Day 22

Oh my so much to do and so little time!!!  But nonetheless another GREAT day! I feel so accomplished, like I am getting my stuff together FINALLY!

DAILY VOCAL PRACTICE SESSION #21

     30 minutes warm up as per voice lesson
     120 minutes study Carmina Burana - Since Mr. Lim asked that I be 2nd soprano, I know that I will need to spend extra time getting the harmonies correct.  I thought I would be able to create the harmony line in Finale (sheet music writing software) but for whatever reason my Finale won't open and I even tried to download it again (yes this is a program I paid for!), but still didn't work.  SO with my new keyboarding skills I loaded each song into GarageBand and played the notes I need to know over the existing track so that I can remember what it sounds like.  I know I am an auditory learner.  Even in school I was always able to listen to the lesson and remember what I was being told.  This is what it looks like:

So very fancy!!!

LIVE INDUSTRY AUDITION #2

     So I learned on Wednesday that Opera Viva was having an audition for a new opera called Fences that will be debuted in August.  I don't have proper (4-year) training, I don't have a huge repertoire, I don't have a lot of experience.  I do have the will and the work ethic to do a good job.  I sang "Summertime"...here's a clip!!

HEALTH CONSCIOUS MEAL #22

     I got crazy today and had some...wait, just kidding.  I had chicken and broccoli!!

BODY CONDITIONING / FITNESS SESSION #16

     40 minutes P90X Yoga...yeah again it's short, BUT I have to get my beauty rest you know.  That's what happens when you prioritize...sometimes things that aren't as important get less time.  Realistically I am at a great size, I have lost a lot of fat, and really now it's a matter of fine tuning that doesn't need to be done in a hurry!  Yoga always makes my back feel better so the fact that I even did a little I am happy with!

...DAILY INSPIRATION...

Hay House is the publisher for Dr. Wayne Dyer, one of my fvorites. I received an emailed newsletter from Louise Hay, who is now 85 and still runs the company. In it she gave the 12 commandments on how to love yourself:


1. Stop all criticism
2. Forgive yourself
3. Don't scare yourself - don't terrorize yourself with your thoughts, kindly switch them to positive ones
4. Be gentile and kind and patient
5. Be kind to your mind
6. Praise yourself
7. Support yourself
8. Be loving to your negatives - you created negative things to serve a purpose and now that you've moved on to better, more positive thins; lovingly release the negative!!
9. Be kind to your body
10. Do mirror work - look at yourself while doing these things
11. Love yourself
12. Have fun!


 I hope you have an inspired day!!

Day 21

I swear the time goes by so fast...it seems like 24 hours really would be enough, but it is 11:45pm and I am just BARELY getting done with about 90% of what I needed to get done today!

DAILY VOCAL PRACTICE SESSION #20

     30 minutes warm up as per lesson

     90 minutes practice repertoire - Quando men vo, Apres un reve, Tonight.  Seems so little for such a long period of time, but I was recording as well.  It takes a while to set everything up and listen back to what I've recorded.  This is something that I am doing that hurts but is good for me.  When recording you hear EVERY little mistake in your voice.  Absolutely no forgiveness!!  Also my recording space is cramped because it's in my room with all my junk everywhere.  Better get use to less than ideal situations, I'm no Renee Fleming, yet :)

HEALTH CONSCIOUS MEAL #21

     I really have got to broaden my menu...this is starting to bore me to keep writing the same thing over and over.  But really I like consistency and I don't want to have to think about what I am eating or think about what to get at the store.  Going to the store wastes time that I could be working out or studying so I'd rather just get it over with and to do that means doing the simplest meal plan - something that I know will be healthy and easy to maintain.  So yesterday I had oatmeal for my morning snack!

BODY CONDITIONING / FITNESS SESSION #15

     45 minutes P90X Legs and Back track.  It was getting late and I still wanted to work out so I did the highlights of this track.  I knew I wouldn't be doing it all so of what I did do I made sure that I worked extra hard!

