Between singing lessons and vocal coaching at choir, I think I'm on the path to bettering that part of my musicianship.
There's plenty of other room for improvement. I'm a woeful time-keeper, especially with offbeat rhythms, and through long rests.
Just as I decide I need to do something about this, along comes the opportunity to participate in a 3-day workshop of the TaKeTiNa rhythm learning process. More about the method in this youtube video
Having had a taste of the method a while ago, I had little hesitation in signing up. Even managed to convince the guitarist in the household to come along too.
I'm very glad I did. It was the first time I've got comfortable with off-beat, 5-beat, 9-beat, 3-in-4 rhythms to the point of real pleasure and confidence. Much more importantly, I also experienced falling out of those rhythms with humour and recovering them with grace.
That's a little bit less fear to carry around, a bit more joy to offer back.
Good news for Kiwis - there will be another TaKeTiNa workshop in Auckland early next year. Contact http://www.newworldrhythm.com for more information and tell them I sent you
learning to sing at last
so... singing lessons.
After all that angst, lessons didn't start for another month, because the teacher was too busy to fit me in! By the time we got our schedules aligned, I was used to the idea and walked in to my first lesson only slightly nervous.
It was all much more enjoyable and satisfying than I had imagined.
Several weeks later, I am happy to report that I have a good sense of where I'm going and how to get there. Some aspects of my voice are slowly improving. In other areas it's all challenge. But that's OK.
Of course I am doing more practice than I used to...which is delivering a real improvement in my performance in Auckland Choral. Singing our current Bach, Haydn, Tavener and McMillan fearlessly and fairly accurately. Even with some interpretation and feeling! Who would have guessed that practice would help?
After all that angst, lessons didn't start for another month, because the teacher was too busy to fit me in! By the time we got our schedules aligned, I was used to the idea and walked in to my first lesson only slightly nervous.
It was all much more enjoyable and satisfying than I had imagined.
Several weeks later, I am happy to report that I have a good sense of where I'm going and how to get there. Some aspects of my voice are slowly improving. In other areas it's all challenge. But that's OK.
Of course I am doing more practice than I used to...which is delivering a real improvement in my performance in Auckland Choral. Singing our current Bach, Haydn, Tavener and McMillan fearlessly and fairly accurately. Even with some interpretation and feeling! Who would have guessed that practice would help?
learning to sing
I sing in choir. Practically my whole life.
It's brought me the most amazingly beautiful, exhilarating, challenging, fun experiences. Met a Best Friend and a Husband. Fortunately I still have the Best Friend.
I love it, and with all this practice and education along the way, I've become a reasonably good singer. It means so much to me that I know I need to improve to keep up up with the rising standard of my current group, Auckland Choral
And therein lies the flaw. I've never had a formal lesson from a singing teacher and I'm terrified to start. All these years I've been hiding in the crowd, gotta have 2 more people or I can't let a sound out.
Why?
so! tonight I'm going to commit to lessons with Ken Cornish, a singer I greatly admire, and see if I can Get Over It
It's brought me the most amazingly beautiful, exhilarating, challenging, fun experiences. Met a Best Friend and a Husband. Fortunately I still have the Best Friend.
I love it, and with all this practice and education along the way, I've become a reasonably good singer. It means so much to me that I know I need to improve to keep up up with the rising standard of my current group, Auckland Choral
And therein lies the flaw. I've never had a formal lesson from a singing teacher and I'm terrified to start. All these years I've been hiding in the crowd, gotta have 2 more people or I can't let a sound out.
Why?
- fear that I've never been any good - this is nonsense! all those successful auditions over the years...
- fear of constructive criticism - might have to work a bit, too bad
- fear that it can't get any better - surely must be able to squeeze a few more degrees of beauty
- fear of change... my old dragon, many times slain and reincarnated
so! tonight I'm going to commit to lessons with Ken Cornish, a singer I greatly admire, and see if I can Get Over It
wearing my art on my sleeve
This begins with a heavy Pellon foundation covered with velvet, then interesting scraps, ribbons & braids machined down with programmed and free stitches. Cut to shape, decorate the edges, button/beads, loops to close and it's ready to wear.
It's the only piece of my work I wear - and it comes to work sometimes as a Wonderwoman deflector bracelet. Definitely worked today!
as promised, a photograph
It had to happen sometime...
Knitting! sneaked up and caught me. Under the guise of finding a right-sized response to babies. See below for the Last Baby quilt
So far:
2 cowl scarves (for me)
1 buttoned scarf (for dear Mother-in-Law)
1 pair of socks (for dear girlfriend)
...1 pair of booties for an actual baby
and an unspecified number of new balls of yarn and needles. That list is completed projects, mind you.
There is also the lure of Ravelry which I joined two years ago, suckered in by the chatter from my knitting mates. If there is anything as cool for quilters, I have not found it yet. So my stuff is there
Honestly, it's only on the bus, I wouldn't knit in actual quilting time. honest.
So far:
2 cowl scarves (for me)
1 buttoned scarf (for dear Mother-in-Law)
1 pair of socks (for dear girlfriend)
...1 pair of booties for an actual baby
and an unspecified number of new balls of yarn and needles. That list is completed projects, mind you.
