Practicing with the windows open

Springtime is in full swing here in Nashville, complete with yellow cars, itchy eyes, and glorious weather. Despite the temptations of the outdoors, I’ve managed to stay the course, though I will admit to possibly terrorizing my neighbors by practicing with all of the windows and doors open. Hilariously, I actually got a text from one of my neighbors a few weeks ago on such a practice day. These particular neighbors live the next street over, but apparently could hear me just fine (oops), and they sent me a text saying one of their daughters (who happen to be a fine budding violinist) had observed that my octaves were very in tune, and thanking me for being a good practicing example. It made me laugh, and also gave me all the warm and fuzzies.

I think this might be the first time ever I’ve been able to say I have checked every item off my to-do list from the previous week. I’ve set a date for my front yard concert (May 22…put it on your calendars!) and chosen the rep I will sing. I’ve booked my hotel for my audition at the end of the month. I’ve read the first chapter of The Naked Voice. I’ve practiced (and will continue to practice) the things that I’ve been talking about in my coachings.

Speaking of coachings, I’ve been delighted by the ones I’ve had the past couple of weeks. It’s wonderful to go work with a new coach who has completely different things to say than what I’ve heard before, and it’s helping me give new life to audition repertoire that I’ve sung a TON. We may not get through all of my arias before my audition in a couple of weeks, but I’m taking the concepts and working on applying them to the arias we haven’t looked at!

This week’s to-do list is pretty short:

• Keep practicing what I’ve worked on in my coachings the past couple of weeks, and work on applying concepts to the arias we haven’t covered.

• Start work on the rep for my front yard concert, and apply the concepts from my coachings to those pieces too!

• Read chapter 2 of The Naked Voice

• Get back on the Duolingo Italian train - I’ve been neglecting my lessons!

What’s on your list this week?