Hello everyone,
Wow - what an absolutely EPIC dress rehearsal!
Thanks to everybody for your patience, focus, care for the space, flexibility, and dedication.
Second dress rehearsal "on-site' is always pretty epic - this one was more epic than some, because we weren't able to cover everything we needed to cover in the first on-site dress.
You all really put forth a mighty and concerted effort, and that effort was well repaid.
Please continue to push ahead to claim the prize - rest tomorrow (Thursday), but don't let the motivation sag. Stay on it! Take care of yourself. Don't put vocal-fold-drying substances into your body (alcohol, tobacco, "herb"). Don't put mucus-forming substances into your body (milk, dairy). Drink a lot of plain tepid water or mix up a thermos of my special Singers Cocktail:
Hot water
Lemon juice
Honey
Yup, this is the hot toddy recipe, minus Jack Daniels ;-) You can complete it on your own time AFTER THE CONCERT ON SATURDAY ;-)
Pamper yourself tomorrow, as much as possible. Spend some time listening to the choral recordings of your pieces with and without the score. Get on the floor! Dance to it, move to it, conduct, sing it mentally as though you were singing ALL of the parts. Really dive into it head-first and let it soak into your heart.
"Dark Day" is for physical replenishment - NOT for mental laxity. Stay active, stay engaged, stay focused!
Also - remember this - WE CAN START EACH PIECE ONLY ONCE AT THE CONCERT. Instruct yourself to immediately get into the "set" you need to begin each piece. Instruct yourself to immediately switch moods/ "set" between pieces. This is part of the challenge of performing - to be able to do those important lightning switches between pieces. Each piece brings a world of its own. Keep training yourself to immediately "beam down" when it's time to begin.
If you're one of those who will be standing "facing the center" on the risers with your head turned to face Doc - PRACTICE THIS POSITION!!!! Practice standing and singing that way.
I am very proud of all of you, and I look forward to serving this delicious, nutritious musical feast on Friday and Saturday. Enjoy your success - you have earned it! Let the audience know that you love their presence and that you are determined to give them what they came for - delight, surprise, heart-felt emotions - something to feed the deep hunger that motivated them to buy a concert ticket and to make time for us ;-)
See you all on Friday. Stay focused - stay enthusiastic - stay positive - stay powerful!
In musical solidarity,
Lee
Thursday, December 1, 2016
Thursday, November 24, 2016
LIFTOFF IN EIGHT DAYS!!!
Hello everyone,
Well - here we are!
Our Christmas concerts are just eight days away.
From extensive experience giving solo recitals AND 9 years of full-time work as Assistant to Our Leader, I offer the following:
PERSONAL CHECKLIST
First item isn't numbered because it is a given: STUDY PRACTICE KNOW YOUR MUSIC KNOW YOUR MUSIC KNOW YOUR MUSIC BE FOCUSED ON THE CONDUCTOR AT ALL TIMES
After that - make sure that you are:
1. Well-hydrated
2. Eating well - and DO eat a bit more than usual on concert days - performing uses extra energy (blood glucose) - be prepared!
3. SLEEPING WELL
4. Avoiding alcohol, 'herb' and excessive caffeine the week of the concert. Recreational substances can wreak havoc on the vocal folds. The body being your instrument, singing is really an athletic activity. Respect yourself!
5. Lay out your clothes at least 2 days beforehand - that will give you time to mend / clean / complete your outfit. SSAA NOTE: Please be sure that your outfit is properly modest, viewed from /all angles./ Re-read the outfit guidelines in the syllabus and CONTACT ME if you have ANY questions!
TTBB NOTE: I don't have any more spare bowties. Make sure that you have all the "small items" you need RIGHT NOW and tuck them into the pocket of your tux coat, or whatever you need to do in order to keep everything together.
The concert outfits are stipulated according to voice part. Sopranos and Altos wear dresses and quiet shoes. Tenors and Basses wear tuxes and quiet shoes.
6. Everybody: You'll be in close quarters on the risers - please avoid scents and scented products on concert nights. Many people have fragrance sensitivities - I wouldn't want anyone to be unable to sing freely because they're unable to BREATHE. Cologne that can be pleasant at a short distance, can be absolutely LETHAL at close range. NO FRAGRANCE OF ANY KIND, please! And - Biological body odor counts as a fragrance (it is definitely a smell, yes?!)
7. ALERTNESS. Concert week is intense. Be prepared for this intensity. Embrace this intensity. Ride to victory on this intensity.
8. Remember - vocal folds are small. They work constantly, even when you're not singing! it's crucial that they be functioning at 100 percent capability and capacity these final 8 days! Do the "eeeeeeeee" exercise at least 3 times a day. Wear a disposable face mask if you must spend a great deal of time "in public." (Who cares how it looks? This is Seattle!). If people around you are hacking, snorking, sniffling, and/or spewing, GET AWAY FROM THEM!!!! Do not (I repeat!! DO NOT) touch "public" surfaces with your bare hands. Bring germicidal wipes to the computer lab and use them on the keyboard. (Most economical way is to buy a big container of wipes and throw 3 or 4 into a plastic ziplok baggie every day).
Wear a scarf and keep your head / feet/ hands warm and toasty when outside.
Go easy on the "dairy" or avoid it altogether during Concert Week. "Shirley Temple toddies" (honey, lemon, warm or hottish water) are soothing and help keep you hydrated and glucose-d ;-)
Tell your body that you expect cooperation! Insist upon it! You'll be amazed by the power of mind over matter ;-)
AT THE CHURCH:
I commend everyone for their conscientious behavior and respectful adherence to the rules associated with our concert venue. It's important that we continue to be Great Guests! We need to score 100 percent on this one, y'all...Let's continue to set a positive, inspiring example of great guest-ship in our remaining three Christmas Concert-related visits!
that said, it pains me to report that after our dress rehearsal on November 21, I found 4 partially-filled bottles of the "snack-time" water in the nave. One of the bottles was uncapped. Doubly not good! I know you will take care of this. Just a reminder...please look around before leaving and make certain that you pack out EVERYTHING you packed in (either before rehearsal or after snack break).
AFTER THE CONCERTS:
People will love us, and many of them will want to express this verbally. Our crew and section leaders and house team will ALSO need to clean up and inspect the space. Please move towards the "exit" as you talk to people. Crew needs to have the front of the church cleared so that they can take down risers and move a number of things back into the truck. Help them by moving towards the entrance. On your way, look around and retrieve left-over programs for recycling.
SERIOUS REQUEST: Yes, we have our pizza on Friday. Yes, it's delivered around 10:15 p.m. AND, yes, that DOES give us time to pitch in TOGETHER for cleanup!! With over 100 people participating, cleanup would take around 5 minutes (if that!) With only 6 or 7 people, cleanup can take nearly an hour. PLEASE HELP US TO HELP OURSELVES. Ask your section leader what you can do to help with cleanup after BOTH concerts.
Drivers: Best drop-off is off 19th Avenue across from Tully's Coffee; just turn into the church parking lot.
On Saturday 12/3 we must (MUST!!!!!) stay out of the upstairs part of the church (INCLUDING the lobby/narthex) until 7:00 p.m.
Parking: If you are parked on 19th, please avoid parking in front of the church or the parish hall. Move farther down 19th and save close spaces for people with mobility issues, please.
Riders: If you are dropped off on 19th for some reason before 7 p.m. on Saturday, take the outside stairs down to the social hall and go inside. Do not go into the church, please.
This will be my 16th? XC with our group. We get better at some part of this epic, massive undertaking every year. Let's make 2016 another success in every way!
LL&P,
Lee
Well - here we are!
Our Christmas concerts are just eight days away.
From extensive experience giving solo recitals AND 9 years of full-time work as Assistant to Our Leader, I offer the following:
PERSONAL CHECKLIST
First item isn't numbered because it is a given: STUDY PRACTICE KNOW YOUR MUSIC KNOW YOUR MUSIC KNOW YOUR MUSIC BE FOCUSED ON THE CONDUCTOR AT ALL TIMES
After that - make sure that you are:
1. Well-hydrated
2. Eating well - and DO eat a bit more than usual on concert days - performing uses extra energy (blood glucose) - be prepared!
3. SLEEPING WELL
4. Avoiding alcohol, 'herb' and excessive caffeine the week of the concert. Recreational substances can wreak havoc on the vocal folds. The body being your instrument, singing is really an athletic activity. Respect yourself!
5. Lay out your clothes at least 2 days beforehand - that will give you time to mend / clean / complete your outfit. SSAA NOTE: Please be sure that your outfit is properly modest, viewed from /all angles./ Re-read the outfit guidelines in the syllabus and CONTACT ME if you have ANY questions!
TTBB NOTE: I don't have any more spare bowties. Make sure that you have all the "small items" you need RIGHT NOW and tuck them into the pocket of your tux coat, or whatever you need to do in order to keep everything together.
The concert outfits are stipulated according to voice part. Sopranos and Altos wear dresses and quiet shoes. Tenors and Basses wear tuxes and quiet shoes.
6. Everybody: You'll be in close quarters on the risers - please avoid scents and scented products on concert nights. Many people have fragrance sensitivities - I wouldn't want anyone to be unable to sing freely because they're unable to BREATHE. Cologne that can be pleasant at a short distance, can be absolutely LETHAL at close range. NO FRAGRANCE OF ANY KIND, please! And - Biological body odor counts as a fragrance (it is definitely a smell, yes?!)
7. ALERTNESS. Concert week is intense. Be prepared for this intensity. Embrace this intensity. Ride to victory on this intensity.
8. Remember - vocal folds are small. They work constantly, even when you're not singing! it's crucial that they be functioning at 100 percent capability and capacity these final 8 days! Do the "eeeeeeeee" exercise at least 3 times a day. Wear a disposable face mask if you must spend a great deal of time "in public." (Who cares how it looks? This is Seattle!). If people around you are hacking, snorking, sniffling, and/or spewing, GET AWAY FROM THEM!!!! Do not (I repeat!! DO NOT) touch "public" surfaces with your bare hands. Bring germicidal wipes to the computer lab and use them on the keyboard. (Most economical way is to buy a big container of wipes and throw 3 or 4 into a plastic ziplok baggie every day).
Wear a scarf and keep your head / feet/ hands warm and toasty when outside.
Go easy on the "dairy" or avoid it altogether during Concert Week. "Shirley Temple toddies" (honey, lemon, warm or hottish water) are soothing and help keep you hydrated and glucose-d ;-)
Tell your body that you expect cooperation! Insist upon it! You'll be amazed by the power of mind over matter ;-)
AT THE CHURCH:
I commend everyone for their conscientious behavior and respectful adherence to the rules associated with our concert venue. It's important that we continue to be Great Guests! We need to score 100 percent on this one, y'all...Let's continue to set a positive, inspiring example of great guest-ship in our remaining three Christmas Concert-related visits!
that said, it pains me to report that after our dress rehearsal on November 21, I found 4 partially-filled bottles of the "snack-time" water in the nave. One of the bottles was uncapped. Doubly not good! I know you will take care of this. Just a reminder...please look around before leaving and make certain that you pack out EVERYTHING you packed in (either before rehearsal or after snack break).
AFTER THE CONCERTS:
People will love us, and many of them will want to express this verbally. Our crew and section leaders and house team will ALSO need to clean up and inspect the space. Please move towards the "exit" as you talk to people. Crew needs to have the front of the church cleared so that they can take down risers and move a number of things back into the truck. Help them by moving towards the entrance. On your way, look around and retrieve left-over programs for recycling.
