Greetings from Texas! I'm kicking myself because I never followed through on posting about the end of my June challenge. Since my last post, I have packed up everything I own, shipped myself back to the great state of Texas, taught 3 weeks of summer school, and attended 2 weeks of teacher inservice trainings! Not much time for blogging, but it's bothering me that I have closed out this challenge, so here it is:
Daily Practice
I won't give the day by day break down, but I was practicing every day either by myself or taking Bettina and Kurt's Technique, Ensemble, and Performance classes. I performed Something to Talk About in Bettina's class for two weeks and Hungry in Kurt's class. Both teachers helped me focus on intention for the songs so that I could convey meaning to my audience and not just focus on trying to hit notes. I still get jittery as I take my walk to the piano and then out to center, but I can't believe how far I've come since the Fall semester when I would peer in the window of performance classes and think, "I could NEVER do that!" Hooray for growth!
Private Lessons and Coaching
I completed all of my private lessons with Kurt, and he even brought in Tim during my last session so I could work with an accompianist. Big takeaways, I need to start pushing myself for volume and presence. I have to be willing to be bold and make strong choices rather than holding back and being so caught up in technique. I'm excited to find a teacher here in Houston so I can continue training and getting better! (I miss you Kurt!)
Demo
I recorded my second demo, Hungry, on the last day before I left NYC. Obviously, I'm always going to say that I'm still working on my technique, and there were parts throughout that I wish I could have done better, but for my second time doing this, I'm still really proud of myself.
I'm particularly proud of the arrangement, because unlike Falling for You, I did not have a main track that I was using to model myself after. Hungry is one of those praise and worship songs that everyone does differently, and I couldn't find the original song for the instrumental track that I used. At first I was a little nervous about that, but it was exciting to have the creative freedom to piece the song together the way I wanted to. Also Lane was amazing, and he helped me to write out some harmonies and background lines that I sang under my melody. So ALL the vocals on this track are me. Those of you who know me know how much I struggle with hearing harmonies and breaking away from the melody, so this was a giant leap for me! (Thanks, Bettina, for all the vocal ensemble classes!)
Anyways, here it is if you want to LISTEN to it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNLzg32hRFI
Finally, thanks for all of your support this past year, and specifically during these two months of challenges as I learned to conquer one of my biggest fears! I appreciate all of you, and good luck to each of you as you pursue your dreams!
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
June Challenge- Day 10
So I have moved my NYC departure date up by two weeks because it was so much easier to find someone to sublet at the beginning of the month, and it also saved me half a month's rent. As as result, my focus has shifted just a bit, and I'm not going to complete all of the challenge goals I originally set out for myself. It pains me to not reach each one of my specific goals, but I am still using these last few days to take advantage of everything New York has to offer!
Daily Practice
Tuesday- Vocal Tech and Vocal Ensemble (Bettina)
Wednesday- Vocal Tech (Kurt)
Thursday- no practice... but for good reason! I was selected to be an audience member of the GLEE movie being taped in Jersey. I was gone the entire day and didn't get back until after midnight.
Friday- Vocal Tech (Kurt)
Saturday- Private Lesson (Kurt)
Sunday- practiced at home
Monday- Vocal Tech and Vocal Performance (Bettina)
In my private with Kurt, he noticed some lower notes in my range that he hadn't heard on me before. He says I should start looking at some Alto repertoire and try shifting some of my other songs down 2 half steps. We played with a series of lower songs to see where they sat in my voice:
Don't Know Why- Nora Jones
Something to Talk About- Bonnie Rait
Bust Your Windows- Mercedes (Glee cast)
There Is None Like You- Watermark with Shane and Shane
Rolling in the Deep- Adele
They were definitely a lot more comfortable! I obviously want to keep challenging my upper range and practicing my old songs, but I'm excited to explore songs that sit in my chest a little longer and allow for a richer quality.
