From little details comes the whole picture

Well, it's been about 2 months after the trip to NY. Although I haven't been blogging as much as others (for which I'm grateful to read and look back on different viewpoints), I've been struggling to keep up with schoolwork, my senior recital, and myself these past two months.  Even though I haven't been blogging, I am aware of catching myself thinking about the trip, whether I'm researching for my project, or walking across the bridge (y'all know....that wind-tunnel.  It's kind of a long walk, if you think about it!).  I found myself avoiding the internet, email, what-have-you, these last couple of months in order to finish things.  I've found it to be a double-edged sword in that this is how people communicate the most to each other now, so I'm missing out on things, but I get my work done.

People posted in here about their singing, especially if they had received a lesson in New York.  Although I did not focus on having a lesson for the trip, I went about making the connections between the masterclass with Claudia and my private lessons back here in Eau Claire.  I had told my teacher that Claudia had mentioned singers today not using their full body to sing, but just from here (pointing to her chest) up.  Preparing for my senior recital, he did not let me forget that statement.  I can honestly say that the trip has re-kindled my reasons for why I love singing.  And it's not the performances we've attended that made it, but the conversations with Naomi, Caroline, Nick, and John Raymond, that made it special.  They all emphasize the importance of why they do it.  I enjoy singing, but I enjoy it more when I give my talent to people.  I feel alive when I sing.  It may sound cheesy, but it's true.  Coming back to Eau Claire has given me a reason to sing, and although Haas is closed the day after we get back.... (frustrating as all get out!) it can't stop you from learning your pieces. 

Another aspect of this trip that I found important, and tried to incorporate it here, is finding time for yourself.  Finishing up my last semester here, I think this is valuable information.  I made it a personal habit not to do work at home over the years, and it was most likely due to the fact that my apartment (tiny as it is) is my little sanctuary away from music, from work, and from school.  Therefore, I made an investment to myself to be at a coffee shop at 8am until class, and then after class, if I wasn't working, would stay somewhere until I made a decent dent in my work, usually until 10 or 11 at night.  This mindset, I think, is important to recognize.  There always has to be a get-away spot for you to clear your head, and that became my apartment.

It's the little things such as that that allow you to realize how to organize your life.  Going back to Logan's remark on being your own CEO, she has a desk in her home that is like her office.  Personally, I'm stoked for that aspect of it, because I LOVE office supplies!  But it's more than that.  It's a way to prioritize your life.  And it means more to me right now since I'm graduating.  I've decided to take a year off of school and get situated.  This trip was more to me than how to network, and how to go about a singing career.  It was a trip to say "Hey, take a step back, look at the big picture.  Now, where do you want to go from here?"  And I'm starting to be able to answer that question. 

As mentioned in Mitra's blog about starting our summer programs, I've made a few short term goals for myself. 

• I will be singing in a family friend's wedding
• My friend composes work and is working on a new cycle that should be finished by summer
• I will be getting in contact with a professor in the Milwaukee area for bi-weekly lessons.
• I will look at FSU as a potential grad school opportunity while I'm there visiting a friend, and set up a meeting with a professor.
• I will build my Psychology resumé and find a full-time job for when I get back to Kenosha.
• And non-music related, but related in order to keep my life balanced - I will be training and running in a 10k by the end of June with the help of my sister.
• start practicing the piano again

They may not seem like much, but from my viewpoint it's finding stability while still participating in music.  I may have to shift my calendar of goals as things come up, but overall - I want to keep my life balanced in what I enjoy doing, because like Claudia said, if you don't enjoy doing your work, then that's all it is is work, and you won't find any fulfillment in it.  I have such an eclectic variety of interests, that this is the way (at the moment) that I see how I can balance everything together.

This is a long post, but necessary.  After 2 1/2 hours of sitting here and trying to word what I want to say, I'm happy to say that I've made a connection with the whole picture.  The trip to New York is not just about singing, or keeping the arts in your life, but it is a lifestyle in itself.  And though it will take time and energy to get where you want to be, the good "habits" that you develop along the way will only reinforce the direction you want to travel.  And that is another aspect of this trip:  Life is choices.  So many choices.  You have to do what makes you most happy.  It will not be the same path for any one person, and I am perfectly okay with that. :-)

Signing off with new confidence for the future,
Leisa A. Sunier

Choose the color that suits you best. :-)

Happy May Day!  When I was a kid, we used to make little baskets out of styrofoam cups and take treats to our elderly neighbors around our small town.... community was (and is) so important.

We had our second to last class meeting last week--the students turned in their written reflections and their "Summer Program" outlines.  Each student, in addition to reflecting on the total NYC Immersion experience, was to devise a program for themselves to work on some of their less developed skill areas over the summer.  What could be better than a summer program devised specifically FOR you, BY you???
I haven't read them yet but am looking forward to it.  My summer program will include starting my own blog of my summer experiences so that I have an online presence, immersing myself in the big city life, getting my materials together by updating my bio, CV, etc., taking part in SongFest, which I have wanted to do for several years, and working on my professional leadership through my new role in NATS.

Also special about the last meeting was that each student shared part of their reflection with the class.  It was so moving and a privilege to hear their words of self-discovery and even questioning.  Out of the struggle will come strength.

Until next time.
Mitra

What Now?

So thanks to the trip I know I can reach the professional level, but there's still plenty of work to be done before I'll really ready to make the move. I have skills I need to sharpen, habits to establish, and tools of the trade to acquire. I'm set to graduate in May, but I can get started (and have started) many of these things while still a student. Let's break down my plans in greater detail:

-The biggest hole in my performance package is my dancing. It's the area I have by far the least formal training in and has been a stopper for a couple Twin Cities callbacks already. To improve this I'm looking into the Hennipen Center for the Arts to enroll in some beginning ballet and jazz dance lessons. I'm also looking to improve my fitness in general. I have been exercising 3 to 4 times a week since returning from NYC, and am hoping to move from 195lbs down to 185lbs. before the summer begins. In addition to the dance classes I'd like to get involved in a martial arts program upon returning to the Cities. I did two years of that in late Middle school, and I remember the level of flexibility, balance, discipline, and confidence it gives you. All useful things for dancing.

-My voice lesson with Claudia Catania was an incredible NYC experience. She gave me some valuable instruction and (equally valuable) encouragement. The techniques she helped me fix made me more open to the advice my current voice teacher (the wonderful Dr. Petillot) has been giving me all this time. This past month there has been some great progress made, but it is progress that is just as easily lost if I don't keep it fresh. I've been able to average 5 days a week at 45 minutes to an hour of voice practice since returning from NYC. That's much more than I used to put in, but still less than I need to do going forward. It needs to be a 7 days a week thing. I need to establish that as a habit now as I leave UWEC for a less structured atmosphere of life after college.

