University Singers

Who Rocked the House?

2010-06-05T04:52:00.000-07:00

Oh, University Singers...you did it again!

Thank you all for a wonderful show last night. From the moment we walked on the stage to the final note, you were in it. Your investment in the group is what has made it successful...without the participation of EACH ONE we would not have been able to do what we did!

Our concert was both video and audio recorded. I'll be editing the video over the weekend, and putting it up on YouTube with Facebook links (USingers group!). I'll email you when you can see it.

The audio recording will be available in the Music Listening Library (ground floor of the music building). I'm told that if you bring them a blank CD, they can make a copy for you. I'm not sure what the turn-around time is on the audio, but you can check the Music Library catalogue next week...search "UW Sings" or "University Singers".

BRAVO TO ALL!

Dress Rehearsal TODAY! Concert TONIGHT!

2010-06-03T11:15:00.000-07:00

Dress rehearsal: 3:30pm-4:10pm, Meany Mainstage

Concert: 7:15pm in the balcony.

Reminder

2010-05-31T09:01:00.001-07:00

You are REQUIRED to do something fun between 3:30-4:50 today!

Let us know what fun thing you did!

Did You Learn?

2010-05-27T07:07:00.000-07:00

This is our final comments for credit post for 2009-2010.

I'm getting a little sentimental, looking back on 2 years of conducting the USingers. I'm doing all those things that you do before you "move"...going through old posts, reading old comments...getting ready to transition the house over to its new owner(s).

And while I know it's been a wonderful time together--we've gotten to know one another, we've laughed A LOT, we've cried A LITTLE, we've worked V E R Y H A R D, we've had GREAT SUCCESS--at the end of the day, it's just music...it's a fleeting thing that lasted for a moment in a performance that has gone by. Wonderful, beautiful moments.

So, here's what I want to know from you.

COMMENTS FOR CREDIT

Look back over your time in University Singers, be it one quarter or six. What have you learned? What have you gotten out of your time in the ensemble that you can take out and apply to your other coursework? Your other hobbies? Your life after college (I hear there is one)?

Remember, this is about YOU. If you want to say anything to me or to Bret about our teaching, come talk to us in person, or send us an email, or facebook or something. Think about your own experience, your own learning, and your own path.

Favorite Piece?

2010-05-24T08:18:00.001-07:00

While I've been enjoying our investigation of what it means to be a cover band, I understand that not all of you wish to write about it.

So, here is one of the final

COMMENTS FOR CREDIT

What has been your favorite piece this quarter? Why? What have you learned from singing it?

(Note...careless or trite answers will be rejected. Please consider your audience of not only your fellow University Singers, but choir directors and choristers around the country who follow our class.)

SECTIONALS WEDNESDAY

2010-05-18T06:12:00.000-07:00

Don't forget!

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

MEN - Music Building room 213

WOMEN - Kane 220

Our last sectional of the year...be there!

Messiah Cover

2010-05-13T09:37:00.000-07:00

Here's the big stretch...tell me what you think...

If a choir can perform covers of popular music by singing (with style) a sheet music arrangement of the song...

...can a choir perform a cover of a "classical" piece of music?

Here are a couple of obvious examples of what one might call covers. (Others might call them re-arrangements, or re-writes.)

This first one is a kind of behind-the-scenes advertisement for "Too Hot to Handel." You can hear the Hallelujah Chorus behind the conductor talking about the performance.

This next video is from "A Soulful Celebration."

And finally, from "Messiah Rocks." (DO NOT listen to his vowel placement.)

These are obvious covers...but there's more. Mozart rewrote Handel's Messiah, adding clarinets. Is that like a cover? We don't have a real understanding of what the original performance sounded like. Sure, there's documentation, and we can listen to instruments from the period and know what they sound like, but we don't have a recording. (There are just some things we will never know.) Are we always performing a cover?

COMMENTS FOR CREDIT

Can our performance of the Hallelujah Chorus be considered a cover?

USingers Got Talent!

2010-05-06T09:11:00.000-07:00

GET READY!

University Singers Talent Show

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

7:30pm

Brechemin Auditorium (in the music bldg.)

Come one, come all. It's going to be a heckuva show!

Cookies to follow.

Choral Covers

2010-05-03T08:44:00.000-07:00

So, after all this talk about Cover Bands and Tribute Bands, here's the big question?

COMMENTS FOR CREDIT:

Can a choir do covers? Can a choir be a "Cover Band"?

Bat Boy: the Musical

2010-04-25T14:08:00.000-07:00

Come see the show!

Facebook event link

A grand collaboration of both the "UW School of Drama" and the "Undergraduate Theater Society"!

Ripped from the headlines of the Weekly World News, "Bat Boy: The Musical" is a rocking tragi-comedy that tells the amazing story of a boy with specific dietary needs, his struggle to find a place in a world that shuns him, and the love that can create both miracles and madness!

Book and Lyrics by Keythe Farley & Brian Flemming
Music by Laurence O’Keefe
Directed by Scott Hafso

run time: 2hrs. w-intermission
This show contains gunshots and strobe lights.

SUNDAY - April 25 @ 7:30pm
TUESDAY - April 27 @ 7:30pm
WEDNESDAY - April 28 @ 7:30pm
THURSDAY - April 29 @ 7:30pm
FRIDAY - April 30 @ 7:30pm
SATURDAY - May 1 @ 7:30pm
SUNDAY - May 2 @ 2:00pm
WEDNESDAY - May 5 @ 7:30pm
THURSDAY - May 6 @ 7:30pm
FRIDAY - May 7 @ 7:30pm
SATURDAY - May 8 @ 7:30pm
SUNDAY - May 9 @ 2:00pm

Buy your tickets at the box office, or online: http://www.meany.org/tickets/production.aspx?performanceNumber=3714

Cover Band vs. Tribute Band

2010-04-23T15:18:00.000-07:00

COMMENTS FOR CREDIT

This week's post is an easy question...what's the difference between a cover band and a tribute band?

Wikipedia has separate entries:

Cover Band

Tribute Band

But is there a difference? If so, what is it?

POP Conference!

2010-04-13T11:07:00.001-07:00

Pop Conference THIS WEEKEND, April 15-18, at EMP!

