Final Project Update April 24th
This demo project has been a highlight in my development as a vocalist and has helped me better understand the role singing plays in my life. I truly love singing and desire it to be an integral part of my being and identify as a person. In the way of summary I set out 8 weeks ago on a quest to get 6 songs down in a professional recording form. I chose songs and justified the choices by my motivations and intentions of recording those songs. I sought out collaboration from the UA recording studio and a fellow vocalist (Kendra Van Degraff). I prepared mentally and vocally for the songs and then recorded them and sat in with the engineer as they were mixed and finalized. This was my project and it has been a pleasant, yet eye opening experience. In the first week I began combing through my repertoire searching for songs that I felt I could not only sing (range, timber, etc.), but also songs that have touched me or been a part of my life so that I may try to interpret them. In the duration of the following two weeks I finalized my list of songs and penned my justifications for these songs as a demo. I tried to look at what the songs meant to me and to others and how they would personify me as an artist. Furthermore I considered what vocal qualities and feelings I wanted to share through the pieces. This proved challenging, as my vision on paper outweighed my actual talents. This was difficult to accept, but it was helpful and insightful. In spite of realizing my limitations I put forth my best effort and learned to accept my current ‘chops’ for what they are, but looking optimistically towards future improvement. This demo was to be an anchor and check point by which I would be able to judge later projects and current progress. By the fourth and fifth weeks I was recording. Preparing for the recording through practice was difficult because my voice has been very tired. To prepare for the recordings I set up my trusty ol´ condenser microphone and hooked it up to the ever-faithful garage band app on my mac. I then practiced with my tracks best I could to know ahead of time a rough example of how I sounded when I sang certain ways. I decided how I wanted to do each song through trial and error and having friends listen in with me and compare takes. This process was revealing and indeed helped to not spend an inordinate amount of time in the actual studio. Recording with Professor Wiley Ross was a delight. He is so experienced. He helped me with on the spot adjustments to my backing tracks and was ready to go for each step of the process. Each song I recorded took around 1-2 hours to really get down. As I was in the studio longer I became more and more comfortable and my voice grew more relaxed and natural. The first takes were always tense, and this was a great learning experience. I am much better prepared to approach another demo one day. I did a recording session each week of the last 3 weeks and managed to lay down and master/mix 4 songs. Although I wasn’t able to record the last 2 songs I wanted to I am still pleased with what I accomplished. Most of the stumbling blocks associated with this project had to do with my voice. To overcome vocal fatigue and flaws I drank a lot of herbal teas and practiced vocal rest. I kept responsibly hydrated and tried to vocalize every morning the right amount of time. The most effective tool to overcombing the challenges and discouragement was busily sojourning on and keeping a realistic and positive attitude, “come what may and love it” I always say. I did have to ask for more studio time, which I did in a timely manner. In spite of the inconveniences that may have deterred from the quality of this project (vocal fatigue, studio time etc.) I am satisfied. The duet we recorded for me is a great triumph. I have never been able to record myself singing that song and I particularly like how that song sits in the voice. I am happy with the two Broadway numbers because they have been regular songs in my performance life for so long, now I can share them with my friends and family without an occasion to do so. I have determined through this project that I do not believe I would be very successful as a recording artist in today’s industry. I do not feel that my voice is right for what is currently marketable, and I learned that I perhaps am not as able as I had previously thought, and that is ok. I am perfectly fine accepting this art as something I will express throughout my life as a hobby and an occasional gig. I feel the other talents I have will suit me better in a career in a different field than this talent would in fine arts. It is almost a relief to know that I can love song and still have song as a part of my regular life, but be happy doing something else to provide for a future family and for myself. This project and the preparation associated with it were great lessons to myself, almost my own catharsis moment in my journey towards professional independence. I do feel that one day I will produce an even more polished project when I am no longer burdened with so many other subjects to study in school. It’s been real folks! Thank you for your support and Interest.
