MP’s - nada again. It’s been very hard for me to get started. I wonder what’s up with me there. Maybe I just need to start over with AW again, for a fresh start.

Artist’s Date: I didn’t get time to do one this week, due to a concert I performed in on Saturday. Anyone from the opera chorus/ensemble program who wanted to could prep a piece - for this concert, it had to be American music - and there were some incredible performances. Lots to learn from! I was asked to sing Baby Doe’s “Willow Song”, which was a real stepping out of my shell for me - my first real “diva” aria in that I could only rely on the voice, and not use my musical theater “schtick” to “act” my way through a piece when I felt nervous.(think Papagena for a typical role at the moment). Maybe one of these days I’ll fully get over the feeling of “needing to do something” every time I’m on stage! It went fairly well, and I was even able to incorporate a better passagio technique than I have in the past, which was a major breakthrough, as I usually go into this pseudo musical theatreish belt that spreads the sound way back and makes me go back on anything above a G at the top of the staff, when, if I focus on it, I've got about an octave above that! I did end up clutching at the beginning of the phrase that contains the high D, but such is life. If this is the worst performance I ever give of that piece, I'm doing great. It's a better start than I gave Musetta, that's for darn sure!!! I'll sing it again for the Female Charitable gig, along with Caro nome and a couple of other pieces, but that'll be decided for me once I get my schedule for Rising Star. Yay!

Oh - and I highly recommend “Meadowlark” from “The Baker’s Wife” by Stephen Schwartz to any mezzos out there that like performing contemporary musical theater - what a powerful piece! (published range: low B or so to an E at the top of the staff) I was simply blown away by this one Saturday night! My benchmark was Stephen's performance. He is so incredible - so totally within his music and character that he just opens his mouth and it comes out. That's the kind of performer I want to be. I'll get there yet. I need to not be afraid and to know that I can do things like Glitter and not screw up.

Synchronicity: as usual, I can always count on picking up a subbing job whenever I sub at this one building. Sure enough, I subbed for the speech teacher a couple of weeks back, and was called this week by one of the classroom teachers who’s class I “pushed” into (you go in to a given class to help students that you work with at other times of the day in smaller groups). Not only that, but the classroom teacher was someone I taught with in a different district when I was in public school full time. (hope that’s not too confusing). But it’s nice to be back in touch with her at any rate.

Goals:
1. AW and FlyLady - MPs, MPs, MPs!!
2. exercise: continue to use yoga breathing tape for energy. Add a weight loss video or ride the bike now
that the energy level is getting better.
3. practice for Benefit concert in June for CMM: “Glitter and be Gay” and add “Make Our Garden Grow”.
Contact accompanist for seperate rehearsal of “Glitter”.
4. Keep organizing for summer program.
5. Refine arias for late June mini recital for local charitable organization - focus on translations this week. Rehearse with accompanist in 2 weeks.
6. Keep up with early bedtime.

Any ideas for off-the-wall Artist’s Dates are most welcome.