-Thanks to our pre-NYC meetings I have brushed up my resume and have a look for it that I am happy with. My headshots, although workable, will need to be updated shortly after I graduate. With these new materials I plan to submit headshots and resumes to multiple talent agencies around the Twin Cities area. If I can get representation from these agencies I may be able to make some extra income and credits from industrials.

These are just a few of the things I'm looking to improve on, but overall it's about developing the mentality that I am the CEO of my own business. No one is going to force me to practice or exercise, I just have to do it. The knowledge of what is possible is an encouraging thing, however. I think the memories and experience gained from our trip to NYC made my goals clear enough to pursue at full force.

-Evan

Finding the How

My favorite moment of the NYC experience actually took place in Anoka, Minnesota. It was Saturday afternoon, 3 hours after we landed back in MSP, and the weather was immaculate for March in the Midwest. My Mom and I decided to savor a few moments before I drove back to Eau Claire and sat out on our deck in the sun and talked. Unsurprisingly, the trip was the main focus of the conversations. Who I'd met, what I'd seen, what I'd learned, and most importantly, "what now?". As I was recounting and explaining all these things, the first time I had summarized thoughts to someone outside of the trip, I became aware of the level of focus I now had regarding my future. It was a positive change, a firmer, clearer sense of direction that came from a newfound, firsthand knowledge of what it will take to make a living on the stage. There is now a how to the what. Talking to my mom after it was all over made me realize how far I'd come, I could see on her face that she noticed a change. The look of pride she had on her face is one I hope I can keep with me as I move to achieve my goals.

Let's take a closer look at how I answered those questions:

Who I met: In 6 days and change we had 8 large group interviews and 5 small group interviews surveying a total of 19 industry professionals. Their disciplines included Broadway singers, Opera singers, Church singers, dancers, singer-dancers, working student actor/singer/dancers, agents, voice teachers, professional accompanist and film actors. Their experiences ranged from a couple of years to longer than most of us have been alive. Among non-performers I met some native New Yorkers who gave me a much better sense of what Manhattan is like than the romanticized versions in films and television.

What I saw: A mass at an Episcopal Church, 2 events at the Met, 2 shows on Broadway, one show Off-Broadway, and a Juilliard Honors Recital. Again, this is in 6 days. Some in our party added a couple more Broadway shows to the mix.

What I learned: Claudia Catania said to us that the best way to learn from someone is to go in knowing what you want. I had a number of specific questions that I wanted to have answered over the course of the trip, but it all fed into one overarching question that I needed to answer for myself: Can I make it? Do I think, after getting a closer look, that I have the means and the know-how to make a career as a Broadway actor possible? I found answers about my future from the pasts of others. I explained the wide range of professionals we had talked to earlier. Their stories are all unique. Some of their roads to NYC were straight shots, others had a few more twists, turns and detours. The absolute greatest thing about interviewing all of them was when the things they all had in common started to shine through. They all are extremely busy people, pushing themselves constantly to the limit so that they can make the most ends meet that they can. Some have it more comfortable than others, but even the comfortable ones never rest. They all have an insatiable drive to perform. Something is in them that makes the long hours of practice and rehearsals and second jobs worth the precious moments onstage. It is not an automatic things to posses this drive. They have all suffered downs in their careers and fought through them. Every one of them mentioned that, make no mistake, you will be discouraged to the point where you want to quit. There is only one solution: DON'T. You'll bounce back.

So as the week went on I gathered my notes and thoughts and observations, what I'd heard from those gracious performers, and what I'd seen at the stages. I took the experience of my private voice lesson with Claudia Catania and the moment Tuesday night when I finally "got" the Subway. I reflected on these things and much, much more and I found my answer: I learned I can. This goal is within my reach.

Which leaves only one question...

On meeting fantastic, very talented people

I was very fortunate to interview two succesful female conductors, which is a very male dominated profession, so that was very encouraging. They were both extremely interested in helping me in whatever way they could, and I could have easily talked to them for hours more! But I'm very grateful for the hour they both took out of their incredibly busy schedules to talk to me.

Something that one said that I just loved was that conducting is, for her, all about solving problems—putting the puzzle pieces together to get to the big picture. Its about the love of a challenge and the love for bettering other's lives with music, both your musicians and the audience. I just connected with that so much, and it reminds me how excited I am to teach music.

Overall impressions I got from these interviews were how important it is to be exposed to, and expose others in the community to as many different experiences as possible. It helps young people grow as individuals and figure out what they want to do with their lives, and generally enriches the lives of others. And the more my life is enriched and the more knowledgable I am, the more I'm able to bring these experiences to my classroom and my community.

Other miscellaneous things picked up from these and other various interviews: Do what makes you happy. Only take a job if it has 2 of these 3 criteria met: it looks good on your resumé, it pays, and you love it. Don't take a job if it makes you miserable, not even for the job experience. Take care of and support your fellow performers/co-workers, you never know when you'll need support yourself. Say yes to as much as possible—it  keeps the opportunities coming and helps you grow creatively. Surround yourself with positive people. And finally, be patient, you'll get there!

-Jennifer

Reflections on a marvelous opportunity...

So, it's over a month later and I'm just starting to make sense of everything we have accomplished from this trip. As others have said, I have discovered that networking is not nearly as daunting as I originally thought. Before this I never would have considered emailing complete strangers for an interview, especially professional conductors. But I found that in general, people are very willing help out students and give some time to answering all of our questions. This has probably been the most valuable thing that I have learned from the experience, and I'm considering doing this again the next time I travel. I learned so much about NYC and the arts culture there just from talking with professionals there.

In an interview with Jennifer Peterson, a professional conductor and wonderful person, she told us how important it is to be creative and assertive in this business, which is not something that comes easily to me (I would say it's the Midwest nice thing, but I'm not technically from here). She talked about a job that she really wanted when she was just out of college, and after calling about it, they told her that they already had "stacks of resumés". As a way for her resumé to stand out and be taken seriously, she left copies in the mailboxes of the director and the hiring director in the opera building. It was a simple thing, but she stood out and got the job.

Long story short, I've learned a simple yet valuable lesson about being polite but assertive, and meeting new people who are more than happy to help you be successful.