FREE and open to the public, but advanced registration is recommended

Pop Conference, currently in its ninth year, brings together music academics, critics, writers and fans to discuss what they love most: music! For more information and a time schedule for the weekend, check outwww.empsfm.org/popconference.

Some conference highlights include:

Thursday evening keynote featuring Nile Rodgers, Joe Henry and Janelle Monae
Friday evening screening of The Music Instinct: Science and Song, presented in association with KCTS 9, Seattle
Roundtable featuring San Antonio-based Girl in a Coma, Skyping in from their tour
Panels featuring writers from the New York Times, Spin, Rolling Stone, Maxim, Los Angeles Times, Slate and many other publications

COVER BAND

2010-04-12T16:40:00.000-07:00

So, it took me 6 tries to find a decent cover of "Livin' on a Prayer."

There was a Korean Bon Jovi cover band who had the right sound, but the vocals were off. There was a high school Bon Jovi cover band who really good for being in high school. There were some with terrible vocals. Some with accoustic instruments, some with this, some with that.

But this one was pretty good all around. There are some issues, of course, the live performance isn't perfect and the mix is a little off, but overall they were pretty darn good.

COMMENTS FOR CREDIT: What makes a good cover band? Does the cover have to sound exactly like the original? Can it be an "interpretation" of the original? Does the band have to dress like the band they're covering (see some Queen cover bands for awesome costumes, by the way)? What are the critera that puts a cover band on your list of "good"?

Bret & Julie singing for the President of Latvia

2010-03-27T05:13:00.000-07:00

Some of my most amazing experiences have come from singing in choir.

Why else would I be meeting a president of a country...any country? Well, in this case, it's because of choir. On our recent choir tour to the Baltics, we were honored to perform for President Valdis Zatlers of Latvia. We made the evening news:

ACDA - NW Build-a-Blog Presentation

2010-03-18T08:10:00.000-07:00

Hello NW-ACDA-ers!

Here is the simple powerpoint I put together for the presentation at the NW conference. Based on our session, I am putting together some more resources for you...I hope to post them by the end of the month.

In case you're interested, this particular powerpoint is being hosted online at Slideshare. It's really easy to use...here's the link: http://www.slideshare.net/conductress/build-a-blog-online

Please be sure to email me with your questions!

Build A Blog Online

View more presentations from conductress.

Voting Begins Now!!!

2010-03-11T22:31:00.001-08:00

Choir...you did an amazing job of coming up with organizations we can support as a choir.

There are 28 local organizations listed here. Please look through them, check out their websites (in the case of a few without comprehensive sites, I've added a description of the reason for support given in class). All are worthy of our effort and support.

I want to say again how proud I am of your research. We really can change things, we can help, we can give.

Please choose your first, second, and third choice organizations. The organizations with the most votes will be put to next quarter's singers!

A note from a colleague

2010-03-08T22:14:00.001-08:00

I just got this email from Ailisa Newhall, the conductor of the Canyon Park Jr. High Choirs (the ones we've been blogging with):

Can you tell your choir that that concert was spectacular! The energy
was so positive and they are making the world a better place to live.

Their concert is this Sunday, March 14, at 2:30pm. It's really close to campus, and accessible by bus...I'd love to see some of you there! Here's the info:

2:30 p.m. St. Stephen's Episcopal Church 4805 NE 45th St., Seattle. For tickets, call 206-675-9727. Tickets also available at the door while they last. General Admission - $18, Students and Seniors - $12.

Volunteer for Pop Conference

2010-03-08T15:38:00.001-08:00

Volunteers needed for the 2010 Pop Conference –

April 15-18 at EMP

What is Pop Conference?

Now in its 9^th year, Pop Conference is an annual 4 day event held at EMP that joins academics, critics, performers, and writers of all kinds in rare discussion. This year’s Pop Conference explores The Pop Machine: Music and Technology, looking at the past, present and future of music to see how technology affects what we hear and how we experience music. More than 100 presents will speak over the course of four days. The theme has inspired talks on everything from the jukebox to the iPod, and from hip-hop to Queen.

We are also proud to welcome a keynote panel featuring Nile Rodgers, Joe Henry and Janelle Monáe to Pop Conference this year. Each celebrated in their own right, together they will tackle the topic of how best to use the tools of studio and stage to change the way we think about music. More information about Pop Conference can be found at: empsfm.org/popconference

If you are interested in volunteering, please email Emily Craig at emilyc@empsfm.org. Include in your email the day & time of the shifts you are available for and your preferred Volunteer Position.

Available Volunteer Positions:

Growing on the success of last year’s volunteer corps, we are excited to include even more volunteers in the Pop Conference festivities this year. Below are brief descriptions of the available volunteer positions:

· Registration Volunteers: Stationed at the registration tables, the volunteers will check in registered attendees and hand out name badges and programs. They will also register walkup attendees and attend to the book and information table.

o Shifts Available

§ Friday April 16^th: 8:30a-1p | 1p-3:30p | 3:30p-6p

§ Saturday April 17^th: 8:30a-1p | 1p-3:30p | 3:30p-6p

§ Sunday April 18^th: 8:30a-1p

· Floaters: EMP is big, beautiful and sometimes a little confusing! These very important volunteers will help conference attendees locate the various conference rooms. Armed with panel guides, these volunteers will ensure that attendees find not only the panel they are hoping to see, but the room where it is being held.

o Shifts Available:

§ Friday April 16^th: 8:30a-1p | 10:30a-1p

§ Saturday April 17^th: 8:30a-1p | 10:30a-1p

· Panel Volunteers: These volunteers will attend two successive panels in one of the four conference spaces. In addition to ensuring conference attendees find the panel they are looking for, volunteers will sit in on the panel, monitor the room and the presentations, and fill out an evaluation sheet including attendance data. They will also assist the moderator as the time keeper to ensure that the panels run on schedule.

o Shifts Available:

§ Friday April 16^th : 8:30a-1p | 10:30a-1p | 12:45p-5:45p (inc. 30 minute break) | 1:45p-5:45p

§ Saturday April 17^th : 8:30a-1p | 10:30a-1p | 12:45p-5:45p (inc. 30 minute break) | 1:45p-5:45p

§ Sunday April 18^th: 8:30a-1p

Training

Volunteers are strongly encouraged to attend the Volunteer Training Session on Saturday, April 10^th at 11am to get oriented with the museum and the event.

