not so concerned with money, beauty, or youth.  I care more about loving and being loved for who I am no matter what.
3.)  My lover is the other character involved.
4.)  N/A
5.)  I am in a quiet place such as a garden or a courtyard alone with my lover.
6.)  I am singing to my lover.
7.)  Yes, my lover is present with me now.
8.)  My present concern is that my lover does not love me for me.  I want to know that they love me for who I am, not for my money, beauty, of youth.
9.)  My thoughts and feelings throughout this song are first skepticism and then pleading.  If my lover love's only for beauty, youth, or treasure, then they do not truly love me.  However, if they can love me for me and the love I have to offer, then they must truly love me.  I sincerely hope that they love me for me.
10.)  N/A

III.  After
1.)  My thoughts and feelings as the song ends are hope that they do love me for me and want my love in return.
2.)  The events that will occur as a result of this song are that my lover will either tell me that they do love me for me or that they do indeed love me for all the wrong reasons.

Fur Musik by Emanuel Geibel and Robert Franz

Lyrics and Translation:

Nun die schatten dunkein, stern an stern erwacht.
Now the shadows darken, stars on stars awake.

Welch ein hauch der sehnsucht flutet durch die nacht.
What a breath of longing floods through the night.

Durch das meer der traume steuert ohne ruh',
Through the sea of dreams steering without rest,

Steuert meine seele deiner seele zu.
steering my soul towards your soul.

Die sich dir ergeben, Nimm sie ganz dahin!
It shows itself to you, capturing you whole completely!

Ach, du wieβt, dass nimmer ich mein eigen bin, Mein eigen bin.
Ah, you know that never I am my own, am my own.

Character Study:

I.  Before
1.)  The events that have occurred prior to this song that have led me to this point are that I have just heard a very beautiful and inspiring piece of music.
2.)  My thoughts and feelings just before the song begins are wonder, joy, and love for music.

II.  During
1.)  I am a musician.
2.)  The lyrics do not specify my age, sex, economic or social status.  It does however, reveal that I feel very passionate about music.  It is a part of me because it moves my soul.
3.)  No other characters are involved.
4.)  N/A
5.)  I am sitting outside looking at the night sky.
6.)  I am singing to myself.
7.)  N/A
8.)  I am praising music for its beauty and power.  It gives meaning to my life.
9.)  My thoughts and feelings throughout this song are that I would not be me without music in my life.  In fact, music is so powerful that it has its own soul and it moves me and captures my soul.  It is in my dreams, and it lives in me.  Music is everywhere.
10.)  N/A

III.  After
1.)  My thoughts and feelings as the song ends is joy and wonder and appreciation for musical talent and art.
2.)  The events that will occur as a result of this song is that I will have a stronger and passionate relationship with music and art.

Ave Maria by Franz Abt

Lyrics and Translation:

Ave Maria gratia plena, Dominus tecum benedicta tu in mulieribus,
O lord most holy O god most mighty, O loving savior thee would we be praising with joyful lips:

Et benedictus, benedictus fructus ventris tui Jesus.
For thou hast redeemed us, Thou hast redeemed us, by they grace and mercy.

Sancta Maria, mater Dei ora pronobis, Pronobis peccatoribus: Ora pronobis,
Teach us to know thee, teach us to love thee, make us to follow, to follow after holiness: So in temptation

Nunc et in hora mortis ora, ora pronobis Sancta Maria, ora pronobis
And in the hour of sadness we shall find comfort and help.  Guide us O Savior loving Savior,

Nunc et in hora mortis, nunc et in hora mortis. Amen. Amen.
So in the hour of sadness, we shall find comfort and help in thee. Amen. Amen.

Character Study:

I.  Before
1.)  The events that have occurred prior to this song that have led me to this point are perhaps a coming of age or a new committment.
2.)  My thoughts and feelings just before the song begins are humbleness, and meekness.  I am lowering myself before I come to God.

II.  During
1 and 2.)  I am a young person who has a close relationship with God.  The lyrics do not specify my gender, so I could be male or female.  I could also be from any social economic class because the lyrics are a simple prayer and do not reveal much about my traits or personality.
3.)  N/A
4.)  N/A
5.)  I am in a church.
6.)  I am speaking to god.
7.)  Yes, God is present with me.
8.)  I am praying to God because I want to praise him for the redemption of man, his grace, and his mercy.  I want to thank him for his love.  I have also come before him to ask him to guide me and show me his ways.  I want to know him, love him, and follow him closer.
9.)  My thoughts and feelings throughout this song are joy and wonder for Gods beauty and grace.  I also have a certain amount of fear and respect for whom I am beseeching.  I want to be closer to God.
10.)  N/A

III.  After
1.)  As the song ends, I am filled with peace and joy after my time talking with God.
2.)  The events that will occur as a result of this song are that I will be a more at peace person and continue to follow God.

Ici Bas! by Sully Prudhomme and Gabriel Faure

Lyrics and Translation:

Ici bas tous les lilas meurent,
Here below lilacs die and never

Tous les chants des oiseaux sont courts,
Is bird song more than short refrain,

Jereve aux etes qui demeurent toujours.
I dream of summer days that forever remain.