Non-dance exercise
I've started a new routine of waking up at 6am and going for a 3-mile walk six days a week. Last week was my first week doing it, and I went five times! Not a bad start. I'm trying to start getting into the routines I'll have during the school year. During the school year, I have to work out in the morning otherwise I'll never do it. I'm forcing myself to no longer snooze in the mornings and to put myself to bed at a decent hour at night. It's only June, so I'm excited to already be on the right track!
Dance Classes
Monday- Ballet (Goheen) and Contemporary (Mousset)
Tuesday- Contemporary (Mousset)
Wednesday and Friday- Ballet (Goheen)
This week's words of wisdom from Beth Goheen:
"Never compare yourself to others; always compete with yourself, and learn from others."
So true!!!
Healthy Eating
So this is one of the big areas of the challenge that's been hit by the new departure-date hurricane. I have a long list of places that I want to experience before I leave NYC, and a lot of them involve restaurants, dessert shops, and bars. And to sweeten the pot, I have two besties coming in town to help me paint the town. Realistically, there's no way that I'll be staying under 1500 calories in these last few days. I'm still being wise and health-conscious, but I'm pretty sure there's not anything at Serendipity that's under 1000 calories. :)
Challenge Calculator
Livin' the dream.
Daily Practice
Tuesday- Vocal Tech and Vocal Ensemble (Bettina)
Wednesday- Vocal Tech (Kurt)
Thursday- no practice... but for good reason! I was selected to be an audience member of the GLEE movie being taped in Jersey. I was gone the entire day and didn't get back until after midnight.
Friday- Vocal Tech (Kurt)
Saturday- Private Lesson (Kurt)
Sunday- practiced at home
Monday- Vocal Tech and Vocal Performance (Bettina)
In my private with Kurt, he noticed some lower notes in my range that he hadn't heard on me before. He says I should start looking at some Alto repertoire and try shifting some of my other songs down 2 half steps. We played with a series of lower songs to see where they sat in my voice:
Don't Know Why- Nora Jones
Something to Talk About- Bonnie Rait
Bust Your Windows- Mercedes (Glee cast)
There Is None Like You- Watermark with Shane and Shane
Rolling in the Deep- Adele
They were definitely a lot more comfortable! I obviously want to keep challenging my upper range and practicing my old songs, but I'm excited to explore songs that sit in my chest a little longer and allow for a richer quality.
Non-dance exercise
I've started a new routine of waking up at 6am and going for a 3-mile walk six days a week. Last week was my first week doing it, and I went five times! Not a bad start. I'm trying to start getting into the routines I'll have during the school year. During the school year, I have to work out in the morning otherwise I'll never do it. I'm forcing myself to no longer snooze in the mornings and to put myself to bed at a decent hour at night. It's only June, so I'm excited to already be on the right track!
Dance Classes
Monday- Ballet (Goheen) and Contemporary (Mousset)
Tuesday- Contemporary (Mousset)
Wednesday and Friday- Ballet (Goheen)
This week's words of wisdom from Beth Goheen:
"Never compare yourself to others; always compete with yourself, and learn from others."
So true!!!
Healthy Eating
So this is one of the big areas of the challenge that's been hit by the new departure-date hurricane. I have a long list of places that I want to experience before I leave NYC, and a lot of them involve restaurants, dessert shops, and bars. And to sweeten the pot, I have two besties coming in town to help me paint the town. Realistically, there's no way that I'll be staying under 1500 calories in these last few days. I'm still being wise and health-conscious, but I'm pretty sure there's not anything at Serendipity that's under 1000 calories. :)
Challenge Calculator
- Daily vocal practice- 10/20
- Private lessons- 1/3
- Coaching Session- 0/1
- Vocal Performance classes- 1/3
- Open mics- 0/2 (not sure if this is going to happen in NYC, but first thing on the list in TX)
- Record demo- 0/1 (not sure if this is going to happen in NYC, but first thing on the list in TX)
- Dance classes- 5/15
- Non-dance exercise- 6/15
Healthy eating- at or below 1500 calories daily- 5/15 (eliminating until TX)- Charitable deeds- 0/2
- Blog at least once per week
Livin' the dream.