...DAILY INSPIRATION...

Day 20

Another day I am feeling good about!  I had to call on another friend to help sort out my brain.  That's what they are there, so use your friends when you need to! I was a little discouraged and frustrated so I asked a friend in Hong Kong, Kevin, for his advice.  He's a professional singer/vocal coach and his singing group is awesome!  Check out their Facebook page for Metro Vocal Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/16645657246/ After hearing back from him I was able to go into my lesson with the right attitude and I ended up having a great voice lesson, which I really needed!  My coach really pushes me to do better and she even acknowledged that I have been working hard.  That makes me happy!

DAILY VOCAL PRACTICE SESSION #19

      30 minutes warm up to prepare for my lesson...don't want to waste time going in cold 

      

VOICE LESSONS WITH A PROFESSIONAL VOCAL COACH #2

     60 minute lesson with Natalia Kumkova...I forgot to take a pic with her but I took a pic outside of her complex LOL hope that counts!!  I had a great lesson!  Usually I leave my lessons feeling discouraged, but today for some reason I felt like my work is finally starting to pay off a little.  I also felt my core muscles engage in a way that they hadn't before! I must be getting stronger!

LIVE PERFORMANCE VIEWING #1

   Of COURSE I am going to support my friend Cassidy!!!  I had to leave early to get enough beauty rest for my 9:30 call time tomorrow, but I saw her first set and she sounded awesome!!

HEALTH CONSCIOUS MEAL #20

     Tuna Salad for dinner!!  My eating habits are so exciting I can hardly contain myself!  

BODY CONDITIONING / FITNESS SESSION #14

      

     25 minutes P90X Yoga track.  I am really not sure if I should count this at all, BUT I wanted to get a little movement in today. 

...DAILY INSPIRATION...

Day 19

I love having a day where I don't have to be anywhere.  I can take my time, do what I need to, and clear my mind for the week ahead!

DAILY VOCAL PRACTICE SESSION #18

     30 minutes warm up as per voice lesson
     60 minutes keyboard skills - C position+1, changing time signatures. I think I sang Kumbaya for like 30 minutes.  I need to work on harmonizing (ear training) so I recorded it and attempted to sing 3rd and 5th over.  It was quite out of tune but I know will become easier.  You are probably thinking why don't I already know how to do this?  Well, I spent my high school years playing sports. Not singing - I got a late start and well, I'm doing it now!!!

HEALTH CONSCIOUS MEAL #19

      

     Started off the day with...yes, the usual.  Super Green shake, fruit and some turkey bacon!

oh an of course...my candies!!!  Ok not really, my meds.  There are some minerals and probiotics there on the left, but the packaged stuff is for the Colitis.  By the way I've been fighting a flare since November.  So all you HEALTHY people I don't want to hear ANYTHING about being tired or not finding the motivation to exercise!  My condition is painful and inconvenient, but I fight through it!

BODY CONDITIONING / FITNESS SESSION #13

     

     P90X Legs and Back - I burned 360 calories this morning.  I must admit that although this is still difficult for me, there are aspects that I am finding are becoming easier, but not that it's easy; it's that I am now getting a better workout .  I can do a deeper lunge, hold wall squats parallel, do pull-ups better (even overhand ones).  I still have a LONG way to go before mastery (ha, years) but I am feeling like I am really starting to get good workouts!

You know...just trying to keep it grown and SEXY!!! I think this is my skinny mirror ;)

...DAILY INSPIRATION...

Day 18

I am so glad that I am singing in the Singapore Symphony Orchestra Choir.  They have such a high standard and this experience is going to help me develop so much.  Mr Lim, the choir master, is not shy or subtle about pointing out the weaknesses with my voice.  There is no room for error, laziness, etc in this level of singing.