Benefits!

Each volunteer that works at least 1 shift will receive 2 free tickets to the museum ($30 value).

If you are interested in volunteering, please email Emily Craig at emilyc@empsfm.org. Include in your email the day & time of the shifts you are available for and your preferred Volunteer Position.

Charitable Donations Group - Update

2010-03-04T09:50:00.001-08:00

Group -

Thanks for being flexible with this project. Julie and I decided that, because of our crazy rehearsal schedule this quarter, we were going to modify the assignment to better fit your needs. As we said in class today, we are going to have you each present (individually) your proposal in class on March 8. Your proposal should include:

1) The name of the organization or existing charity that you are considering.

2) Your personal connection to the organization. How did you find the organization? Why is this important?

3) Detailed information about how the organization creates or provides musical experiences in the LOCAL COMMUNITY! (For example, a charity that raises money nationwide is not part of the scope of this assignment)

4) How you see an existing relationship between the organization and the USingers.

Your presentation can be in the form of a Powerpoint, visual aide, personal story, etc. Be as creative as possible as we will vote on which organization we will raise money for in the Spring quarter.

If you have not yet done so, please complete the following form with your information:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&pli=1&formkey=dExJNUYxYmx2bW9xZUNvUGZtU2RNSVE6MA

Let me know if you have any questions!

Bret

Eckstein Middle School

2010-03-02T10:29:00.000-08:00

Address

3003 NE 75th Street
Seattle, WA 98115
View Google Map

Northbound on I-5

Take the Lake City Way exit.
Stay right and curve onto the NE 73rd Street exit.
At the 2nd stop sign, take a left onto 12th Ave NE.
Proceed to the stop light and turn right onto NE 75th.
Proceed east on NE 75th to 30th NE.
Eckstein is at the top of the hill on your right.
Parking is available on 30th Ave NE or in back of the school (entrance off NE 75th St. just east of the school).

Southbound on I-5

Take the NE 85th Street Exit, staying in the left lane of the exit.
Cross over the freeway, moving to the right lane of the overpass.
Curve right onto Banner Way.
Continue, then curve left onto NE 75th Street.
Proceed east on NE 75th to 30th NE.
Eckstein is at the top of the hill on your right.
Parking is available on 30th Ave NE or in back of the school (entrance off NE 75th St. just east of the school).

From the Eastside

Take the 520 Bridge toward Seattle.
Take the Montlake exit, which will turn right onto Mountlake Boulevard.
Continue past Husky Stadium; you will be 25th Ave NE.
Stay in left last, past University Village, continuing north to NE 75th Street.
Proceed east on NE 75th to 30th NE.
Eckstein is at the top of the hill on your right.
Parking is available on 30th Ave NE or in back of the school (entrance off NE 75th St. just east of the school).

For those who are interested in taking the bus, here is the metro transit information to get to Eckstein from campus:

Route #65 (to Lake City): leaves at 4:29pm, arriving at 35th ave NE and NE 75th st at 4:48pm.

Route #68 (to Northgate): leaves at 4:35pm, arriving at 25th ave NE and NE 75th at 4:51pm.

Route #372 (to Kenmore P&R): leaves at 4:25pm, arriving at 35th ave NE and NE 75th at 4:41pm.

A couple of notes regarding the bus service:

*All buses leave from the same stop. This stop is in front of Guthrie Annex 4, across the street from Meany Hall, on the SOUTH side of the street, with the buses heading ONTO campus. All routes wind around the campus, and turn down the hill at Padelford, so you can catch them at any stop before then, including the HUB. (note - if you catch the bus at the HUB, please be sure to be at the stop on the EAST side of the street - across from the HUB, with the bus heading NORTH)

*There is no bus that will get you directly to Eckstein. Regardless of which route you choose, you will have to walk from either 35th or 25th to the school, which is located on 30th & 75th. (it's ~5 blocks either way)

*It is an uphill walk from either direction, and you should note that it is a significantly steep walk from 25th (much steeper than from 35th). Please plan your footwear accordingly (so strap on those cross trainers and pack the heels in a bag!)

*If you are coming from 35th, you will head WEST on 75th (uphill) to get to the school. If you are coming from 25th, you will head EAST on 75th (also uphill).

Return trip to Campus via Metro:

Route #65 leaves 35th & 75th at 8:58pm, and the next one is at 9:32pm.

Route #372 leaves 25th & 75th at 9:01pm.

When Do You Sing?

2010-02-17T10:55:00.000-08:00

A week or so ago, this popped up in my RSS reader:

Unlikely Singing. Here's a quote:

And last week a lot of attention was paid to 69-year old Ena Zizi, who burst into song as she was pulled from the wreckage of the Cathedral in Port-au-Prince. She had laid under twelve feet of rubble, praying for nine days. When she came into the light she provided her own soundtrack.

It started me thinking: when do I sing? The answer is, of course, all the time...I am a music student, after all. But really, in times of pain and grief, I don't sing.

When my first serious boyfriend broke up with me, I turned off my radio because EVERY song was about lost love (or so it seemed). When my best friend died of cancer, I turned off my radio because the ONLY song on was "Tears In Heaven" (and I still can't listen to it). But listening to music and singing it is very, very different. I hadn't thought about it, but along with turning off the radio, I also turned off my voice.

I tend to try to hold in or hide my sadness, my difficulties, and singing brings them all to the forefront. Perhaps I need to look at my singing habits in a different way. Maybe, if I allowed myself to sing through my own times of trauma, I would be better able to process them, to handle them, to come to terms with them.

COMMENTS FOR CREDIT:

When do you sing? Only in the shower or the car, where no one can hear? When you're feeling sad? When you're happy?

And, more importantly, why?

HUSKY PRIDE

2010-02-17T09:17:00.001-08:00

Dear students,

Thanks to Nathan Silpakit, I've been made aware of the Husky Pride Fund. It's students helping students--a fund set up to provide students with emergency funds. BUT...they can't begin helping until they establish their principal fund, and they're still a ways away.

Here's one way you can help:

Buy a Husky Tee and Support the Husky Pride Fund

The Husky Tee: Buy a Tee, give $5 to Huskies in need.