SERIOUS REQUEST: Yes, we have our pizza on Friday. Yes, it's delivered around 10:15 p.m. AND, yes, that DOES give us time to pitch in TOGETHER for cleanup!! With over 100 people participating, cleanup would take around 5 minutes (if that!) With only 6 or 7 people, cleanup can take nearly an hour. PLEASE HELP US TO HELP OURSELVES. Ask your section leader what you can do to help with cleanup after BOTH concerts.
Drivers: Best drop-off is off 19th Avenue across from Tully's Coffee; just turn into the church parking lot.
On Saturday 12/3 we must (MUST!!!!!) stay out of the upstairs part of the church (INCLUDING the lobby/narthex) until 7:00 p.m.
Parking: If you are parked on 19th, please avoid parking in front of the church or the parish hall. Move farther down 19th and save close spaces for people with mobility issues, please.
Riders: If you are dropped off on 19th for some reason before 7 p.m. on Saturday, take the outside stairs down to the social hall and go inside. Do not go into the church, please.
This will be my 16th? XC with our group. We get better at some part of this epic, massive undertaking every year. Let's make 2016 another success in every way!
LL&P,
Lee
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
COUNTDOWN TO FESTIVAL COMMENCETH
Yes, mein Choir-Posse, countdown to our two concerts has commenced.
Beginning Tuesday 11/8/16 and ending Thursday 12/1/16 ("Dark Day"), there are
23 days until Concert #1.
TWENTY THREE DAYS
Not counting the dress rehearsals, we have:
Bella Voce - 3 rehearsals
Cantemus - 3 rehearsals
Chorale - 7 rehearsals
Chamber - 4 rehearsals
0000000
Having done many, MANY concert/recital countdowns in my career, I offer the following:
One - proper self-care (Eat well and regularly, sleep enough. stay away from excessive white powders - salt and sugar - and DO NOT SMOKE "HERB" OR DRINK ALCOHOL THE WEEK OF THE CONCERTS. Two - incessant obsession with the music (mental, studying, reviewing, chewing chewing digesting digesting). Three - vigilance against viruses. If people are hacking and eructating in your vicinity, GET AWAY FROM THEM AT ONCE. Don't touch public surfaces with bare hands. Wear a face shield if you spend a lot of time in public places or unventilated spaces.
Four - Attitude Adjustment.
Yes, we all have our days when things just seem to hover round the drain from wake-up to put-down, but those are transient phenomena that must NOT affect our resolve. Human nature being what it is, you will likely not 'have time' to study your music, listen to the choral recordings, etc. repeatedly REPEATEDLY REPEATEDLY. You must make time.
YOU MUST MAKE TIME.
MAKE TIME.
MAKE TIME.
FORCE YOURSELF IF NECESSARY. Overcome inertia. Be the master of your fate, the captain of your soul. DO. IT.
See yourself in your concert garb, triumphantly and enthusiastically singing from your very soul. HEAR the immense power of the mighty and puissant Choir Posse shaking the very walls of that cavernous (and bass-devouring!) space. FEEL the satisfaction of a job well done - of having successfully and powerfully communicated the timeless message of glorious music. PUT YOURSELF IN IT. BE IT. LIVE IT.
There will be resistance. There is always resistance. SO WHAT! Comfort yourself with the knowledge that great potential for good is always (ALWAYS!) confronted by great resistance and pull from the opposite direction. Nothing great is EVER achieved without a fight.
Fight for your might! Move from "We can" to "WE WILL."
You have a marvelous opportunity to bring the transcendent and soul-uplifting power of music to yourselves and to many people who may be starving for reassurance that there IS still good in this world. You are ambassadors of hope, life, light, liberty, love, and celebration!
Set your mind for success. Set your body for full function. Set your voice for glorious sound.
EXPECT VICTORY. Settle for nothing less.
EXPECT TRIUMPH. Settle for nothing less.
EXPECT MASTERY. Settle for nothing less.
EXPECT SUCCESS. Settle for nothing less.
EXPECT "OUTSTANDING." Settle for nothing less. "Excellence" is our baseline, our starting point!
AND WORK, WORK, WORK RIGHT UP TO THE LAST SECOND TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE.
We're positive thinkers, yes - but most importantly, we are POSITIVE DOERS.
End of sermon!
Beginning Tuesday 11/8/16 and ending Thursday 12/1/16 ("Dark Day"), there are
23 days until Concert #1.
TWENTY THREE DAYS
Not counting the dress rehearsals, we have:
Bella Voce - 3 rehearsals
Cantemus - 3 rehearsals
Chorale - 7 rehearsals
Chamber - 4 rehearsals
0000000
Having done many, MANY concert/recital countdowns in my career, I offer the following:
One - proper self-care (Eat well and regularly, sleep enough. stay away from excessive white powders - salt and sugar - and DO NOT SMOKE "HERB" OR DRINK ALCOHOL THE WEEK OF THE CONCERTS. Two - incessant obsession with the music (mental, studying, reviewing, chewing chewing digesting digesting). Three - vigilance against viruses. If people are hacking and eructating in your vicinity, GET AWAY FROM THEM AT ONCE. Don't touch public surfaces with bare hands. Wear a face shield if you spend a lot of time in public places or unventilated spaces.
Four - Attitude Adjustment.
Yes, we all have our days when things just seem to hover round the drain from wake-up to put-down, but those are transient phenomena that must NOT affect our resolve. Human nature being what it is, you will likely not 'have time' to study your music, listen to the choral recordings, etc. repeatedly REPEATEDLY REPEATEDLY. You must make time.
YOU MUST MAKE TIME.
MAKE TIME.
MAKE TIME.
FORCE YOURSELF IF NECESSARY. Overcome inertia. Be the master of your fate, the captain of your soul. DO. IT.
See yourself in your concert garb, triumphantly and enthusiastically singing from your very soul. HEAR the immense power of the mighty and puissant Choir Posse shaking the very walls of that cavernous (and bass-devouring!) space. FEEL the satisfaction of a job well done - of having successfully and powerfully communicated the timeless message of glorious music. PUT YOURSELF IN IT. BE IT. LIVE IT.
There will be resistance. There is always resistance. SO WHAT! Comfort yourself with the knowledge that great potential for good is always (ALWAYS!) confronted by great resistance and pull from the opposite direction. Nothing great is EVER achieved without a fight.
Fight for your might! Move from "We can" to "WE WILL."
You have a marvelous opportunity to bring the transcendent and soul-uplifting power of music to yourselves and to many people who may be starving for reassurance that there IS still good in this world. You are ambassadors of hope, life, light, liberty, love, and celebration!
Set your mind for success. Set your body for full function. Set your voice for glorious sound.
EXPECT VICTORY. Settle for nothing less.
EXPECT TRIUMPH. Settle for nothing less.
EXPECT MASTERY. Settle for nothing less.
EXPECT SUCCESS. Settle for nothing less.
EXPECT "OUTSTANDING." Settle for nothing less. "Excellence" is our baseline, our starting point!
AND WORK, WORK, WORK RIGHT UP TO THE LAST SECOND TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE.
We're positive thinkers, yes - but most importantly, we are POSITIVE DOERS.
End of sermon!
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Vocal Fold Videos
A few looks at the inside of your instrument!
Vocal folds are small and not indestructible - please take care of yours!!
The last video is of four people in standard vocal ranges: S A T B.
Vocal folds are small and not indestructible - please take care of yours!!
The last video is of four people in standard vocal ranges: S A T B.
WOW!
Hello everyone,
FIRST - let me give kudos, BRAVISSIMO, salutations, two snaps, thumbs up, high five, and shout-outs to EVERYBODY for a fabulous pair of Family Weekend Concerts!
On Monday Oct 24 I was delighted to find three - THREE! messages in my email inbox from people who had come to one of our 10/21 concerts and decided to attend the Christmas concerts.
Ticks will be distributed in about 1 1/2 weeks - Management team will be putting the envies together on November 8, so stay tuned.
-------------
Today in noon Chorale section, a wonderful, inspiring, exciting exchange of musical expertise and group spirit between our choir and Gonzaga's choir - they are performing on Saturday 10/29 at 7 p.m. at St. Joe's! We will all be there to support them and hear an entire hour of splendid singing!
Y'all did yourselves mighty proud this afternoon with some of the very best and most musical, full-bodied singing I have heard you do to date. Onward and upward!
(also, we looked WAY COOL in our T-shirts ;-)
-------------
We still have BIG MUSIC to learn for the Christmas concerts - with just 36 days remaining until Concert #1, it behooves each of us to really get crackin' on the rest of our rep.
To that end, I now offer a few gospel clips that should help get everyone in the groove for my piece ("Glory to the New-Born King").
Choirfolk, listen - be inspired - I know, I am FULLY AND COMPLETELY CONFIDENT that you will do a wonderful performance of my piece. I fully expect you to TEAR IT UP!!!
LL&P,
Lee
FIRST - let me give kudos, BRAVISSIMO, salutations, two snaps, thumbs up, high five, and shout-outs to EVERYBODY for a fabulous pair of Family Weekend Concerts!
On Monday Oct 24 I was delighted to find three - THREE! messages in my email inbox from people who had come to one of our 10/21 concerts and decided to attend the Christmas concerts.
Ticks will be distributed in about 1 1/2 weeks - Management team will be putting the envies together on November 8, so stay tuned.
-------------
Today in noon Chorale section, a wonderful, inspiring, exciting exchange of musical expertise and group spirit between our choir and Gonzaga's choir - they are performing on Saturday 10/29 at 7 p.m. at St. Joe's! We will all be there to support them and hear an entire hour of splendid singing!
Y'all did yourselves mighty proud this afternoon with some of the very best and most musical, full-bodied singing I have heard you do to date. Onward and upward!
(also, we looked WAY COOL in our T-shirts ;-)
-------------
We still have BIG MUSIC to learn for the Christmas concerts - with just 36 days remaining until Concert #1, it behooves each of us to really get crackin' on the rest of our rep.
To that end, I now offer a few gospel clips that should help get everyone in the groove for my piece ("Glory to the New-Born King").
Choirfolk, listen - be inspired - I know, I am FULLY AND COMPLETELY CONFIDENT that you will do a wonderful performance of my piece. I fully expect you to TEAR IT UP!!!
LL&P,
Lee
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
TODAY IS PENULTIMATE DAY TO FWC - ARE YOU READY?!!!
Hello everyone,
Our two Family Weekend concerts are about 50 hours away!
whoooo
I am pleased to inform everyone that a recent email from our contact Ms. Laurie Prince indicates a capacity audience for BOTH CONCERTS!
That's 250 audience members for 7 p.m. and 250 for 8.30 p.m.!
There will likely be a few additional folks in the audience - we don't turn people away.
If I may -
I'm putting on my Aunty Lee hat right now - please consider the following and govern yourselves accordingly, if at all possible!
1. GET ENOUGH SLEEP.
2. GET ENOUGH WATER.
3. GET ENOUGH DECENT FOOD.
4. DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL.
5. DO NOT USE "HERBAL" PRODUCTS.
6. DO NOT DRINK MILK ON CONCERT DAY.
7. STAY AWAY FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE ILL.
8. DO THE "eeeeeeee" VOCALISE TO KEEP YOUR VOCAL FOLDS TONED AND RELAXED.
9. STUDY YOUR MUSIC!
10. DETERMINE TO HAVE FUN!!!
This is our first real concert of the 2016-2017 academic year. It's a wonderful thing that we do to contribute to Seattle U spirit, welcome parents and family members to campus for the week/end, AND AND AND test-drive some of the more challenging pieces in our Christmas Concert repertoire.