DAILY VOCAL PRACTICE SESSION #17

     30 minutes warm up as per lesson
     >60 minutes keyboard skills Middle C and C position, 6ths, dotted quarter notes.  I'm happy to say that I am half way through my instructional book.  I have been recording all the songs that have lyrics.  Very simple, but as I am a beginner it's challenging!
     30 minutes fine tuning Fidelio with keyboard
     

LIVE INDUSTRY AUDITION #1

     Well...being that I live in Singapore, there are few and far between auditions available.  I may have another one on Sunday, but for now I am counting this as one audition.  I was required to reaudition for SSOC as previously stated.  He said that he wanted to check my vibratto make sure it wasn't too much for the choir (um wouldn't you have heard it by now??) but he also said that I needed to watch descending notes that I don't fall under the note, which is a common mistake.  I am not a common person, I am not an average person, why am I making these mistakes? He then stated that he wanted my in 2nd soprano for Carmina Burana, which is GREAT - I need the ear training, my harmonizing skills have about 99% room for improvement!  

This is me sitting in the auditorium, waiting for my turn to reaudition...couldn't ask Mr. Lim to take a pic with me...he scares me LOL

HEALTH CONSCIOUS MEAL #18

     The only thing healthy I had today was my morning shake with the Kefir...the rest of the day - shot.  But that's ok - I have a cheat day, well, because first of all sometimes you just need a taco and second, I've heard it helps spike your metabolism so your body doesn't get use to having low calories all the time.  I am not a dietician, I really have no idea, BUT I will try it and see how it goes.  I spent the first month of my diet last year without a cheat day and I had great results; we shall see how this goes!

...DAILY INSPIRATION...

There are a lot of things that I am not, but being someone who gives up isn't one of them THERE IS NO PLAN B

Day 17

Thank goodness it's my FRIDAY!!! Wow it's been a long, but productive week and I am looking forward to doing nothing tomorrow...who am I kidding - I have tons of stuff to do, but of course at my leisure!!!  I think I may run tomorrow...not sure what the workout is looking like, maybe legs then after stairs!  Gotta figure out a way to get from a two-pack to a six-pack!!

DAILY VOCAL PRACTICE SESSION #16

     60 minutes keyboard skills and review of trouble areas of Fidelio score...I am to be re-auditioned for choir tomorrow since my sight reading skills are not up to par.  The choir director wants to make sure I am prepared...ha, he doesn't know who he's dealing with.  What I lack in skill I (attempt to) make up for in preparation!  Understandable though and it will give me another opportunity to show him what I've got...let it be enough to impress!

HEALTH CONSCIOUS MEAL #17

     So this morning I put 200ml of the kefir into my breakfast shake instead of using yoghurt and it was good!  Didn't like the consistency with the Flaxseed so that will have to go, but other than that I am happy with the kefir even though it looks like this...

 yeah, a little weird, borderline gross, but palatable when covered with 10 other things!

...DAILY INSPIRATION...

Day 16

Science project is DONE!!! Yeah I made my first batch of Kefir - this is supposed to aid in the digestion process and boost your immune system...all things that I need!  I am not sure if it is 100% correct, though. Seems like it separated a bit into curds and whey, but not too bad...good enough where I will for sure use it instead of yoghurt in my smoothie tomorrow!

DAILY VOCAL PRACTICE SESSION #15

     60 minutes choir rehearsal - Fidelio (I also finished translating Fidelio so I know exactly what I am singing...kinda helps know what emotion to put behind it because really the THOUGHT inspires the BREATH! Got that one from Nelson Caruncho, who I worked with at the Venetian)

HEALTH CONSCIOUS MEAL #16

    Oatmeal for morning snack.  I am no longer using the protein powder in the oatmeal, it was so good!!! But I realized that I definitely need to have protein powder in my morning shake.  I was so hungry when I left work I stopped by subway and had a 6" sandwich.  Was still hungry and got a protein bar from GNC.  Couldn't believe it!!!  Why was I so hungry?!?!?!?  But when I am hungry, I eat, and I just try to make it somewhat healthy...meaning I didn't get cookies or a candy bar!  We'll save that for WEDNESDAY!!!

...DAILY INSPIRATION...