Chaucitos y Hasta Leugo,
Thomas Wilson
Project Update April 10th
First and foremost, today is my father's birthday! It actually has something to do with my demo. He not only funded the excess hours of recording, but more importantly he raised me to be all I am. My passion for the three songs that have faith-filled lyrics comes from the proper upbringing I received from him. My talent comes from my Father in Heaven and my father here taught me that. All that I do that is good and wholesome in this world, reflect the stability and nurture I received from my parents both here and above. So Happy Birthday DAD! On a less sober note, I did acquire 2 more hours of free recording! I plan to record the other duet, "I'd Give It All For You". The lovely young lady that will assist me in singing this number has not yet confirmed so I will hold off on announcing her name. I love this duet! It is a beautiful song, not very faith oriented like the others, or at least towards deity. However, the song is dripping in faith in love, and faith in the ones we love. There are overtones of humility, regret, and redemption. There is a desperate tone in this song, but the lyrics are ambiguous, they leave you wondering what the situation was or could have been. You especially don't know how it resolves, just with possible hope for a second chance. It is powerful and full of imagery. Jason Robert Brown composed this piece for a musical (Songs for a New World) that is more a collection of songs and stories rather than a fluid story, but like most musicals like that there are common themes and cross-over of characters. It is this setting that leaves it a song by itself without an apparent or predetermined storyline and context. It leaves a lot of interpretation to the viewer and performer. I subscribe to the tradition idea of a lost romance, but there are many other situations that the lyrics convey. So when I post it, you can decide! What was the composer trying to say? What were they (my friend and I) trying to say? What do I (you) think it would mean for me if the words and emotions in this song were mine? In this sense this song may be the most 'artistic' of my selections. Please remember to check the 'recordings' tab for the songs I post today. Thanks for listening. Not just to my songs, but to the words I put here as well.
Chaucitos
Project Update April 3rd
It's nearly done! I have four songs finalized. Kendi's voice was beautiful on our recording of The Prayer, (my favorite of the four). I would like to do a demo like this again, especially if I could dedicate even more time and resource to it. I also recorded Deh Viene, to be quite frank I feel like I am much better suited for musical theater or "classical/pop" songs. Wiley Ross (studio technician extraordinare) was able to find me a better track than the one I had, change the key, and even slow it down to my desired tempo. The man is a genius. It's been a rough experience but I am pleased with the product we have made. I really must give great credit to Wiley, I am not the most adept for studio recording and he certainly did a great job. Modern technology never ceases to amaze. On a more sober note, I am not sure I will be able to pursue the other 3 songs. I have determined that I should not record "Come Fly With Me". It's not suited well for my vocal abilities and chops at the moment. I would still love to record "Con Te Partiro" and "I'd Give It All For You", beautiful pieces, and the duet is solidly within my abilities, but I fear I am out of recording time. We shall see, I am reapplying and hoping to get it. If not, I do have a quality product that show off my talents in some songs that are staples for me. Wish me luck ( I will post bring him home on the website and you can compare the existing one to the new one, 6 years apart)
Come to think of it, I am not selling this demo so I will put it all on the website.
chau,
Thomas
Project Update March 27th
Well its been slow this last week. I record next monday and tuesday so that is exciting. This last week I got together with the lovely and oh-so-talented Kendi Vandegraff, who is fellow student and colleague at the Ol' U of A. She has a beautiful and sometimes haunting quality to her voice..in a good way...you know. We have been practicing "The Prayer" (famous by Andrea Bocceli, and Celine Dion). We do not sound like them lol. Well not much. We are going to record this piece monday and tuesday. It will be marvelous, Miss Vandegraff has a wonderful instrument and I beautiful timbre. Our practices have been good, slight harmony issues and timing, but when an accomplished musician (her) and someone who memorized the song in high school (me) get together we really made quick work of it. I am apprehensive about recording because not only do we need to worry about clear, accurate and beautiful singing, but also coming in together and cutting off together. The blending of dynamics is somewhat difficult, and what if we just don't sound compatible when we actually can hear a recording of our duet. But never fear, courage ol' boy. I love this song, it is beautiful musically and lyrically (as is just about anything in Italian to a poor americano like me). I love the vowel emphasis is the romantic languages it makes for beautiful and passionate song. You could be singing of the most ridiculous or trivial things (as opera often does) and the language impaired audience will simply love it for the pleasing sound of the language. As with the other two songs I described this one also invokes thoughts of God and prayer, which already gives a greater significance to the song. This makes it easy to sing with dynamics and passion. To think I can touch people with a song where I don't know word for word what i'm singing is amazing to me. I hope that if an italian heard us sing this piece not only would they approve of the diction, but be moved as if I knew word for word what I was singing. Music is powerful like that it interprets itself sometimes and it can be a universal language for those who are truly listening.
Until next week,
chau
Project Update March 20th
One spring break later........
