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Recital Prep Begins
Jan. 2nd, 2006 07:12 pmSome friends are having a recital in three weeks. Let me explain by sharing the wording on the invitation:
Actually, this doesn't quite express the experience for me except for the quote "talent is optional." Everyone from closet musicians to professional musicians come to these things. (No one famous, yet, as far as I know, but people who have actually been paid for making music.) Some people dust off their instruments they used to play in high school. I don't think anyone's played their armpits before, but there have been kazoos and a comb and tissue paper.
So, I've known about this for over two months. Actually, for years because this is a regular occurrence. But it's taken me until today to figure out what I'm going to do.
My current plan is to first try a song which I will describe as a stalker song which must be sung loudly, with a twang, and with falsetto. It's good to lower people's expectations to make them easier to exceed. Hopefully they'll be quaking in their shoes.
The real bad news is that I can't find the chords anywhere, so I'll be singing it a capella. And the other bad news is that it uses my entire vocal range. Have you ever noticed how when you try to use your entire range, there's a transition range where your voice cracks? Well, this song was cleverly written to jump over those transition areas! Also I can practice it (quietly) on the way to and from the bus stop. So it might actually come out okay. Unless I'm sick, and thus shrinking my range, in which case I won't be doing it.
It has a catchy tune and is fun, and I'll tell you what it as after the recital because the hosts are quite likely to read this, and they should be allowed a little suspense.
The second song is just a horribly sad folk song with easy guitar chords. Since I haven't touched my guitar in months, I'm going to have to whip my fingers back into shape. So, I've played through the song a few times today. The easy chords are in a different order than my fingers seem to have memorized previously, so I'm having to unlearn that while singing at the same time. Let's just say that at this point it's only just good enough that you could probably tell that it is supposed to be pretty.
So I have to get the chord order automatic. Then I also have to figure out a nice finger picking rhythm and get that automatic. Memorizing the lyrics would be helpful. Then that way I can focus on trying to sing with feeling at the recital.
I have participated in enough of these recitals to have learned several things about me and recitals:
* I get very nervous in front of people.
* If I look away from my fingers while I am playing guitar in front of people, my fingers start doing random things on their own. So I am always staring intently at my fingers, making sure they are not doing anything untoward.
* If I am performing in front of people, I am not doing my best. However, if I focus on the music instead of on the people I will not be playing at my worst either. If I practice while vividly imagining being in front of people, that's when I play the worst! (And of course quality level is also strongly correlated with how much I've been practicing.)
* Food does not mix with singing or playing the recorder, so I should never eat before it is my turn. I do go to the treat table and load up my plate. But then I just admire the plate as it sits beside me until after I have had my turn.
* Even if I do quite well, I'm generally one of the worst people there. However, I don't care (so long as I have respected my audience by practicing and choosing something halfway in line with my abilities). It's very informal, and you only get people angry if you do something that is both horrible and long or if you proclaim that you are going to do it more perfectly than most people before you screw it up royally. These are not the kinds of things I do wrong. Well, people might get upset for other reasons, too, but I am blissfully unaware of those reasons.
* Sometimes I find out that I am friends with amazing musicians.
It's time once again to dust off your pan pipes, bagpipes, balalaikas, dumbeks, bodhrans, bullroarers, tablas, sitars, sarods, mandolins, violins, vocal cords, ukeleles, euphoniums, harmoniums, theremins, anklungs, frog rasps, and synthesizers, for...
A MUSIC RECITAL
As always, all sorts of people will perform all sorts of musical things, just for fun. Talent is optional. In fact, you don't even have to perform.
This is a chance to perform in a pleasant, relaxed, informal atmosphere. If recitals sound like uncomfortable, stuffy affairs, rest assured that this one isn't. It typically evolves into a jam session.
One piano and one hot tub will be provided by the hosts.
Actually, this doesn't quite express the experience for me except for the quote "talent is optional." Everyone from closet musicians to professional musicians come to these things. (No one famous, yet, as far as I know, but people who have actually been paid for making music.) Some people dust off their instruments they used to play in high school. I don't think anyone's played their armpits before, but there have been kazoos and a comb and tissue paper.
So, I've known about this for over two months. Actually, for years because this is a regular occurrence. But it's taken me until today to figure out what I'm going to do.
My current plan is to first try a song which I will describe as a stalker song which must be sung loudly, with a twang, and with falsetto. It's good to lower people's expectations to make them easier to exceed. Hopefully they'll be quaking in their shoes.
The real bad news is that I can't find the chords anywhere, so I'll be singing it a capella. And the other bad news is that it uses my entire vocal range. Have you ever noticed how when you try to use your entire range, there's a transition range where your voice cracks? Well, this song was cleverly written to jump over those transition areas! Also I can practice it (quietly) on the way to and from the bus stop. So it might actually come out okay. Unless I'm sick, and thus shrinking my range, in which case I won't be doing it.
It has a catchy tune and is fun, and I'll tell you what it as after the recital because the hosts are quite likely to read this, and they should be allowed a little suspense.
The second song is just a horribly sad folk song with easy guitar chords. Since I haven't touched my guitar in months, I'm going to have to whip my fingers back into shape. So, I've played through the song a few times today. The easy chords are in a different order than my fingers seem to have memorized previously, so I'm having to unlearn that while singing at the same time. Let's just say that at this point it's only just good enough that you could probably tell that it is supposed to be pretty.
So I have to get the chord order automatic. Then I also have to figure out a nice finger picking rhythm and get that automatic. Memorizing the lyrics would be helpful. Then that way I can focus on trying to sing with feeling at the recital.
I have participated in enough of these recitals to have learned several things about me and recitals:
* I get very nervous in front of people.
* If I look away from my fingers while I am playing guitar in front of people, my fingers start doing random things on their own. So I am always staring intently at my fingers, making sure they are not doing anything untoward.
* If I am performing in front of people, I am not doing my best. However, if I focus on the music instead of on the people I will not be playing at my worst either. If I practice while vividly imagining being in front of people, that's when I play the worst! (And of course quality level is also strongly correlated with how much I've been practicing.)
* Food does not mix with singing or playing the recorder, so I should never eat before it is my turn. I do go to the treat table and load up my plate. But then I just admire the plate as it sits beside me until after I have had my turn.
* Even if I do quite well, I'm generally one of the worst people there. However, I don't care (so long as I have respected my audience by practicing and choosing something halfway in line with my abilities). It's very informal, and you only get people angry if you do something that is both horrible and long or if you proclaim that you are going to do it more perfectly than most people before you screw it up royally. These are not the kinds of things I do wrong. Well, people might get upset for other reasons, too, but I am blissfully unaware of those reasons.
* Sometimes I find out that I am friends with amazing musicians.