Rejoice...greatly?

Well, sadly, that second trip to the Berkshires last week got cancelled. :*(  C'est la vie. It rained there, too, so it probably wouldn't have been that pleasant. And I wouldn't have gotten to have chats and froyo and slurpies and a LONG walk from Cambridge across the Charles to Boston with Edwin! Such fun! :)

It was also good because I had something else I needed to concentrate on this past weekend...

I received an email on Thursday asking if I was available to sing a specific piece for something. And not just any specific piece..."Rejoice, greatly" from Handel's Messiah, aka a giant thorn in the side of most sopranos (...and being a budding lyric coloratura, it's an even more pertinent piece for me to get under my belt...and in an utmost pristine way!)

Fast forward to Friday afternoon when my vocal coach pops his head into my practice room and declares that I have to sing it. I about burst into tears right then and there. Sure, I know the piece because I've worked on it and actually fairly recently in a lesson, but never have I performed it.

Five minutes later, my pianist calls and hears in my voice that I was on the verge of crying. Unfortunately, he had to cancel our meeting that afternoon, but he saved the day by offering to meet with me to help me go through it on Saturday afternoon. Mark is the greatest! I am so thankful to be working with him on my recital over the next year! :)

Fast forward, again, to Tuesday afternoon. "Rejoice, faintly" Day. haha! Of course, my reflux chooses this week to suddenly have an outburst of unexplainable problems, so Lord only knows what sound was going to come from me, let alone flying coloratura that I needed to happen! However, I've learned through previous experiences that most times, I am the only one who knows my reflux is bothering me. Even Jayne is typically shocked when I reveal that I was having a bout because she couldn't hear anything amiss. Reflux can be a demon like that. Thus, I try to rely on my technique and breath rather than aural sensory feedback and can then proceed to "sing over it" in a sense, through a higher vocal placement. (I do have to say, though, that singing in the Wolfinsohn Room at the school is one of my favorites...makes the sound so round thanks to all the resonant wood surrounding you. Mmhmm! So fun!)

And you know what? It actually turned out pretty darn well! It really was rather joyous to sing. :) No, it was certainly not perfect, but that was okay for the intents and purposes for which I was asked to sing this aria. It was also a great opportunity for me to see and measure my progress on this aria and what still needs work before I perform it for the "real deal." In the end, I thanked my vocal coach for "forcing" me to sing it. I needed that push. :) 

School begins in a mere three weeks, and I am so geared up for this year! It's going to be intense but totally wonderful...and with a giant dollop of crazy! ;) Minus the arias I need to come up with for Opera Workshop, most of my repertoire is set and chock full of exciting stuff! My teacher and I couldn't possibly be a more perfect fit, I'm discovering new things and understanding more things in my voice, I have a "business plan," I am already signed up to sing in the first masterclass of the semester, I've been kicking my butt into gear for that darn piano proficiency exam, and there's a recital dress (and shoes!) that I have my eye on... Muahaha! ;) I love my life! I love my school! And I love what I do!

Today, I met with Mark (aka "The Piano Hero" hehe!) to get a jump start on my gigantic music portfolio. He is so wonderful! I had to leave to go to work, but I was having so much fun that I didn't want to go! Can't wait to meet with him, again, next week! :)