It is not the end!!!!
I know that everyone will do their best to do their best on Friday, and this is a GOOD THING.
However - "the best" is what we hermeneuticists call an ever-receding horizon - there's always something just over the hill - something even better, something even more beautiful, something even more gorgeous - and as musicians, we are committed to continue our relentless pursuit of this something.
SO.
Next week, we'll be working on more of the Christmas concert repertoire - rep that hasn't yet been taken out in rehearsals - rep that you may not have heard or looked over...I encourage everyone to spend a few minutes listening to the next set of pieces on Dropbox over the weekend.
Protect those precious little vocal folds! Enjoy your considerable achievements! STRUT YOUR STUFF! And, get ready to shift it into an even higher gear come Monday.
WE ARE CAPABLE.
WE ARE SMART.
WE KNOW HOW TO WORK SMART.
WE ARE READY.
WE ARE FABULOUS!
See you Friday 10/21/16 at 5 p.m. in the Chapel of St. Ignatius.
1. Choir T-shirt
2. Black pants (not black jeans, please - actual slacks)
3. Black shoes
4. Black socks
5. BIG SMILE!!
LL&P,
Lee
Our two Family Weekend concerts are about 50 hours away!
whoooo
I am pleased to inform everyone that a recent email from our contact Ms. Laurie Prince indicates a capacity audience for BOTH CONCERTS!
That's 250 audience members for 7 p.m. and 250 for 8.30 p.m.!
There will likely be a few additional folks in the audience - we don't turn people away.
If I may -
I'm putting on my Aunty Lee hat right now - please consider the following and govern yourselves accordingly, if at all possible!
1. GET ENOUGH SLEEP.
2. GET ENOUGH WATER.
3. GET ENOUGH DECENT FOOD.
4. DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL.
5. DO NOT USE "HERBAL" PRODUCTS.
6. DO NOT DRINK MILK ON CONCERT DAY.
7. STAY AWAY FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE ILL.
8. DO THE "eeeeeeee" VOCALISE TO KEEP YOUR VOCAL FOLDS TONED AND RELAXED.
9. STUDY YOUR MUSIC!
10. DETERMINE TO HAVE FUN!!!
This is our first real concert of the 2016-2017 academic year. It's a wonderful thing that we do to contribute to Seattle U spirit, welcome parents and family members to campus for the week/end, AND AND AND test-drive some of the more challenging pieces in our Christmas Concert repertoire.
It is not the end!!!!
I know that everyone will do their best to do their best on Friday, and this is a GOOD THING.
However - "the best" is what we hermeneuticists call an ever-receding horizon - there's always something just over the hill - something even better, something even more beautiful, something even more gorgeous - and as musicians, we are committed to continue our relentless pursuit of this something.
SO.
Next week, we'll be working on more of the Christmas concert repertoire - rep that hasn't yet been taken out in rehearsals - rep that you may not have heard or looked over...I encourage everyone to spend a few minutes listening to the next set of pieces on Dropbox over the weekend.
Protect those precious little vocal folds! Enjoy your considerable achievements! STRUT YOUR STUFF! And, get ready to shift it into an even higher gear come Monday.
WE ARE CAPABLE.
WE ARE SMART.
WE KNOW HOW TO WORK SMART.
WE ARE READY.
WE ARE FABULOUS!
See you Friday 10/21/16 at 5 p.m. in the Chapel of St. Ignatius.
1. Choir T-shirt
2. Black pants (not black jeans, please - actual slacks)
3. Black shoes
4. Black socks
5. BIG SMILE!!
LL&P,
Lee
Monday, October 3, 2016
October 3
This %*&@$^! program just ate my ENTIRE post, which I had put quite a bit of time and effort into.
----------
Highlights
1. 18 days remaining until FWC, hustle to the max and we will again do a wonderful job this year!
2. New people: there are 2 Family Weekend concerts, each under an hour. 7 to 8 p.m., then 8.30 to 9.30 p.m. I suggest that EVERYONE "eat big" around 6 p.m. and pack a little snack to tide over and eat between 8. and 8.30. There won't be enough time to grab and safely ingest something from 12th Avenue eateries - if you try to do that, you'll find yourself getting into position with half your dinner still on its way down to your tummy!
3. Bella Voce: Quickie Trick for learning the Britten Hodie - prepare your own score and write 'neumes' (little markings above syllables that indicate where pitch rises, falls, etc.)
A bit about neumes here (read the first 2 paragraphs): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neume
Easy to do: just copy the text by hand on a sheet of paper or use what I've given below. (Copying by hand will help you memorize the words very quickly, btw).
In the text below, I've maintained syllabification - Copy (or copy and paste, format in 14 point type with double space between the lines):
Ho-di--e-- Chri-----tus na-tus- est---;
Ho-di-e-Sal-va-tor ap--pa-ru--it:
Ho-di--e in ter-ra ca---nunt an-ge-li---
lae-tan--tur arch-an-ge-li:
Ho-di-e------ ex-sul----tant jus-ti--- di-cen-tes
glo-ri-a in ex-cel-sis De-o.
Al-le-lu-ia!
Al-le-lu------ia!
Al-le-lu------ia!
Maintain the dashes between syllables. If there's a melisma (group of notes sung over a single syllable of text), indicate this with a longer dash.
Then, listening to the choral recording, mark or draw a wavy pencil line ABOVE the text to help feel the melodic contour. Mark in breaths!! Use pencil!
Sing with the clip - test yourself
Then using your score and the clip, play 1 phrase / sing it / play it again and check yourself, etc.
Get together with others from B.V. and test each other!!
Here is a nice clip - it's too long to put in DropBox - just follow the link -
it leads to an SATB version of the "Ceremony of Carols," which Britten originally scored for 3-voice treble choir and harp.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXyjrhz5bzs
Here's another clip - also too long to put in DropBox because it is of the entire C of C. DO NOT LISTEN TO WHAT FOLLOWS THE 'HODIE' MOVEMENT - it is not good!!!!! The "Hodie" is the best of this performance, imo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQyunriE1zg
Bon chance!
Lee
----------
Highlights
1. 18 days remaining until FWC, hustle to the max and we will again do a wonderful job this year!
2. New people: there are 2 Family Weekend concerts, each under an hour. 7 to 8 p.m., then 8.30 to 9.30 p.m. I suggest that EVERYONE "eat big" around 6 p.m. and pack a little snack to tide over and eat between 8. and 8.30. There won't be enough time to grab and safely ingest something from 12th Avenue eateries - if you try to do that, you'll find yourself getting into position with half your dinner still on its way down to your tummy!
3. Bella Voce: Quickie Trick for learning the Britten Hodie - prepare your own score and write 'neumes' (little markings above syllables that indicate where pitch rises, falls, etc.)
A bit about neumes here (read the first 2 paragraphs): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neume
Easy to do: just copy the text by hand on a sheet of paper or use what I've given below. (Copying by hand will help you memorize the words very quickly, btw).
In the text below, I've maintained syllabification - Copy (or copy and paste, format in 14 point type with double space between the lines):
Ho-di--e-- Chri-----tus na-tus- est---;
Ho-di-e-Sal-va-tor ap--pa-ru--it:
Ho-di--e in ter-ra ca---nunt an-ge-li---
lae-tan--tur arch-an-ge-li:
Ho-di-e------ ex-sul----tant jus-ti--- di-cen-tes
glo-ri-a in ex-cel-sis De-o.
Al-le-lu-ia!
Al-le-lu------ia!
Al-le-lu------ia!
Maintain the dashes between syllables. If there's a melisma (group of notes sung over a single syllable of text), indicate this with a longer dash.
Then, listening to the choral recording, mark or draw a wavy pencil line ABOVE the text to help feel the melodic contour. Mark in breaths!! Use pencil!
Sing with the clip - test yourself
Then using your score and the clip, play 1 phrase / sing it / play it again and check yourself, etc.
Get together with others from B.V. and test each other!!
Here is a nice clip - it's too long to put in DropBox - just follow the link -
it leads to an SATB version of the "Ceremony of Carols," which Britten originally scored for 3-voice treble choir and harp.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXyjrhz5bzs
Here's another clip - also too long to put in DropBox because it is of the entire C of C. DO NOT LISTEN TO WHAT FOLLOWS THE 'HODIE' MOVEMENT - it is not good!!!!! The "Hodie" is the best of this performance, imo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQyunriE1zg
Bon chance!
Lee
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
USS. SUCHOIRS HAS NOW LEFT THE SOLAR SYSTEM!
Hello everyone,
WOW - we are going to have the best group this year!!!
I waited until everyone had met at least once before posting this rave -
Beginning with Cantemus and Chamber Singers on 9/21, then Chorale on 9/22, then the marvelously effective and efficient Chamber Intensive on 9/24 AND wow - Bella Voce on 9/26...what a feast!
Doc and I have been grinning with happiness and high-fiving since last Wednesday afternoon. We are beyond delighted with the nascent sound of every single group. We look forward to incredible concerts in 2016-2017.
This choir - it is SMOKIN'. We are going to TEAR IT UP this year!
Okay -
With 24? days remaining until Family Weekend, there's no time to waste - all hands at their posts - if you are having ANY kind of trouble with ANYTHING, raise your barbaric yawp to the Heavens and alert your section leader - alert me - alert Doc - don't wait, do it NOW.
At the beginning of last school year, I posted a bunch of links to free keyboard apps, interactive music theory sites, etc. - go to ARCHIVES in this site and look for the posts made in late September and early October 2016.
I am about to do some work in Sound Cloud. You should find your tracks newly alphabetized by this evening. If you still have trouble finding something, please email me at once.
And now - a little inspiration!
We're doing Sergei Rachmaninoff's moving "Nunc dimittis" setting at Family Weekend. This is a small part of a much larger work, "The All-Night Vigil," that uses Russian Orthodox chant in a felicitous fusion with Rachmaninoff's unique, unforgettable harmonic language and choral "soundscape."
Seattle University is located very near a Russian Orthodox church (look it up on Google). If you've never attended an Orthodox service, I recommend you visit the Capitol Hill church or the Orthodox cathedral, which is downtown.
http://www.saintnicholascathedral.org/
Those of you who have read your church history will recognize the date "1054" - what you will hear in the Orthodox service is a descendant of liturgies and theology from the OTHER side of that schism. Additionally, the Orthodox Communion has a thriving mystical tradition, beginning as far back as the writings of the Desert Fathers. If you'd like some titles, I'm happy to recommend...My own communion, the Ecclesia Gnostica, is more "eastern" than "western" in several important regards.
All of that said - visit these links and feast your eyes on the art and architecture of Russian Orthodox houses of worship. - Particularly, spend time contemplating the ikons. Ikons are crucial to the Orthodox Way, with strict rules of painting and an accompanying theology.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_churches_in_Moscow - LOTS of links.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_icons - Good introductory article about ikons.
About the"All-Night Vigil" -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-Night_Vigil_(Rachmaninoff)
Story of the text "nunc dimittis" (Canticle of Simeon) -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nunc_dimittis
WOW - we are going to have the best group this year!!!
I waited until everyone had met at least once before posting this rave -
Beginning with Cantemus and Chamber Singers on 9/21, then Chorale on 9/22, then the marvelously effective and efficient Chamber Intensive on 9/24 AND wow - Bella Voce on 9/26...what a feast!
Doc and I have been grinning with happiness and high-fiving since last Wednesday afternoon. We are beyond delighted with the nascent sound of every single group. We look forward to incredible concerts in 2016-2017.
This choir - it is SMOKIN'. We are going to TEAR IT UP this year!
