Rehearsal Notes
January 29th
Welcome to the first edition of Rehearsal Notes! This will be a 5-part weekly publication of the things that have inspired me this week and the lessons I’ve learned on and off-stage. Each Rehearsal Notes edition will also have a little creative challenge or experiment for you try out during your week. Find it in the Voice Note section. I hope it brings you joy and actionable tools for your own creativity.
What I’m Listening To
‘The Monk and His Cat’ (YouTube, Spotify) by Samuel Barber, text by W.H. Auden
This song grabbed me last season as I was preparing a recital of American Song (stay tuned for July!) and has inspired the beginning of a not so little project for me of illustrating and clumsily learning how to animate my own digital illustrations in Procreate. Here are the small beginnings of Pangur Bàn’s world:
What Stirred my Brain this Week
Soula Parassidis on Living Opera discussing the concept of ownership and social media for artists in our ever-changing digital age. Find the associated blog-post HERE
If you want more of my thoughts and resources on social media, check out my own article HERE and HERE
Voice Note
This week I’ve been doing a deep-dive on the topic of people pleasing and how it negatively affects our ability to learn and develop in the rehearsal space. A possible anecdote and challenge for you in the practice room this week is to simply ask yourself the following question:
'Is this the way I want to sing this or the way someone else wants me to sing this?
Consider using the PJM (Practice Journal Method) to support your exploration. Leave me a comment to tell me about your experience!
Upcoming Events or Announcements
It’s been a busy week! This weekend we had yet another performance of Die Fledermaus and just last night I had my debut of Oenone in Lemoyne’s Phèdre. I am so happy to have this piece out in the world. But in a fest job, there’s truly no rest for the wicked so, after posting this to you lovely singers and fans, I’m headed off to a 10 am run-through of Rinaldo with a large cup of coffee!
Upcoming Performances
14.2 Fledermaus
21.2 Rinaldo Premiere
23.2 Rinaldo
26.2 Rinaldo
Closing Quotes
Rainer Maria Rilke (Letters to a Young Poet)
“Do not allow your solitude to obscure the light of others, but do not trade it for their approval either.”
Sylvia Plath (The Bell Jar)
“I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart. I am, I am, I am.”
Find more resources for singers, including 1:1 coachings and lessons here