Monday, June 13, 2011
June Challenge- Day 3
Day 1 and 2 were rough as I was trying to get back into the swing of things, but Day 3 was a great success! I think Monday is always a great day to really get with the program.
Daily Practice 1 and 2
I skipped yesterday; I just couldn't find any time alone, and I was too lazy to go to Ripley Grier. :( BUT... today I tried practicing on my apartment roof for the first time, and it was great. Now I never have an excuse for not getting my 30+ minutes in, and I'll never skip again! ;-)
However, on Saturday I used the Full-Voice CD, and today I used a recording of a private lesson with Kurt. I worked on my 'meow's' up and down the scale and then in place of the words for Defying Gravity.
Non-Dance Exercise 1 and 2
Saturday I went to the gym and worked out on the elliptical, and today I walked 3 miles through Central Park.
Dance Class 1 and 2
1- Ballet w/ Goheen
2- Contemporary w/Mousset
Ugghhh, I love Mousset's class. It was my first time taking Mousset in several months, and I don't know why I haven't been taking him 3 times a week all year. That class is all about movement, and breath, and release-- not counts and arbitrary shapes. It's one of the few classes I take where I feel like I'm really dancing. Love, love.
Healthy Eating Day 1
Today's calorie count- 1461
Breakfast- 1/2 a leftover cheeseburger from a fancy dinner last night (not very healthy, and a weird breakfast, but I didn't want to throw it away, so I ate it after my 3 mile walk and before my 3 hours of dancing... and I adjusted my remaining calories accordingly. :) )
Lunch- Veggie wrap (spinach tortilla, lettuce, black bean salsa, shredded cheese), apple, and baby carrots
Dinner- Sweet potato and Special K cereal
Saturday and Sunday I was still recovering from Texas lakehouse withdrawal. I've been craving sugar and junk food, but I'm reeling it back in!
Challenge Calculator
Daily Practice 1 and 2
I skipped yesterday; I just couldn't find any time alone, and I was too lazy to go to Ripley Grier. :( BUT... today I tried practicing on my apartment roof for the first time, and it was great. Now I never have an excuse for not getting my 30+ minutes in, and I'll never skip again! ;-)
However, on Saturday I used the Full-Voice CD, and today I used a recording of a private lesson with Kurt. I worked on my 'meow's' up and down the scale and then in place of the words for Defying Gravity.
Non-Dance Exercise 1 and 2
Saturday I went to the gym and worked out on the elliptical, and today I walked 3 miles through Central Park.
Dance Class 1 and 2
1- Ballet w/ Goheen
2- Contemporary w/Mousset
Ugghhh, I love Mousset's class. It was my first time taking Mousset in several months, and I don't know why I haven't been taking him 3 times a week all year. That class is all about movement, and breath, and release-- not counts and arbitrary shapes. It's one of the few classes I take where I feel like I'm really dancing. Love, love.
Healthy Eating Day 1
Today's calorie count- 1461
Breakfast- 1/2 a leftover cheeseburger from a fancy dinner last night (not very healthy, and a weird breakfast, but I didn't want to throw it away, so I ate it after my 3 mile walk and before my 3 hours of dancing... and I adjusted my remaining calories accordingly. :) )
Lunch- Veggie wrap (spinach tortilla, lettuce, black bean salsa, shredded cheese), apple, and baby carrots
Dinner- Sweet potato and Special K cereal
Saturday and Sunday I was still recovering from Texas lakehouse withdrawal. I've been craving sugar and junk food, but I'm reeling it back in!