For each Husky Tee that is purchased, $5 will be donated to the Husky Pride Fund. The Husky Pride Fund is sponsored by the ASUW to raise money to support fellow Huskies in emergency financial crises. Once the Husky Pride Fund meets their fundraising goal, students will begin to benefit from this resource. Now available at the Seattle campus University Bookstore for $12.95.

That's it. Buy a t-shirt. You're going to buy one anyway, right? Tell your friends...your t-shirt could be the reason someone is able to stay in school at the U.

Charitable Donations Group - Update

2010-02-12T10:58:00.003-08:00

Hopefully you all are identifying needs in our city and state that we might help. We are truly fortunate in that we all have the opportunity to attend the UW, to take classes as we wish, to learn whatever we can, and to get credit for singing. We give the gift of our song in our concerts; and we will have the opportunity to give also the gifts of our creativity, organization, and passion.

Here are a couple of needs someone might want to check into:

-- On Tuesday morning, Geoff Gilbert was killed in a traffic accident. He was the band director for VF West High School in Chehalis. His wife, Angela, is the choir director at VF West. They have 3 daughters.

We will be taking a freewill donation at our concert on March 5. Originally this was simply to pay for the rental of the space, but now we will give any overage to the Gilbert family fund.

-- Check out this program at Kansas State. Does the UW have anything like this? Should we? Can the University Singers be the seed?

-- Not so much of a charitable cause, but did you know that International Talk Like a Pirate Day was started by a group of friends who thought it would be fun to talk like a pirate? And now facebook has "Pirate" as a language option. International Singing Day, anyone?

Junior High Blogs - Update

2010-02-12T10:58:00.001-08:00

Some of you who have signed up for the Jr. High collaboration project have not yet posted to the Jr. High blogs. This is a requirement for credit for this class.

The second post is up...all should respond.

Thank you to those who have been asking about the Junior Highers. I went to visit them on Wednesday. Apparently, many of them do not have internet access at home; also they're a little shy. Please continue to invite responses from the students. We can only invite, be examples, ask follow-up questions (a few of you are doing this...it's great!).

Ailisa Newhall will be visiting our class on Wednesday...you can encourage her to encourage her students!

Small Women's Ensemble

2010-02-12T10:56:00.002-08:00

Do you have a name yet? Send your choice to Bret ASAP!

Dolcissima

Decorus santu

Armonia

Bel Canto

Cantanti Armonia

Concerto Delle Donne

Égérie

Vivace

MLK Solo

2010-02-12T10:56:00.001-08:00

Any men interested in singing the MLK solo...Julie will hear you at the end of class on Wednesday. There's a practice file for solo practice on our Catalyst website.

Cafe Press

2010-02-12T10:55:00.001-08:00

University Singers has a Cafe Press store!

Misty designed two awesome logos for Trillium, and posted one on Cafe Press. She's going to post the other one and our University Singers logo as well. (I'm totes getting a water bottle - thanks Misty!)

Here's the link: http://www.cafepress.com/usingers

UNIVERSITY SINGERS CONCERT

2010-02-12T10:53:00.000-08:00

Our concert is on Friday, March 5, 7:30 pm at Eckstein Middle School.

Genevieve made a facebook event (thanks, Genevieve!) so you can invite your friends.

Our DRESS REHEARSAL will be on the same day (3/5) at 5:00pm. Make plans now to be there.

CELEBRATING A MILESTONE

2010-02-12T10:45:00.000-08:00

This is blog post 101.

Did you know that milestones were used in days of yore to help travellers know that the path they were on was the right one? Imagine, no convenient landmarks like stoplights or Starbucks...only a stone in the road to reassure that you really were on your way from New York City to Boston (instead of some other place like Albany).

Well, here is our mile-marker. Post 101. And on our way to even better communication and community!

Choir Member ADVERTISEMENT - Dance Show!!!

2010-02-09T18:33:00.000-08:00

As you know, we are quite the multi-talented and diverse group. That's what makes us so great!

David Lorence Schleiffers is the Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer for the Quark Contemporary Dance Company (and he sings bass in USingers!). His company is performing a piece called "The Kids' Table" on the Chop Shop Dance Festival. Not only did he choreograph the dance, but composed the score as well!

He would love to see some of his fellow singers there!

The Chop Shop Dance Festival is THIS WEEKEND, Saturday (7:30pm) and Sunday (3:00pm). Tickets are $15-$25. Click here to buy tickets.

Here's a promo video for the festival:

TRILLIUM sectionals next week

2010-02-05T11:51:00.000-08:00

TRILLIUM will have a sectional rehearsal on WED 2/10.

What this means:

Women will go to Kane 220 at class time, and Men will go to Music 313 at class time. Julie will be working with the women, and conductor Jeremiah Selvey will be working with the men. This will allow us to focus a little differently on our singing, and what each section needs.

At 4:20, the men will be dismissed to REJOIN our rehearsal in Kane. Attendance will be taken twice this day...once at the sectional, and once at the end of rehearsal.

TRILLIUM (small mixed ensemble) Practice Files

2010-02-05T11:48:00.000-08:00

The practice files for MLK and Ubi Caritas are on our catalyst website. There is a link in the RH sidebar to this site.

I am working on Inscription of Hope, and hope to inscribe it on our site tomorrow or Sunday.

If you have any difficulty downloading the files, please let me know, and we will figure out a different way you can get to them.

You will hear all the parts played with a piano sound, and your part will sound like a saxophone. Put 'em on your iPod and rock out!

Bret's Conducting a Concert!

2010-02-02T11:12:00.000-08:00

And you want to come!

THIS Saturday, Feb. 6, 2pm

Fremont Abbey

Admission free, a free will donation will be taken. Invite your friends. This is going to be awesome!

BUSSING INFO

Bus route MT 44 Ballard will take you from 45 St and Brooklyn to 46 St and Fremont,
then you walk 4 blocks south (on Fremont) to the location at 42 St and Fremont.

The journey takes 12 minutes according to the website.

View Larger Map

Be Not Afraid

2010-02-01T23:38:00.000-08:00

Dear Choir,

You have all been working so hard! Thank you for your willingness to do things that may seem silly in the moment but that have a purpose. Thank you for your ability to "shift on the fly" and move quickly from one piece of music to another. Thank you for wanting to learn and grow and sing together. You are really making some marvelous sound!