Well spring break proved to be somewhat productive, somewhat relaxing, and full of work. This very morning I began my first recordings in the UA recording studio. It was successful and informative! Man, those microphones sure help you to sound good. I owe a lot to Wiley Ross and his well toned skills at recording. I successfully managed to record completely the two numbers from Les Mes, we haven't mixed them yet but all the singing is done. It took two solid hours of recording/listening/and editing, but we did it. It is a great feeling having some polished work down and saved. It has been a rough week of preparation full of discouragement and doubt, but with humility, faith, and patience the recordings are a fair representation of what I am capable of. The songs I sang this week "Bring Him Home" and "Stars" are really both prayers offered by the characters that sing them. I love these songs because I can identify with both characters (Val Jean and Javert respectively) and the songs themselves are powerful and beautiful musically and lyrically. I want the listeners of these songs to hear in my interpretation the passions and desperation of both characters who are seeking divinity and a higher purpose. In the first song the ever-persecuted yet faithful Val Jean seeks a blessing of protection from God for his would-be son-in-law. This song touches upon the matters of mercy, grace, faith, and fatherly sacrifice. I was raised on these principles and I live/embrace them. I can truly (in my mind) be Val Jean and feel the essence of his experience as a saved sinner and servant of God, seeking a miracle and trusting in the Lord. Likewise I can feel in my faith a sense of order and justice that is expected of our Father in Heaven, I have deep in my convictions a desire to live a disciplined and obedient life. I understand the need to do so, and that we are accountable for our actions. The character of Javert represents the justice and order of the biblical deity, and I most definitely identify with that. The message of these two songs, together, represent my relationship with my Lord, and each serves a purpose in my identification as a son and servant of God. These beautiful prayers have more sway through the power and passion with which I sing them than the strict accuracy and sound associated with more classical pieces. I did not simply regurgitate each note and rhythm with pretty and strong voice, but if there are inconsistencies in the score and what I sang it does not matter, because the feeling I felt singing and the power that was there is what is most important to the recording. I wanted these songs to show off my voice, but more to be felt as real witnesses of the importance of the message of each song. I record again in two weeks so, until then its the way to Carnegie Hall for me! Practice, practice, practice.
Project Update March 6th
So like al great projects there has been a lull in progress. I have a contact with backing tracks to the majority of my songs, but there are still a couple songs unaccounted for. I have begun write ups for each of my song choices, it has proven a tid bit difficult to find a deep reason for each song I am doing. I need to keep working on them. But never fear! I have the not-so-accurately named SPRING BREAK this week from school. You know, it seem the only break I ever have in spring break is the breaking of my will to be productive. I have much to do, but with the majority of my midterms conquered, and a week with out immediate due dates approaching, I feel confident I will make great headway on this project. On an interesting side note I've begun dieting......not sure how it will affect my singing and plans, perhaps not at all. A dear friend of mine from snow-capped switzerland saw my website after not seeing me for a few years, he said my voice may compensate for the incredible weight I've gained, but the he told me that it may be to my benefit. You see in german they have a word "Resonanzkörper" which roughly means 'resonant body'. It seems my talent may be directly proportionate to my ever increasing body composition, it makes me reminiscent of how Barbra Streisand used to say that her gargantuan proboscis of hers was the secret to her vocal success. Well things will develop quickly this week so I hope to have much to report next wed. Next week look forward to some write up updates!
chaucitos!
Project Update February 25th
You know, scholars of music history have said that Brahms and other brilliant symphonic composers were scared to compose too many major symphonies because they felt threatened by Beethoven. Why even bother with 7, 8, or 9 symphonies they thought, we will never out do the master of symphony, "he did NINE!" they said,"and he did all you could do with those, there is no creativity left for us to discover". The guy had been dead for years! Still in partial reverence/fear for his majesty, and perhaps with a dash of spite, composers avoided to scale (scale, get it?) the wall of Beethoven's symphonic accomplishment. Scholars have interpreted this style of thinking from some of the great composers of the Romantic and Neo-Classical periods, and in all fairness the guy did compose one of the most memorable and impressive works of the early romantic period while deaf... So now you can better understand why I won't be doing any covers of Michael Bublé on my demo, even though I practically worship the ground he walks on. I have been struggling to choose the last songs I wish to include in my demo. I have the four I chose last week, but now I'm torn and a little worried about my other choices. For all you singers out there you know what I mean (or any musician perhaps) when i say, that when you learn a song improperly either through laziness or bad habits, it can be nigh impossible to change. There are some songs in my reportory that require more concentration than others because of bad habits from my earlier years of training. Nevertheless I have committed to this project and will make it work. So for the moment I will stick with the four from last week and tentatively choose "Time to Say Goodbye" in the style of Andrea Bocceli (love him), "Maria" from Bernstein's West Side Story, and the old crooner standard "Come fly with me". For now this is my selection and I will begin practicing them and getting the backing tracks, but I reserve the right to change if deemed necessary (its my album I can change if I want to, change if I want to, change if I want to la la la).
