Day # 6

I really meant to sleep in a little bit since I didn't have to be into work until 3:30 today, BUT of course I woke up at 7 so I decided at that point to get my day started instead of being lazy.

DAILY VOCAL PRACTICE SESSION #4

     30 minute warm up. 45 minute repertoire: Alleluja, Zerlina.

KEYBOARD SKILLS #5

     two handed double scales fingering (Circle of 5ths C-A - seems like very little, but it took me a long time to do this LOL.  "Cockles and Mussles"

THEORY STUDY #1 (continued tomorrow)

     I brought my theory book from the States to review what I did in school so that when I go BACK to school I will remember a little bit LOL

AND I realized I didn't have one of my books at home with me so I did some review but I will finish this session tomorrow morning before my voice lesson...will still count as one session :)

HEALTH CONSCIOUS MEAL #6

     Rotisserie chicken (skinless) with Red Hot sauce and green beans.  There's about 100g/4oz of chicken and 75g/3oz green beans with a sliver of real butter (not the fake crap) and some pepper (no salt)

BODY CONDITIONING / FITNESS SESSION #4

     60 minutes P90X Yoga track - moving asanas only.

...DAILY INSPIRATION...

Day #5

Ugh...this congestion is just annoying, but I did my best today with the vocal practice.

DAILY VOCAL PRACTICE SESSION #3

     30 minutes warm up and 30 minutes practice Zerlina.

KEYBOARD SKILLS #4

     Scales and proper fingering.

VIEWING OF PROFESSIONAL OPERA #1

     As I have just finished reading Renee Fleming's "The Inner Voice" and watching her documentary, I thought it appropriate to watch something with her in it.  So I picked "Eugene Onegin" starring her and Dmitri Hvorostovsky.  This is the first opera I have watched in Russian and the first time I have seen Dmitri in an opera (have seen him in concert setting). 

By the end of the first act I was bawling...this set for this production was minimalist to the minimalist...something that had gotten bad reviews on iTunes, but I thought it was brilliant after I got used to it.  Tchaikovsky's music and the performances of Renee and Dmitri don't need a bunch of distraction.  They are exposed to the max with the set and it is a do or die task.  They are so good you become absolutely consumed with the story.  Although it is simple, the turmoil and emotion breaks your heart.  I am so glad I picked this one - this is what opera is about: beautiful singing, connecting to the role, and doing the story and music justice.  I am blown away...

Told you...crying for days.  Yeah I am watching it on my projector and my awesome headphones so as not to disturb my roommates!!

HEALTH CONSCIOUS MEAL #5

    I juiced 1/2 beet, 1/4 cabbage, 2 celery stalk, 1 peeled cucumber, and 1 Granny Smith apple and added 1 packet of stevia.  Sorry, but veggie juice is really bitter so I need something to take the edge off.  This was part of my dinner so not the only thing I had for a meal LOL

...DAILY INSPIRATION...

Day #4

Still feeling a bit under today and I had a lot of errands to run...I didn't to any practice today and right now I feel like I didn't make the best use of my time - definitely disappointed with myself.  I didn't want to push myself too much with singing on a cold, but I needed to do keyboard skills and I didn't...ah well, tomorrow will be better!

HEALTH CONSCIOUS MEAL #4

     So here's my shake, cantaloupe, and I also had turkey bacon, but I must have eaten it before I realized I needed to take a pic :p  The smoothie gives me about 800 calories and that's a lot at once, but I don't get hungry for a long time after this breakfast.  I use to have to eat at about 11, but now I can last well after 1 if need be.  I think there are two reasons why you get hungry...1) you are really thirsty, so drink plenty of water first.  2) You are not getting the nutritional value that you need (not necessarily the bulk, but the content).  I am taking liquid and fruit as the majority of my first meal so there's not really that much bulk there, but it's loaded with nutritional value!

BODY CONDITIONING / FITNESS SESSION #3

     10 minutes treadmill warm up (6% incline at various levels of jog)
     100 x 4 in and outs crunches
     100 x 4 side to side crunches
     10 x 4 knee raises on leg raise machine (um...these are hard)
     45 minute Leg workout

...DAILY INSPIRATION...

a picture says a thousand words

Day #3

Today I made up my mind that I was going to carry on like I was not sick instead of using that as an excuse to NOT get things done.  In the real World we have to carry on and complete what is required of us whether we feel good or not.  Clearly, if I were really sick I would have stayed home and taken a complete day of rest, but I was not.

DAILY VOCAL PRACTICE SESSION #2

     At work I practiced in my break for 30 minutes warming up.  Once I got home I practiced Don Giovanni, Fences, and Separate Ways for the better part of an hour.  The pop was much more difficult than the opera to sing - interesting!!

KEYBOARD SKILLS #3

     I finally know the proper technique for doing two handed, two octave scales.  Can't do them particularly fast or pleasing to the ear, but it's there - now I just need to improve.  This is great because that's one of the skills I will need to show for my piano proficiency exam.  Also worked on Diminished/Dominant 7th chords.