Challenge Calculator
- Daily vocal practice- 2/20
- Private lessons- 0/3
- Coaching Session- 0/1
- Vocal Performance classes- 0/3
- Open mics- 0/2
- Record demo- 0/1
- Dance classes- 2/15
- Non-dance exercise- 2/15
- Healthy eating- at or below 1500 calories daily- 1/15
- Charitable deeds- 0/2
- Blog at least once per week
Saturday, June 11, 2011
June Challenge
Thank you to everyone for following and supporting me during the 30-Day Challenge. It was a truly transforming month that was about far more than just singing and dancing. More than anything, I was blown away by the power of the human mind-- I don't think I've ever been so committed to something in my life. When it seemed like I had too much to do, and too little time, I learned how to pull back and take things one step at a time. And when my fears were getting the most of me, and I didn't think I could actually go through with some of the tasks, I learned how to plunge forward, stop thinking, and just do.
I'm committed to keeping up this intensity-- especially since it's my last month in NYC and there's a lot of talent I want to take advantage of, and also with the hopes of training some of these practices into daily habits so that I continue to push myself after I leave the big city. I just came back from a week vacation at a lakehouse in Texas, and I'll admit, that I've fallen off the wagon, but tomorrow is a new day, and I'm ready to start again!
Here are my goals for the remaining 20 days in June:
I'm committed to keeping up this intensity-- especially since it's my last month in NYC and there's a lot of talent I want to take advantage of, and also with the hopes of training some of these practices into daily habits so that I continue to push myself after I leave the big city. I just came back from a week vacation at a lakehouse in Texas, and I'll admit, that I've fallen off the wagon, but tomorrow is a new day, and I'm ready to start again!
Here are my goals for the remaining 20 days in June:
- Daily vocal practice (20)
- Private lessons (3)
- Coaching Session (1)
- Vocal Performance classes (3)
- Open mics (2)
- Record demo (1)
- Dance classes (15)
- Non-dance exercise (20)
- Healthy eating- at or below 1500 calories daily (15)
- Charitable deeds (2)
- Blog at least once per week
Monday, May 30, 2011
Day 1
Yes that's right Day 1, not Day 30. Thirty in some way signifies finality, and (I'm pretty sure you know where this is heading)... I refuse to look at this as the end of a challenge, but instead the beginning of an even greater challenge.
Healthy Meals 48, 49, and 50
Breakfast- Quaker cinnamon oatmeal
Lunch- All Fruit Smoothie (blueberries, bananas, strawberries, mangoes, and peaches)
Dinner- Southwest Salad from Lime Jungle (mixed greens, grilled chicken, corn, black beans, tomatoes, and carrots)
Daily Practice
Time: 1 hr +
Songs: When I Fall in Love and I Hope You Dance
I started the morning with vocalizations in my room, using the Full-Voice CD. Later in the afternoon, I met with Kurt for an additional private lesson. His biggest note to me is that I need to find the balance between continuing to practice and improve me technique, and actually starting to sing and perform-- which is the exact revelation I had earlier this week. Especially after watching several fantastic open mics and live performances this week, I've been starting to reflect on what moves me as an audience member. I've been picking up on the difference between people who are very technical with their approach versus those who are more emotional with their approach. Obviously, we're all striving for the best of both worlds, but in my eyes, the one with emotion and intention wins 9 times out of 10-- even if their technique is not perfect. We don't love performances because someone shows off their technique; we love performances because we connect to the story in some way or form. Right now, I'm not telling stories, I'm just singing notes. So as I transition out of this 30-day Challenge into my Every-day Challenge, I'm going to start pushing myself to take risks and "just go for it" as Kurt would say.
Dance Classes 19 and 20
Instructors: Goheen and Jill (subbing for Salsberg)
Type: Ballet and Tap
Today I took my FIRST tap class in 12 years! It was really fun, and I was surprised how much of it came back to me so quickly. I didn't realize how physically demanding tap is. You think it should be easy because people are just moving their feet, but I was drenched with sweat. I also took ballet with the wonderful Beth Goheen. She always has great words of wisdom: today she told us to "always dance from your center". We often hear this term meaning, using your core or abdominal support to engage all of your movement. She touched on that concept, but she also revealed a dual meaning to the word to discuss the idea of dancing from within. Again we come back to this idea of story-telling. All of your movement should be an outward expression of something from inside of you, not just a string of shapes that you force upon your body.
