When you sing, you begin with Do, Re, Miiiiii

Monday's Stagecoach session went very well - we had some tutoring time with the singing teacher, and she has officially given us the solos for one of the songs, so Michael and I are singing a duet during Vocal Aid *grin*

We began working on the details and I let Michael and Ruth (our singing teacher) do all the work of figuring out the harmonies. It was very cool that she worked WITH Michael and let him explore instead of just telling him "Sing this and sing that". They came up with some interesting stuff that is definitely going to keep Michael occupied over the next four weeks, and his vocal chords are certainly getting their exercise! Me, I just have to worry about the melody, and about putting enough power into my voice. And not being flat as a pancake on the high notes. And reaching that really low note that feels like it's coming from my stomach. And remembering that bit in the bridge where I always come in late... *meep*

We are practicing like crazy, mostly because we want it to sound good just for its own sake, and we'd work just as hard even for an audience of one, but I'll admit that it's also partly because... well... the Mediterranean Conference Centre seats 1,400 people and that's a LOT of people to mess up in front of! We've both sung and led the singing in church loads of times, but this is a rather different kind of singing, we've never done this before!

So I'm trying to bring out my inner diva (she's still shuffling around in her slippers and dressing-gown, and can't find her glittery eyeshadow) and Michael is getting ever deeper into the weird and wonderful world of harmony and counterpoint.

And today we learnt something that I will share with you as one of my Words of Wisdom (WoW):

If you have a fragile sense of self-esteem, then under no circumstances are you to go to a radio studio and record yourself singing, because hearing all your flat notes, missed cues and delayed slurs will surely have a deleterious effect.

It was a humbling experience, let me tell you...

But it was cool to hear the bits that we are getting right - some of the harmonies especially. We improved a bit with each go-round, and it was fun being able to really belt out the song in a soundproof room without having to worry about the neighbours calling the SPCA re: injured animals ;-)

I'd put a clip here for you to listen to but Michael has declared today's recordings as being unfit for human consumption... maybe after some more practice...

*tra la laaaaaaa*

Comments

[Sharon]

Gawd help us, she used deleterious in a sentence... If those silly examiners don't give you an A, I'll personally come down and make them... *still trying to cope with the use of deleterious in a sentence... *faint*

[Sharon]

And about the topic of your post generally and the WOW specifically... go here for a perfect example of someone who obviously didn't listen to themselves as much as they should have... there should be an innate warning voice which says: don't do it, don't do it *lol* I'm sure your singing is much better than hers! Oh lordy, the pain, the pain!

[Sharon]

Oops the stupid thing skipped my link -- http://www.lispjun.com/lispjun/video_001.asp>

[Taramara]

Michael has declared today's recordings as being unfit for human consumption...

Thank God for small mercies =)

And who the heck uses deleteriuos in a sentence? *facepalm* You know, I'm glad for your sake that you're not still in 6th form, because that alone would be enough to get you teased and tripped up for 2 years (yes, kids at 6th form are still that immature).

[Cory]

Please let us know each time you will be singing. I will have to plan my trip there around those times. I have a feeling that my head will explode if I am subjected to that kind of torture.

[MaltaGirl]

Sharon, having half the internet cafe stare at me when I giggled at your first comment was bad enough, but it wasn't as embarrassing as me snickering my way through that video... I feel much better about singing now, I must get Michael to watch it too. But not my singing teacher, miskina, she would have kittens.

Taramara, just as well I only spoke Maltese in sixth form, lol. I have had three people tell me, in the last month, that "you use long words when you talk!" and now you're all making me feel self-concious about it. Maybe I should revert to my monosyllabic teenage speech patterns. Isn't it ironic that 'monosyllabic' is a polysyllabic? Don't look at me like that, I have to practice for Monday's exam! Ok, I'll shut up now. <--- all monosyllabics! Oops, I did it again. Sorry.

Cory, ahahahahaha, if you're not going to be around on the 27th and 28th of this month, then I guess that we will just have to give a special performance later on, just for you. Muahahahaha...

[Reesa]

Uuuuuu... just one thing - there's a slight mistake in the di-ve link - the dates of Vocal Aid are 27th &28th May (not 26, 27 & 28th). When I send out the new press release (soon!), I'll send it to you as well or at least a link.

[il-Midneb]

god help our ears...:p

[MaltaGirl]

Thanks, Reesa!

Midneb... :-P