-Jennifer

Meagan Moment

I happen to have my own blog, and while unknowingly still signed in to that account, I accidently posted my last blog in that one, so let's get this straightened out for partial credit :)
I have made a big decision recently: where I am going to grad school. It was a battle between the impressive, big ol' Indiana, Jacobs School of Music and small and fierce Oklahoma City University. I had great experiences at both campuses and really couldn't decide. But after making some discoveries about what I know of large cities (New York) I actually did know which one I was going to choose: OKC. I absolutely loved Indiana. It was a friendly place, and had an immense supply of resources at my fingertips. It was so tempting! However, I knew that it was HUGE! The grad program there had around 200 graduate students. I realized I probably wouldn't have gotten in any lead roles until I was almost done with my second year. I knew that OKC was the answer for me. It was small, and I adored how beautiful it was. The opera there was just as impressive as Indiana, but you get more experience faster, and I wanted to get my feet wet right away. I also loved the professor I had worked with at OKC. He spoke my "language" and I understood what he was trying to accomplish with his students.
Needless to say, NYC helped me decide my future. It made me realize what I was ready for, and what needed to wait. I can't wait to go to grad school!
Meagan

Some more reflection...

It's incredible to me that in a couple of days it will be the one month anniversary of the day that we left for NYC.  Since coming back to Eau Claire, life has been very busy - we've had a voice area recital showcasing various settings of texts by William Shakespeare, I gave my first Faculty Recital here at UWEC, performed in the faculty April Fool's Day concert, as well as with the Voice Faculty Quartet for the Viennese Ball this weekend.  Now that the dust has settled, I've been thinking a lot about the trip and all of the wonderful performances I experienced.  While I heard a lot of wonderful singing, a few performers really drew me in to their performance, one such example was Paul Appleby's recital.  What made this performance so special?  The word that keeps coming to mind is "specificity."  He had a specific meaning and intention for every phrase of music and poetry that could be clearly read by his voice, musicality, and physicality.  When you're studying a song or an opera role, the possibilities for interpretation seem endless.  One of my favorite parts of being a singer is exploring all of these possibilities in my own study, practice, and rehearsal.  However, at some point you have to make a choice and go with it.  If you try to express all the possibilities, you can end up expressing very little, giving a generic performance.  This then led me to think about something one of the cast members of Anything Goes said about choosing to be great at two things, rather than trying to be great at everything.  I think that the students were amazed by all of the possibilities and various paths one could take in pursuing a career in music.  The possibilities are endless!  BUT - at some point you have to make a choice and go with it.  This doesn't mean you're stuck with the choice forever, as Logan Tracy reminded us, you can always make another choice, but make a choice!  It is my hope that the students start making their "choice" and then take steps to realize that choice.  Most are starting to do that.  I'm excited to hear about their various plans for creating their own summer program, and I hope they know I'm here to encourage them in any way I can.
For myself, I'm going to go for more specificity in my performances; I'm going to allow myself more time with a piece to make a specific choice and realize that choice.  I'm also looking to take on Caroline Worra's suggestion that we should all find something more difficult to do than singing.  Right now, it has been working on my dissertation.  I'm looking forward to having time this summer to really focus and devote my complete attention this project.  I'm also looking for various ways to stop and "smell the roses."  After being in college for over a decade, all while starting and maintaining a performing career,  and now teaching music full-time, it's time for me to find a few non-music activities for my life.  Maybe after the dissertation is done it will be time to start training for that marathon...

Mr. P

Life Lessons
I feel truly blest to have been given the chance to partake in this immersion class. It is a completely unique experience and really gives young performers an edge when starting their careers. Many of the people we met with said if they only knew the information they know now ten years ago life would have been easier. Going on this trip really was an eye-opening experience and each and every one of the students benefited from the trip in one way or another. I am going to now share some of the life lessons I learned from this trip.
1. People are people. This seems fairly simple but I know many young people have misconceptions about other groups of people, specifically those who grew up in a different culture. What I have learned from this trip is that you can make connections with almost anyone, and have the same experiences as a person on the other side of the country. Once I embraced this simplistic idea the world seemed a less daunting place, and New York seemed less scary.
2. Don't justify what makes you happy. As young college students we often think that we have to achieve a certain goal in order to be successful but then life becomes a task. Going to school, earning your degree, this is important, but your degree is just that, a degree. There are so many options that one doesn't think about while in school. There is no cookie-cutter version of life, and you don't have to do the same things other people in your major end up doing. Every one is different and whatever ends up making you happy is what you should pursue.
3. Persistence is one of the most important aspects of success. If you keep trying, and continue to work you will be successful. Everyone has talent, but not everyone has perseverance and the willingness to get up every single time they fall and try again. If you keep pulling yourself back up you will outlast many of the people that you started out with.
I could go on and on about the things I learned but these are three things that really stood out to me. None of these 'lessons' are completely new ideas to me or mind-blowing, but they are ideas that have become more solidified because of this trip
~Britney Shattuck

It's Never Too Late...

What's better than sitting down and talking to one of your favorite pop musicians that happens to be super gorgeous?...Sitting down and talking to one of your favorite pop musicians that happens to be super gorgeous AND has some words of wisdom that leave a lasting impression.

One day into my immersion experience (Sunday, for those of you who have lost track), I set off to Union Square for an interview with popular singer/songwriter Derek James. I had met Derek a few times before after gigs he has done while on tour in Eau Claire, so I knew how down-to-earth he would be. I was expecting a half-hour interview. What I got was multiple hour of sitting around chatting, just getting to know about each other's worlds.

This interview was the beginning of a huge realization for me: networking is not that daunting of a task. At the end of the day, networking is making friends, whether they be professional or otherwise.

The biggest lesson to be taken from this interview is that, no matter what your passion, it is never too late to change your mind or start something new. Derek graduated with a degree in psychology. He decided that music was his true passion, though. Upon his decision to write music instead, he didn't even have the piano background to know where middle C is. Today, Derek supports himself solely through various avenues of music.

He also made is clear that you have to figure out who you are, both as a musician and a person. Never deviate from who you are. It's ok to change but only if you are changing for yourself and not for what others expect you to be. Some people may not like your sound or the vibe you give off. That's fine, because some people will absolutely love that sound and that vibe. Most importantly, YOU have to love it.

It was also nice to get coffee with Derek the next morning in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, his place of residence. We discussed jobs and the Williamsburg area. This is a nice (more affordable) place to live. It is filled with families, pop musicians, and Broadway singers.

Although I discovered the sad fact that coffee is not very good anywhere in NY, I did learn alot of valuable lessons from the immersion experience. My whole path of self-discovery really got rolling with this first interview with Derek James. I'm looking forward to visiting this summer and learning even more.