I had a conversation with a student after class about how difficult it is for us to risk being "wrong." So often in our experience, there is a "right" and a "wrong": 2+2=4 (any other answer is wrong). Being wrong causes us to feel shame, to be afraid to risk in order to avoid being wrong.

Well, I tell you this: We're all wrong sometimes. And sometimes we're wrong a lot. And sometimes we're very wrong. Being wrong is part of life, and it's a part we'd better get used to and learn how to deal with if we ever to expect to live any kind of joyful life.

Do not fear the wrong notes, for they will be fixed.

Do not fear the wrong rhythms, for they too will be fixed.

Never miss an opportunity to make music, to make art, for those opportunities may never come again.

Do not wait to create something of beauty, for there is far too little beauty in the world for us to deprive others of ours.

Continue to sing out through these grey and wet months. And carry others along with your song.

COMMENTS FOR CREDIT:

What is it about singing that is so risky? What makes it worth the risk?

The Baptist Finger

2010-02-01T11:42:00.001-08:00

Here's a video of "My Good Lord's Done Been Here." Check it out!

Naming Our Concert

2010-01-27T23:24:00.000-08:00

Dear University Singers,

Can you think of a great title for our concert this quarter? The theme of the concert is giving hope, bringing hope, sharing hope.

The best I (Julie) could come up with was: got hope? Pretty lame. Your combined creativity will come up with something better. (Also, Bret is on it...he's way better with titles than I am...)

If you think of something, put a comment up.

Thanks for helping to give us ideas!

How Many Classes Have I Missed???

2010-01-27T11:16:00.001-08:00

There is a gradebook in your Catalyst tools called University Singers (MUSEN 100A) Grades Winter 2010. You should be able to access your rehearsal participation information there.

NOTE: Bret and Julie keep separate attendance records for small ensemble Wednesdays. Not all records may be updated at the same time.

And The Altos Lead The Way...

2010-01-24T00:36:00.000-08:00

After our super-intense Small Mixed Ensemble (SME?) rehearsal on Wednesday, I keep reflecting on the amazing work done by all of you. You all really invested yourselves in investigating the different needs of each line of music, each line's unique ebb and flow, its particular needs and difficulties, and you learned so well together.

I particularly want to applaud the successes of our alto section.

The alto section was able to sing consistently through their range. They were particularly focused and attentive, continuously participating and supportive of others' learning. They were insightful about their experience during the rehearsal, offering suggestions based on their personal knowledge of their own singing that were savvy and helpful to other singers.

If we do this choir thing right, you all will learn as much from each other than from Bret or myself. Listen carefully when others rehearse; when something sounds good, what is it that makes it sound that way? How can you "mimic" that good sound? When you do something that sounds awesome, how did you make that awesomeness (awesomicity?) happen? Share your successes with the people around you. Ask questions.

Learn from the altos. They are leading the way.

[NOTE: Of course, this description of the alto section applied to other individuals and even other sections from time to time during our Wednesday rehearsal. The altos as a section were particularly successful, and deserved a "shout-out".]

Weekend Homework, Take 2

2010-01-13T19:25:00.000-08:00

Those who have chosen to comment on why I might assign a rhythm game have done excellent work in pointing out the fundamental importance of rhythm in music. Without it, we have a drone (or possibly an alto part!). If we all sing the same notes at the same time (with proper rhythm) our sound is clean and clear, like a "good" choir. Some spoke of the individual responsibility for rhythm, and having that add to the corporate sound; that the internal sense of beat resonates through the entire choir.

There were a couple of comments I want particularly to point out:

A. Hamada said...

Rhythm games may help us get accustomed to performing actions (singing, dancing, breathing, etc.) to a given rhythm. Because the proprietary system for presenting and interpreting input in rhythm games necessitates watching a screen for cues (unlike, say, referring to a piece of sheet music), rhythm games may also improve one's ability to follow a conductor for cues.

Rumeysa N. said...

It is important to play rhythm games in order to train our brains. Even though Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) is a dancing game, not a singing game, it has to do with not only feet/eye coordination and listing to the beat, but timing and rhythm as well. In singing, establishing and knowing your rhythm and timing is crucial, especially when breathing is concerned. Since the part of our brain in which rhythm is centralized is the same for dancing and singing, rhythm games could potentially help us in the long-run for choir. Not to mention that DDR is a great cardio work out!! ;)

Ylan said...

The ability to adhere to a specific rhythm set by a piece of music is highly important! Although choir doesn't involve hand-eye coordination like many rhythm games do, both require a basic sense of beat in order to synchronize the notes and movements (movements in choir being the general production of sound. :D ) I have an extensive background with band and sometimes the rhythms in songs get ridiculously complicated...but they are all essentially bound to a beat/meter. Recognizing this is fundamental to success in properly playing or singing a piece of music, as well as in doing well at rhythm games!

What these students have started talking about is the preparation for success with the rhythm game.

So here's your homework for the weekend:

Play more rhythm games. If you haven't tried the 1812 Overture, it's one of my favorite freebies...you get to blow up the conductor, and there's always some satisfaction in that! Newgrounds.com is a great resource for games.

AND

Exercise. Go to the IMA, go on a hike, do your Wii Fit routine. But, instead of counting crunches or spacing out watching Sports Center, pay particular attention to what your body needs to do to make the motion. What are all the steps, all the muscles that need to engage to do that bicep curl? What exactly is the mechanism for taking a step? How do you breathe when you are on the treadmill?

COMMENTS FOR CREDIT:

Rhythm games and exercise? How could these two random things (that have nothing to do with choir, of course) be related? Hmm...?

Rehearsal Today (1/13)

2010-01-13T09:44:00.000-08:00

It's Wednesday, so you know what that means...

NO BLACK CLOTHES!

(Do wear clothes...just try to wear non-black ones.)

Small Women's Chorus will meet in Music 223.

Small Mixed Chorus will meet in Kane 220.

Members of the Small Mixed Chorus who have previously been in University Singer may come at 4:00pm today.

