It is my passion to help people perform to their highest level. To interpret music in a way that realizes the intent of the composer and lyricist while still maintaining a connection to the artist performing it. To re-create old material to have a fresher feeling and to be able to play with it. IfContinue reading “Curiously Stronger Performing”
Tag Archives: Interpretation
Scattergories/Categories
Scattergories is a creative-thinking category-based party game originally published by Parker Brothers. Why I Sing is a creative-thinking but currently somewhat unfocused blog currently published by Christine Thomas-O’Meally (why, that’s me!). Recently, I established the Curiously Stronger Performing series, which focuses on specific elements of performance: The functional (how to present your music, how to walk intoContinue reading “Scattergories/Categories”
Making Your Case in Auditions
Seth Godin wrote a blog a few weeks ago about the conventional wisdom of making your case vs. how it actually works. This was from a business/marketing perspective, but when I read this, I thought, “Wow, this could apply to auditioning!” My notes are in brackets. Conventional wisdom: Find a large group of people [audition forContinue reading “Making Your Case in Auditions”
What are you singing? Do you know?
One thing that annoys me is mandated recitals where people are assigned music to which they have no affinity. And, consequently, they sing it with no connection to the text, to the music, to the history of the song or the poet, or to the style of the period. They’re singing the right words, andContinue reading “What are you singing? Do you know?”
What’s Your Intention?
As I recently wrote in an earlier blogpost, I’ve set up a fall practice challenge. Beginning this Sunday through December 15, my students (hopefully) will submit an online practice record regarding their practice habits for the week. (Please note that I’ve amended the form to correspond to the practice challenge.) The person who submits the most amountContinue reading “What’s Your Intention?”
“Tools, not Rules”
I follow a fashion blogger whose site is called une femme d’un certain âge and recently, she had her colors and style done and it turned out she was wearing all the wrong colors and styles for her “type.” (I have to admit that the company who did her analysis was right – her clothes areContinue reading ““Tools, not Rules””
Stages of Grief (5? 7?) and Interpreting a Sad Song
I find that a lot of my students, both past and present, love to sing sad, heart-breaking songs of woe and loss. It goes with the emo-ness of youth, I think. Personally, I gravitate toward funny (some might say nigh-ridiculous) songs, especially in programming. People say comedy is hard. I think tragedy is hard. AtContinue reading “Stages of Grief (5? 7?) and Interpreting a Sad Song”
She’s the Crazy Ex-Girlfriend – with something to say
I am a huge fan of the show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, the fourth (and final) season of which I’m watching on Netflix right now. The star and creator and producer and writer of the show is the multi-talented (as well as multi-tasking) Rachel Bloom, who plays the title character, Rebecca Bunch. Each episode of the showContinue reading “She’s the Crazy Ex-Girlfriend – with something to say”
Spring Forward!
UGH, it’s Daylight Savings Time. I hate the transitions both in and out of DST. I feel like I gain nothing in the fall because I wake up too early, and I definitely feel the loss of the hour in the spring. (Spring? It’s spring?) But I do like the idea of “spring forward.” OfContinue reading “Spring Forward!”
Vulnerability vs. Oversharing – Part 1
NOTE: This was originally published in July 2013. In reviewing it, it’s ridiculously long, so I’m re-doing it in two parts… ***** Recently, I’ve been watching videos by psychologist Brené Brown on the topic of vulnerability. She has done extensive research on the advantages and disadvantages of making yourself vulnerable and allowing yourself to be authenticContinue reading “Vulnerability vs. Oversharing – Part 1”