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Monday, January 10, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
SOTW - First Rehersal
So today was the day - the first day of Byrons super-special Christmas present for Angie! I have been looking forward to this since his amazing rehersal way back when. So, after all the anticipation and anxiety (on Byron's part), all I can say is that IT DID NOT GO WELL.
I was so prepared! I downloaded and figured out how to print our music double-sided (to save paper and make following easier!). I knew that Byron would be singing bass (he has an amazingly low voice when he choses to use it), but I did not know what part I was to sing and at least one song has 6 different parts just for the women! I tend to sing 1st soprano both because I have the range to do so and because I have never learned how to sing harmony. So, I had mixed feelings when I was told I would probably be asked to sing 2nd soprano. My first instinct was to be hurt - because in instrumental orchestras that 1st part is reserved for the best musician (and I was very competitive in orchestra when I was younger). For obvious reasons, this is NOT the case in vocal groups, infact quite the reverse since it takes more effort to learn how to blend and sing something other than the melody. Still - I like to sing really really really high and I don't really get the chance to. So, I went to rehersal expecting to be asked to sing 2nd, but still looking at that really high part. Byron went just hoping that by some miracle the rehersal had been cancelled.
We arrived and checked the kids into the nursery (including the teenager who didn't want to sing and was not thrilled to learn that he would be helping in the nursery instead), then we headed to the chapel to get started. We were sort of directed to a general area - soprano way over there and bass just here somewhere. Then the director shifted everyone left in general and just got started - I mean really got started! I mean, here's your starting pitch - start at measure such and such and remember it is "piano"! Poor Byron! He was sitting all by himself and was totally lost from the first second! Then the director when over and over and over a certain section and finally gave some parts their notes, but he used all of the technical lingo - decresendo rather than just "get softer here", start at measure # whatever at the [insert note name here], etc. I was really worried about him - a friend who also sings bass took pity on the situation and went and sat next to him, but wow - no notes for parts or anything and the first song we tackled had 4 men parts and 4 women parts! I know how to read music and I got lost! My experiece got that much worse when the director said he only wanted 4 1st sopranos and there were 10 or 12 of us - I didn't even ask, I just started looking at the 2nd part. It is not a difficult part, but I can't just pick it out without hearing it - but off we went all four parts at once! I found a lady I knew who already knew the song and sang the part I was looking for, but I was still worried about Byron who was looking decidedly unhappy (or unhappier as the case may be) when fate (or heaven) intervened on his behalf -
A nursery volunteer came in to tell me that Ben had needed to go potty and they took him, but he didn't tell them he needed help with his pants, he just went into the stall and danced, by the time the poor woman figured out he needed help, it was too late. Lake Eyrie had relocated to Visalia. Rehersal was only about half over, and she didn't know what ought to be done - but I did. I went over to my long-suffering honey and asked him if he wouldn't mind taking Ben home to get cleaned up. Turns out he didn't mind at all and did I want to call him to come and get me when rehersal was over? No such luck. I told him he had to come back when he got Ben cleaned up ... He did actually make it back before the end of rehersal, but barely. However, since Ben got a nice warm bath, and his clothes got rinsed out - I really can't complain. I really didn't think Byron was going to get anything but frustration out of that rehersal anyway.
Once rehersal was over - they passed out practice cds (which are only slightly less confusing than the rehersal was since ALL of the parts are there with a voice over of the actual part being listened to). Byron has declared his intention of encouraging another accident next week ... I am hoping for some sectionals or possibly a miracle. I know that once the parts are learned, this will be really fun - but for now it is definitely more work than Byron had bargained for. He says he should have just bought me something ...
Please pray for us everyone - we need it!!!!!
I was so prepared! I downloaded and figured out how to print our music double-sided (to save paper and make following easier!). I knew that Byron would be singing bass (he has an amazingly low voice when he choses to use it), but I did not know what part I was to sing and at least one song has 6 different parts just for the women! I tend to sing 1st soprano both because I have the range to do so and because I have never learned how to sing harmony. So, I had mixed feelings when I was told I would probably be asked to sing 2nd soprano. My first instinct was to be hurt - because in instrumental orchestras that 1st part is reserved for the best musician (and I was very competitive in orchestra when I was younger). For obvious reasons, this is NOT the case in vocal groups, infact quite the reverse since it takes more effort to learn how to blend and sing something other than the melody. Still - I like to sing really really really high and I don't really get the chance to. So, I went to rehersal expecting to be asked to sing 2nd, but still looking at that really high part. Byron went just hoping that by some miracle the rehersal had been cancelled.