Weekend Homework

2010-01-08T16:21:00.000-08:00

Your homework for the weekend is to play a rhythm game.

That's right. Play a game.

Go to the HUB and play Dance Dance Revolution.

Find a friend who has a Wii or Playstation or whatever and play Rock Band or Guitar Hero.

Or play this little game. There are lots of others...check out their "rhythm games" area.

COMMENTS FOR CREDIT: Why would we possibly assign you an assignment to play a rhythm game? What does this have to do with what we do in choir?

Lift Every Voice and Sing

2010-01-06T13:37:00.000-08:00

There are many resources for information about the song "Lift Every Voice and Sing."

Wikipedia

NAACP

NCCUSA

There are many, many others, but you should get a good overview from these.

COMMENTS FOR CREDIT:

This piece of music was written 110 years ago. It was meant for a very specific purpose, and is a piece that has united people in a spirit of hope and peace.

Based on today's cultural climate (that of the world, the USA, the UW...) does this song serve the same purpose as we sing it today? Does it relate to your life at all? In what way does it relate? Or, if you feel it is not relevant to you, why not?

MORE INFO:

The sculpture in the picture is called "The Harp," based on Lift Every Voice and Sing by James Weldon Johnson. Augusta Fells Savage (1882 - 1962) is the sculptor.

Music Payment

2010-01-06T08:41:00.001-08:00

As you are likely aware, this class is a choir.

In order to sing in this choir, you must have printed music.

Music costs money. Specifically, this quarter's music costs $9.54.

Thus, you must pay for your music. By Monday (1/11). Paypal or check.

If you haven't paid by Monday, you will not earn participation credit for each class that goes by without payment.

So. Pay for your music. Please.

The importance of proofreading...

2010-01-04T19:53:00.001-08:00

"It's the little things in life..."

"The devil is in the details..."

"Always proofread your work..."

Well, ladies and gentlemen, Bret & I proofread and proofread until our eyes were sore. And there were still some errors in our published documents.

First, here is the link for the information form.

If you had a radio button under "Phone Number"...thank you for responding "Yes." You will be receiving an email from me asking for the digits.

Next, if you check out a binder from us, you must return it after the concert on 3/5/2010. (12/8 is past us...and before us...but 3/5 makes more sense.)

Thirdly, thank you Kevin for pointing out that Canyon Park Junior High is the actual name of the school we will be collaborating with. Here is their website, if you want to find out more about them.

I'm sure there will be more. Stay posted!

Repertoire Preview #3

2010-01-01T22:32:00.000-08:00

And this...

Another Sneak Peek

2009-12-29T13:39:00.000-08:00

We're doing this one too!

All I Want for Christmas...

2009-12-24T11:04:00.000-08:00

Hope your break is restful and peaceful. Looking forward to our next experience together!

Repertoire Preview

2009-12-21T10:29:00.000-08:00

That's right. We're doing this.

Group Presentations

2009-12-10T21:33:00.000-08:00

I was so impressed with your presentations! It's nice for the teacher to have a chance to be the student...you all have such a wealth of information that we can learn from. I hope we can continue to share together next quarter.

COMMENTS FOR CREDIT:

Which was your favorite group presentation? What made it your favorite?

Rehearsal schedule for the end of the quarter

2009-12-05T21:48:00.000-08:00

MONDAY 12/7

3:30 ONSTAGE
3:30-4:40 Logistics rehearsal at Meany Hall & music rehearsal for 12 Days of Christmas
4:40-5:20 Music rehearsal for USingers repertoire (All I Want for Christmas, Noel, Lullay, Antiphonal Gloria, Gaudete)

TUESDAY 12/8

6:30 ONSTAGE
6:30-7:00 Music rehearsal for 12 Days of Christmas
7:00-7:30 All singers downstairs in Meany Hall, getting ready for concert
7:30 CONCERT BEGINS (University Singers sing first...12 Days last on concert...USingers watch in between from balcony)

WEDNESDAY 12/9

3:30-4:50 Group presentations in Kane 220
4:50-6:00ish Caroling (Red Square, HUB, Quad, etc. depending on weather)

FRIDAY 12/11

5:00 Group project evals & make-up papers due

Navigating Meany Hall

2009-12-01T07:04:00.000-08:00

Meany Hall artists' entrance:

Do NOT go in the main doors (audience entrance). Instead, go down the stairs on the Red Square side of the building. At the bottom, you'll see a bunch of metal sculptures. Look to the right, there is a door marked "green room" or "artist's entrance". Go in that door.

Meany Hall Green Room:

A "green room" is the space in the theater where performers can relax and get ready to go onstage. The origin of the term is debated, but the fact remains that most green rooms are not green.

The area inside the artists' entrance is the Meany Hall green room. You will notice it is quite small. We will not spend much time here.

Meany Hall backstage:

Meany Hall is very resonant. Sounds even so soft as a whisper backstage can be heard onstage. Silence is the rule! Be care-ful of your feet (imagine having your performance interrupted by what sounds like a herd of water buffalo), and just don't talk at all.

Upon entering backstage from the green room, you will see a wall to your left with the rigging for the theater's fly system. This is the stage right side.

"Choir Is A Community"

2009-11-24T09:38:00.000-08:00

First, read this blog post from Jon Swanson at the Levite Chronicles.

It's that last line that's ringing in my ears:

It takes presence. It means understanding that a choir isn’t an event, it’s a community.

That's exactly right.

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I said we all have a choice whether we're going to make the choir better or make it worse...simply by paying attention? Simply by breathing? This is why...choir is a community. Everything that happens in our community affects our community.

That's why when we all breathe together, and are ready to sing the same thing the same way, when all our imaginations are working (whether we're doing silly arm motions or not, we can imagine doing them!)...when all those things are happening together...this choir can sound amazing.

COMMENTS FOR CREDIT

Building community within a 155-member group is difficult. We take the time to meet the people around us, we are working in small groups on little projects, we blog together. How else can we build community within the choir?

CONCERT ORDER & PERSONNEL LIST

2009-11-20T12:58:00.000-08:00

NOTE: If your name is spelled incorrectly, if your name appears in the wrong choir or section, or if you are on the UNKNOWN list, email me right away. The program is due for printing on Tuesday, 11/24.