~ Nicole A. Korbisch

The Mind and the Body

I've been thinking about performing--there are so many approaches to take as one prepares for a performance.  I teach the students here to GOTE their characters (Goals, Obstacles, Tactics, Expectations) and we work on the personal/mind connection with the character's circumstances to find motivation.  This is very successful for many performers.  I heard an interview with the great Natalie Dessay (who I will see tomorrow as Violetta in a live broadcast to a Saint Paul movie theatre) and she basically said who cares what the character is thinking and why they are doing what they do.  The audience must SEE those things.  Her approach is entirely physical.  And she is a stunning performer.  She relies heavily on her director to help her realize her physical characterization and if you've seen her perform hearing her say these things comes as no surprise.

We work on the physicalization to some degree in opera workshop, but perhaps that is what we should take on in the fall's OW.  I always have a theme for each semester--last fall we did American opera, the year before we did Magic and Mystery, before that Bel Canto, etc.  It is a fantastic way to teach students of opera literature and history that they don't know much about.  I was also thinking French opera, but those two actually would have a natural affinity to be approached together.

The performers we saw in NY clearly varied in their approach to presenting themselves and their character.  Some clearly put the voice first, some have deeply psychological interpretations, and still others are so physically connected to singing and performance. And of course, many performers do more than one--this is an oversimplification.  But one thing I need to remember is to work more specifically with students so they can figure out what acting approach works best for them.

Paul Appleby sticks out in my mind as someone what has a pretty amazing combination of all three.  He really is one of the best performers I've ever had the privilege to hear in recital.

But, as always, there is no one right answer.
Mitra

Reflecting: One Month Later

It is always interesting to see how the "trip high" lasts after you return home from an amazing experience. You always think, "This will always be how I feel for the rest of time. My life has been changed. I have new-found purpose and drive in life." But how often does that ever hold up two weeks later?

Well, here we are, nearly a month after our return from the Big Apple. My life still feels changed. I am still filled with a whole new sense of direction and focus. The only difference from my initial reaction? Now, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with how to get there. It's tough to get the ball rolling. I have a lot of plans and have made a lot of decisions. Execution? That needs a little more of a kick in the pants. Since our return, I have felt so tied down to my everyday responsibilities that I haven't had much extra time to devote to starting my future now. I need to set deadlines for myself. Better yet, I need someone else to help me hold myself accountable for meeting my deadlines. Starting a "career club" was brought up while we were in New York. Essentially, that means having a friend or group of friends that check up on one another to help each other stay focused (and guilty if your focus slips). Figuring out my personal deadlines and my "career club" will be my two most immediate goals.

~ Nicole A. Korbisch

Network and "The Hustle"
Networking and stepping out of my comfort zone are two things I became more familiar with while in New York and leading up to the trip. One of the assignments included setting up a meeting with someone while in New York. This was quite a scary concept for me when first starting the class. The only person I knew in New York was my cousin Ingrid, and I hadn't talked to her in quite some time. I didn't know how to even begin finding someone that I could interview about being a performer or living in New York! I was even hesitant to contact my cousin, not wanting to be a bother. But being the diligent student I am, I gritted my teeth and sent a seemingly desperate message to cousin Ing asking if she had any connections or oppurtunities for me in the city. I wasn't sure that she was even going to respond, but the next day I recieved a lengthy message with perhaps the most valuable information I have learned from this whole experience, or at least the beginnings of what I was about to learn. She told me many of the networking tips and the differences in culture that she had come to learn in her 10 years of being in the city. She had also grew up in the midwest and was a student at UWEC, so she experienced many of the pitfalls of a midwestern culture and manner. An important lesson she had to give was to go after what you want, and don't be ashamed to ask for it. This was a completely eye opening idea for me, especially because of the culture I was born into. She also introduced me to Logan Tracey, who led "The Hustle" class for the entire group. Logan had so much advice for young performers starting out from how to be memorable at an audition to tax information. We focused mainly on networking and being the CEO of your business. Being a professional businessman is something singers often don't think about in their careers, and it was very beneficial to recieve some insights into starting a successful business for yourself.

If I hadn't had the oppurtunity to take this class I don't think I would be as confident in standing up for myself and going after what I want as I now am. Being professional in emails, classes, and personal interactions is important, and so is being confident and comfortable with who you are. These are some of the things I have taken away from this experience, and specifically the assignment given.
~Britney Shattuck

Interview with a Liturgical musician

I had great interviews in New York with people who help others pray. I was interested in church music and how the music is created. Being a student, I am interested in solo music and choral music. After talking to my interviewees, I learned these things.

1. Music helps the community pray.
2. Music must have variety.

The most important thing is to reach out to the community. I saw this two ways. The church I went to had many different choirs and services to have them at. Contemporary and solemn settings to help different sections of the community pray. They also have a concert series which takes up much time as well. The second church had it focus on the masses. There is also a concert series but not to the same extent.

The most exciting thing is the idea that music must have variety. Not only must the music be singable, it must be accessable. The purpose of music in the catholic church at least is not just to wash over you. It involves participation. This was stressed by both places.

I also learned that as a church singer, you can still have a career in music. The woman I talked to at the first chruch still has jobs that take her places, but her job at the church was a full time position. I love singing for the church and I am glad to know that you can do that and do other things.

I am excitied to bring some of the ideas I learned back to my parishes and help spread the musical message.

Tenor so in Manhattan - Review

I wrote a lot when I was in New york and I still havent gotten myself a blog. It will come, do not worry. But I want to take some time to review my experience.

Best Musical Experience
While seeing Juan diego rip up the Met in L'elisir was amazing and shows me how you can emote on stage, I have to say my most musical experience was seeing Godspell.

Being at the met was great and I know that being in the presence of such great performers is fantastic. I love this music and hope to sing as much of it as I can. The differences are what really set apart the broadway show from the opera. I was sitting very close to the stage and the actors interacted with me. I love the grandeur of opera, but something still gets me in the musical setting. It was very powerful and in a different way than opera. I hope to be good enough to one day do crossover.

Best NewYork Experience
I think running around New York is awesome. There are many ways to get to the same place. Me and Steph were late to the met and we still need to change. I decided we had to take a taxi. It was an experience. Not bad, not cheap, but not terrifying. I like traveling around new york with no real destination in mind. So many things to see and do.

Best Group Experience
Me and two other girls were traveling back to the hotel after going to the Mannes student recital. We were having tons of fun. My favorite part is the fact that the girls had no idea where to go and when the subway stopped at one place, one of the girls stood up. I said this was not our stop and to sit back down. She did. She fell on her butt because the seat she was on, folded back up into the wall. What a laugh we had.