Final Week Challenge Stats
Private Voice Lessons- 4/4
Coaching Sessions- 2/2
Live Vocal Performance- 1/1
NYC Industry Audition- 1/1
You Tube Demo Recording- 1/1
Charitable Deeds- 5/5
Healthy Meals- 25/25 (Personal Goal 50/50)
Live Professional Performance- 1/1
Vocal Practice Sessions- 30/30
Daily Blogs- 30/30
BDC Dance Classes- 20/20
Closing Reflection
So this theme of communicating from within keeps coming up, and it will be my focus during my next stage in training. Coming to NYC for a year has given me a tremendous opportunity to build my technical vocabulary in both singing and dancing. But moving forward, I want to start exploring my own 'voice' and style to figure out who I am and what I am wanting to share through my art. Thankfully through this challenge, I was pushed off the high diving board, so now I don't have to be held back by fear any longer, and I can just swim.
Without being cliche, this experience has truly challenged and transformed my mind, my body, and my soul. Thank you Kurt for organizing this-- although from the outside, it may just seem like a fun, exciting event; in reality, this has marked a major turning point in my life, and to that end, I am eternally grateful to you. More importantly, thank you for believing in me!
----
I came across this quote a few days ago, and I think it's the best summation of these past 30 days:
And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
-- Anais Nin
To all the artists out there, thank you and keep going.
Healthy Meals 48, 49, and 50
Breakfast- Quaker cinnamon oatmeal 
Lunch- All Fruit Smoothie (blueberries, bananas, strawberries, mangoes, and peaches)
Dinner- Southwest Salad from Lime Jungle (mixed greens, grilled chicken, corn, black beans, tomatoes, and carrots)
Daily Practice
Time: 1 hr +
Songs: When I Fall in Love and I Hope You Dance
I started the morning with vocalizations in my room, using the Full-Voice CD. Later in the afternoon, I met with Kurt for an additional private lesson. His biggest note to me is that I need to find the balance between continuing to practice and improve me technique, and actually starting to sing and perform-- which is the exact revelation I had earlier this week. Especially after watching several fantastic open mics and live performances this week, I've been starting to reflect on what moves me as an audience member. I've been picking up on the difference between people who are very technical with their approach versus those who are more emotional with their approach. Obviously, we're all striving for the best of both worlds, but in my eyes, the one with emotion and intention wins 9 times out of 10-- even if their technique is not perfect. We don't love performances because someone shows off their technique; we love performances because we connect to the story in some way or form. Right now, I'm not telling stories, I'm just singing notes. So as I transition out of this 30-day Challenge into my Every-day Challenge, I'm going to start pushing myself to take risks and "just go for it" as Kurt would say.
Dance Classes 19 and 20
Instructors: Goheen and Jill (subbing for Salsberg)
Type: Ballet and Tap
Today I took my FIRST tap class in 12 years! It was really fun, and I was surprised how much of it came back to me so quickly. I didn't realize how physically demanding tap is. You think it should be easy because people are just moving their feet, but I was drenched with sweat. I also took ballet with the wonderful Beth Goheen. She always has great words of wisdom: today she told us to "always dance from your center". We often hear this term meaning, using your core or abdominal support to engage all of your movement. She touched on that concept, but she also revealed a dual meaning to the word to discuss the idea of dancing from within. Again we come back to this idea of story-telling. All of your movement should be an outward expression of something from inside of you, not just a string of shapes that you force upon your body.Final Week Challenge Stats
Closing Reflection
So this theme of communicating from within keeps coming up, and it will be my focus during my next stage in training. Coming to NYC for a year has given me a tremendous opportunity to build my technical vocabulary in both singing and dancing. But moving forward, I want to start exploring my own 'voice' and style to figure out who I am and what I am wanting to share through my art. Thankfully through this challenge, I was pushed off the high diving board, so now I don't have to be held back by fear any longer, and I can just swim.