Ici bas les levres effleurent sans rien laisser de leur velours,
Here below where lips slightly sever and leave no trace of beauty's reign,


Jereve aux baisers qui demeurent toujours!

I dream of kisses fond that forever remain!

Ici bas, tous les hommes pleurent leurs amities ou leurs amours,
Here below, men in vain endeavor weep for their loves or friendships pain,

Jereve aux couples qui demeurent, aux couples qui demeurent, qui demeurent tourjours!
I dream of lovers who forever, of lovers who forever, who forever remain!

Character study:

I.  Before
1.)  The events that have occurred prior to this song that have led me to this point, are perhaps the death or dying of my lover or friend.
2.)  My thoughts and feelings before the song begins is woe and sorrow.  I am mourning the loss of someone I loved.

II. During
1.)  I am a person who has just experienced the loss of a lover.
2.)  The lyrics of the song do not reveal the gender of the singer so I could be a male or a female.  I am an older person, who is more than likely from the middle to upper-class of France.  I am older because of my comfortable relationship with death.  I am an eloquent speaker and have deep emotional thought connections, so I must be well educated for my time.
3.)  There are no other characters involved.
4.)  N/A
5.)  I am sitting alone in a quiet place like my house, a garden, or at the grave of my loved one to think, reflect on my emotions, be alone with the memory of my loved one, and lament.
6.)  I am singing to myself to comfort my loneliness and sorrow.
7.)  N/A
8.)  I am singing this because I miss my lover who has passed away.  I am tired of being on this earth without them and I am looking forward to the after-life where I can be with them forever.
9.)  My thoughts and feelings throughout this song are sorrow that noting here on earth lasts forever and soon expires.  I am lonely and longing for the after-life where I can be with my loved one for eternity.
10.)  The lyrics for this song was written during the Parnassian Movement of France.  The theme of this movement was "to encourage and ensure the practice of poetic expression in a society predominately concerned with more immediately useful values."  Parnassian poets emphasized limitless imagination and expression.  Their goal was to produce timeless works that spoke for both the artist and society.

III.  After
1.)  My thoughts and feelings as the song ends are longing and anticipation of spending eternity with the one I love.
2.)  The events that will occur as a result of this song are that I will anxiously await the day I get to be with my loved one in the after-life.

Star Vicino by James P. Dunn and Arthur Schoep

 Lyrics and translation:

Star vicino al bell'idol che s'ama
to be near to the beautiful idol that one loves

E il piu vago diletto d'amor.
is the most attractive joy of love.

Star lotano dal ben ke si brama
to be far away from the beloved who one desires

E damore il piu vivo dolor.
is of love the most vital sorrow.

Character study:

I.  Before
1.)  The event that has occurred prior to this song that has led me to this point, is the departure of my lover.  Perhaps it is because I am off to war, work, school, or because we live so far apart that we can't be together at this moment.
2.)  My thoughts and feelings just before the song begins are longing, love, passion, and strong desire to be with the one I love who is far away.

II.  During
1.)  I am the man in the relationship.
2.)  I am probably a well-educated younger Italian male from the upper-middle class sometime during the 1600's.  This young lady I long for, is perhaps my first love, and a first love is always the fondest and most intense love.  I am full of passion, love, and adoration for my lady.
3.)  The other character involved is my lover.
4.)  My lover is a beautiful young lady who loves me and desires me also.
5.)  I am somewhere far away from the one I love.  It might be away at a university, at war, or at home.
6.)  I am singing to myself.
7.)  My lover is not with me right now.
8.)  I am singing this to comfort and express myself in my time of longing and despair for my lover who is far away and can't be with me.
9.)  My thoughts and feelings throughout this song are that being near my lover is the best part of love and that being far away from her is the worst part of love.  I am happy to be in love with this beautiful woman who loves me but I am full of anguish and longing because she is not with me now.
10.)  The period of this piece takes place sometime around 1681.  People during this time were witnessing the end of Italy's Renaissance Movement and the beginning of the Baroque Period.  There was much political, civil, and military unrest as a cause of persistent conflicts, revolts, and invasions.

III. After
1.)  My thoughts and feelings as the song ends are despair and suffering.  I long to be with the one I love.
2.)  The events that will occur as a result of this song are that I will anxiously await the arrival of my love until she or I return to each other.

Working over my labor day weekend

In last weeks vocal lessons, I picked out my repertoire for this semester.  It consists of the following:

Lullaby from "The Consul" by Gian Carlo Menotti
The Old Man's Song by Gian Carlo Menotti
That's Life by John P. Sacco
Ici Bas by Gabriel Faure
Ave Maria by Franz Abt
Star Vicino (composer unknown)
Fur Musik by Robert Franz
Liebst du um Shonheit by Clara Wieck Schumann

That Tuesday I bought my books online at Amazon.com and on Friday I bought as many of the songs I could find on i tunes and have been listening to them religiously.  That Friday I also received two of my books and began translating all of my foreign language songs and writing my character studies.  So far I have all of them but two songs done.  They are The Old Man's Song and That's Life because I haven't received those books yet in the mail.  So far, I am thoroughly enjoying the music I am studying.  It's been a wonderful learning experience and I am excited to perform them in the future.