Personal review
I know it sounds rediculous, but I learned that I do not need to be in New York right now. I am not planning on going to Grad school in New York. the city is not calling me right now and I know I will be there often enough. I loved being there, but I do not need to rush my life ahead. My life will take me to New York and some point.
Second, I know I can do it. Singing has gotten much better for me since the trip and I love the way singing feels now. Easy. More relaxed (not completely... yet). Expressive, and much more than whe I was trying to be. Singing is not to be dreaded any more and this realization makes practicing much easier. Performing bears more fruit and the music I sing always can teach me something new.

It's Really Sinking In

Every day I am getting readjusted to normal college life in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.  and every day, New York City feels like a dream.  But now it's a dream that I can go back to and live in for good in just two years!!  

It's 11:00 pm on a wednesday night, and like a responsible student I am diligently doing my homework, trying to catch up on what seems like a never ending to-do list.  About ten minutes ago I needed a break.  That usually entails clicking my way through the world wide web to youtube and looking up past Tony Performances.  I stumbled upon the cast of anything goes  performing their show-stopping, toe-tapping finale number at the end of Act 1.  But this time I remembered I met some of the people who were in the cast; who were performing at THEE tonys, and dancing next to some of the most famous Broadway Stars, like Sutton Foster! It hit me like a ton of bricks all over again.

The NYC Immersion experience has given me a self-assurance and fire that I have been searching for for the past three years.  All of my fears of going into this profession have completely vanished.  I was so grateful that I experienced this before my recital, which was a week ago Thursday.  It felt wonderful to perform with that new-found confidence.   I'm finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and that light is obscured by the New York City skyline!!

Still, I do have a few uncertainties about the future, like how I'm going to support myself, living paycheck to paycheck.  But I believe more than ever that everything that is meant to happen will happen.

Sincerely yours,

Marie

Here's the link I mentioned!  If you pause at 3:54, you will see Tari Kelly (who performed Reno Sweeney at our show!), Andrew Cao, and Raymond J. Lee dancing right behind the incredible Sutton Foster!  They graciously gave us their time after the performance to speak with us!!  This was my favorite part of the entire trip :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo6lPifGnGA

  

Three Weeks and Time to Think

Three weeks ago we were at the end of this fantastic Immersion experience--we've now had some time to think and apply what we experienced to our everyday work as artists and CEOs of our own businesses.  As a mentor, I've seen new fire in many of the students upon returning--Marie, Evan, and Emily have given recitals that glittered and gleamed with new influences and Meagan's recital is tonight.  Many others have also shared their new perspectives with me, their peers, and in their performing.  We are indeed a lucky group to have a University that supported this type of project.  Everywhere we went, people told us they had never heard of such a program.  Thank you UW-Eau Claire.

Please keep checking back with this blog--each student will be posting at least two more times now that they have had time to reflect, and of course we'll be doing the immersion program again next year.

I've been reflecting on lots of things, many of which I am journaling personally about, but something I'll share is re-arriving at the conclusion that one really must allow oneself time to think.  If all your time is spent running from one thing to another, when do you ever get to process what you've experienced?  Sometimes staying on the run like that might be a self-protective mechanism to avoid reflection.  Reflection is hard.  If we do it right, we realize what we've learned but we also realize our own areas of weakness and both are scary.  It is difficult at times to admit what we are good at, and it is difficult to admit what we're not good at.  Human beings are so complicated.

So, I've been trying to give myself "down time" to think about things and just be.  The difficult part of slowing down is that I feel I am not accomplishing enough.  And in fact, I am accomplishing less than I am used to.  But hopefully the quality of what I do will improve.  It will require an entire change to how I have lived my life, but it is something that I am bound and determined to do.

It is interesting to reflect on the same experience that the students had, but from an entirely different point in life.  They see what they want to be doing and what they need to add to their repertoire and their routine of being a working artist.  I am inspired to refine, improve, and frankly cut back on, what I already do.  I know who I am. They are discovering who they are.  Both are special.
Mitra

More thoughts from a soprano who wants her life to be an opera!

We’ve been back for a while and I’m starting to think about the bigger picture.  I’m now starting to realize that while the thought of starting a singing career is a little intimidating, it’s certainly not too frightening for me!

The biggest thing I’ve learned from this trip is that life is all about choices, and that it’s okay to make a choice and then later decide that it’s not for you.  I have a tendency to think that there is only one particular path to my goals, and that any variation of that path is not acceptable because I have to do everything following that one particular plan.  If I make choices, it’s okay to change my mind.  That is so huge for me right now, and I think it’s starting to sink in.

Another big part of what I learned is about networking.  Yes, it’s very important, but it’s also heartening to learn that it’s incredibly easy!  It can be as low-key as facebook messages to someone (who you already know) who does a summer program that you’re interested in.

Other things I learned on this trip:

New York.  So incredible.  I love everything about it and can’t wait until I move there.  I love the constant amount of energy and all of the inspiration for everything:  New York is truly the one place in the world with everything.  It was so striking to me to see all of the differences brought together – beautiful old buildings right next to modern skyscrapers, the glamour of the Met compared to the simplicity of the backstage areas, the mixture of urban and nature (not just Central Park, people even put plants on roofs in order to create beauty), and all of the different cultures coming together to thrive in one area.  The mixture of all of these things is just so intriguing to me. 

I need to stop and think before doing anything, especially with directions.  If we ever went the wrong way going anywhere, it was because of me.  I need to really be aware of what I’m doing and not do things mindlessly, because that creates problems.

The life of a performer is the right one for me.  It’s so liberating to be able to say that I want to do this – because I do.  I love opera so much and love being onstage.  This trip has made me realize that I have the abilities to succeed as a performer, and has made me so much more confident in myself.  

Jordyn

More thoughts and reflections about my lesson, or how I'm starting to figure things out!

I know I posted as soon as we got back about my lesson, but looking back, it was more of a list of what we did instead of my thoughts about it. So, here goes!

When Britney and I got to the Manhattan School of Music, I was nervous.  My thoughts were a jumbled mess:  “What if I’m not up to the New York standard?  What if she tells me she never wants me to even think about coming here for grad school?  What if I don’t like the lesson?”  

It turns out that all of my over-thinking was pointless; there was so much that I learned and was able to process from hearing everything in a different way.  I learned that I understand the concepts for good singing, but I’m not applying them.  I have all the tools for success, and now I need to put them all to use.   