Okay -
With 24? days remaining until Family Weekend, there's no time to waste - all hands at their posts - if you are having ANY kind of trouble with ANYTHING, raise your barbaric yawp to the Heavens and alert your section leader - alert me - alert Doc - don't wait, do it NOW.
At the beginning of last school year, I posted a bunch of links to free keyboard apps, interactive music theory sites, etc. - go to ARCHIVES in this site and look for the posts made in late September and early October 2016.
I am about to do some work in Sound Cloud. You should find your tracks newly alphabetized by this evening. If you still have trouble finding something, please email me at once.
And now - a little inspiration!
We're doing Sergei Rachmaninoff's moving "Nunc dimittis" setting at Family Weekend. This is a small part of a much larger work, "The All-Night Vigil," that uses Russian Orthodox chant in a felicitous fusion with Rachmaninoff's unique, unforgettable harmonic language and choral "soundscape."
Seattle University is located very near a Russian Orthodox church (look it up on Google). If you've never attended an Orthodox service, I recommend you visit the Capitol Hill church or the Orthodox cathedral, which is downtown.
http://www.saintnicholascathedral.org/
Those of you who have read your church history will recognize the date "1054" - what you will hear in the Orthodox service is a descendant of liturgies and theology from the OTHER side of that schism. Additionally, the Orthodox Communion has a thriving mystical tradition, beginning as far back as the writings of the Desert Fathers. If you'd like some titles, I'm happy to recommend...My own communion, the Ecclesia Gnostica, is more "eastern" than "western" in several important regards.
All of that said - visit these links and feast your eyes on the art and architecture of Russian Orthodox houses of worship. - Particularly, spend time contemplating the ikons. Ikons are crucial to the Orthodox Way, with strict rules of painting and an accompanying theology.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_churches_in_Moscow - LOTS of links.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_icons - Good introductory article about ikons.
About the"All-Night Vigil" -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-Night_Vigil_(Rachmaninoff)
Story of the text "nunc dimittis" (Canticle of Simeon) -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nunc_dimittis
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
SS. SU Choirs prepares to leave space dock!!!
Next stop, Family Weekend!
Hello everyone,
Doc and I hope that you had a marvelous summer. We'll be meeting with the returning choirfolk next Tuesday (September 20) at Doc's house - check your SU email for details and directions.
Y'all, you are in for SUCH a treat this year!
Wonderful repertoire, exciting performance opportunities, TREMENDOUS section leaders - and of course, the inestimable pleasure and benefit from shared effort to master our Art.
I always love the returning student meetings - they're so full of excitement, enthusiasm, camaraderie, and expressed concern for the new choirfolk and how we will welcome them into our group.
Some of our new people will be new to everything: Seattle, Seattle University, dorm or apartment living, Bon Appetit pizza (! - we will help them with that) - in a whirl of newness, it will be good for them to know that in at least one context, they will find a ready-made community of intelligent, talented, accepting people who value them for their multi-faceted selves and work with them to achieve their personal and collective best.
"Excellence" - that good old SU buzzword - excellence is not our goal.
Surprised?
Excellence is our STARTING POINT.
We begin there, and then we move individually and collectively from "excellent" to OUTSTANDING.
In section leader retreat yesterday, I related a conversation Doc and I had earlier this summer... something that came to me while I was watching Simone Biles change the laws of physics with her mindblowing gymnastics performances.
All of the Olympic athletes are excellent. You don't get to the Olympics unless you're excellent.
But, in the context of this event, only a few will be judged OUTSTANDING.
Choir is unique in its three-fold position - we are a class-for-credit, a performance organization, AND a socially viable entity. We are the largest and most diverse student organization on campus. Yet our diversity is united in its essence: we are devotees and passionate students of the Art. The love of music unites us.
We're also cooks: cooks who prepare a musical and spiritual feast for those who will come to eat at our table. We're cooks who eat our /own/ cooking, moreover: we give to our audiences from abundance.
Hello everyone,
Doc and I hope that you had a marvelous summer. We'll be meeting with the returning choirfolk next Tuesday (September 20) at Doc's house - check your SU email for details and directions.
Y'all, you are in for SUCH a treat this year!
Wonderful repertoire, exciting performance opportunities, TREMENDOUS section leaders - and of course, the inestimable pleasure and benefit from shared effort to master our Art.
I always love the returning student meetings - they're so full of excitement, enthusiasm, camaraderie, and expressed concern for the new choirfolk and how we will welcome them into our group.
Some of our new people will be new to everything: Seattle, Seattle University, dorm or apartment living, Bon Appetit pizza (! - we will help them with that) - in a whirl of newness, it will be good for them to know that in at least one context, they will find a ready-made community of intelligent, talented, accepting people who value them for their multi-faceted selves and work with them to achieve their personal and collective best.
"Excellence" - that good old SU buzzword - excellence is not our goal.
Surprised?
Excellence is our STARTING POINT.
We begin there, and then we move individually and collectively from "excellent" to OUTSTANDING.
In section leader retreat yesterday, I related a conversation Doc and I had earlier this summer... something that came to me while I was watching Simone Biles change the laws of physics with her mindblowing gymnastics performances.
All of the Olympic athletes are excellent. You don't get to the Olympics unless you're excellent.
But, in the context of this event, only a few will be judged OUTSTANDING.
Choir is unique in its three-fold position - we are a class-for-credit, a performance organization, AND a socially viable entity. We are the largest and most diverse student organization on campus. Yet our diversity is united in its essence: we are devotees and passionate students of the Art. The love of music unites us.
We're also cooks: cooks who prepare a musical and spiritual feast for those who will come to eat at our table. We're cooks who eat our /own/ cooking, moreover: we give to our audiences from abundance.
Friday, May 20, 2016
but wait...there's more!
Hello everyone,
Congratulations, salutations, felicitations, and whoop-ilations to Chamber Singers for a wonderful Farewell Concert on May 16! You did yourselves proud, indeed.
---------------
Our last group gig - Baccalaureate Mass - approaches. With rehearsals now at two plenary sessions per week, it is important for everyone to be extremely focused in all contexts: group work AND private practice.
Reviewing Music.
What does "reviewing the music" mean?
I like to think of this process as "re-learning," rather than "reviewing." For me, "reviewing" has different connotations. As a solo pianist, I formed the habit of retiring to a quiet place with the musical score after I'd played a concert, mentally re-playing the program with dispassionate care, essentially clearing my mind of things I did that I would rather not have done (and vice versa!). A "wash," you might say. With everything cleaned up, I felt free to then put that program away and go on to other things.
Re-learning is different and requires different mental set.
I most recently experienced re-learning a couple of years ago, bringing a few things "back" for a solo recital. I found it useful to work with two copies of the score: the original copy (with my notations, etc.) and a clean copy. I would go over the piece in sections, working with the clean copy - checking my physical reactions. Some sections called up physical sensations that seemed to "clash" with learned muscle habits. Why? I would mark these sections in the clean copy for later perusal.
After doing this, I'd go back to the original copy and play again, using that score. If muscle "clashes" persisted, I'd analyze them and see if I could find a better, more efficient way to work out the difficulties.
The success of re-learning is largely dependent upon the success of the initial learning, which lays down neural tracks that become one's "default setting" when playing/singing the piece.
THIS IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO AVOID FORMING BAD HABITS THE FIRST TIME AROUND. THIS IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO BE MENTALLY FOCUSED, ENGAGED, AND PRECISE THE FIRST TIME AROUND!
I have had to drop pieces from my performing repertoire because bad habits developed in the First Learning were too solidly ingrained to warrant the amount of time it would take to correct them the second time around. The 'clash' between bad muscle habits formed years ago and good muscle habits developed since "then" was simply too great. Sometimes it really IS easier to simply learn a new piece!
What does all of this have to do with Baccalaureate music?
Well!
If you've sung Bacc before, you have laid down neural tracks - and when you "review" your music, you must be very careful to PAY ATTENTION when practicing. If you feel a "tug" between what you're doing now and something that you did before, STOP - LOOK - LISTEN - ANALYZE - PLAN CORRECTION - and then repeat the corrected version many, many, many, MANY times. It is easier to correct if you work from an unmarked, clean score. (No transferred associations from markings!)
If you're a Bacc newbie, your job might, paradoxically, be a bit easier! Just do what you are supposed to do - many times! - stay focused - stay engaged.
Baccalaureate Mass is the biggest engagement of the year - we sing for 37 minutes (thanks, Doc! for crunching the numbers - egads, that's A LOT OF SINGING!) - before a group that exceeds the COMBINED attendance at our paying concerts.
At Baccalaureate, we are the choros - the chorus (as in ancient Greek drama). Through the art of music, we bring chronos (everyday time) and kairos (sacred time) together, making them as one. We express the Voice of the People and interpret the Voice of the Transcendent.
People who attend Baccalaureate Mass come from a variety of contexts. Some will consider themselves congregants, participating in a beloved and familiar religious ritual. Others attend as an audience, who may or may not practice any faith tradition. For two hours on Saturday, June 11 - all of these people are gathered for a single purpose - a purpose it is our privilege and responsibility to communicate and to celebrate.
Let's do OUR work well, so that the Work will be well.
End of sermon! - See you Tuesday next.
Congratulations, salutations, felicitations, and whoop-ilations to Chamber Singers for a wonderful Farewell Concert on May 16! You did yourselves proud, indeed.
---------------
Our last group gig - Baccalaureate Mass - approaches. With rehearsals now at two plenary sessions per week, it is important for everyone to be extremely focused in all contexts: group work AND private practice.
Reviewing Music.
What does "reviewing the music" mean?
I like to think of this process as "re-learning," rather than "reviewing." For me, "reviewing" has different connotations. As a solo pianist, I formed the habit of retiring to a quiet place with the musical score after I'd played a concert, mentally re-playing the program with dispassionate care, essentially clearing my mind of things I did that I would rather not have done (and vice versa!). A "wash," you might say. With everything cleaned up, I felt free to then put that program away and go on to other things.
Re-learning is different and requires different mental set.
I most recently experienced re-learning a couple of years ago, bringing a few things "back" for a solo recital. I found it useful to work with two copies of the score: the original copy (with my notations, etc.) and a clean copy. I would go over the piece in sections, working with the clean copy - checking my physical reactions. Some sections called up physical sensations that seemed to "clash" with learned muscle habits. Why? I would mark these sections in the clean copy for later perusal.
After doing this, I'd go back to the original copy and play again, using that score. If muscle "clashes" persisted, I'd analyze them and see if I could find a better, more efficient way to work out the difficulties.
The success of re-learning is largely dependent upon the success of the initial learning, which lays down neural tracks that become one's "default setting" when playing/singing the piece.
THIS IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO AVOID FORMING BAD HABITS THE FIRST TIME AROUND. THIS IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO BE MENTALLY FOCUSED, ENGAGED, AND PRECISE THE FIRST TIME AROUND!
I have had to drop pieces from my performing repertoire because bad habits developed in the First Learning were too solidly ingrained to warrant the amount of time it would take to correct them the second time around. The 'clash' between bad muscle habits formed years ago and good muscle habits developed since "then" was simply too great. Sometimes it really IS easier to simply learn a new piece!
What does all of this have to do with Baccalaureate music?
Well!
If you've sung Bacc before, you have laid down neural tracks - and when you "review" your music, you must be very careful to PAY ATTENTION when practicing. If you feel a "tug" between what you're doing now and something that you did before, STOP - LOOK - LISTEN - ANALYZE - PLAN CORRECTION - and then repeat the corrected version many, many, many, MANY times. It is easier to correct if you work from an unmarked, clean score. (No transferred associations from markings!)
