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Sunday, November 12, 2017

Choir


Last week, I ran out of podcasts to listen to! THE HORROR! You will not believe what I ended up listening to...

MUSIC!!!!

That’s right. I popped in a CD of one of my choir performances from college. All four years of college, I was in IUP’s Chorale, which was a chorus for college students. You had to audition to be in chorale, but once you were in, you were in and didn’t have to try out year after year.

I loved singing in chorale. I liked our director, Mr. Dearing, and I liked the music he chose. I sang soprano or soprano II, depending on the song. We performed several times throughout the school year. Sometimes it was at the university's concert hall and sometimes it was at local churches. Some of my favorite pieces we sang include Mozart's Requiem, Carmina Burana, and Ave Verum Corpus.

When I listened to the chorale CD, it made me miss singing in a chorus SO MUCH. And it made me miss singing for real. I sing every day at school, but I don't use the same type of voice I used while performing and studying music at IUP. I know my voice has become damaged singing every day with kids. I also know that I lost a lot of the skills I used to have. I am so out of practice.

I would really like to join a local chorus or maybe even audition for a musical this spring. I need to sing some music that is meaningful to ME. Let's put it this way, singing The Bear Hunt and The Alligator Chant at school every day is not challenging me as a singer! 
Did you ever sing in a choir?

9 comments:

  1. As a teacher I know how you feel. Teachers share their trade with students every day but don't often get to practice it themselves. That is why I am so grateful I have the newspaper and the other writing opportunities I've been given so I can showcase my skills in another way.

    I really hope you do get to audition for a musical this spring. If you do, let me know and I'll try to come to your production!

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    1. As a fellow teacher, I knew you would understand! I will definitely let you know if I decide to audition and get in the show. :)

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  2. Go for it! I love when you sing on Snapchat!

    The Bear Hunt may not be challenging but if you filmed yourself doing it that would be amazing. It’s been like 25+ years since I’ve seen/heard it! Nostalgia!!!

    My music teacher in elementary was one of the nicest women ever. One time I auditioned for singing a solo in a performance our class was putting on for PTA. I don’t have a good singing voice but back then I never did anything to draw attention to myself and I think she thought it was good for building my confidence. I can’t think of any other reason why she would choose me. I appreciate it. It definitely took me out of my comfort zone and was fun!

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    1. You wanna see me do the bear hunt!!?? Maybe I will snap it to you. ;) I am glad your music teacher chose you for that solo too! I LOVE when kids want to get involved and if they're game, I want to pick as many kids as possible to do special things.

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  4. I did sing in regular choir in school, but nothing outside of the required classes. I am quite the singer in my car though! :) You should get involved with a local performance of something - have you done that before? We have a friend who is in a barbershop quartet.

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    1. I used to do community theater all the time but have been on like a 4 year hiatus! Hence why I miss singing "for real" so much.

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  5. Choirs are so cool!! My high school used to do a holiday choir performance, and that was the first time I heard Do You Hear What I Hear? and love the choir version of it.

    It is soo cool that you were in a choir! You have a great voice, so it makes perfect sense. I got kicked off choir because I can't sing to save my life!

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    1. That is one of my fav Christmas songs. DO you like the Whitney Houston version? It's a little cheesy but good. YOU GOT KICKED OUT OF CHOIR? That is not right!!

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