The biggest thing we worked on in my lesson was breath.  We worked on other things, such as a legato line, but that is tied so completely to the breath.  If I’m not working with my core, my breath will be off.  When my breath is off, not only do I not sound like I am supporting myself (because I’m not), but I also am unable to create a legato line. 

Being back in classes and being able to take what I’ve learned into my voice lessons has been so helpful.  Right now my biggest problem is breath – I’m not supporting myself with my core and that throws everything else off.  I've figured out that my lack of support is what I've been working on recently - my lack of being grounded.  Since I am not supporting myself physically, I cannot possibly be supporting myself in my breathing.  I have been working on feeling downward energy toward the floor to try and make myself more supported and more in control of myself.  My lesson yesterday was really exciting - because I struggle to not "perch" so much when I'm standing, we had me sit (with good posture, feeling like I could stand up at any minute).  It was incredible!  I could feel my breath doing so much more work, and as a result some of my other vocal issues went away.  When I was only focusing on one thing while singing, I didn't feel as overwhelmed as I usually do.  Yes, it was work, but I felt more joy instead of worry.  It   feels so good to be able to start figuring things out!  I'm going to sing, and I'm going to keep learning as I go.   

Jordyn

An Interesting Thought

Since we've been back, all I have been thinking about is my upcoming recital on this Wednesday. I've been in the practice rooms non-stop, while working hard on program notes, and scheduling rehearsal times for other things, while getting in my homework for my other classes. My schedule is similar to the hustle and bustle of NYC: never-ending.
I absolutely loved dropping all that I had to do back here in little Eau Claire for experiencing New York. I didn't have to worry about everything listed above, and it was a wonderful feeling. All I had to worry about were my scheduled meeting times to go to shows, or to interview someone. It was a relief to be able to enjoy myself. Once I got back to Eau Claire, yes, I could hear the birds chirping outside my window in the morning, but it was back to being responsible me. I am now imagining what it would be like to have all those responsibilities come to New York... woof! I would go absolutely insane! This is partly why I know New York is not the place for me now. Reason 2 of figuring out why I don't like big cities is complete (the first being assertion). Now onwards to find a third reason...
Meagan

A Klink Think

I thought that coming back to school after spring break would be overwhelming, anticlimactic, and just in general, a bummer. I knew that I would lose the "spring break high" and that that would be bad. At first, it kind of felt that way because we all of the sudden had to get back into a routine, but I'm realizing that even though I felt like my excitement kind of faded away, I am still constantly thinking about the concepts I learned on the trip without even realizing it. For example, I've automatically been using some of the warm-ups Susan gave me in my lesson when I practice. I also had some good follow up emails or facebook messages with people we met in New York, even though I didn't necessarily talk to them personally. And I am constantly reminding myself to "keep my blinders on" and to believe in myself. That sounds really cheesy but it is absolutely necessary and true and often hard to do.

People keep asking about how the trip was and I loved telling people about it! (Until after about the 50th time), but then I realized that I am glad that I have to keep retelling the story because it makes me say again the things I learned, reinforcing them into my brain and reflecting deeper each time that I tell someone what I did and learned in New York. Every day I get to practice being confident and proud of what I am working toward. I also have been thinking about how there are so many possiblities and directions to go in a singing career; it doesn't just have to be singing at the Met. If one thing doesn't work out, I can just keep going and/or find another direction to go.

Something Claudia said was that we are singers, so we should be singing! Don't go and do something else if singing is what you do. (She said it much better than what I am paraphrasing). So if you're waiting to be ready for a career in opera, keep singing it or practice singing other genres while you're waiting and learning. Even if you have a regular temp job, find someplace to sing while you're growing because that is what you do! I really like that idea. It kind of goes along with something Susan said in my lesson. I need to be content where I am right now and to use this time to learn all kinds of things. There are so many aspects to a performance career besides the singing technique. I can be using this time to grow in all of the areas and to not get discouraged that I can't sing like Diana Damrau right now. I'm not supposed to be able to sing like her! I need to be patient.

It is still daunting but also exciting to think about the future now that I have all these new ideas to think about. I am looking forward to achieving little goals along the way and to see my progress and how all this new knowledge effects the way I do things, see things, plan things, and think about things from here on out.

-Emily

After the aftermath

All of us that went on the trip have had probably three different types of reflection. Initial reflecting right after our day was completed in NYC, immediate post trip reflecting on everything we saw and did, and present/ future reflecting- remembering the large or important things we learned and thinking about how we are going to apply them to our lives right now and in the future.

For me, my present reflection happened everyday at school this last week. How am I going to organize my schedule to make sure I get the most out of every day? How will I change the way I practice to continue to grow and teach myself correct singing technique in the practice room? What pro-active measures am I taking to set up a successful transition into the next step in my journey? Am I enjoying all the little steps and falls along my journey? Is all the networking, constant self development, stress of finding jobs, and uncertainty worth the struggle?

Going through each day this week, I made it a point to make goals for myself that I could achieve within that day. I organized my schedule like I always do, writing down all my classes, meetings, and lessons I give for the week. Then I made a long term schedule for summer class, next fall, and next spring. I came across the realization that I have a very high chance of graduating next year, which was a terrific realization and slightly horrifying. In the practice room, I also made goals for myself. Instead of just having a schedule of things to do, I made a list of things to improve/accomplish for one or two songs rather than getting through an olympic size load of music just to say I got through it all. Having a set goal in mind made me take more time just working on technique for my music and thinking of ways I will apply it in my voice lesson. The pro-active measures I'm taking have to do with setting up my own summer program for myself, finding ways to build my dance skills, vocal skills, piano skills, perform in a show, give lessons/sing at weddings, and get class credits out of the way. It seems like a lot written out in a line, but once scheduled into an organized schedule, its not as intimidating. The key is not doing everything all at the same time. There are three months of summer...thats plenty of time...right?

When I'm done practicing and don't have the best day, or come out of class feeling like I haven't learned anything, or I'm just feeling completely overwhelmed from the demands of memorization and constant recitals/meetings to be at, I remember how gratifying the good moments are. Whether a good moment is feeling the resonance through my passaggio for the first time, or winning a competition, or feeling prepared for a lesson, they are all remind me why I chose the path of performance. Sure, having a good performance is spectacular, and there is nothing that can compare to that feeling, but I also like the journey. I like figuring things out for myself and being wrong, or losing, or falling down. I learn from those experiences. All the stress music students put themselves through for the five minutes of gratification sounds like a horrible deal, but in all honesty, those five minutes, along with finding happiness in the small things is what gets us through. So yes, the networking, constant self development, and uncertainty of the future is worth the struggle. Had I chosen a different career path, I know I would not be enjoying that study, as much as I love performance.