There is also the lure of Ravelry which I joined two years ago, suckered in by the chatter from my knitting mates. If there is anything as cool for quilters, I have not found it yet. So my stuff is there
Honestly, it's only on the bus, I wouldn't knit in actual quilting time. honest.
one quilter's trash
She wasn't throwing out, but practically giving it away - the fabric on the trading table was my treasure.
I love the Auckland Quiltmakers annual show - first weekend in May I'm always there to admire. Each member has a strong and individual style, plus there is great shopping from 2-3 select merchants. The members have a great sale of previously exhibited works - and of course the Trading Table of fabric that they are letting move on.
I was entranced by the chunky silk sari threads woven with gold Lurex. Didn't I have a power jacket made of this stuff in the 80's?
Found a few more 'treasures' on the table, and added a little more at home. Thought about it for a week or so, then began cutting. This is the first time I have ever made a kit for each block before sewing. Completely unnecessary. It might also be the first time I have used my own hand-dyed fabric. Those funny yellows. The nice hand-dyed green and plum and purple is by Janet & Peggy of Dye-It Fabrics.
I love the Auckland Quiltmakers annual show - first weekend in May I'm always there to admire. Each member has a strong and individual style, plus there is great shopping from 2-3 select merchants. The members have a great sale of previously exhibited works - and of course the Trading Table of fabric that they are letting move on. I was entranced by the chunky silk sari threads woven with gold Lurex. Didn't I have a power jacket made of this stuff in the 80's?
Found a few more 'treasures' on the table, and added a little more at home. Thought about it for a week or so, then began cutting. This is the first time I have ever made a kit for each block before sewing. Completely unnecessary. It might also be the first time I have used my own hand-dyed fabric. Those funny yellows. The nice hand-dyed green and plum and purple is by Janet & Peggy of Dye-It Fabrics.
First a frame around each square of the silk, then a 4-patch unit. I could not make the same quilt twice if you paid me, but I think I'll be using this simple piecing construction method again.
Laid the 4-patches down in order of sewing - looked so good that was nearly the final arrangement - but a little more playing around with the sneaky half-rows and I'm very pleased with the end result.
In another first, this is a quilt (top at least) completed in the same season as the fabric was purchased.
Of course I have sewn until bedtime to get to this milestone, now there's no daylight to take a decent colour photo. Next time!
How tidy is tidy enough?
I just read a post on Organising by another bipolar chick. Recognized much of my 'neat freak' self there. oooh how I like to have everything in its place.
The writer discussed heping her family understand how much effort she was putting into tidying up after them. It certainly is good to give your housemates/family a chance to realise how much effort *you* are putting into maintaining something they value. They get an opportunity to grow into being able to take care of themselves and others.
However...
It's also useful to think about whether there is a difference between "how things need to be" and "how I want everything to be". I'm the first to insist that tidy is more convenient and aesthetically pleasing - but I have learned it isn't actually mandatory in the home - and sometimes we benefit from finding a middle ground that allows for the preferences of of our homemates.
This is the sweetly reasonable version - the other part is that I finally figured out that Suzy Homemaker was stealing hours from Sarah-the-Artist. Remember my earlier post on maintenance? Now the tidying is pared down to a fairly relaxed standard. Less junk helps too.
So, I was thinking this is yet another post that isn't about textile art, but maybe it is after all
The writer discussed heping her family understand how much effort she was putting into tidying up after them. It certainly is good to give your housemates/family a chance to realise how much effort *you* are putting into maintaining something they value. They get an opportunity to grow into being able to take care of themselves and others.
However...
It's also useful to think about whether there is a difference between "how things need to be" and "how I want everything to be". I'm the first to insist that tidy is more convenient and aesthetically pleasing - but I have learned it isn't actually mandatory in the home - and sometimes we benefit from finding a middle ground that allows for the preferences of of our homemates.
This is the sweetly reasonable version - the other part is that I finally figured out that Suzy Homemaker was stealing hours from Sarah-the-Artist. Remember my earlier post on maintenance? Now the tidying is pared down to a fairly relaxed standard. Less junk helps too.
So, I was thinking this is yet another post that isn't about textile art, but maybe it is after all
Peak experiences, post-peak experiences
Sometimes you have an experience so wonderful that you know it can never be equalled or bettered. Or, at least, you're pretty sure it's the Best Ever.
What do you do after that?
Especially when you've got a tendency to see the glass half empty. And an overdeveloped talent for harsh comparison. Do you decide to opt out of repeats because they are guaranteed to disappoint?
I say not. Do it again!
Last year I was privileged to sing in an amazing performance of the Brahms Requiem in Carnegie Hall. This isn't unique - there were nearly 200 of us! But by every measure a chorus singer can use, it was a supreme peak experience.
This year I was also privileged to be invited to sing (almost) the same music with a couple of suburban community choirs. After sorting a few logistics questions, I leapt at the opportunity.
It was not New York. By a wide margin. By turns, that difference was painful, frustrating, funny. I also discovered the difference was also irrelevant. So what, if this time round the experience is not going to be equal or better than last time?