Oh I almost forgot, I have solicited the vocal services of the beautiful and talented Kendy Van Degraff to sing "The Prayer" with me, and I am still considering options for "I'd Give It All For You". Till next week!
Chau
Project update February 18th
And so it begins, my first album, my initial embarkment into legitimate recording. I have some apprehension in pursuing a proper recording as I sally forth to conquer the bane of my musical life. I haven't had much success in the past with recording. I have always given the usual excuses "too busy" "too rusty" "not ready", but no more! It is time to put all that behind and make grandma proud (she has been guilt-tripping me for years for not having a recording for her to listen to). I am actually ecstatic to be actually making a recording. I know a lot of singers cringe at the sound of their own voice recorded like I do, but time to suck it up and share this gift that makes my life great. The song selection process is coming along. I have selected one operatic piece and one musical theater piece, as well as two duets I would like to do. I haven't yet confirmed what lovely ladies will showcase their voices with me just yet, but I have some ideas. I am going to sing one of my staples, the broadway famous "Bring Him Home" from Les Miserables and also the more challenging "Deh Viene Ala Finestre" from Don Giovanni. These two numbers should show my passion for theatrical songs in both broadway and operatic forms. I have selected two beautiful duets that showcase more or less the same two styles, but show a vocal collaboration with female voice, and they are David Fosters "The Prayer" (made famous by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli) and Jason Robert Browns "I'd Give It All For You" from his beautiful broadway musical Songs For a New World. Alright world here I come four beautiful songs, now I just need to find the right girls for the two duets and finish choosing the songs. Also this week I am scheduling studio time, wish me luck with that, it can get kinda competitive to find slots at UA recording.
This demo project has been a highlight in my development as a vocalist and has helped me better understand the role singing plays in my life. I truly love singing and desire it to be an integral part of my being and identify as a person. In the way of summary I set out 8 weeks ago on a quest to get 6 songs down in a professional recording form. I chose songs and justified the choices by my motivations and intentions of recording those songs. I sought out collaboration from the UA recording studio and a fellow vocalist (Kendra Van Degraff). I prepared mentally and vocally for the songs and then recorded them and sat in with the engineer as they were mixed and finalized. This was my project and it has been a pleasant, yet eye opening experience. In the first week I began combing through my repertoire searching for songs that I felt I could not only sing (range, timber, etc.), but also songs that have touched me or been a part of my life so that I may try to interpret them. In the duration of the following two weeks I finalized my list of songs and penned my justifications for these songs as a demo. I tried to look at what the songs meant to me and to others and how they would personify me as an artist. Furthermore I considered what vocal qualities and feelings I wanted to share through the pieces. This proved challenging, as my vision on paper outweighed my actual talents. This was difficult to accept, but it was helpful and insightful. In spite of realizing my limitations I put forth my best effort and learned to accept my current ‘chops’ for what they are, but looking optimistically towards future improvement. This demo was to be an anchor and check point by which I would be able to judge later projects and current progress. By the fourth and fifth weeks I was recording. Preparing for the recording through practice was difficult because my voice has been very tired. To prepare for the recordings I set up my trusty ol´ condenser microphone and hooked it up to the ever-faithful garage band app on my mac. I then practiced with my tracks best I could to know ahead of time a rough example of how I sounded when I sang certain ways. I decided how I wanted to do each song through trial and error and having friends listen in with me and compare takes. This process was revealing and indeed helped to not spend an inordinate amount of time in the actual studio. Recording with Professor Wiley Ross was a delight. He is so experienced. He helped me with on the spot adjustments to my backing tracks and was ready to go for each step of the process. Each song I recorded took around 1-2 hours to really get down. As I was in the studio longer I became more and more comfortable and my voice grew more relaxed and natural. The first takes were always tense, and this was a great learning experience. I am much better prepared to approach another demo one day. I did a recording session each week of the last 3 weeks and managed to lay down and master/mix 4 songs. Although I wasn’t able to record the last 2 songs I wanted to I am still pleased with what I accomplished. Most of the stumbling blocks associated with this project had to do with my voice. To overcome vocal fatigue and flaws I drank a lot of herbal teas and practiced vocal rest. I kept responsibly hydrated and tried to vocalize every morning the right amount of time. The most effective tool to overcombing the challenges and discouragement was busily sojourning on and keeping a realistic and positive attitude, “come