If you're a Bacc newbie, your job might, paradoxically, be a bit easier! Just do what you are supposed to do - many times! - stay focused - stay engaged.
Baccalaureate Mass is the biggest engagement of the year - we sing for 37 minutes (thanks, Doc! for crunching the numbers - egads, that's A LOT OF SINGING!) - before a group that exceeds the COMBINED attendance at our paying concerts.
At Baccalaureate, we are the choros - the chorus (as in ancient Greek drama). Through the art of music, we bring chronos (everyday time) and kairos (sacred time) together, making them as one. We express the Voice of the People and interpret the Voice of the Transcendent.
People who attend Baccalaureate Mass come from a variety of contexts. Some will consider themselves congregants, participating in a beloved and familiar religious ritual. Others attend as an audience, who may or may not practice any faith tradition. For two hours on Saturday, June 11 - all of these people are gathered for a single purpose - a purpose it is our privilege and responsibility to communicate and to celebrate.
Let's do OUR work well, so that the Work will be well.
End of sermon! - See you Tuesday next.
Monday, May 2, 2016
DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE FABULOUSLY DONE DONE DONE!
Hello everyone,
WOW.
I mean, just - WOW.
EPIC!!!
AWESOME!!!
Spring Concerts 2016 - you did yourselves proud, and Doc and I are proud of every single minute of both performances. What wonderful, expressive, spirited singing - and what marvelous and efficient teamwork ;-) Y'all ROCK!
-------------------------
S.U.C.C.U.L.E.N.T. Field Trip Saturday, May 14th
Seattle University Choir Crafters Unique, Luxurious, Elegant, Nifty Treasures!!!
Field Trip and epic MAKIN' JAM SESSION on Saturday, May 14th.
The field trip begins outside the Fine Arts Building. We'll gather, put on our SUCCULENT group badges, walk down to the Capitol Hill light-rail station, and board the train for the first step of our journey to the hinterlands (Crossroads Mall, Bellevue).
After we load up in Bellevue, we will make our way back to Seattle and to campus. We will OCCUPY a classroom and get busy making stuff!
Anyone who'd like to learn how to knit or crochet - EMAIL ME asap so that we can work out a tute time.
I'm still working out the details - I will post everything right here at Lee's Lessons.
Begin filling a sack with your crochet and knitting tools, yarns, jewelry tools, beads, and ??? -
WOW.
I mean, just - WOW.
EPIC!!!
AWESOME!!!
Spring Concerts 2016 - you did yourselves proud, and Doc and I are proud of every single minute of both performances. What wonderful, expressive, spirited singing - and what marvelous and efficient teamwork ;-) Y'all ROCK!
-------------------------
S.U.C.C.U.L.E.N.T. Field Trip Saturday, May 14th
Seattle University Choir Crafters Unique, Luxurious, Elegant, Nifty Treasures!!!
Field Trip and epic MAKIN' JAM SESSION on Saturday, May 14th.
The field trip begins outside the Fine Arts Building. We'll gather, put on our SUCCULENT group badges, walk down to the Capitol Hill light-rail station, and board the train for the first step of our journey to the hinterlands (Crossroads Mall, Bellevue).
After we load up in Bellevue, we will make our way back to Seattle and to campus. We will OCCUPY a classroom and get busy making stuff!
Anyone who'd like to learn how to knit or crochet - EMAIL ME asap so that we can work out a tute time.
I'm still working out the details - I will post everything right here at Lee's Lessons.
Begin filling a sack with your crochet and knitting tools, yarns, jewelry tools, beads, and ??? -
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
tick tock tick tock tick tock...NINE DAYS REMAINING BEFORE SPRING CONCERTS!!
Hello everyone,
What a productive rehearsal we had at St. Joseph Church on Monday evening! It's a logistical tour de force, as you might imagine - an achievement that would not have been possible or successful without the cooperation and participation of everyone involved: management team, section leaders, CREW and DRIVERS!! So many, many thanks to you all.
A reminder - Dress Rehearsal #2 Thursday 4/21/16 (yes, the day after tomorrow!) in Campion Chapel. Please consult your Detailed Dates sheets for - well - details ;-)
And our third (final) dress rehearsal - Tuesday 4/26/16 at the church. Again, please check your Detailed Dates sheets for information.
Our rehearsal today in Campion was simply exhilarating! Isn't "El Vito" da bomb!!! Hooray for Jamie Namkung, one of this year's Pigott Endowment artists-in-residence, for totally kicking it on the Primo piano part! This is SO EXCITING to put together at last, what glorious fun.
"Incenerite spoglie" sounded haunting and beautiful today. The "tolling bell" idea came to me in a flash at rehearsal - I was gratified to hear the difference this 'mood-setter' made in the opening. We won't have audible tolling bells at the concert, but I do hope everyone will carry those bells (and the mood that I was trying to establish) into the performance. These things DO make a difference!
"Light-hearted Lovers" is becoming more light-hearted and playful each time we do it!
I urge everyone to be especially vigilant about self-care as we enter the final "lap" before our performances. Sleep well. Eat well. Stay well. Continue to explore and to enjoy the depths of the music. Really get into it! Give it your all! When the curtain falls at 10 p.m. on Saturday 4/30, you can then say that you have put your best effort into our group work - and you can roll home, eat everything in the fridge, hoist a tankard of some refreshing beverage (!), and sleep the sleep of the just.
Boldly go! Engage! Make it so!
What a productive rehearsal we had at St. Joseph Church on Monday evening! It's a logistical tour de force, as you might imagine - an achievement that would not have been possible or successful without the cooperation and participation of everyone involved: management team, section leaders, CREW and DRIVERS!! So many, many thanks to you all.
A reminder - Dress Rehearsal #2 Thursday 4/21/16 (yes, the day after tomorrow!) in Campion Chapel. Please consult your Detailed Dates sheets for - well - details ;-)
And our third (final) dress rehearsal - Tuesday 4/26/16 at the church. Again, please check your Detailed Dates sheets for information.
Our rehearsal today in Campion was simply exhilarating! Isn't "El Vito" da bomb!!! Hooray for Jamie Namkung, one of this year's Pigott Endowment artists-in-residence, for totally kicking it on the Primo piano part! This is SO EXCITING to put together at last, what glorious fun.
"Incenerite spoglie" sounded haunting and beautiful today. The "tolling bell" idea came to me in a flash at rehearsal - I was gratified to hear the difference this 'mood-setter' made in the opening. We won't have audible tolling bells at the concert, but I do hope everyone will carry those bells (and the mood that I was trying to establish) into the performance. These things DO make a difference!
"Light-hearted Lovers" is becoming more light-hearted and playful each time we do it!
I urge everyone to be especially vigilant about self-care as we enter the final "lap" before our performances. Sleep well. Eat well. Stay well. Continue to explore and to enjoy the depths of the music. Really get into it! Give it your all! When the curtain falls at 10 p.m. on Saturday 4/30, you can then say that you have put your best effort into our group work - and you can roll home, eat everything in the fridge, hoist a tankard of some refreshing beverage (!), and sleep the sleep of the just.
Boldly go! Engage! Make it so!
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Mr. Toad Motions Video
Video of LP doing the motions for "Mr. Toad's Song"
I am still working to get it into either Dropbox or Soundcloud - haven't figured out yet, but
HERE
IT
IS
I am still working to get it into either Dropbox or Soundcloud - haven't figured out yet, but
HERE
IT
IS
Sunday, March 27, 2016
...aaaaaaaannnnnnnndddddddddd...prepare for warp drive!
No, really!
Hello, everyone,
Here's hoping we are all returning from our various "vacances" with energy, determination, and renewed fire ;-)
Tuesday, March 29 is the first day of Spring Quarter.
First dress rehearsal (at the church): Monday, April 18
Second dress rehearsal (in Campion): Thursday, April 21
Third dress rehearsal (at the church): Tuesday, April 26
FIRST CONCERT: Friday, April 29
SECOND CONCERT: Saturday, April 30
I've prepared my Task Calendar for this epic prep and momentous weekend.
Because I absolutely LOVE making charts of all kinds, my Epic Concert Planning Thing is handwritten on 18 x 24 inch drawing paper - a tabletop-sized spreadsheet/calendar/Gantt Chartt hybrid capable of holding sticky notes detailing Very Import Urgent Tasks that would otherwise keep me tossing and turning all night ;-)
But then, this is my job.
I recommend a somewhat less epic version of The Big Sheet for all y'all. Some things actually sink in better if planned out the old-fashioned way - by hand (writing).
Make a calendar for the time period from March 28 (day before) to April 30. Write in ALL rehearsals that require your presence. Time and venue!
Then: copy learning/mastery deadlines from your assignment sheets to the appropriate dates in the calendar. This will be particularly useful if you are in more than one group.
F'r instance: if you're in Women's Chorale and Chamber Singers, you have TWO "sets" of repertoire assignments due on Mondays. If everything is on one sheet, nothing will be forgotten or lost.
I mentioned the use of sticky notes as personal reminders for practice focus (i.e., make/date note of things you missed in rehearsal or need more work to master and put that sticky note IN YOUR MUSIC, right at the spot!)
If you need to dry clean/ press/ otherwise freshen up your concert attire, buy something (socks? bowtie? hair scrunchies? hose?), get a haircut, or do other extra-musical prep, PUT IT IN THE CALENDAR!
LONG REHEARSALS ARE LONG...
10 things to do when you are not on the risers or being directed to move somewhere:
1. Review text (memorizing practice).
2. Tap rhythms.
3. Practice diction sotto voce, or subvocalize.
4. Don't succumb to electronic distractions. Although dress rehearsals may SEEM more "free-form" than rehearsals in Campion or the choir room, they aren't. They're actually more intense, more focused.
5. Support your colleagues with engaged listening and APPLAUSE!
6. If you need to nosh at a time other than scheduled group nosh time - please remember to do so in the Social Hall or outside the building. Nothing other than water (in water bottles) may be ingested inside the nave or narthex. We're free to nosh in the Social Hall.
When you are on the risers, really "rise" to the challenges of singing in a new space and projecting your wonderful self out towards where our audience will be seated. Practice everything! "No phones at rehearsal" also means, "Don't phone in your performance!"
I'll always be grateful for this rehearsal and performance advice from one of my concert-pianist teachers: "The minute you step on stage, those cameras are CLICKING - walk the walk and talk the talk!" Word!
CONCERT HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY: DON'T GET SICK!
Yes, it happens to the best of us - but mind must triumph over matter.
Counting March 29 through April 28, there are 31 days until Concert #1.
Take care of yourself, beginning NOW - eat properly, get enough sleep!!, stay hydrated, be alert to the faintest drumbeat of oncoming problems and take firm measures to stop The Gunkk dead in its tracks. You know the drill: extra Vitamin C, echinacea, Air-Borne (yup, the gunkk is still going around)...Alcohol dehydrates a person...a smart person will stay away from it during the entire concert week, if not before ;-)
If you're flying or taking the train back to Seattle this weekend, please consider fortifying your immune system with Air-Borne or similar preventative.
Your body is your instrument is your body - you are now in the final and most intense stages of training for The Main Event.
LISTENING UP
At this point, I'm hoping Soundcloud tracks are history for you. Time to hunker down with the choral recordings in Dropbox!
They're listed alphabetically (that's Dropbox' doing, not mine) - but it's a simple thing to arrange the Spring music in concert order and transfer to other playback mode so you can listen to the concert music in more holistic fashion. I recommend doing this with "sets" as well - just take this information from the concert order in your syllabus and make yourself a nice little bunch of mixtapes.