Without being cliche, this experience has truly challenged and transformed my mind, my body, and my soul. Thank you Kurt for organizing this-- although from the outside, it may just seem like a fun, exciting event; in reality, this has marked a major turning point in my life, and to that end, I am eternally grateful to you. More importantly, thank you for believing in me!
----
I came across this quote a few days ago, and I think it's the best summation of these past 30 days:
And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
-- Anais Nin
To all the artists out there, thank you and keep going.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Day 29
Daily Practice
Time: 45 mins
Songs: Near You Always by Jewel and Captivate Us by Watermark
Description: Practiced the first 10 exercises on the warm-up, then did meow exercises from an old tech class. I didn't have as successful of a practice as I had a few days before. I really had to concentrate to not let things pull in my throat, so I was hesitant to take scales as high up as I normally do. I'll be working with Kurt tomorrow, I'm sure he'll help me get back on track.
I started working on some new songs-- moving away from the Broadway/auditioning circuit and finding things a little bit closer to my heart. Fellow challenger, Chanel, set a post-challenge goal of recording a demo once a month to keep her working on new material, and also to help her track her growth. I like that goal, so I'm going to steal it! :)
Dance Classes 16, 17, and 18
Instructors: Hillen, Chio, and Barber
Type: Ballet, Jazz Funk, and Lyrical Jazz
That's right, 3 classes, back-to-back-to-back. That's 4hrs and 30 mins of hardcore dancing! If you think about it, that's about how long some people take to run a marathon! Anyways, I worked it out in all 3 classes; it was a good dance day.
Both Hillen and Chio used the same choreography as earlier this week, so I got to work more on presence and performance-- that's always my challenge because I spend so much energy focusing on the steps. Barber's loves quick direction changes, so you have to stay focused otherwise you'll end up all wrapped around yourself and facing a different corner than everyone else. She's also great because her movement is really open and expressive-- you can't hold back in her class; you'll just look awkward. You have to let go and let your body move freely which is another struggle of mine, so this class is great for me.
Healthy Meals 46 and 47
Breakfast- Kashi cereal
Lunch- chicken and lettuce
----
Final Week Challenge Stats
Private Voice Lessons- 4/4
Coaching Sessions- 2/2
Live Vocal Performance- 1/1
NYC Industry Audition- 1/1
You Tube Demo Recording- 1/1
Charitable Deeds- 5/5
Healthy Meals- 25/25 (Personal Goal 47/50)
Live Professional Performance- 1/1
Vocal Practice Sessions- 29/30
Daily Blogs- 29/30
BDC Dance Classes- 18/20
I can't believe this all ends tomorrow... having mixed feelings.
Time: 45 mins
Songs: Near You Always by Jewel and Captivate Us by Watermark
Description: Practiced the first 10 exercises on the warm-up, then did meow exercises from an old tech class. I didn't have as successful of a practice as I had a few days before. I really had to concentrate to not let things pull in my throat, so I was hesitant to take scales as high up as I normally do. I'll be working with Kurt tomorrow, I'm sure he'll help me get back on track.
I started working on some new songs-- moving away from the Broadway/auditioning circuit and finding things a little bit closer to my heart. Fellow challenger, Chanel, set a post-challenge goal of recording a demo once a month to keep her working on new material, and also to help her track her growth. I like that goal, so I'm going to steal it! :)
Dance Classes 16, 17, and 18
Instructors: Hillen, Chio, and Barber
Type: Ballet, Jazz Funk, and Lyrical Jazz
That's right, 3 classes, back-to-back-to-back. That's 4hrs and 30 mins of hardcore dancing! If you think about it, that's about how long some people take to run a marathon! Anyways, I worked it out in all 3 classes; it was a good dance day.
