I received a call and was assured that my circumstances prevented me from being asked to sing for weddings. I was on normal ground again. I was happy to receive the call and I'm back on track to singing for them again. Things are falling into place. :)
Monday, November 10, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Yearn
I miss singing for weddings and I haven't been chosen to sing for any for a long time. I hope I get the chance again but by God's will. If it's for personal glory though, I know I shouldn't get it.
Sometimes I do feel a little left out when others are included in them but I guess they are better singers than me and definitely less timid.
Sometimes I do feel a little left out when others are included in them but I guess they are better singers than me and definitely less timid.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Sweet harmonies amidst a deary silence
I was on the way to church the next day and passed 2 men singing for their income. They put a smile on my face because they sang religious songs which are my favourite genre of music. Yes, they sang in tune as well! This prepared me for the prayer service I was going to as well as made my journey more enjoyable in the morning silence. :)
I gave a dollar to one of them who was blind. I told him his singing was inspiring, for lack of a better word then. He asked which church I go to and whether he could hold my hands. That was his way of thanking me. I'm glad I made his day. :)
I gave a dollar to one of them who was blind. I told him his singing was inspiring, for lack of a better word then. He asked which church I go to and whether he could hold my hands. That was his way of thanking me. I'm glad I made his day. :)
New and yet old responsibilities
I received two pieces of news that required me to take on responsible roles in both cases. It is the first one that I have to work more on. I'm asked to sing for a baptism service besides the two weddings I already have to sing for. For that service, I have to sing Schubert's Ave Maria as a solo. It is a heavy classical piece and I don't exactly have the best voice. I guess I'm approached only because my job's flexible enough to accommodate it.
Nonetheless (pause) I will try my very best to learn it and bring it out with my own flavour. I think trying to sound like others will only place pressure on myself and affect what I can produce. Every singer's diff but special in his (generic term) own way.
I am capable of it but scared and pessimistic. I must overcome this psychological barrier, especially on the day itself. The last time I heard someone sing Ave Maria solo, she was cool and confident though she was out of tune. I think it's worse to be conscious of the mistakes one makes while singing than to act as if they weren't there at all. People may think they were part of a different version of the song. Hehe.
I'm listening to the melody and printed out the lyrics. I try to sing it on my own and have even printed out the English translation so that in understanding what the lyrics mean, I can sing it better to the point of praying it. Of course, I've sought help from the organist accompanying me during the service too. We're going to practise it together, since it is in 2 weeks time.
Tiff was sweet enough to offer to sing it with me but I know I cannot depend on others to boost my courage and confidence. I must try to do it on my own. I'm not exactly a young girl. I know though that I must listen to the music and not just sing. I must sing in time to it. Wish me luck!
The second responsibility is to be part of a working committee for a church musical to be performed in public. The logistics team would be another name for it, I reckon. I'm not exactly very good in this area but I guess the tasks allocated to me will be catered to my capabilities. I am appreciative of being picked as one of the members since it indicates that I am responsible, capable and reliant in completing tasks assigned to me.
My initial reaction was one of dread but I told myself the above and I'm more fine with it now. Still, I can't let this get to my head, bordering on arrogance. At every moment, I must remember I'm God's instrument and my talents are from Him.
I've not sung for weddings for a very long time now since I started working. So now I'm going back to what I had left to others and moving on to new things like baptism services and singing a classical piece SOLO. I used to be more involved in choir before I went away for a while. Now it seems like I'm getting back to that same level. Oh well.
I can't control circumstances but I can control my reactions to them. I remember a friend telling me that it seemed new responsibilities had been given to me and my talents were enhanced many years back when the same thing happened to me. I guess this truth has surfaced again. Let's see how life turns out for me with time. It is interesting with these new projects but yet challenging.
Nonetheless (pause) I will try my very best to learn it and bring it out with my own flavour. I think trying to sound like others will only place pressure on myself and affect what I can produce. Every singer's diff but special in his (generic term) own way.
I am capable of it but scared and pessimistic. I must overcome this psychological barrier, especially on the day itself. The last time I heard someone sing Ave Maria solo, she was cool and confident though she was out of tune. I think it's worse to be conscious of the mistakes one makes while singing than to act as if they weren't there at all. People may think they were part of a different version of the song. Hehe.
I'm listening to the melody and printed out the lyrics. I try to sing it on my own and have even printed out the English translation so that in understanding what the lyrics mean, I can sing it better to the point of praying it. Of course, I've sought help from the organist accompanying me during the service too. We're going to practise it together, since it is in 2 weeks time.
Tiff was sweet enough to offer to sing it with me but I know I cannot depend on others to boost my courage and confidence. I must try to do it on my own. I'm not exactly a young girl. I know though that I must listen to the music and not just sing. I must sing in time to it. Wish me luck!
The second responsibility is to be part of a working committee for a church musical to be performed in public. The logistics team would be another name for it, I reckon. I'm not exactly very good in this area but I guess the tasks allocated to me will be catered to my capabilities. I am appreciative of being picked as one of the members since it indicates that I am responsible, capable and reliant in completing tasks assigned to me.
My initial reaction was one of dread but I told myself the above and I'm more fine with it now. Still, I can't let this get to my head, bordering on arrogance. At every moment, I must remember I'm God's instrument and my talents are from Him.
I've not sung for weddings for a very long time now since I started working. So now I'm going back to what I had left to others and moving on to new things like baptism services and singing a classical piece SOLO. I used to be more involved in choir before I went away for a while. Now it seems like I'm getting back to that same level. Oh well.