Listening Tips:
1. Listen to the piece as background music.
2. Listen to the piece as "foreground" music - i.e., sitting with your scores and following along.
3. Listen for one particular voice part (not necessarily your part!)
4. In pieces where the musical texture is generally laid out high / low alternation (Red, Red Rose, for example) - focus on the entire group of parts (if you're a tenor, focus on tenor AND bass parts)
5. Focus on the outer parts.
6. Focus on the inner parts.
7. "Performance" listening - stand in singing position and listen to the piece, singing your part aloud or audiating it as the music plays.
8. Stand in singing position, begin the track, and practice an attitude of relaxed alertness during piano introductions, interludes, and postludes. What you practice will come naturally to you in performance! You won't have to remind yourself to "get ready."
9. I love this one: Conduct! Dance around!
...to be continued...
Hello, everyone,
Here's hoping we are all returning from our various "vacances" with energy, determination, and renewed fire ;-)
Tuesday, March 29 is the first day of Spring Quarter.
First dress rehearsal (at the church): Monday, April 18
Second dress rehearsal (in Campion): Thursday, April 21
Third dress rehearsal (at the church): Tuesday, April 26
FIRST CONCERT: Friday, April 29
SECOND CONCERT: Saturday, April 30
I've prepared my Task Calendar for this epic prep and momentous weekend.
Because I absolutely LOVE making charts of all kinds, my Epic Concert Planning Thing is handwritten on 18 x 24 inch drawing paper - a tabletop-sized spreadsheet/calendar/Gantt Chartt hybrid capable of holding sticky notes detailing Very Import Urgent Tasks that would otherwise keep me tossing and turning all night ;-)
But then, this is my job.
I recommend a somewhat less epic version of The Big Sheet for all y'all. Some things actually sink in better if planned out the old-fashioned way - by hand (writing).
Make a calendar for the time period from March 28 (day before) to April 30. Write in ALL rehearsals that require your presence. Time and venue!
Then: copy learning/mastery deadlines from your assignment sheets to the appropriate dates in the calendar. This will be particularly useful if you are in more than one group.
F'r instance: if you're in Women's Chorale and Chamber Singers, you have TWO "sets" of repertoire assignments due on Mondays. If everything is on one sheet, nothing will be forgotten or lost.
I mentioned the use of sticky notes as personal reminders for practice focus (i.e., make/date note of things you missed in rehearsal or need more work to master and put that sticky note IN YOUR MUSIC, right at the spot!)
If you need to dry clean/ press/ otherwise freshen up your concert attire, buy something (socks? bowtie? hair scrunchies? hose?), get a haircut, or do other extra-musical prep, PUT IT IN THE CALENDAR!
LONG REHEARSALS ARE LONG...
10 things to do when you are not on the risers or being directed to move somewhere:
1. Review text (memorizing practice).
2. Tap rhythms.
3. Practice diction sotto voce, or subvocalize.
4. Don't succumb to electronic distractions. Although dress rehearsals may SEEM more "free-form" than rehearsals in Campion or the choir room, they aren't. They're actually more intense, more focused.
5. Support your colleagues with engaged listening and APPLAUSE!
6. If you need to nosh at a time other than scheduled group nosh time - please remember to do so in the Social Hall or outside the building. Nothing other than water (in water bottles) may be ingested inside the nave or narthex. We're free to nosh in the Social Hall.
When you are on the risers, really "rise" to the challenges of singing in a new space and projecting your wonderful self out towards where our audience will be seated. Practice everything! "No phones at rehearsal" also means, "Don't phone in your performance!"
I'll always be grateful for this rehearsal and performance advice from one of my concert-pianist teachers: "The minute you step on stage, those cameras are CLICKING - walk the walk and talk the talk!" Word!
CONCERT HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY: DON'T GET SICK!
Yes, it happens to the best of us - but mind must triumph over matter.
Counting March 29 through April 28, there are 31 days until Concert #1.
Take care of yourself, beginning NOW - eat properly, get enough sleep!!, stay hydrated, be alert to the faintest drumbeat of oncoming problems and take firm measures to stop The Gunkk dead in its tracks. You know the drill: extra Vitamin C, echinacea, Air-Borne (yup, the gunkk is still going around)...Alcohol dehydrates a person...a smart person will stay away from it during the entire concert week, if not before ;-)
If you're flying or taking the train back to Seattle this weekend, please consider fortifying your immune system with Air-Borne or similar preventative.
Your body is your instrument is your body - you are now in the final and most intense stages of training for The Main Event.
LISTENING UP
At this point, I'm hoping Soundcloud tracks are history for you. Time to hunker down with the choral recordings in Dropbox!
They're listed alphabetically (that's Dropbox' doing, not mine) - but it's a simple thing to arrange the Spring music in concert order and transfer to other playback mode so you can listen to the concert music in more holistic fashion. I recommend doing this with "sets" as well - just take this information from the concert order in your syllabus and make yourself a nice little bunch of mixtapes.
Listening Tips:
1. Listen to the piece as background music.
2. Listen to the piece as "foreground" music - i.e., sitting with your scores and following along.
3. Listen for one particular voice part (not necessarily your part!)
4. In pieces where the musical texture is generally laid out high / low alternation (Red, Red Rose, for example) - focus on the entire group of parts (if you're a tenor, focus on tenor AND bass parts)
5. Focus on the outer parts.
6. Focus on the inner parts.
7. "Performance" listening - stand in singing position and listen to the piece, singing your part aloud or audiating it as the music plays.
8. Stand in singing position, begin the track, and practice an attitude of relaxed alertness during piano introductions, interludes, and postludes. What you practice will come naturally to you in performance! You won't have to remind yourself to "get ready."
9. I love this one: Conduct! Dance around!
...to be continued...
Thursday, March 10, 2016
They're HEEEEEERRRREEEEEE.....
Hello everyone,
Spring "break" is just around the corner - remember to bring your choir music with you if you're traveling - just 10 to 15 minutes of focused work a day will reap ENORMOUS dividends when we next see each other at the beginning of Spring quarter!
If you deliberately make time for music practice, it will likely happen. Personal experience tells me that the more specific the assignment, the better.
Invariably, I have more success when my practice task assignment looks like this:
Tuesday, December 4 -
Mussorgsky "Catacombs" - LH legato work, RH continuous tremolo overkill
Bach fugue - voice combinations and mm work 4 clicks above perf tempo
Brahms #1 - Sweeping #2 Left arm drop #3 Shifting accents RH, LH legato
und so weiter
I have little real success if I give myself this kind of assignment:
Tuesday, December 4 - Practice piano 3 hours
------------------
Use Doc's assignment sheets as your models - they are excellent ways of training yourself to think specifically when you're working alone.
Modify the task assignment to include your PERSONAL challenges. If you need to work on rhythm, INCLUDE THIS SPECIFICALLY IN YOUR ASSIGNMENT, as though you were detailing it in an email.
Not "rhythm" - but, "Count and tap Froggy Goes A'Courting mm.1-20, shift major beats till thinking in 1"
you see where I'm going with this.
The more specific the assignment, the more you'll be able to "quantify" your accomplishment.
This really doesn't take much time to do -
Punch and put a few plain sheets of paper in your binder.
Get a pad of 3 x 3 sticky notes.
For each piece: Devise an acronymn or something to identify the piece and write it at the top of the sticky before you begin.
To assign something to yourself - go to the music you'll be working on, locate trouble spots, and write ONE specific practice task for each trouble spot on a separate sticky note. Stick these notes to the score.
When you're ready to practice, just work through the stickies.
When you finish the tasks, check each one off on the stickie and then put the sticky on one of the plain sheets of paper - MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
The beauty of this is its flexibility. If you don't get to something, leave it stuck onto your music, reminding you of work yet to be done. When you finish something, the plain sheets serve as a collection point and a reminder of continual success!
I use something like this to manage work flow - it's my personal modification of the most amazing task management concept ever - Kanban. It has kept me sane and productive since September 2015. I couldn't live without my Wall of Stickies.
Rehearsal in 15, must take off for Campion - remember to bring your music with you if you leave town or to put it in a prominent place in your digs if you do a stay-cation ;-)
LL&P,
Lee
Spring "break" is just around the corner - remember to bring your choir music with you if you're traveling - just 10 to 15 minutes of focused work a day will reap ENORMOUS dividends when we next see each other at the beginning of Spring quarter!
If you deliberately make time for music practice, it will likely happen. Personal experience tells me that the more specific the assignment, the better.
Invariably, I have more success when my practice task assignment looks like this:
Tuesday, December 4 -
Mussorgsky "Catacombs" - LH legato work, RH continuous tremolo overkill
Bach fugue - voice combinations and mm work 4 clicks above perf tempo
Brahms #1 - Sweeping #2 Left arm drop #3 Shifting accents RH, LH legato
und so weiter
I have little real success if I give myself this kind of assignment:
Tuesday, December 4 - Practice piano 3 hours
------------------
Use Doc's assignment sheets as your models - they are excellent ways of training yourself to think specifically when you're working alone.
Modify the task assignment to include your PERSONAL challenges. If you need to work on rhythm, INCLUDE THIS SPECIFICALLY IN YOUR ASSIGNMENT, as though you were detailing it in an email.
Not "rhythm" - but, "Count and tap Froggy Goes A'Courting mm.1-20, shift major beats till thinking in 1"
you see where I'm going with this.
The more specific the assignment, the more you'll be able to "quantify" your accomplishment.
This really doesn't take much time to do -
Punch and put a few plain sheets of paper in your binder.
Get a pad of 3 x 3 sticky notes.
For each piece: Devise an acronymn or something to identify the piece and write it at the top of the sticky before you begin.
To assign something to yourself - go to the music you'll be working on, locate trouble spots, and write ONE specific practice task for each trouble spot on a separate sticky note. Stick these notes to the score.
When you're ready to practice, just work through the stickies.
When you finish the tasks, check each one off on the stickie and then put the sticky on one of the plain sheets of paper - MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
The beauty of this is its flexibility. If you don't get to something, leave it stuck onto your music, reminding you of work yet to be done. When you finish something, the plain sheets serve as a collection point and a reminder of continual success!
I use something like this to manage work flow - it's my personal modification of the most amazing task management concept ever - Kanban. It has kept me sane and productive since September 2015. I couldn't live without my Wall of Stickies.
Rehearsal in 15, must take off for Campion - remember to bring your music with you if you leave town or to put it in a prominent place in your digs if you do a stay-cation ;-)
LL&P,
Lee
Sunday, March 6, 2016
DANNNNNGGGGGGGGG
...what an incredibly satisfying performance last night.
There's something very special about performances done without applause, particularly in a dedicated space like St. Ignatius Chapel.
I'll break out of pedagogical mode for a minute to add my theological comment: to the tradition in which I'm ordained, EVERY space is sacred space. It depends upon you.
I'm not sure that I agree with that 100 percent, however. But, my perspective is limited by context, so who knows?!
Right now, I believe that the meaning of life is not a thing, but a process. You are given life; you must ACHIEVE consciousness.
Okay, we are given musical scores: we must achieve COMMUNICATION. It's not a given. It must be studied and worked and (yes!) sometimes it will take its pound of flesh from us. Artistry and excellence are not reserved for a chosen few. Everyone can achieve artistry and excellence at SOMETHING.
Well, our "something" was a wonderful program done wonderfully, and now on to the next objective.