We arrived and checked the kids into the nursery (including the teenager who didn't want to sing and was not thrilled to learn that he would be helping in the nursery instead), then we headed to the chapel to get started. We were sort of directed to a general area - soprano way over there and bass just here somewhere. Then the director shifted everyone left in general and just got started - I mean really got started! I mean, here's your starting pitch - start at measure such and such and remember it is "piano"! Poor Byron! He was sitting all by himself and was totally lost from the first second! Then the director when over and over and over a certain section and finally gave some parts their notes, but he used all of the technical lingo - decresendo rather than just "get softer here", start at measure # whatever at the [insert note name here], etc. I was really worried about him - a friend who also sings bass took pity on the situation and went and sat next to him, but wow - no notes for parts or anything and the first song we tackled had 4 men parts and 4 women parts! I know how to read music and I got lost! My experiece got that much worse when the director said he only wanted 4 1st sopranos and there were 10 or 12 of us - I didn't even ask, I just started looking at the 2nd part. It is not a difficult part, but I can't just pick it out without hearing it - but off we went all four parts at once! I found a lady I knew who already knew the song and sang the part I was looking for, but I was still worried about Byron who was looking decidedly unhappy (or unhappier as the case may be) when fate (or heaven) intervened on his behalf -
A nursery volunteer came in to tell me that Ben had needed to go potty and they took him, but he didn't tell them he needed help with his pants, he just went into the stall and danced, by the time the poor woman figured out he needed help, it was too late. Lake Eyrie had relocated to Visalia. Rehersal was only about half over, and she didn't know what ought to be done - but I did. I went over to my long-suffering honey and asked him if he wouldn't mind taking Ben home to get cleaned up. Turns out he didn't mind at all and did I want to call him to come and get me when rehersal was over? No such luck. I told him he had to come back when he got Ben cleaned up ... He did actually make it back before the end of rehersal, but barely. However, since Ben got a nice warm bath, and his clothes got rinsed out - I really can't complain. I really didn't think Byron was going to get anything but frustration out of that rehersal anyway.
Once rehersal was over - they passed out practice cds (which are only slightly less confusing than the rehersal was since ALL of the parts are there with a voice over of the actual part being listened to). Byron has declared his intention of encouraging another accident next week ... I am hoping for some sectionals or possibly a miracle. I know that once the parts are learned, this will be really fun - but for now it is definitely more work than Byron had bargained for. He says he should have just bought me something ...
Please pray for us everyone - we need it!!!!!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
The Best Christmas Present EVER!!!!
Okay, so I know I am way behind with the whole blogging thing, but tonight MUST be noted. My darling husband Byron has just given me the most amazing gift! Against all his personal inclination, he auditioned for Savior of the World, a musical production that a few of our local stakes are preparing to put on for Easter weekend.
This wonderful man stood up before a panel and sang "I Am a Child of God." He sounded amazing!!!! And, lest you think I am just biased, all four of the panel just gasped in amazement. Untrained voice? Certainly? Beautifully clear tones - absolutely!!! No nerves (Byron says that is because he didn't really care what anyone thought - and yes I am totally jealous since I care too much). When he was done singing, they asked him to sing another song! He told them he didn't know anything else, so they gave him a book! He offered to just do manual labor backstage and they said - no way, not with that voice. Byron told them he had been told on his mission that he was tone deaf - they told him he had been lied to. Byron bowed to the inevitable and is getting ready to learn how to sing!!!! I am over the moon.
Now there was a small moment after he sang when the stake choir director pointed out that when he was done Byron and I would be duet partners. Byron shot me a look that said "That was NOT part of the deal" - I just sat back on my heel grinning like an idiot thinking "I told you so, I told you so, I told you so!"
So I get an amazing gift (which will keep giving through Easter and possibly eternity) and Byron didn't have to spend a penny - everyone's a winner!
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