what may and love it” I always say. I did have to ask for more studio time, which I did in a timely manner. In spite of the inconveniences that may have deterred from the quality of this project (vocal fatigue, studio time etc.) I am satisfied. The duet we recorded for me is a great triumph. I have never been able to record myself singing that song and I particularly like how that song sits in the voice. I am happy with the two Broadway numbers because they have been regular songs in my performance life for so long, now I can share them with my friends and family without an occasion to do so. I have determined through this project that I do not believe I would be very successful as a recording artist in today’s industry. I do not feel that my voice is right for what is currently marketable, and I learned that I perhaps am not as able as I had previously thought, and that is ok. I am perfectly fine accepting this art as something I will express throughout my life as a hobby and an occasional gig. I feel the other talents I have will suit me better in a career in a different field than this talent would in fine arts. It is almost a relief to know that I can love song and still have song as a part of my regular life, but be happy doing something else to provide for a future family and for myself. This project and the preparation associated with it were great lessons to myself, almost my own catharsis moment in my journey towards professional independence. I do feel that one day I will produce an even more polished project when I am no longer burdened with so many other subjects to study in school. It’s been real folks! Thank you for your support and Interest.
Chaucitos y Hasta Leugo,
Thomas Wilson
Project Update April 10th
First and foremost, today is my father's birthday! It actually has something to do with my demo. He not only funded the excess hours of recording, but more importantly he raised me to be all I am. My passion for the three songs that have faith-filled lyrics comes from the proper upbringing I received from him. My talent comes from my Father in Heaven and my father here taught me that. All that I do that is good and wholesome in this world, reflect the stability and nurture I received from my parents both here and above. So Happy Birthday DAD! On a less sober note, I did acquire 2 more hours of free recording! I plan to record the other duet, "I'd Give It All For You". The lovely young lady that will assist me in singing this number has not yet confirmed so I will hold off on announcing her name. I love this duet! It is a beautiful song, not very faith oriented like the others, or at least towards deity. However, the song is dripping in faith in love, and faith in the ones we love. There are overtones of humility, regret, and redemption. There is a desperate tone in this song, but the lyrics are ambiguous, they leave you wondering what the situation was or could have been. You especially don't know how it resolves, just with possible hope for a second chance. It is powerful and full of imagery. Jason Robert Brown composed this piece for a musical (Songs for a New World) that is more a collection of songs and stories rather than a fluid story, but like most musicals like that there are common themes and cross-over of characters. It is this setting that leaves it a song by itself without an apparent or predetermined storyline and context. It leaves a lot of interpretation to the viewer and performer. I subscribe to the tradition idea of a lost romance, but there are many other situations that the lyrics convey. So when I post it, you can decide! What was the composer trying to say? What were they (my friend and I) trying to say? What do I (you) think it would mean for me if the words and emotions in this song were mine? In this sense this song may be the most 'artistic' of my selections. Please remember to check the 'recordings' tab for the songs I post today. Thanks for listening. Not just to my songs, but to the words I put here as well.
Chaucitos
Project Update April 3rd
It's nearly done! I have four songs finalized. Kendi's voice was beautiful on our recording of The Prayer, (my favorite of the four). I would like to do a demo like this again, especially if I could dedicate even more time and resource to it. I also recorded Deh Viene, to be quite frank I feel like I am much better suited for musical theater or "classical/pop" songs. Wiley Ross (studio technician extraordinare) was able to find me a better track than the one I had, change the key, and even slow it down to my desired tempo. The man is a genius. It's been a rough experience but I am pleased with the product we have made. I really must give great credit to Wiley, I am not the most adept for studio recording and he certainly did a great job. Modern technology never ceases to amaze. On a more sober note, I am not sure I will be able to pursue the other 3 songs. I have determined that I should not record "Come Fly With Me". It's not suited well for my vocal abilities and chops at the moment. I would still love to record "Con Te Partiro" and "I'd Give It All For You", beautiful pieces, and the duet is solidly within my abilities, but I fear I am out of recording time. We shall see, I am reapplying and hoping to get it. If not, I do have a quality product that show off my talents in some songs that are staples for me. Wish me luck ( I will post bring him home on the website and you can compare the existing one to the new one, 6 years apart)
Come to think of it, I am not selling this demo so I will put it all on the website.
