Victory!

I did it! Business plan written! (Alright, alright...it is still totally missing vision and mission statements, but we will just mark those as "works-in-progress." haha!) After I finished my last blog post, I was kind of tired, and even though I was so excited about writing, I kind of just wanted to take a nap and watch TV the rest of the day. But then, I found a lovely little template that Bill must've given me upon our first meeting in December, and the info for my business plan just zoomed onto the pages. It is now off in cyberspace, visiting the computers of a few mentors.

I've had a rather productive few days! I feel like I am in charge of my career and making this happen for real. Only time will tell, but I'm already on this crazy boat, so let's keep on rolling! ;)

On a quick side note, I am reading a book on King George VI and Lionel Logue right now (I am slightly obsessed with British royalty...and I just find his story so fascinating: it's the beginnings of speech therapy!), and I found this quote in the book this afternoon:

"Time and money spent in improving the voice pay a larger interest than any other investment." ~William Gladstone 

All that school debt I have and am acquiring now seems to have far more justification! hehe! ;)

Go, Go, Gadget Productivity!

This morning, I kick-started my day with a brilliant webinar and conference call with the ever-supportive and informative Bill Bennett. (Just a little shout-out and GIANT THANK-YOU to Bill for all your time, guidance, and PATIENCE! I appreciate it through-and-through! ...And thanks for dragging me along and forcing me to stop avoiding this ordeal of "business plans.")

I was first introduced to Bill at a seminar given at my conservatory in December. Since then, he has helped me to revise and tweak my resume and such. I am so thankful to have such wonderful, invaluable resources and encouraging guidance in my life.

I now have 7 pages of notes in hand and am jazzed up to write my business plan. (I think I ought to do it now while the productivity juices are rolling, too!) I've been given a week deadline, which is exactly the kick I need to conquer this task, which usually sparks stress, tension, and slight panic. However, those feelings have been eased. Time to get creative! ;)

And if I learned nothing else--which, of course, I absolutely did!!!--I learned how to mute my phone (obviously, this chick isn't the most "techie" girl out there because I definitely had to google that one... haha!), the ability to use like five technologies at once, and discovered even more web-based resources for singing research.

P.S. Bill, if you ever need a focus group for the user-friendliness of your new software version, count me in! (See above comment on technologically-ineptness!)

Thoughts from Upside Down

This afternoon, I had the great privilege of singing art songs with a prospective collaborative pianist. He and I met for a brief rehearsal prior to performing for a handful of professors. He was a lovely young man, and it was a joy to collaborate on two pieces, a Debussy and a Brahms. The Brahms had especial depth and emotion...despite my few unanticipated breaths I ended up taking! How fascinating! ;)  What struck me closest to the heart, though, was what he said at the end of our rehearsal. He said, "You have a very nice voice...and a great personality, especially for a singer! Not at all like the singers I normally have to work with."

I was flattered by his compliment, but even more so, I was startled by the reminder of how so many singers come across to others. How so many musicians or people, in general, come across to others! It's a rather upsetting reality. Why can't we all just be nice to each other and work together to bring the life and spirit of this beautiful repertoire of music off the page into the world around us?

There isn't a place in the music for big egos. Nor in life, really. That's never what it's been about. We, musicians, are here to share, not to show. It is our job to give, not take. Compliments are a lovely bonus, but that isn't our purpose for creating music. If you are in it for the "Fame" and "Glory," then it will always be superficial (and it's probably time to rethink your career choices...). We are indebted to the music, not the other way around. Granted, it is a difficult balance when you need to "sell yourself" or impress during an audition or competition. Yet, I feel that you impress more upon their thoughts when you offer a true and sincere performance.

Okay, I will step off my soap box for now. But I can't promise this soprano will turn right-side up, again, just yet... ;)

:)

Boston HarborFest

Just a few photos from some little explorations around town last week. ;) I really need to start using my camera, again. My ipod camera just isn't as good.

Mysteries of Time

Today, I went to put on my watch, only to find that it had stopped a few minutes short of some 7 o'clock hour. I thought, "Hmm. How fascinating. Oh, well," and set it aside. Yet, I couldn't help picking it up, again, trying to reset it...and then wondering if it was a "sign." No, I wouldn't say I am particularly superstitious, but I'll admit I do believe in signs...fate. The 30 seconds that followed found me staring at the watch and thinking of one of my favorite Billy Joel tunes, "Vienna."

And all this just a day or so after I was on the brink of booking a plane ticket to Europe without any pre-thought. The only thing that inevitably stopped me was the realization of, "And with WHAT imaginary money am I going to pay for this?!" Damn you, money!

For some, it's the winter blues. For me, it happens in the summertime. Social life is slow, jealousy is abound for those that get to travel and explore, inspiration is slightly short-circuited, funds are low, patience are thin, grouchiness from the heat sets it, eyes are heavy with fatigue (although, that is really nothing new! ha!), mind is fogged with worry.  But for what? I have what I need. Maybe not everything that I want, but what I need is the important part. Or is it? I saw a quote yesterday that money can buy happiness...not in material things, but in experiences. The disappointing reality of that is you actually have to have the expense account to pay for those experiences.

I also read in Metro News the same day that there is no more "9 to 5 workday." Instead, people are constantly working, thanks to technology. Most people will have checked/responded to work email by 7am, be in the office earlier than the required 9am, stay later than 5 pm, then take work home and can receive work-related calls up till 9pm (and judging by the number of class emails sent out by my professors after midnight, it can extend even later). So we are workaholics. Is money really worth that much? I understand survival (believe me..."starving artist" here! haha!), but our society is obsessed with making money. And when that money is made, it's never enough. So then we become selfish and greedy.

Life is short. If next week were it, would it have been worth it to have spent our time trying to save a penny...or livin' it up? I'm sure all this is just coming from someone who hasn't had an actual vacation in a long time...and the rest, from a girl who is afraid of letting life pass her by just because she doesn't have a glorious trust fund to finance her adventures. An unattached dreamer that can do anything she wants...with only one thing stopping her.

Yes, there is something to be said about being content where you are, and I am...but it isn't always roses and gumdrops. Those roses still have thorns for pricking, and gumdrops still get stuck in your teeth. We all need a break now and again, too.

The funny thing about this whole spiel is that I just finished re-reading conductor Ben Zander's' book The Art of Possibility. It is one of my favorites. Beautifully-written and very truthful. He and his wife wrote it together. I read it around sophomore year of college and recently decided to pull it out, again. The whole book, they discuss creating possibility instead of a downward spiral of defeat and discouragement, the danger of taking oneself too seriously, etc., etc., etc. I could spend the rest of the day quoting the book on here. I mean, there is a whole giant chapter on "being with the way things are." Nonetheless, I continually find myself turning a "downward spiral" into a happy tune of possibility. (I know, that sounds totally cheesy, but read the book, and you'll understand what I mean.)

The truth is, I am a very lucky girl. And I have so many wonderful people in my life. There's a lot of crap in my life, but who doesn't have that to deal with, too?! Of course, I would drop everything in an instant to go traveling for a couple of weeks, but until that can happen, I'll walk down the street singing this song. ;) 
(And a glass--or two--of  wine can never hurt! hehe!)