I can't control circumstances but I can control my reactions to them. I remember a friend telling me that it seemed new responsibilities had been given to me and my talents were enhanced many years back when the same thing happened to me. I guess this truth has surfaced again. Let's see how life turns out for me with time. It is interesting with these new projects but yet challenging.
My musical endeavours
As I had mentioned, I have to sing for 3 special occasions. I went for practice with the organist just now. Since I had listened to Schubert's Ave Maria countless times on my own, I was able to sing it. I was singing using my musical instinct acquired from being in the church choir while the organist was playing the chords. That was a job done well, according to her. So I should be ready to sing it on the actual day. Thankfully too, it is just one verse because the second verse isn't as easy to learn.
We also practised the other hymns like Morning Has Broken and the responsorial psalms. We sorted out the other details pertaining to these services as well. In the midst of it all, I was aware even more of my pitch problem. I know I've always had it but in terms of singing notes accurately, the inaccuracy degree wasn't that bad and I managed to get them eventually. I didn't know how bad it was till this practice.
I had to sing a song to her while she wrote the score accordingly. What I knew in my head was not sung out exactly, so when she played it on the organ, it didn't sound like what was in my head. It was frustrating for us so I suggested that she listen to the CD I have. My pitch and rhythm wasn't fixed and I would change them with each attempt. She told me I have the voice to sing but it's my pitch and rhythm that hinder my full singing production. Darn it! I'll listen to the CD just like how I did for Schubert's piece.
This problem's hereditary though my mum's is worse. However I don't see a point in blaming her or getting angry with her. I think I should solve it. This will affect my learning of music in choir as well as for services. She offered to teach me to read notes and told me to get a keyboard so I could play out the notes. I think I should set out to do so. My hearing problem, or pitch problem rather, causes me to sound sharp, flat or even out of tune as a result. What is more, I'm a blaster so one can tell that I'm the one with the problem. I must listen and pray more!!
We also practised the other hymns like Morning Has Broken and the responsorial psalms. We sorted out the other details pertaining to these services as well. In the midst of it all, I was aware even more of my pitch problem. I know I've always had it but in terms of singing notes accurately, the inaccuracy degree wasn't that bad and I managed to get them eventually. I didn't know how bad it was till this practice.
I had to sing a song to her while she wrote the score accordingly. What I knew in my head was not sung out exactly, so when she played it on the organ, it didn't sound like what was in my head. It was frustrating for us so I suggested that she listen to the CD I have. My pitch and rhythm wasn't fixed and I would change them with each attempt. She told me I have the voice to sing but it's my pitch and rhythm that hinder my full singing production. Darn it! I'll listen to the CD just like how I did for Schubert's piece.
This problem's hereditary though my mum's is worse. However I don't see a point in blaming her or getting angry with her. I think I should solve it. This will affect my learning of music in choir as well as for services. She offered to teach me to read notes and told me to get a keyboard so I could play out the notes. I think I should set out to do so. My hearing problem, or pitch problem rather, causes me to sound sharp, flat or even out of tune as a result. What is more, I'm a blaster so one can tell that I'm the one with the problem. I must listen and pray more!!
Comaraderie
My allowance for a second chance has exposed me to the revelries of comaraderie domestically and collectively. When the situation permits, there is light bantering and humour interposed in work, though this is a rarity to be treasured. The sad thing about it is that it can be achieved only with exclusivity trained and used to seriousness and focus. When doors are open to facilitate increase in numbers and activity, new elements can't blend in but yet they can't be extricated for fear of emotional insensitivity. Sigh, oh well.
A Musical Experience
I mentioned having to sing Schubert's Ave Maria for a solo in one of my earlier entries. Thank goodness it was only a verse because I have difficulty mastering the second one. Anyway, I think prayer and trust in God really helped.
My earlier song was also pretty ok and in fact, I was not even nervous, comparably. The only thing was whether I could be heard through the mike. I paid attention to my notes, especially the high ones. Though there was an additional hymn at the very last minute, it was something I was familiar with and the high notes were reached pretty ok.
Before the solo, my heart wasn't even beating fast, as it'll normally do. I was pretty ok and though I couldn't hold a few notes, it was rather fine. There were basically praises from the listeners but all credit goes to my God. He caused me to find my voice again, one which has been missing for a very long time. Instead of the round and heavy tone I have, it was operatic, befitting the solo piece.
Then I went for a keyboard demo and it was really fun playing with the buttons and trying out the various sounds. I should be buying this particular model. I love the functions provided and it's cheaper than the first model I came across. It teaches me how to play and I can self-learn as a result. I really love the piano sound, especially when it is played by a friend of mine. So when I learn to play, I'll probably use that sound.
My earlier song was also pretty ok and in fact, I was not even nervous, comparably. The only thing was whether I could be heard through the mike. I paid attention to my notes, especially the high ones. Though there was an additional hymn at the very last minute, it was something I was familiar with and the high notes were reached pretty ok.
Before the solo, my heart wasn't even beating fast, as it'll normally do. I was pretty ok and though I couldn't hold a few notes, it was rather fine. There were basically praises from the listeners but all credit goes to my God. He caused me to find my voice again, one which has been missing for a very long time. Instead of the round and heavy tone I have, it was operatic, befitting the solo piece.
Then I went for a keyboard demo and it was really fun playing with the buttons and trying out the various sounds. I should be buying this particular model. I love the functions provided and it's cheaper than the first model I came across. It teaches me how to play and I can self-learn as a result. I really love the piano sound, especially when it is played by a friend of mine. So when I learn to play, I'll probably use that sound.
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