chau,
Thomas
Project Update March 27th
Well its been slow this last week. I record next monday and tuesday so that is exciting. This last week I got together with the lovely and oh-so-talented Kendi Vandegraff, who is fellow student and colleague at the Ol' U of A. She has a beautiful and sometimes haunting quality to her voice..in a good way...you know. We have been practicing "The Prayer" (famous by Andrea Bocceli, and Celine Dion). We do not sound like them lol. Well not much. We are going to record this piece monday and tuesday. It will be marvelous, Miss Vandegraff has a wonderful instrument and I beautiful timbre. Our practices have been good, slight harmony issues and timing, but when an accomplished musician (her) and someone who memorized the song in high school (me) get together we really made quick work of it. I am apprehensive about recording because not only do we need to worry about clear, accurate and beautiful singing, but also coming in together and cutting off together. The blending of dynamics is somewhat difficult, and what if we just don't sound compatible when we actually can hear a recording of our duet. But never fear, courage ol' boy. I love this song, it is beautiful musically and lyrically (as is just about anything in Italian to a poor americano like me). I love the vowel emphasis is the romantic languages it makes for beautiful and passionate song. You could be singing of the most ridiculous or trivial things (as opera often does) and the language impaired audience will simply love it for the pleasing sound of the language. As with the other two songs I described this one also invokes thoughts of God and prayer, which already gives a greater significance to the song. This makes it easy to sing with dynamics and passion. To think I can touch people with a song where I don't know word for word what i'm singing is amazing to me. I hope that if an italian heard us sing this piece not only would they approve of the diction, but be moved as if I knew word for word what I was singing. Music is powerful like that it interprets itself sometimes and it can be a universal language for those who are truly listening.
Until next week,
chau
Project Update March 20th
One spring break later........
Well spring break proved to be somewhat productive, somewhat relaxing, and full of work. This very morning I began my first recordings in the UA recording studio. It was successful and informative! Man, those microphones sure help you to sound good. I owe a lot to Wiley Ross and his well toned skills at recording. I successfully managed to record completely the two numbers from Les Mes, we haven't mixed them yet but all the singing is done. It took two solid hours of recording/listening/and editing, but we did it. It is a great feeling having some polished work down and saved. It has been a rough week of preparation full of discouragement and doubt, but with humility, faith, and patience the recordings are a fair representation of what I am capable of. The songs I sang this week "Bring Him Home" and "Stars" are really both prayers offered by the characters that sing them. I love these songs because I can identify with both characters (Val Jean and Javert respectively) and the songs themselves are powerful and beautiful musically and lyrically. I want the listeners of these songs to hear in my interpretation the passions and desperation of both characters who are seeking divinity and a higher purpose. In the first song the ever-persecuted yet faithful Val Jean seeks a blessing of protection from God for his would-be son-in-law. This song touches upon the matters of mercy, grace, faith, and fatherly sacrifice. I was raised on these principles and I live/embrace them. I can truly (in my mind) be Val Jean and feel the essence of his experience as a saved sinner and servant of God, seeking a miracle and trusting in the Lord. Likewise I can feel in my faith a sense of order and justice that is expected of our Father in Heaven, I have deep in my convictions a desire to live a disciplined and obedient life. I understand the need to do so, and that we are accountable for our actions. The character of Javert represents the justice and order of the biblical deity, and I most definitely identify with that. The message of these two songs, together, represent my relationship with my Lord, and each serves a purpose in my identification as a son and servant of God. These beautiful prayers have more sway through the power and passion with which I sing them than the strict accuracy and sound associated with more classical pieces. I did not simply regurgitate each note and rhythm with pretty and strong voice, but if there are inconsistencies in the score and what I sang it does not matter, because the feeling I felt singing and the power that was there is what is most important to the recording. I wanted these songs to show off my voice, but more to be felt as real witnesses of the importance of the message of each song. I record again in two weeks so, until then its the way to Carnegie Hall for me! Practice, practice, practice.