That "can't match the peak" experience had its own unique and valuable qualities. I had a chance to sing again with some old friends, to build some new friendships, to see the challenges of the music resolved in a different way. It was a privilege. I was singing the Brahms Requiem for the 3rd time in 3 years! We never know when these chances will come again
And when we clambered up the scaffolding in one venue, and squeezed into the church pews in another, we were all motivated with the same love of the music, love of the audience, love of the conductor, love of each other as collaborators in creating the beautiful fleeting magic that is live music.
It's ALWAYS a Peak Experience if you do it with passion and joy
What do you do after that?
Especially when you've got a tendency to see the glass half empty. And an overdeveloped talent for harsh comparison. Do you decide to opt out of repeats because they are guaranteed to disappoint?
I say not. Do it again!
Last year I was privileged to sing in an amazing performance of the Brahms Requiem in Carnegie Hall. This isn't unique - there were nearly 200 of us! But by every measure a chorus singer can use, it was a supreme peak experience.
This year I was also privileged to be invited to sing (almost) the same music with a couple of suburban community choirs. After sorting a few logistics questions, I leapt at the opportunity.
It was not New York. By a wide margin. By turns, that difference was painful, frustrating, funny. I also discovered the difference was also irrelevant. So what, if this time round the experience is not going to be equal or better than last time?
That "can't match the peak" experience had its own unique and valuable qualities. I had a chance to sing again with some old friends, to build some new friendships, to see the challenges of the music resolved in a different way. It was a privilege. I was singing the Brahms Requiem for the 3rd time in 3 years! We never know when these chances will come again
And when we clambered up the scaffolding in one venue, and squeezed into the church pews in another, we were all motivated with the same love of the music, love of the audience, love of the conductor, love of each other as collaborators in creating the beautiful fleeting magic that is live music.
It's ALWAYS a Peak Experience if you do it with passion and joy
Why am I bothering...
Why am I bothering to learn te reo Māori?
An English immigrant to New Zealand asked me this question. Married to an African-American, she's no racist - unlike some others who have asked me the same question.
I only gave her the political, no-doubt-naive part of my answer, which is:
Aotearoa/New Zealand is in a unique position for race relations. It's far from perfect, but in general Māori (the brown people) & Pakeha (the pink people) get on pretty much OK. You don't need to study a lot of history to realise that things could have gone a lot worse. Most other nations with a multiracial history have a far more bloody record - and can expect more of the same. However, you don't have to study the health, education and economic indicators deeply to realise that Māori are not as well off as Pakeha. This is a shared challenge, an issue for all of us. All of us want it better, even if we don't agree on the way to achieve it.
So, we have a rocky start, quite a lot of forbearance, some problems, and a lot of willingness for things to go well. I truly believe that we have a chance to be a place where different kinds of people really can live in harmony. Not by pretending we are all the same, but by understanding, admiring and relishing those differences. Language, and the cultural understanding that goes along with it, seems like a key part of this. I want to be a real part of building that future. Happily I have an interest in language, and received an invitation to a supportive opportunity to learn.
Then there's the spiritual answer.
Te Reo Māori is the language of the soul of this land. All the beautiful special places were first named in te reo. Mimiwhangata. Aoraki. Rakiura. Waitaki. Walk among puriri, kauri, totara in the company of piwakawaka, hihi, riroriro. Even the palest Pakeha has some idea what a taonga is.
The words have been coming to me all my life, one by one. Given, shared by the native speakers. It feels like the time for me to become an adult and learn to put them together, to speak my heart in the language of my home
Ngā mihinui
An English immigrant to New Zealand asked me this question. Married to an African-American, she's no racist - unlike some others who have asked me the same question.
I only gave her the political, no-doubt-naive part of my answer, which is:
Aotearoa/New Zealand is in a unique position for race relations. It's far from perfect, but in general Māori (the brown people) & Pakeha (the pink people) get on pretty much OK. You don't need to study a lot of history to realise that things could have gone a lot worse. Most other nations with a multiracial history have a far more bloody record - and can expect more of the same. However, you don't have to study the health, education and economic indicators deeply to realise that Māori are not as well off as Pakeha. This is a shared challenge, an issue for all of us. All of us want it better, even if we don't agree on the way to achieve it.
So, we have a rocky start, quite a lot of forbearance, some problems, and a lot of willingness for things to go well. I truly believe that we have a chance to be a place where different kinds of people really can live in harmony. Not by pretending we are all the same, but by understanding, admiring and relishing those differences. Language, and the cultural understanding that goes along with it, seems like a key part of this. I want to be a real part of building that future. Happily I have an interest in language, and received an invitation to a supportive opportunity to learn.
Then there's the spiritual answer.
Te Reo Māori is the language of the soul of this land. All the beautiful special places were first named in te reo. Mimiwhangata. Aoraki. Rakiura. Waitaki. Walk among puriri, kauri, totara in the company of piwakawaka, hihi, riroriro. Even the palest Pakeha has some idea what a taonga is.
The words have been coming to me all my life, one by one. Given, shared by the native speakers. It feels like the time for me to become an adult and learn to put them together, to speak my heart in the language of my home
Ngā mihinui
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