(Insert sound of bucket hitting the wall)
The next objective is our Spring Concert weekend. Two performances, 24 hours apart. A daunting job even for people who do nothing but perform for their livings. For those of us who have lives (HAH!), even more daunting - but it doesn't have to be an Everest expedition.
Speaking from many years of solo performing, small ensemble work, and work with large groups of both "majors" and "volunteers," I have found a few things proven by time and experience:
1. PREPARATION. I'm a firm believer in Murphy's Law: Nothing is as easy as it looks. Everything takes longer than you think it will. If something can go wrong, it will - and likely at the worst possible moment.
Preparation is the most potent weapon in one's arsenal against Murphy. Preparation and confidence can leave The Great And Terrible Murphy begging in the dust.
2. THOUGHT CONTROL. If you think you can, or think you can't - you're right. Your call.
3. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT, IF PRACTICE IS AS PERFECT AS POSSIBLE. I've learned this the hard way with solo work. Practice begins once you've figured out what to do and how to do it. Everything before that time is - well - figuring things out. The process of figuring things out is crucial and necessary and adds to one's overall abilities, but mastery of the specific skill really gets going once one is able to do many consecutive CORRECT repetitions and use the incorrect repetitions as feedback and course correction.
How does this relate to work with the SC music?
1. Murphy:
a. Nothing is as easy as it looks. Amen to that...in fact, one of the most seductive aspects of the work of a professional is that the professional makes everything look and sound easy. None but other professionals have a clear idea of the BST (blood, sweat and tears) behind that effortless-seeming performance. One of my teachers used to say, "You can either play a piece or you can't. It's either easy or impossible." Yahhhh, back to the metronome... But this is true, in a certain sense. I can't play a piece unless I can play ALL of it the way it should be played. If part of it isn't "there," then I haven't played it.
b. Everything takes longer than you think. One reason why class material is planned so thoroughly and worked so far in advance - small sessions done regularly have a more lasting and beneficial effect than frantic marathons. Long-term preparation gives everyone a good chance to achieve success. Since we're all in this together, we must ALL succeed if we are to say that we're successful.
If only one person isn't with it, this is usually audible (and cringe-worthy).
What about professionals who do amazing "short-order cooking," learning and performing complex music in record time? Well, what about the years upon years, thousands of hours of study and practice underlying these feats? There's still a price to pay.
c. If anything can go wrong, it will - at the worst possible moment. Oh yah, we don't like to think about this, but it does happen. However, having good solid prep in your arsenal will free up energy to deal with the crisis without crashing everything. I 'm thinking of my coach, who gave an unforgettably transcendent solo piano recital hampered by double pneumonia and a temperature of 104 degrees. Or of the recital I played 2 weeks after my mother died. Or of a horrifying experience of my undergrad years, when a good-hearted but incautious janitor moved our newly rented concert grand a little too far forward to clean and watched it crash from the lipless recital hall stage onto a concrete floor - the day of the big choir concert. Examples abound...
I also believe that few difficulties can withstand the constant and careful application of a focused, dedicated mind. THERE IS ALMOST ALWAYS A WAY TO GET IT DONE.
Spring break is the deal-maker or deal-breaker. Fifteen minutes of focused work on the concert music a day will yield amazing and positive dividends. Ten days of diligence also sets up a habit of work that will carry one through the concert week. s
(So does a countdown calendar, daily rewards for work accomplished, and a written record of what was done - but I digress...)
There's something very special about performances done without applause, particularly in a dedicated space like St. Ignatius Chapel.
I'll break out of pedagogical mode for a minute to add my theological comment: to the tradition in which I'm ordained, EVERY space is sacred space. It depends upon you.
I'm not sure that I agree with that 100 percent, however. But, my perspective is limited by context, so who knows?!
Right now, I believe that the meaning of life is not a thing, but a process. You are given life; you must ACHIEVE consciousness.
Okay, we are given musical scores: we must achieve COMMUNICATION. It's not a given. It must be studied and worked and (yes!) sometimes it will take its pound of flesh from us. Artistry and excellence are not reserved for a chosen few. Everyone can achieve artistry and excellence at SOMETHING.
Well, our "something" was a wonderful program done wonderfully, and now on to the next objective.
(Insert sound of bucket hitting the wall)
The next objective is our Spring Concert weekend. Two performances, 24 hours apart. A daunting job even for people who do nothing but perform for their livings. For those of us who have lives (HAH!), even more daunting - but it doesn't have to be an Everest expedition.
Speaking from many years of solo performing, small ensemble work, and work with large groups of both "majors" and "volunteers," I have found a few things proven by time and experience:
1. PREPARATION. I'm a firm believer in Murphy's Law: Nothing is as easy as it looks. Everything takes longer than you think it will. If something can go wrong, it will - and likely at the worst possible moment.
Preparation is the most potent weapon in one's arsenal against Murphy. Preparation and confidence can leave The Great And Terrible Murphy begging in the dust.
2. THOUGHT CONTROL. If you think you can, or think you can't - you're right. Your call.
3. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT, IF PRACTICE IS AS PERFECT AS POSSIBLE. I've learned this the hard way with solo work. Practice begins once you've figured out what to do and how to do it. Everything before that time is - well - figuring things out. The process of figuring things out is crucial and necessary and adds to one's overall abilities, but mastery of the specific skill really gets going once one is able to do many consecutive CORRECT repetitions and use the incorrect repetitions as feedback and course correction.
How does this relate to work with the SC music?
1. Murphy:
a. Nothing is as easy as it looks. Amen to that...in fact, one of the most seductive aspects of the work of a professional is that the professional makes everything look and sound easy. None but other professionals have a clear idea of the BST (blood, sweat and tears) behind that effortless-seeming performance. One of my teachers used to say, "You can either play a piece or you can't. It's either easy or impossible." Yahhhh, back to the metronome... But this is true, in a certain sense. I can't play a piece unless I can play ALL of it the way it should be played. If part of it isn't "there," then I haven't played it.
b. Everything takes longer than you think. One reason why class material is planned so thoroughly and worked so far in advance - small sessions done regularly have a more lasting and beneficial effect than frantic marathons. Long-term preparation gives everyone a good chance to achieve success. Since we're all in this together, we must ALL succeed if we are to say that we're successful.
If only one person isn't with it, this is usually audible (and cringe-worthy).
What about professionals who do amazing "short-order cooking," learning and performing complex music in record time? Well, what about the years upon years, thousands of hours of study and practice underlying these feats? There's still a price to pay.
c. If anything can go wrong, it will - at the worst possible moment. Oh yah, we don't like to think about this, but it does happen. However, having good solid prep in your arsenal will free up energy to deal with the crisis without crashing everything. I 'm thinking of my coach, who gave an unforgettably transcendent solo piano recital hampered by double pneumonia and a temperature of 104 degrees. Or of the recital I played 2 weeks after my mother died. Or of a horrifying experience of my undergrad years, when a good-hearted but incautious janitor moved our newly rented concert grand a little too far forward to clean and watched it crash from the lipless recital hall stage onto a concrete floor - the day of the big choir concert. Examples abound...
I also believe that few difficulties can withstand the constant and careful application of a focused, dedicated mind. THERE IS ALMOST ALWAYS A WAY TO GET IT DONE.
Spring break is the deal-maker or deal-breaker. Fifteen minutes of focused work on the concert music a day will yield amazing and positive dividends. Ten days of diligence also sets up a habit of work that will carry one through the concert week. s
(So does a countdown calendar, daily rewards for work accomplished, and a written record of what was done - but I digress...)
Thursday, March 3, 2016
HAHYAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In 48 hours and 31 minutes, our crew will arrive to set up St. Ignatius Chapel for Lenten Prayer concert.
In 51 hours, the challenging and rewarding labor of many weeks will be distilled into a fine and intoxicating musical potion.
Have a wonderful 2 days (now, it is 47 hours and 5 minutes until we begin with the bell ;-)
And, please take special care of your body tomorrow. Celebratory libations will be all the sweeter for your having waited.
And now, stretch out - put on your headphones, take the Red Pill, and enjoy a little intergalactic excursion...bon voyage.
WHOA. (Theory people: Yes, tonal!)
One of my favorite Ligeti piano works - the "devil's staircase."
And...
Anderson and Roe...whoa!
In 51 hours, the challenging and rewarding labor of many weeks will be distilled into a fine and intoxicating musical potion.
Have a wonderful 2 days (now, it is 47 hours and 5 minutes until we begin with the bell ;-)
And, please take special care of your body tomorrow. Celebratory libations will be all the sweeter for your having waited.
And now, stretch out - put on your headphones, take the Red Pill, and enjoy a little intergalactic excursion...bon voyage.
WHOA. (Theory people: Yes, tonal!)
One of my favorite Ligeti piano works - the "devil's staircase."
And...
And...!
Anderson and Roe...whoa!
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
Lenten Prayer Concert: 18 days and counting down!
Hello everyone,
Yabba-dabba-doo, 18 days until our Lenten Prayer concert!
Lugubrious musical admonition (from my personal past)...don't let this be you! BE READY for this concert!
"Precious Lord" choir...this is for you - a beautiful rendition! The song begins at 1:28
Precious Lord soloists: Study Aretha, and you cannot go wrong. Here are a few clips to get you started. I recommend - listen listen listen - then don your headphones, crank up the volume, and SING ALONG!
1. Oh Mary, Don't You Weep
2. "Precious Memories" - with Rev. James Cleveland
3. God Will Take Care of You
4. How I Got Over
5. Climbing Higher Mountains
"He Watching Over Israel" - Following a whimsical lead ("what if...?") I came upon some interesting material.
Eyes
More eyes.
Everything comes from something, yes?
Interesting stuff here: "night deities" - cultural listing
For those who would like to sink their teeth into some VERY interesting technical, scholarly research regarding "G/god/s who never sleep," look here.
The concept of an unsleeping, ever-watchful God is shared with Islam, another of the Abrahamic religions.
From the Qur'an:
Allah! There is no god but Allah, He is the Living the Self- subsisting Eternal. No slumber can seize him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permits? He knows what (appears to his creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of his knowledge except as He wills. His throne does extend over the heavens and the earth and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. For He is the Most High the Supreme (in glory).
Surah (Chapter) al-Baqarah (The Cow) Qur-an 2:255
(site is here)
"Miserere miseris"
"Miserere miseris" is a 13th century sequence. What's a sequence? Find out here.
13th century - dang, that's the 1200's! This music has survived 800 years of European history!
In the spirit of "None Other Lamb" -
I grew up a "two-toned Baptist." Waaay back in the day, my family joined a huge Southern Baptist church about 10 car-minutes away from the large National Baptist church where my late father (Rev. Murphy H. Peterson) was pastor. Both churches are very near downtown Houston but just the right distance apart to make major religious days (like Easter!) into transportation epics.
For many years, I was privileged with intensive en blanc et noir church music exposure.
Remember a post or two ago, when I shared different versions of "Precious Lord?"
Musical hermeneutics: once a "text" (song, way of doing something, riff, wail, or whatever) has left the barn, it's free-range - and by now, there are as many ways of singing any particular gospel song as there are singers/pianists/organists/congregations!
"There's Something About That Name" - one way...
And, Another Way!
The pianist on this Ann Nesby clip is AMAZING. I doff my plumed hat with admiration and just a bit of green envy. What a beautiful blend of gospel, jazz, and ?! styles. ;-)
I simply MUST end with this one, an all-time personal favorite. Blessings, everyone, this night.
Yabba-dabba-doo, 18 days until our Lenten Prayer concert!
Lugubrious musical admonition (from my personal past)...don't let this be you! BE READY for this concert!