Both Hillen and Chio used the same choreography as earlier this week, so I got to work more on presence and performance-- that's always my challenge because I spend so much energy focusing on the steps. Barber's loves quick direction changes, so you have to stay focused otherwise you'll end up all wrapped around yourself and facing a different corner than everyone else. She's also great because her movement is really open and expressive-- you can't hold back in her class; you'll just look awkward. You have to let go and let your body move freely which is another struggle of mine, so this class is great for me.
Healthy Meals 46 and 47
Breakfast- Kashi cereal
Lunch- chicken and lettuce
----
Final Week Challenge Stats
Vocal Practice Sessions- 29/30
Daily Blogs- 29/30
BDC Dance Classes- 18/20
I can't believe this all ends tomorrow... having mixed feelings.
Thank You and Keep Going
I just came back from the Japan Benefit Concert, and I am drained of all emotions. I spent 60% of the show wiping the tears from my cheeks. I've always loved singing, and I have been moved by various performances in the past, but tonight was different. After spending the past 28 days, focused on little else than this challenge--warming up in my apartment, attending technique classes, facing my fears in performance classes, going to private lessons and coaching sessions, auditions and open mics-- I now have a much better understanding of the ridiculous amount of dedication, drive, and downright guts it takes to become a vocal performer. I've been honored to stand beside so many of you in recent classes and performances at BDC-- and even though we don't always talk to one another, I see how hard each of you is working to reach your dreams-- so it touched my heart even more to see so many of you center stage tonight. Whether your goal is to become a Broadway star, a recording artist, or anything in between, I'm sure the journey ahead sometimes seems long, uncertain, and terrifying, but for just a few minutes, I invite you to stand still in time, stop apologizing for what you are not, and take in the reality of what you already are. You are performers. You are artists. And you are inspirations to people like me. Thank you for sharing your talent with us tonight, and thank you for motivating me (and I'm sure many others) to keep working, keep dreaming, and keep evolving.
I think I was so emotional tonight because my time in NYC is almost up, and nights like this remind me of the passion and artistry that I don't believe exists in any other city, and I'm going to miss it desperately. If you have 2 minutes, please read this passage from one of my favorite authors, Shauna Niequist. This passage planted a seed in me when I read it, and was a tremendous factor in my decision to leave my 5-year career as a high school English teacher in Texas to move to New York to reconnect with the arts. I hope it moves you the way it moved me:
An excerpt from Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist:
Thank you. Thank you and keep going. Please keep writing songs. Please keep believing in music, because we do, and we need it, and specifically, we need yours. We need the sounds and words and rhythms of hope and the haunting twist of your voice. We need the poetry of your lyrics and the spirit and force of your sounds. We're desperate for great music, and there's so much out there, but never, ever enough. We're desperate for great storytellers, great painters, great dancers, great cooks, because art does something nothing else does.
Art slips past our brains straight into our bellies. It weaves itself into our thoughts and feelings and the open spaces in our souls, and it allows us to live more and say more and feel more. Great art says the things we wished someone would say out loud, the things we wish we could say out loud. When Ryan from Sleeping at Last sings, that's how I would sing, except that I sound like a five-year-old with a head cold when I sing, so I'm so glad that he does the singing, and I do the listening. My friend Anne dances the way I would dance if I could. My friend Sarah creates paintings that make me feel alive and free and like the world is more beautiful than it was before I saw that very painting, and I'm so glad she does, because I sure can't, and because I'm better for having seen her paintings.
It matters, art does, so deeply. It's one of the noblest things, because it can make us better, and one of the scariest things, because it comes form such a deep place inside of us. There's nothing scarier than that moment when you sing the song for the very first time, for your roommate or your wife, or when you let someone see the painting, and there are a few very long silent moments when they haven't yet said what they think of it, and in those few moments, time stops and you quit painting, you quit singing forever, in your head, because it's so fearful and vulnerable, and then someone says, essentially, thank you and keep going, and your breath releases, and you take back everything you said in your head about never painting again, about never singing again, and at least for that moment, you feel like you did what you came to do, in a cosmic, very big sense.
