Performance Class today 3/30

We are all together in HRH.

Tiny Change #10: Support YOURSELF

This may seem contradictory, considering how many times we've told you to reach out if you need help. I'm not saying that you shouldn't avail yourself of the doctor if you're sick, the counseling center if you need help with managing stress, or your teacher if you're having trouble in class. Do those things when you need: they are there for a reason.

I'm referring to the constant cheerleading some of us seem to need to simply do our work.

How many of you go from practice room to practice room, asking someone to listen to your work (and listening to theirs, thereby postponing work for BOTH of you), so that you can feel good enough to continue? How many of you seek counsel from each other, often repeatedly, regarding something to which you already know the answer? Often, this is an avoidance technique, when what you really need to do is just get to work.

Steven Pressfield, in my favorite book (The War of Art) puts it this way:

Seeking support from friends and family is like having people gathered around your deathbed. It's nice, but when the ship sails, all they can do is stand on the dock and wave goodbye.

Any support we get from persons of flesh and blood is like Monopoly money; it's not legal tender in that sphere where we have to do our work. In fact, the more energy we spend stoking up on support from colleagues and loved ones, the weaker we become and the less capable of handling our business.

Get to work. Don't talk about it, plan it, or fantasize with others. Leave the neuroticism at the door, and get practicing.

Voice Studio Recital Groups

Following are the groups for the Voice Studio Recital, two weeks from last night:

4pm

Lauren Tinsley: Verdi, prati

Jonathan Reynolds: Caro mio ben

Patton Lenard: Va per lo mare

Eugena Babb: Sebben, crudele

Alex Drummond: Vittoria, mio core

Michael Giddens: Lay your doubts

Austin Hilbert: Che faro senza Euridice

Eric Campbell: Bob’s Aria

Maurice Nix: Wasserflut

Gabe Knight: Die Forelle

Grace Becher: O kühler Wald

Laurel Floen: Colored Lights

Jenn Palmieri: Lost in the waves

Lilly Bateh: The beauty is

Elizabeth Forman: Fly into the Future

Savannah Faulkner: Fools fall in love

Clara Holmes: With you

Beau Boudreaux: Poisoning Pigeons in the Park

Peyton Overstreet: I could be Jewish for you

7pm

Rachel Hancock: Come and trip it

Juanita Pineda: Come again, sweet love

Arthur Beard: Deep River

Briana Auhing: The Crucifixion

Daniel Johnson: Were you there

Sabrina Lewis: Sebben, crudele

Daley Browning: Caro mio ben

Quan Patterson: O del mio dolce ardor

Ashlyn Poe: Das verlassene Mägdlein

Andrew Ellis: Nacht und Träume

Chris Farley: In der Fremde

Farryn Owens: History of wrong guys

Brooke Payne: The Human Heart

Diego Villaneuva: I’ve told every little star

Allie Nichols: A little brains, a little talent

Justine Nelson: When I look at you

Rachel Biggs: I Won't Say I'm in Love

Zachary Lampe: From this moment on

Camilla Almond: Even though

Tiny Change #9: rediscover childhood

It's Spring Break, so it seemed time to lighten things up a bit. This week is my chance to get out my crayons and color. (To be fair, it's actually Catch Up On Work week for me, but I'm trying to build in just a little fun while y'all are at the beach.)

Most of us have a hobby from childhood that makes us happy, calm, or relaxed. Mine is coloring. Luckily, my husband doesn't seem to mind that I'm a kid underneath it all, and has supported my habit by giving me coloring books, markers, and colored pencils. It all started when he got me an enormous set of Crayolas, and I squealed with glee. Thanks to him, I'm pretty much set for life. 

While weeks or months might pass without coloring, when I return to it, there's probably a silly grin on my face. The world looks different after even a short coloring indulgence. I've even found that, if I whip out the crayons and get creative for 15 minutes before practicing, I have a very different practice session. It's hard to describe, but trust me, it's much better.

What's your childhood hobby? This Spring Break, maybe it's time to rediscover it...and reclaim it for a few minutes a day, even during the semester. For this week, go crazy and enjoy it every day.

Tiny Change #8: Keep the Drama on the Stage

Let's be honest: this may not be a small change. We're artists, so we can be dramatic. This is, at times, what fuels our work. But what if it's detracting from your work? 

What if there is so much drama in your life that you find yourself unable to focus on your deadlines? What if you're so busy taking care of everyone else that you can't take care of yourself? What if you're so busy fulfilling everyone else's expectations of being a good boyfriend or good daughter or good uncle or good stand-in therapist that you're not getting your own practicing or schoolwork done?

That's when you know things are out of balance.

Steven Pressfield says it quite well in his book, The War of Art:

The working artist will not tolerate trouble in her life because she knows trouble prevents her from doing her work. The working artist banishes from her world all sources of trouble. She harnesses the urge for trouble and transforms it in her work.

You can't be all things to everyone and still be the student who will fulfill his potential. You can't be the artist you were meant to be if, when you go to fish in the pond, it's been overfished. You have to leave something for yourself.

In fact, I'd say you have to tend to your own pond before you tend to someone else's.

This might mean different things to different people. It might mean turning off your phone for an hour and tending to an artistic obligation. It might mean going to the gym for 30 minutes to let off some steam so that you don't blow tomorrow. It might mean being there for a friend who is having her own drama for 30 minutes instead of three hours, so that you don't end up getting sick from sleep deprivation. You know what it'll mean for you.

This might be tough for some of you. Some folks very dear to you might even be angry at you for taking care of yourself instead of taking care of them, especially if they've come to expect you to sacrifice your own wellbeing for theirs.

They will get over it. So will you. 

Performance Class March 2

Our performance class will be split on March 2. My students and Prof. Doss's students will be in HRH; Dr. Cho's and Dr. Evans's students will be in the dance studio. This schedule is as follows:

Chris in HRH until 12:50 with KHW

Michael Giddens (twice if time)

Beau Boudreaux

Daley Browning

Ashlyn Poe

Briana Auhing

Richard in Dance Studio until 12:50 with WC and PE (though it sounded like Patrick can’t come)

Clara Holmes

Quan Patterson

Diego Villanueva

Brooke Payne

Savannah Faulkner

Rachel Biggs

SWITCH PIANISTS

Richard in HRH from 12:50-1:10

Jenn Palmieri

Farryn Owens

Peyton Overstreet

Chris in Dance Studio  from 12:50-1:10

Daniel Johnson

Maurice Nix

Andrew Ellis