simplysoniferous

[simplysoniferous]

guy who invented western musical notation: so we're going 12 tones to an octave, named after letters of the alphabet. me: got it. A to L. inventor guy: that's not what i said

[simplysoniferous]

Can anyone advise me on the general ranges of teenage boys' singing voices? I have looked up charts, but I'm looking for answers based on classroom experience/managing changing voices.

I have the details for my final teaching prac, and it's at a boys' school (which apparently uses a lot of kodaly, which we love to see!), and I realised I don't really know how to work with voices that are still breaking.

Please and thank you!

[simplysoniferous]

Happy Birthday Igor Stravinsky! 17 June 1882

[simplysoniferous]

Went to a concert by our state orchestra that featured film music (it was fantastically good fun!), and it made me notice something. I think we can forget what parts of performance and audience convention are just that - convention.

The example here that jumped out at me while sitting in a room full of people who don’t usually go to the symphony (so great to see a full venue!!!) was that we are so used to waiting to applaud after the conductor lowers the baton that I forgot it’s a learnt habit. This audience burst into applause the second the music stopped, every single time. It’s such a sincere response, and I really enjoyed being surrounded by that atmosphere :)

[simplysoniferous]

why are singer biographies generally like this:

[soprano] has wanted to be an opera singer since kindergarten. at age 3, she has already seen the complete works of verdi. at 11, she created her own piano version of the ring. after finishing school, she went to conservatory and immediately won every prize. she bludgeoned to competition to d**th to become an ensemble member at [world-famous opera house] at 22, and now enjoys a sensational career world-wide.

[baritone/bass] initially studied physics and then sociology and then zoology. he never sung a single note until he was 23 and then sang in a local choir very badly for 10 years. he began his vocal education after completing his certification as a car mechanic. he is now an mainstay at the worlds most prestigious opera venues.

[…and they’re both incredibly good artists.]

[simplysoniferous]

these guys rule

[simplysoniferous]

It finally happened - I had a POTS episode at choir rehearsal and ended up on the floor slurring and downing four litres of water lol

[simplysoniferous]

40,000 years ago, early humans painted hands on the wall of a cave. This morning, my baby cousin began finger painting. All of recorded history happened between these two paintings of human hands. The Nazca Lines and the Mona Lisa. The first TransAtlantic flight and the first voyage to the Moon. Humanity invented the wheel, the telescope, and the nuclear bomb. We eradicated wild poliovirus types 2 and 3. We discovered radio waves, dinosaurs, and the laws of thermodynamics. Freedom Riders crossed the South. Hippies burned their draft cards. Countless genocides, scientific advancements, migrations, and rebellions. More than a hundred billion humans lived and died between these two paintings—one on a sheet of paper, and one on the inside of a cave. At the dawn of time, ancient humans stretched out their hands. And this morning, a child reached back. 

[simplysoniferous]

[simplysoniferous]

Early lesson today. Not much to report as teacher is going to be away for a few weeks so most of the lesson was going through new pieces for while he’s away. Some good side chats about what it takes to compose something, review of how to approach physiological issues safely (in this case inflamed vocal chords - he has lost his voice this week), and also we talked about how to approach patter songs, which I have been given one of to work on.

As I was packing up I said I was nervous about prac, particularly about how I’m still not well enough for it, and he said we would talk about it. I know there’s nothing he can really do in that respect, I guess I just needed to express the fear out loud to a mentor figure. Probably wasn’t a useful thing to say as going out the door though haha.

Anyway, I’ll have to remember to maintain this reflection habit while he’s away!

[simplysoniferous]

Good lesson. Was worried I would have to cancel earlier in the week because I had a rough mini flare from the weekend (it was so bad I thought I had a cold - I was running a temperature at one point lol). But it eased up yesterday and I’m feeling pretty good today.

My brain was also on point today, which was a nice change, so I felt like I got good vocal work and understanding today. Teacher told me about a student he’s been frustrated with recently, which was I think was maybe his way of saying that he can see I’m doing the work (whereas this student wasn’t).

I’m still frustrated with my progress, and I’m still letting that get in my way. But, as my teacher says to me, “when you get out of your own way and actually do it, it sounds good!”

Also told him today I was getting to a point where maybe I want to sing in front of people. He was like “well, that’s what your choir is for,” - which yes, it is. But I meant more like… maybe in a solo format. I said it as a doorknob comment though, so we didn’t talk about it further than that.

Still psyching myself out with long notes. My stamina and lung capacity have recovered enough that I should be seeing an improvement now, so I gotta noodle on that.

I’m actually starting to feel kinda grumpy, so I hope I’m not getting a migraine. Maybe I’m hungry. But it was a good lesson and I’m glad I was well enough to go!

[simplysoniferous]

[simplysoniferous]

Beethoven again

Was supposed to be a bday art..

[simplysoniferous]

Math is really tiring, im so glad i finally get to relax and do some knitting and crochet and i oh god oh my what the fuck

[simplysoniferous]

Italian art song: I am either in love or recently out of love, either way I will be sighing and languishing about it

German art song: Sometimes... I like to go down to the lake.... And look at the swans.... And think about how I am going to die

French art song: It is SPRINGTIME, who wants to go outside and FUCK A TULIP????