New York showed me that I still have the drive to be successful.

Abby

Some favorite pictures

Subway after a long day

Pizza on a sunny day

The Met--the greatest show on earth

cupcake!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The "Survivor" tree

Central Park in bloom

Throwing Spider webs!

?

Beautiful, intense Claudia

One week back in EC

Hi all-

The first week of school after our NY trip is finally over.  I think we all felt that we had some serious catching up to do after being gone so it was a long week.  First of all, I am glad to be home.  I like having space, I like the quiet of my neighborhood, I like being able to practice in my studio whenever I want to.  But I do miss the energy of New York and the sense of endless possibility that I feel there.  I was reflecting today at our 7:00 a.m. class meeting about how much I value creativity.  And my personal creativity results from reacting to things that I see.  The extremely high level of artistic endeavor in NYC gives me hundreds of things to respond to--colors, movement, spacial relationships of things, shades of light, energy flow, etc. etc.  My creativity is rekindled and I feel "refilled" as an artist when I am there.  I also LOVE being around people who are at the top of their game.  I always have.  It inspires me to challenge myself.

Each of the people who went on our trip is to create a "summer program" for themselves--first identifying skills they want to work on and then devising a program to work on those skills.  People are taking dance lessons, coaching, self-defense, languages, creating websites, etc.  We are all serving as a "career club"/support network for each other to help all of us keep on the track we are starting on.  This includes me.  I am working on my summer plans and they are EXCITING!

The students have four remaining assignments- more blog entries, including one on their one on one networking/interview, a reflection on the overall experience, a personal reflection on their individual question they took to NY, and a self-devised "summer program."  Exciting stuff.

More later-
Mitra

Emily's lesson with Susan Eichhorn

For my individual interview experience, I had a voice lesson with Susan Eichhorn. I found out about Susan through a series of mouse clickings. I was reading the blog "A soprano steps out," http://sopranostepsout.blogspot.com/ and I clicked on a link to a different blog that she had. It was Susan's blog. From there, I clicked on a link to her facebook page. From there, I clicked on a link to her voice studio website. I read every word on the website and really liked all that she had to say. http://www.susaneichhornstudio.com/ She works with people from all genres of singing because when it comes down to it, good, healthy singing is good, healthy singing, no matter what style you are singing in.

I started out telling her what I've been working on in my voice lessons, what I've learned on the trip, and what some of my vocal concerns and goals were. We started talking about the maturity of the female voice and that it isn't really in place until anywhere from age 25 to 30 or even older, depending on the size of it. She told me to be patient (I heard that a lot on this trip) with my voice but to use this growing time to explore other aspects of performing as well. She said "hurry up and wait." Explore acting, explore language, do summer programs, etc. Don't push too hard because if the muscles aren't ready, it's just not going to work. As a young singer, I want to do everything NOW, but she said "just be where you are." That is so true. I shouldn't try to force anything or get downhearted about what other people are doing because everyone's path is different. And I'm only 21! That's not that old! I've got plenty of time.

She also said something that I heard other people we talked to say as well, so it was good reinforcement: that this business is not cookie cutter, everyone's path is different. It's not, "Okay, I do this, and this, and this, and this, and then I'm this." She said there are a lot of singers even in the top tier who never did a young artist program or a pay-to-sing, they did their own thing. Like how Naomi said 'no' doesn't necessarily mean 'no,' she said that just because you don't get accepted into something, doesn't mean you can't have a career. You don't have to "follow the bouncing ball."

Then she had me sing. I told her what I usually do for warm-ups and she gave me some breathing exercises and vocalises to do.  We talked about grounding my voice through all of the registers to have a core sound. I could go into details about all the stuff she told me but I won't here. To summarize, we worked on flexibility/agility, breathing, talking about the pelvic floor, brighter vowels, and more open vowels in Italian. I was sitting on a stool for most of the lesson to help me feel engagement of the muscles as I breathe.

I really liked the lesson. The things we talked about and worked on were mostly things I had heard before but in a different way, so it was good to hear it said from a different perspective and to get some more methods and ideas to practice those things. She was very open to me emailing her all that I want with questions, comments, concerns, etc., and I have already been doing some of the things I did with Susan in my own practicing back in Eau Claire.

Reflecting on my meeting with Brace Rice

After being home for a week, I have had time to sit back and think about all the information I have acquired from New York. When we went to New York, each student was told to find a person in New York and make their own immersion experience in the city. Some students got voice lessons and others did interviews. I chose to interview Brace Rice, someone currently working actress/dancer/model in New York City. Some of my classmates (Evan, Marie, and Meagan) along with myself met up with Brace to ask her about her transition from the midwest to New York, and the things she has learned along the way living in the big city and performing.

Brace was fantastic. I had so many questions, and my interview buddies had a lot too. All of our questions  were met with honest answers and advice. For my own questions, I was focused around where to find auditions, and where they are held. Brace told us about Backstage a magazine for actors/dancers and websites to go to for finding audition information. She also told us about classes we can take to prepare ourselves for NYC auditions. Bob Klein has a musical theatre audition class that we can sign up for, and learn what an audition is going to be like, instead of being completely terrified not knowing what to expect. I also learned that Broadway shows are required to hold auditions. They are called "required calls" and they don't have to cast people if they don't have any immediate openings, but this also helps them see what else there is for talent in the area in case a spot should open up. I think the biggest thing I learned was that I can't set my heart on every show I audition for. Brace said that auditioning is like the job part, and getting booked for the role is like vacation, because then you are safe, you have the role, and can concentrate on that for awhile. I definitely think that is a great way to look at an audition, and I'm going to have to practice still taking my auditions seriously, but not setting my whole emotional state of mind on the line if I don't get a part. Sometimes people won't want a short blonde person, and thats ok too! There is always something better to audition for coming up that might be a better opportunity that the one I didn't get.

Brace also talked about "money jobs." Jobs that make you money while you are auditioning around town every waking moment. What Brace said that seems like common sense, but is totally true and something people don't always consider is: like your money making job. Some people temp, some people bar tend or wait tables, but those are not apart of my music/ performing specialty. Brace said to try and find money jobs that make use of the talent you are trying to develop or at least gets you practice using your craft. I couldn't agree more! I loved what she recommended. She worked at a dance studio and got discounted dance lessons, which is definitely something I want to do! She also is finding work doing hand and foot modeling which I find is so awesome, and wouldn't mind doing that either! She gave me so many things to think about, and I'm definitely going to try and find jobs that can benefit me by building my skills, not just earning me money.