Project Update March 6th
So like al great projects there has been a lull in progress. I have a contact with backing tracks to the majority of my songs, but there are still a couple songs unaccounted for. I have begun write ups for each of my song choices, it has proven a tid bit difficult to find a deep reason for each song I am doing. I need to keep working on them. But never fear! I have the not-so-accurately named SPRING BREAK this week from school. You know, it seem the only break I ever have in spring break is the breaking of my will to be productive. I have much to do, but with the majority of my midterms conquered, and a week with out immediate due dates approaching, I feel confident I will make great headway on this project. On an interesting side note I've begun dieting......not sure how it will affect my singing and plans, perhaps not at all. A dear friend of mine from snow-capped switzerland saw my website after not seeing me for a few years, he said my voice may compensate for the incredible weight I've gained, but the he told me that it may be to my benefit. You see in german they have a word "Resonanzkörper" which roughly means 'resonant body'. It seems my talent may be directly proportionate to my ever increasing body composition, it makes me reminiscent of how Barbra Streisand used to say that her gargantuan proboscis of hers was the secret to her vocal success. Well things will develop quickly this week so I hope to have much to report next wed. Next week look forward to some write up updates!
chaucitos!
Project Update February 25th
You know, scholars of music history have said that Brahms and other brilliant symphonic composers were scared to compose too many major symphonies because they felt threatened by Beethoven. Why even bother with 7, 8, or 9 symphonies they thought, we will never out do the master of symphony, "he did NINE!" they said,"and he did all you could do with those, there is no creativity left for us to discover". The guy had been dead for years! Still in partial reverence/fear for his majesty, and perhaps with a dash of spite, composers avoided to scale (scale, get it?) the wall of Beethoven's symphonic accomplishment. Scholars have interpreted this style of thinking from some of the great composers of the Romantic and Neo-Classical periods, and in all fairness the guy did compose one of the most memorable and impressive works of the early romantic period while deaf... So now you can better understand why I won't be doing any covers of Michael Bublé on my demo, even though I practically worship the ground he walks on. I have been struggling to choose the last songs I wish to include in my demo. I have the four I chose last week, but now I'm torn and a little worried about my other choices. For all you singers out there you know what I mean (or any musician perhaps) when i say, that when you learn a song improperly either through laziness or bad habits, it can be nigh impossible to change. There are some songs in my reportory that require more concentration than others because of bad habits from my earlier years of training. Nevertheless I have committed to this project and will make it work. So for the moment I will stick with the four from last week and tentatively choose "Time to Say Goodbye" in the style of Andrea Bocceli (love him), "Maria" from Bernstein's West Side Story, and the old crooner standard "Come fly with me". For now this is my selection and I will begin practicing them and getting the backing tracks, but I reserve the right to change if deemed necessary (its my album I can change if I want to, change if I want to, change if I want to la la la).
Oh I almost forgot, I have solicited the vocal services of the beautiful and talented Kendy Van Degraff to sing "The Prayer" with me, and I am still considering options for "I'd Give It All For You". Till next week!
Chau
Project update February 18th
And so it begins, my first album, my initial embarkment into legitimate recording. I have some apprehension in pursuing a proper recording as I sally forth to conquer the bane of my musical life. I haven't had much success in the past with recording. I have always given the usual excuses "too busy" "too rusty" "not ready", but no more! It is time to put all that behind and make grandma proud (she has been guilt-tripping me for years for not having a recording for her to listen to). I am actually ecstatic to be actually making a recording. I know a lot of singers cringe at the sound of their own voice recorded like I do, but time to suck it up and share this gift that makes my life great. The song selection process is coming along. I have selected one operatic piece and one musical theater piece, as well as two duets I would like to do. I haven't yet confirmed what lovely ladies will showcase their voices with me just yet, but I have some ideas. I am going to sing one of my staples, the broadway famous "Bring Him Home" from Les Miserables and also the more challenging "Deh Viene Ala Finestre" from Don Giovanni. These two numbers should show my passion for theatrical songs in both broadway and operatic forms. I have selected two beautiful duets that showcase more or less the same two styles, but show a vocal collaboration with female voice, and they are David Fosters "The Prayer" (made famous by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli) and Jason Robert Browns "I'd Give It All For You" from his beautiful broadway musical Songs For a New World. Alright world here I come four beautiful songs, now I just need to find the right girls for the two duets and finish choosing the songs. Also this week I am scheduling studio time, wish me luck with that, it can get kinda competitive to find slots at UA recording.