Yes, Family Weekend Concerts - Friday October 20th!
Followed by Kickoff Dinner - Friday November 3rd!
Where HAS Fall Quarter gone?!!!
Our recent spate of cold (and, today - excessively rainy and windy) weather inspires me to say a few words here about self-care.
Between now and concert night, it's important to give your body a break if at all possible.
You need sufficient sleep, sufficient food, plenty of water, and a calm and alert mind.
SUFFICIENT SLEEP.
This varies according to each person's physiology and temperament - HOWEVER, "authorities" seem to agree that even allowing for variations in physiology, temperament, and activity/stress level, there is a baseline - a minimum number of restful hours necessary for good mental and physical functioning.
Do you know what your "Number" is?
If you don't, I highly recommend that you perform experiments until you are able to find your baseline.
I'm not talking about "lying down with eyes closed but mind racing at warp speed." I'm talking about uninterrupted hours of good, healing, restorative REM sleep. (Look it up)
Musical performance requires total alertness - tightrope alertness. Ensemble performance introduces the added requirement of SIMULTANEOUS PRECISION. Our reflexes need to be as tuneful as our instruments.
FOOD.
Please eat as well as you possibly can on Thursday AND Friday. Avoid things that "linger" on the way down (dairy products, for example). Eat a light meal right before coming to the pre-concert rehearsal. Top this off with a light, protein-rich nosh at 6.30 and another nosh at 8.00 (A single protein bar broken in half will do nicely). Be sure that you have eaten enough complex cars to keep your blood sugar levels stable.
WATER.
Drink drink drink drink drink drink water water water! Hot water! Cool water! Tepid water! Water with citrus squeezes! Herbal teas! Stay away from the coffee (which can crash the blood sugars and dry out the inside of the mouth). STAY AWAY FROM ALCOHOL!!
CALM ALERTNESS.
The breathing exercises that we do in rehearsals aren't just for rehearsals. Practie deep even enagaged breathing throughout the day, every day. Your singing apparatus is also your speaking apparatus. Energize your speech with the same core energy, focus, support and resonance as your singing.
Give yourself a short and restful walk before the concert on Friday. How many of us walk simply to be walking? We always seem to be rushing off towards an intended destination. Try walking simply for the pleasure of walking- of engaging your breath and body core in perfect coordination, of feeling yourself move through space with centered calm and grace.
COMMUNITY BUILDING.
When you greet each other, really look into each other's eyes. Send each other thoughts of acceptance, positive emotion, encouragement, and support. We are all in this together!
NUTS AND BOLTS.
1. Attire: Your choir T-shirt over black pants. Do not wear black jeans. Do not wear black leggings.
2. Shoes: Black shoes with quiet heels. Don't clack.
3. Hair: Pulled back and fastened, away from the face.
4. Jewelry: Discreet earrings are okay. Pendants and bling are NOT okay.
5. Scent: Shower up and use deodorant. If you're in doubt, ask someone for olfactory feedback.
6. Scent 2: Please DO NOT WEAR ANY STRONGLY SCENTED PRODUCTS. It would be best if you were determinedly scent-free. Remember that your riser-mates may be living with sensitivities.
7. Stuff: We'll be able to lock purses, etc. in the sacristy before the concerts. It would be best if you come with as little "stuff" as possible. The sacristy is small and we are many :-)
8. Smoking: Do not smoke while wearing your concert outfit.
9. Talking: Consider yourself on Vocal Rest just before and between concerts. You /will/ be very excited and enthusiastic about the performances. Please channel this excitement and enthusiasm into the actual performances - don't dissipate this vital energy through excessive and/or loud talking. Remember: energy flows where attention goes!
I look forward to our first roll-out on Friday! You have all done an immense amount of work in a short time and you have every right to be proud of your accomplishments. You're serious choral singers now! Look the part - act the part - make this a wonderful, memorable experience for our audience - - - AND FOR OURSELVES!!!!!
In musical solidarity,
Lee