"Precious Lord" choir...this is for you - a beautiful rendition! The song begins at 1:28
Precious Lord soloists: Study Aretha, and you cannot go wrong. Here are a few clips to get you started. I recommend - listen listen listen - then don your headphones, crank up the volume, and SING ALONG!
1. Oh Mary, Don't You Weep
2. "Precious Memories" - with Rev. James Cleveland
3. God Will Take Care of You
4. How I Got Over
5. Climbing Higher Mountains
"He Watching Over Israel" - Following a whimsical lead ("what if...?") I came upon some interesting material.
Eyes
More eyes.
Everything comes from something, yes?
Interesting stuff here: "night deities" - cultural listing
For those who would like to sink their teeth into some VERY interesting technical, scholarly research regarding "G/god/s who never sleep," look here.
The concept of an unsleeping, ever-watchful God is shared with Islam, another of the Abrahamic religions.
From the Qur'an:
Allah! There is no god but Allah, He is the Living the Self- subsisting Eternal. No slumber can seize him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permits? He knows what (appears to his creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of his knowledge except as He wills. His throne does extend over the heavens and the earth and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. For He is the Most High the Supreme (in glory).
Surah (Chapter) al-Baqarah (The Cow) Qur-an 2:255
(site is here)
"Miserere miseris"
"Miserere miseris" is a 13th century sequence. What's a sequence? Find out here.
13th century - dang, that's the 1200's! This music has survived 800 years of European history!
In the spirit of "None Other Lamb" -
I grew up a "two-toned Baptist." Waaay back in the day, my family joined a huge Southern Baptist church about 10 car-minutes away from the large National Baptist church where my late father (Rev. Murphy H. Peterson) was pastor. Both churches are very near downtown Houston but just the right distance apart to make major religious days (like Easter!) into transportation epics.
For many years, I was privileged with intensive en blanc et noir church music exposure.
Remember a post or two ago, when I shared different versions of "Precious Lord?"
Musical hermeneutics: once a "text" (song, way of doing something, riff, wail, or whatever) has left the barn, it's free-range - and by now, there are as many ways of singing any particular gospel song as there are singers/pianists/organists/congregations!
"There's Something About That Name" - one way...
And, Another Way!
The pianist on this Ann Nesby clip is AMAZING. I doff my plumed hat with admiration and just a bit of green envy. What a beautiful blend of gospel, jazz, and ?! styles. ;-)
I simply MUST end with this one, an all-time personal favorite. Blessings, everyone, this night.
Thursday, February 4, 2016
You're never too young to start singing! JUST-FOR-FUN post
Some people get ga-ga over puppy and kitty YouTube clips.
I love singing babies.
Okaaay, that's enough of that...have a great weekend, all!
I have ONE remaining tchotchke for Mendelssohn blog post question responses. Email me with your answer and it could be yours ;-)
New tchotchkes added every week, stay tuned!
I love singing babies.
Okaaay, that's enough of that...have a great weekend, all!
I have ONE remaining tchotchke for Mendelssohn blog post question responses. Email me with your answer and it could be yours ;-)
New tchotchkes added every week, stay tuned!
Monday, February 1, 2016
Mendelssohn Goodies!
REINFORCING LAST WEEK'S CHORALE ASSIGNMENT!!!
It's all about Mendelssohn!
It's all about Mendelssohn!
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
Born February 3, 1809 - Died November 24, 1847
FM's first published composition (a piano quartet) appeared when he was 13. He began piano lessons at age 6 and made his debut as a pianist THREE YEARS later! He wrote TWELVE string symphonies between the ages of 12 and 14.
This fellow was definitely a child prodigy ;-) It's also quite likely that his life was blessedly free of electronic distraction devices, public school athletic functions, raves, and the internet.
*FM was a talented watercolor painter and illustrated many of his letters.
(Bonus points: FM's love for Britain and things British is well-documented. Fast-forward a bit and find a talented avocational painter (this one British) whose :day job" was, shall we say, in a very different field. Hint: this person and Mendelssohn never met face-to-face)
*How/why did Felix Mendelssohn become Felix Mendelssohn - Bartholdy?
Oh my, this is delightful, indeed!
*Back in the day, it seemed against the law to use anything other than the "Wedding March" from FM's stage music for A Midsummer Night's Dream as the recessional at weddings.
What was (over!)used for the processional? Whose music is it, and where does it come from?!
(Whoa, irony!)
If you have time, do listen to all of AMSD The "Nocturne" is simply sublime, and the "scherzo" will instantly transport you to another world.
Bonus points to Shakespeare lovers - listen to AMSD as you read the play. You'll have to listen to the complete AMSD more than once - that's a problem??!!!
*FM completed two oratorios. One might say that the subject matter of these two oratorios expressed something very important about FM's personal upbringing and background. What might that be?
*Who was this?
Read about her here.
*The illustrious Bach family has been studied by scholars and geneticists - why might this be? In my opinion, the Mendelssohn family also merits study by physicians and geneticists. Why might that be?
I remember a more than mildly acrimonious conversation in graduate school - my "opponent" was a Doctoral Person Studying Musicology, who roused my ire by berating (and worse, discounting!!!) Mendelssohn's music. This person felt that one couldn't call Mendelssohn a truly great composer, one who truly expressed the height and depth of human emotion - and why?!! In my (NOT!) friend's opinion, Mendelssohn wasn't great because he didn't suffer enough!
I was socially timid in those days, but I remember indignantly thinking. "You arrogant, IGNORANT bone head! Just look at Mendelssohn's piano music alone: solo, chamber, songs, Songs Without Words - MENDELSSOHN DID SO SUFFER. BUT, HE WAS A HAPPY PERSON WHO HAD MOMENTS OF SUFFERING - NOT A SUFFERING PERSON WHO HAD MOMENTS OF HAPPINESS. YOU KNOW NOTHING. ROBERT SCHUMANN WOULD CORRECTLY IDENTIFY YOU AS A PHILISTINE AND HAVE NOTHING WHATEVER TO DO WITH YOU. AND NEITHER SHALL I, FROM THIS DAY FORWARD. GOOD DAY, SIR."
I'd say that stuff now, without second thoughts or embarrassment.
(Where's that guy anyway? I wish for him a long career as a family and marriage therapist. Or a divorce lawyer.)
Me - I thought FM was aptly named. After years in my field, I have ceased to be titillated by trauma/drama/Sturm/Drang/indigence/mental health issues/social disease/general scandal in accounts of a Famous Music Person's life... ;-) I did, however, have more fun that any reasonable person should have had, prepping for the Music History classes I've taught.
Biographical materials I've consulted suggest that Mendelssohn was a kind, thoughtful, decent man who liked people and who was liked by them in return. He had the ability to disagree without being incorrigibly disagreeable - one of life's most treasured personality traits.
But! what about the ubiquitous "tortured artist" meme? Your thoughts!
If all of this still doesn't convince you, know that Mendelssohn's music is frequently performed on Vulcan.
I know this because I have a second doctorate in Star Trek fan fiction. I am speaking of the One True Trek here - The Original and Only Trek.
AND NOW
Okay, everyone!
I have THREE GLORIOUS TCHOTCHKES, which I will award to the first three people to answer questions marked with * - Please email me through SU email and put "Lee's Lessons" in your subject header.
PS. I don't know about you, but these Very Famous And Important Musical People become most real to me if I find out how they departed this mortal coil. I can't help it - I'm Southern! ("He's dead? Bless him - what did he die of? Did he have a big funeral?")
If you have this in common with me, you might find the following volumes of interest.
This one
And this one
And this article
And...this one!
If you like, check one or more of these through ILL (Inter-Library Loan). Or, ask Uncle GOOGLE to lead you to "deaths of composers." The list I'm posting here is minute, compared to the amount of published research and popular writing on the subject.
One more thing -
Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
Berlin, Germany
Felix Mendelssohn is buried under the central white cross. His sister Fanny (tall brown stone) is buried between her brother and her husband, William Hensel.
All of the notes in "She Weeps Over Rahoon"
Hello Women's Chorale noon section!
Here are ALL of the notes in "She Weeps Over Rahoon," with double identification:
Solfeggio
Actual pitch/note names
Also a bit of reinforcement for the metrics:
12/8 - Four main beats in each measure. Each beat divisible by 3 or some multiple of 3
Term: "Compound quadruple"
Compare this to another, very familiar meter, 4/4:
4/4 - Four main beats in each measure. Each beat divisible by 2 or some multiple of 2
Term: "Simple quadruple"
How about these meters?
3 / 4
2 / 4
6 / 8
9 / 7
5 / 4
5 / 8
Link all the meters on this page with particular choir rep for WQ and SQ
Have fun!
LL&P,
Lee
Here are ALL of the notes in "She Weeps Over Rahoon," with double identification:
Solfeggio
Actual pitch/note names
Also a bit of reinforcement for the metrics:
12/8 - Four main beats in each measure. Each beat divisible by 3 or some multiple of 3
Term: "Compound quadruple"
Compare this to another, very familiar meter, 4/4:
4/4 - Four main beats in each measure. Each beat divisible by 2 or some multiple of 2
Term: "Simple quadruple"
How about these meters?
3 / 4
2 / 4
6 / 8
9 / 7
5 / 4
5 / 8
Link all the meters on this page with particular choir rep for WQ and SQ
Have fun!
LL&P,
Lee
Thursday, January 14, 2016
None Other Lamb - inspirational links.
And also, for the "feel" -
Greatest of all!! Aretha and Mahalia
Mahalia Jackson sang this song right before Martin Luther King "I have a dream" speech.
June 12, 1963 - Medgar Evers
November 22, 1963 - John F Kennedy
February 21, 1965 - Malcolm X
April 4, 1968 - Martin Luther King
June 5, 1968 - Robert F Kennedy
I vividly remember each of these events.
Each of us must do what we can, individually and collectively, to make certain that the noble aspiration and highest vision of these martyred leaders continues to manifest peacefully and joyously in our society. Constant vigilance - the price of freedom.
Every time we meet to unite our voices and our effort in producing beautiful music, we help to realize these noble dreams and aspirations.
We do even BETTER than the original aspirations, for these men, far-seeing as they may have been, still did not envision a place for EVERYONE at the table of justice and equality.
We, however, do envision this place, and more and more of us are taking it. ABOUT TIME!
I blame it all on Star Trek - which didn't exist at the time. We are now fully enlightened and we are doing our part!!
We do even BETTER than the original aspirations, for these men, far-seeing as they may have been, still did not envision a place for EVERYONE at the table of justice and equality.
We, however, do envision this place, and more and more of us are taking it. ABOUT TIME!
I blame it all on Star Trek - which didn't exist at the time. We are now fully enlightened and we are doing our part!!
Keep on keeping on!
Yours in musical solidarity,
Rev. Dr. Comrade Lee
Monday, January 11, 2016
WELCOME BACK EVERYONE!
Hola everybody - welcome to Winter Quarter 2016, WEEK TWO (yikesss!)
A bit of fun inspiration - I found these audio clips of voice coaching sessions with Michael Jackson and his coach for over 25 years, Seth Riggs.
Part 1:
Part 2:
Seth Riggs - memories of MJ:
0000000000000000000000
More in a bit...I'm juggling 5 tasks right now and it's #4's turn ;-)
LL&P,
Lee
A bit of fun inspiration - I found these audio clips of voice coaching sessions with Michael Jackson and his coach for over 25 years, Seth Riggs.
Part 1:
Part 2:
Seth Riggs - memories of MJ:
0000000000000000000000
More in a bit...I'm juggling 5 tasks right now and it's #4's turn ;-)
LL&P,
Lee
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