HEALTH CONSCIOUS MEAL #3

     This really wasn't a meal, it was more what I added to my smoothie, but I think it's cool so I wanted to spend a little time on this particular thing...ALOE VERA!! Yes my lovely roomie, Kyla, picked a couple up at the store for me yesterday (since they don't sell them everywhere) and I placed some of that gelatinous center in my smoothie.  When I watched Hungry for Change they said that anything gelatinous (aloe or chia seeds) will aid in digestion and aloe can help with ulcers or IBS (yay).  Plus this huge leaf was only like $1.00 so why not?!?!?!?!?!?!?

BODY CONDITIONING / FITNESS SESSION #2

     I did 45 minutes P90X yoga.  This is everything from the moving asanas part of the track minus warrior 3 which I thought would have been a bit challenging for me in my state.  I am actually kind of excited for tomorrow's workout because I am going to the gym and doing weights.  Yes the proper gym is WAY better than the one at my complex.  Plus there is a killer ab section that my coworker showed me!!! 

...DAILY INSPIRATION...

you don't have to be perfect or be the best - just do your best!

Day #2

How sad am I...the second day of my challenge and I am now SICK!!!! I never get sick anymore, but today's the day.  Well at least I did some piano skills in the morning and ate well.  The rest is shot. :(( super sad face!!!

KEYBOARD SKILL #2

     30 minutes triads, scales, "Cockels and Mussels"

HEALTH CONSCIOUS MEAL #2

      For dinner I ate tuna salad and added in cilantro since it is shown to remove heavy metals and aids in the digestive tract!

...DAILY INSPIRATION...

Day #1

So yes I started today! I can't wait to see how much I will improve and how much more fit I will become with this round.  I have also changed up my training a bit to get even better results!

Here's what I did today!!

DAILY VOCAL PRACTICE SESSION #1

      I was practicing during my breaks at worked and practiced when I got home.  Seems like I am never satisfied with how I sound. Maybe one day I will be a master at this!  Alleluja, Apres un reve, Casta Diva, La Danza, Zerlina from Don Giovanni (this is the role Ia m learning), Bring me to life, Diamonds are forever, Big Spender, Separate ways, Rolling in the Deep, Umbrella.

     Yes I am trying to sing every style - why not?

KEYBOARD SKILLS #1

     C - M, m, Harmonic and Melodic scales, Am scale with main chords used. Dominant and Diminished 7ths.

HEALTH CONSCIOUS MEAL #1

      Breakfast had 1/2 cantaloupe along with other things...

BODY CONDITIONING / FITNESS SESSION #1

     30 minutes P90X yoga - really meant to do the entire thing, but ran out of time.  Now I know I need to prioritize my evening a bit better :)

...DAILY INSPIRATION...

this fits in perfectly with the book I am currently reading 

by Dr. Wayne Dyer "Excuses Be Gone!"

30-Day Voice Challenge Round #2 - Rules

I had such a great time last round doing this challenge, I figure why not do it AGAIN?!?!?!?! This time I will do it for the month of April, which is perfect since there are 30 days this month :)  

Some of the RULES have changed!!

THE 30 DAY VOICE CHALLENGE REQUIREMENTS

30 x DAILY VOCAL PRACTICE SESSIONS

        Min. 120 mins per day of singing practice. You must write a brief 'Daily Practice Report' outlining what your practice session consisted of.

30 x DAILY PIANO SKILLS PRACTICE

        Min. 30 mins per day of keyboard skills.  Rep will consist of scales and Piano Course Books - can be any combination of the two, but the time is the most important. 

4 x THEORY STUDY SESSIONS

        I must study theory a minimum of 60 minutes - all exercises must be completed before moving on.

4 x VOICE LESSONS WITH A PROFESSIONAL VOCAL COACH

        Min. 60mins per session. Sessions must be documented with a 'sign-off' photo or video featuring you and your vocal coach.

2 x LIVE VOCAL PERFORMANCES

        YOU perform LIVE!!! You are to perform at least one song in front of a live audience on two separate occasions. Performances must be documented by photo or video.

1 x LIVE PERFORMANCE VIEWING 

        Go out and see a live professional performance that INSPIRES you and post a photo of your ticket stub or program.

4 x VIEWING OF PROFESSIONAL OPERAS

        These can be rented online or part of my existing collection of ones that I haven't watched yet.  I must also provide a critique.

1 x LIVE INDUSTRY AUDITION

        Prepare for and attend a professional 'industry' audition (eg. Theatre Show, Theme Park, Live Band, etc.)

1 x ROLE 

        I must learn a role from an opera - doesn't matter the size of the role, but arie and recitatives are required.  The objective of this is to give myself a time frame for learning roles...One month should be sufficient time!

1 x DEMO RECORDING / YOUTUBE COVER

        Learn a new song, master it, and film yourself performing it and post it to YouTube.

30 x HEALTH CONSCIOUS MEALS

        Fuel that hard working body!!! Take snap shots of some of your healthy food choices & post them.

25 x BODY CONDITIONING / FITNESS SESSIONS

        Min. 45 mins. Types of sessions can include but are not limited to; Personal Training, Workout DVDs, Zumba, Gym Group Classes (Step, Pump, Spin, BodyCombat, etc.), Yoga, Pilates, etc.

5 x CHARITABLE DEEDS OR ACTS OF KINDNESS

        Pay it forward! Find 5 ways to give back to society and make someone's day. Document these acts via photo or video and post it on your blog.

There's a lot in here...guess I better get to bed so I can have the energy to do this tomorrow!!