I loved my interview/talk session with Brace. She was so friendly and down to earth, which made asking her so many questions easier. I really enjoyed getting to know her, and I definitely want to keep in contact. Hopefully someday we can work together in a show, or run into each other in the audition circuit in the city. Had I not been able to go on this immersion experience, I would have never learned so many inside facts on the performing world, that I would have been clueless about as an outsider. I am so grateful for the information I have learned and the connections I have made with people in New York. Knowing people there and how the performing system sort of works makes the idea of going there less daunting and more accessible to achieve.

Thank you Brace for all of your help! You definitely inspired me to continue perusing my dreams! :)

Abby

Back to Reality: Reflections in the Midwest

Back to Reality: Reflections in the Midwest

Why hello bloggers/Blog Followers!  It's Marie here.  You could say I'm the "oddball" of the group who wants to pursue a career in musical theatre.  And just like leisa, this is my first blog.  There was just so much that I wanted to experienced during in NYC during the day that I would crash at night to prepare for another early morning.  I needed to take time to process everything That I experienced on this trip!  I brought back notebooks filled with tips and advice from Auditions to Apartment hunting.

Today was our first day back at school, and I couldn't concentrate all morning.  All I could think of was New York and How Much I missed it.  I miss the buildings, the food, the people, and knowing that whatever I wanted was just a short walking distance away.  The last time I was in New York City I was an eleven years old and I hated it.  I was terrified of everything new that I didn't quite understand.  Nine years later I can't enough of it!

I Never expected to learn as much as I did during this immersion experience.  I got the chance to work with the incredible Claudia catania, (who has performed on Broadway and at the Met, and now runs a private studio in NYC) through our master class and a private voice lesson in her upper west side Apartment!  She fully believes that anyone who has the passion and the work ethic can make it in this cut throat business.  she encourage me to come back to New York and give it my all.  I also had the chance to do a phone interview Liz Holtan.  She had to   She is a Wisconsin native that resides in New York and is now making her way in the television/film business.  Something she said really hit home with me.  When we dive into performing as a professional, we will be doing a lot of auditioning, and hopefully getting a few callbacks.  When deciding on whether to take a job or not, we should be asking ourselves three questions:  Does it pay well?  Will it advance my career? Is this job going to be artistically fulfilling?

Before this trip, I had questions about this industry that I never thought I would find the  answer to until I experienced it myself.  My musical theatre ambitions were only a dream that seemed so far away.  I am elated to say now that I finally got every one of those questions answered.  I not only brought back notebooks filled with tips and advice: I brought back a new fire.  I will do anything to get myself back to New York.  All my fears and doubts have been replaced with more determination and goals.  I have already began compiling a summer program that would help me in my career goals.  

This trip went beyond my expectations!  I can't thank everyone who was involved enough for giving all of us this opportunity!  Thank you to my incredible voice teacher/mentor, Mitra for writing the grant and making this all happen.  Thank you to my 11 other college peers for the fond memories.  Every single person that we interviewed and met with all said the same thing when we explained the purpose of our trip: "I've never heard of anything like this before!  I wish I had this opportunity when I was your age!"

Until we meet again, New York.  Until we meet again.

Marie


        
      

Last day... and some post trip reflection...

This past Friday was our last day in NYC.  We started our day with a "Hustle" class given by actor Logan Tracey.  Several points she made struck home with me, one being that I am the CEO of my own company, and that I need to spend some time every day working on my career.  Also, it's ok to change your mind and make a different choice at any point in your journey.  I think this was a liberating piece of information for all of us in the room.  Too often we feel trapped by our field of study, by our choices, by everyone else's expectations... Ms. Tracey reminded us that WE DON'T HAVE TO BE!!! We can make another choice.  Also, we don't have to apologize for who we are!  Just say, "I am a singer."  Don't say, "I'm trying to be a singer." Just be who you are.  It was such a simple message, but at the same time, it came across as very profound.  There was an incredible amount of information given during the three hour session, from using social media to promote yourself to tax information for performing artists.  I took a lot of notes, and I'm still processing all of the information.
After the session, I was able to catch up some more with jazz musician, Amanda Brecker.   We had a wonderful lunch, an even better conversation about being both a teacher and performer, and walked around the west side, enjoying the beautiful Spring weather.
I then made another trip to the Julliard bookstore before meeting up with Dr. Sadeghpour and some other members of the group where we met Dr. Sadeghpour's college friend, dancer Rob Kleinendorst.  Rob is a dancer with the Paul Taylor Dance Company, and it was wonderful to hear his story.  Like many of our other guest speakers this week, Rob talked about the importance of "perseverance" and always being willing to learn and improve throughout your career.
After our meeting with Rob, Dr. Sadeghpour, Leisa and I went to hear a wonderful recital given by tenor Paul Appleby and pianist Natalia Katyukova.  What a performance!  Mr. Appleby sang beautifully with incredible nuance and commitment to the text.  I am both inspired and challenged by his abilities as a recitalist.
After the recital, we all rushed down to the Stephen Sondheim theatre where we went to see Cole Porter's delightful musical comedy, "Anything Goes."  The cast was excellent, and I greatly enjoyed the performance.  I really loved watching Joel Grey and John McMartin perform.  These seasoned performers stole the show, and gave us all a master class in comedic timing.  It was very fun for me to see this show, since I performed the male lead, Billy Crocker, back in undergrad when I was around the age of the students on this trip!   (I remembered all of the song lyrics and most of the lines! But don't worry, I didn't sing along!)  After the show, we had the unique opportunity to have a q & a with several members of the cast... their message to the students: "perseverance."
After we returned to the hotel, we had our last group meeting.  It was wonderful to hear everyone  share what they discovered about themselves during the week.  As I listened to each person, I was reminded why I love teaching - seeing people discover/realize something they didn't know about themselves.  I think that everyone left NYC with a new sense of direction, and even if some don't quite know which direction they're going to choose, they at least have the comfort in knowing that they can forge their own path in a life in music, the important thing is to just keep going.
I am extremely honored to have been a part of this experience.  Thank you Dr. Sadeghpour for writing the grant to make this immersion experience possible, and for allowing me to be a part of it.  I'm excited to see the ways in which this group of students apply the information they learned this past week in their own lives and careers.  I hope they will stay positive, and through hard work and perseverance, create and maintain a wonderful life in music!
Mr. P