WINTERFEST (12/3) CONCERT ORDER

Gaudete
Antiphonal Gloria (maybe)
Noel
Salvation Is Created
Carol of the Bells
All I Want for Christmas

CAROLFEST (12/8) CONCERT ORDER

Gaudete
Antiphonal Gloria
Noel
Lullay My Liking
All I Want for Christmas

Mass Choir: 12 Days of Christmas (end of show)

CHOIR I

SOPRANO
Kristina Backstrom
Katelin Bonner
Dannong Cao
YunYoung Chang
Mi Hye Choi
Danielle Chung
Moon Sun Chung
Hien Dao
Hannah Krajnik
Sooji Kwak
Lauren Lesnick-Harding
Meghan Paul
Hilary Payne
Sofia Penev
Sarah Stein
Li Tan
Quynh Vo
Sarah Williams

ALTO
Soo Yeon Cho
Emily Craig
Kelsi Cunniff
Monica Docusin
Tekinaimoana Havili
Ashley Hoss
Margaret Rosemary Odom
Paulina Przystupa
Grace Rosenstiel
Angie Schleck
Alysa Treber
Nina Tunas
Gao Wenqian

TENOR
Marrieon Dewayne Burrage
Michael Komatsu
Andrew McDermott
Boyang Sa
Kazunari Saga
Vibinash Thomas

BASS
Ryan Diaz
Kevin Dong
Levi Gillis
Tianran Liu
Kyle Middleton
Henry Ng
Jet O'Brien
Stephen Sievers
Nathan Silpakit

CHOIR II

SOPRANO
Elise Baldwin
Christine Bender
Maren Booth
Polina Carlson
Ashley DiCristina
Ami Endicott
Kimberly Han
Jessica Hartana
Orit Hilewicz
YuJin Kang
Jean Kim
Haley Kraft
Liang Liu
Xinyi Long
Yiyan Luo
Qianying Ma
Lauren Martin
Mandy Di Meng
Kelsie Mhoon
Mercedes Morales
Genevieve Palmer
Xuyen Phan
Colleen Phillips
Lisa Pierce
Yawen Qiu
Titinia Sze
ChiLan Tran
Kaitlin Uemura
Jacqueline Uhlmann
Kailin Wang
Vanessa Wu

ALTO
Maggie Brown
Jacqueline Calapristi
Nicole Cannon
Angela Chin
Katie Forsythe
Zoe Gano
YaYa Gao
Erica González
Kimberly González
Ashley Hoss
Xiaodan Huang
Brianna Huiet
Kyuin Hwang
Faustine Im
Mona Im
Keetaya (Lily) Jirapolchet
Sujin Jung
Stephanie Kim
Cassie Kincaid
Lorraine Lau
Olga Lebedevskiy
Sammi Jo Lee
Mary Jo Malone
Misty Montejano
Laura Mulholland
Kunnan Park
Ashley Prescott
Lauren Rock
Chelsea Ulrich
Micah Wilcox
Alysse Zenkner

TENOR
Nathan Clark
Anton Coleman
Morris Jellison
En Miyashita
Dan Pek
Alex Robles
Walt Roy

BASS
Randal Fu
Mark Goehner
Dennis Hannan
Brianna Kang
Arthur Meng
Gilbert Podell-Blume
Alessandro Regio
Thomas Rodgers
Nigel Vander Houwen
Huan Zhang

UNKNOWN CHOIR/UNKNOWN VOICE PART
Laila Ali
Zachary Badger-Markey
Caleb Barr
Quentin Chan
Kenny Chiu
Catherine Devery
Mackenzie Elkins
Bryan Gamble
Lu Gan
Kelsey Hamilton
Chunyu Huang
Phil Huh
Elizabeth Keeley
Danni Lin
Nikaela Morley
Nkristine Napier
Juliann Panehal
Sarah Park
Adrielle Sabater
David Seon
Shaoyu Su
David Sun
Abigail Tan
Zhiwen Tan
Keyun Tong
Alyssa Tumangday
Rui Xue
Tsun Shing Yiu

FUN FRIDAY

2009-11-20T11:11:00.000-08:00

Oh, the things we can do with our voices.

Although this is rather silly, listen to the clarity of her high Ds. (That's right, sopranos...Ds.) It takes some mad skillz to pull off high Ds...especially as a chicken.

Why do you sing?

2009-11-11T22:50:00.000-08:00

The very first discussion question I posted on this blog was "Why did you decide to take University Singers?" The responses were varied, as one would expect, ranging from "I need a credit" to "I miss singing in a choir so I joined."

But I've been thinking a lot lately about why I sing.

I love to sing.

I love it.

Yet, it is the most risky thing I do each day. Each note is a leap of faith, a calculated guess...I don't have any buttons to push like a piano does...I have to create sound from thin air (literally!). I don't have a bad reed or out-of-tune string to blame when the sound doesn't come out right. It's all on me. My voice, my air, my body, my vulnerable self, my emotions all out there for everyone to hear. It's incredibly risky.

The risk is worth the reward.

The physical and psychological benefits of singing have been well studied and documented. Here's an excerpt from an article on Suite101.com:

Professor Graham Welch of the University of London has studied developmental and medical aspects of singing for 30 years and says.
“The health benefits of singing are both physiological and psychological. Its physical benefits include increasing oxygenation of the blood stream and working major muscle groups in the upper body.
Psychologically it has the positive effect of reducing stress levels through the action of the endocrine system which is linked to the sense of emotional well-being.”
From the bonding of early humans to the classical recital, the song has played a vital role in humankind’s history and evidence would seem to suggest that singing is good on a communal and personal level.

It's more than just this for me, though. When I'm singing, I am the best possible version of me. There is such tangible joy in singing, I can't keep it in. I want for everyone to experience that joy, the joy of letting out the beauty of the best possible them...and that's why I teach.

COMMENTS FOR CREDIT:

Why do you sing? What makes the risk worth the reward for you?

Repertoire for Winter quarter

2009-11-11T21:51:00.000-08:00

Bret and I are planning for next quarter. We haven't got a theme just yet, but suggestions can be catalysts for coming up with our final rep. list.

If you have a favorite piece from high school or another choir that you think University Singers would rock, please list them here.