I know that life is busy and hard, and that there's crushing pressure to just settle down and get a real job and khaki pants and a haircut. But don't. Please don't. Please keep believing that life can be better, brighter, broader, because of the art that you make. Please keep demonstrating the courage that it takes to swim upstream in a world that prefers putting away for retirement to putting pen to paper, that chooses practicality over poetry, that values you more for going to the gym than going to the deepest places in your soul. Please keep making art for people like me, people who need the magic and imagination and honesty of great art to make the day-to-day world a little more bearable.
So to Pasqualino, Bear, Lauren, Chanel, incredible guy who performed "Fashion", CJ, Macy, Brandon, Setsuko, Marina, Erica, Jessica, Stephanie, Lory, Tim, Tituss, Sean, Kelly, and Kurt-- thank you. Thank you and keep going.
I think I was so emotional tonight because my time in NYC is almost up, and nights like this remind me of the passion and artistry that I don't believe exists in any other city, and I'm going to miss it desperately. If you have 2 minutes, please read this passage from one of my favorite authors, Shauna Niequist. This passage planted a seed in me when I read it, and was a tremendous factor in my decision to leave my 5-year career as a high school English teacher in Texas to move to New York to reconnect with the arts. I hope it moves you the way it moved me:
An excerpt from Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist:
Thank you. Thank you and keep going. Please keep writing songs. Please keep believing in music, because we do, and we need it, and specifically, we need yours. We need the sounds and words and rhythms of hope and the haunting twist of your voice. We need the poetry of your lyrics and the spirit and force of your sounds. We're desperate for great music, and there's so much out there, but never, ever enough. We're desperate for great storytellers, great painters, great dancers, great cooks, because art does something nothing else does.
Art slips past our brains straight into our bellies. It weaves itself into our thoughts and feelings and the open spaces in our souls, and it allows us to live more and say more and feel more. Great art says the things we wished someone would say out loud, the things we wish we could say out loud. When Ryan from Sleeping at Last sings, that's how I would sing, except that I sound like a five-year-old with a head cold when I sing, so I'm so glad that he does the singing, and I do the listening. My friend Anne dances the way I would dance if I could. My friend Sarah creates paintings that make me feel alive and free and like the world is more beautiful than it was before I saw that very painting, and I'm so glad she does, because I sure can't, and because I'm better for having seen her paintings.
It matters, art does, so deeply. It's one of the noblest things, because it can make us better, and one of the scariest things, because it comes form such a deep place inside of us. There's nothing scarier than that moment when you sing the song for the very first time, for your roommate or your wife, or when you let someone see the painting, and there are a few very long silent moments when they haven't yet said what they think of it, and in those few moments, time stops and you quit painting, you quit singing forever, in your head, because it's so fearful and vulnerable, and then someone says, essentially, thank you and keep going, and your breath releases, and you take back everything you said in your head about never painting again, about never singing again, and at least for that moment, you feel like you did what you came to do, in a cosmic, very big sense.
I know that life is busy and hard, and that there's crushing pressure to just settle down and get a real job and khaki pants and a haircut. But don't. Please don't. Please keep believing that life can be better, brighter, broader, because of the art that you make. Please keep demonstrating the courage that it takes to swim upstream in a world that prefers putting away for retirement to putting pen to paper, that chooses practicality over poetry, that values you more for going to the gym than going to the deepest places in your soul. Please keep making art for people like me, people who need the magic and imagination and honesty of great art to make the day-to-day world a little more bearable.
So to Pasqualino, Bear, Lauren, Chanel, incredible guy who performed "Fashion", CJ, Macy, Brandon, Setsuko, Marina, Erica, Jessica, Stephanie, Lory, Tim, Tituss, Sean, Kelly, and Kurt-- thank you. Thank you and keep going.
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