Be sure to provide titles and composers, please. (That is to say, there are lots of pieces out there called "Gloria"...including one by the Boss.)

***

If you're wondering about it...everyone is welcome to sing with University Singers next quarter...and all quarters! It's not a one-time deal. I hope you all consider singing with us the whole year long!

Facebook event for CarolFest

2009-11-11T21:08:00.002-08:00

Thanks to Genevieve for creating a fb event for CarolFest (you can find it here http://bit.ly/1hkgj). I hope you've all been invited and are inviting your friends to come...I am attending, but I don't see Bret on the confirmed guest list. :)

Group Meeting Times

2009-11-11T21:08:00.001-08:00

Just a note: a couple of groups have created facebook groups. I'm a fan (ha!)...if you are comfortable working online, I recommend this method...particularly as it is difficult to have face-to-face meetings with everyone. Thank you to those who have taken the initiative to set these up.

Email me if you're having difficulty with your projects at all. We have a fully multi-media capable classroom, so powerpoint/video/audio/whatever is welcome.

Here is the list of meetings for the groups to work on their projects. A couple have already met...I hope you were there!

TUES 11/10
Comp Sci/Informatics...4:30...Mary Gates Hall

WED 11/11
Business II...you should have received an email from your group

FRI 11/13
Business/Econ...2:00...HUB lost & found

MON 11/16

Biology...3:00...outside Kane 220 (facebook group "Bio Group for U Singers")

Engineering...3:10...outside Kane Hall on the Red Square side

Business I...4:50...meet after class

Biochem...4:50...meet after class

Nursing/Med...4:50...meet after class

Music Performance...4:50...meet after class

WED 11/18

Psych...4:50...meet after class (fb group "Psychology Group for U Singers")

Visual/Performing Arts/Art History...4:50...meet after class

Anthropology...4:50...meet after class

Law...4:50...meet after class

Foreign Language/IS...4:50...meet after class

THURS 11/19

Math/Engineering/Physics...3:30...place TBA (please email froogy42@hotmail.com)

Technical Difficulties

2009-11-08T16:44:00.000-08:00

I know you are all waiting with bated breath to print the music for "The Twelve Days of Christmas."

I am proud to announce that I have triumphed over my all-in-one printer/scanner/copier/fax (which does not recognize media cards over 1GB) and managed to actually get the pages scanned.

You will receive a copy of the .pdf in your inbox, and it is posted on our Catalyst CommonView site.

Is it choir?

2009-11-05T08:42:00.000-08:00

This is a tale of three YouTube videos.

The first is a high school choir singing at a choral festival. The piece is "Sleep" and it's a popular choral song written by Eric Whitacre. (It's quiet...put your earbuds in.) There's a little explanation of how this piece came about, interesting, but the music starts around :55.

The second is really more of a slideshow with a soundtrack. The piece was recorded with a choir all together in the same room, then edited to make it just right.

The third is also of "Sleep", but it is a video mashup of different singers singing their individual part. Whitacre designed the project himself (modelled after the YouTube Orchestra), recorded himself conducting the piece, and asked for submissions. This is what happened:

COMMENTS FOR CREDIT:

Which of these is the most "choral"? What is it that makes a choir a choir?

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)

2009-10-28T10:11:00.000-07:00

Ah, Vivaldi.

His music makes up so much of the soundtrack of my life. I played the violin when I was young, and worked on several different pieces. My parents had a CD of concertos, and played it continuously in their business' office. It is the music I listen to if I'm doing any kind of craft--it just gets my creativity flowing.

Vivaldi's music is infectious; it is always dancing.

I am thrilled that we will be able to dance together with Vivaldi's music this quarter.

COMMENTS FOR CREDIT:

Here is the Wikipedia page for Vivaldi's The Four Seasons. You may be familiar with these concertos, if not by name then certainly from film soundtracks.

Listen to one of the movements (or more!). How do these instrumental concertos compare with our "Antiphonal Gloria"? Can you hear any similarities between them?

FOR FUN QUESTION:

The Four Seasons concertos are considered to be program music, which is music with no words that is descriptive of something (in this case, the four seasons). What does the music make you think of?

EXAMPLE: The opening of "Spring" (buh ba ba ba ba-da BAAAA) makes me think of cherry blossoms opening.

Quiz on Monday

2009-10-22T09:30:00.001-07:00

Hello University Singers!

Don't forget...you have a quiz on Monday. Read your syllabus!

Rehearsal report 10/19

2009-10-20T08:53:00.000-07:00

Through what seemed like a bit of chaos, we accomplished so much!

We separated the group into Choir I and Choir II. Do you remember which choir you were in? (I'll get a list up soon.)

We formed our small groups for our class projects. Get excited! Remember, these are 3-minute presentations teaching the class how something you learned in choir relates to something you're learning in your major. Be sure to email your groups soon and arrange for a time to meet together. If you are having trouble coming up with a topic to present, email Bret or Julie!

We reviewed "Lullay" and "Gaudete" and worked halfway through "Carol of the Bells". GREAT WORK! These pieces are becoming more and more beautiful every day. Remember, all three of these pieces have rehearsal tracks posted on the Catalyst website. PRACTICE!

Bret will work "Noel" and "Gaudete" with you on Wednesday. Next week we'll do sectionals again on "Salvation Is Created" and a little Mariah...

Be prepared for awesomeness...

A boatload of stuff in a dinghy-sized rehearsal

2009-10-19T08:59:00.000-07:00

Choir, we have SO much to do today.

SO much to do in an hour and twenty minutes.

I know we'll be able to do everything we need to do if we all work together...there are 150+ of you, which can be incredible together.

CAN WE DO IT?

YES WE CAN!

FUN FRIDAY

2009-10-16T12:50:00.000-07:00

Enjoy this excellent performance by the Iowa State Singers.

COMMENTS FOR CREDIT

How many UNIQUE college & university choirs can we find on YouTube? Each poster may contribute TWO videos from different colleges or universities. (Iowa State is already done...as is the University of Washington!)

Gaudete!

2009-10-12T17:29:00.001-07:00

Rehearsal this week

2009-10-12T07:58:00.000-07:00

Please be sure you have ALL your pdfs printed out and that you come energized and ready to sing! We're going to be splitting into sections again this week, but we'll start today's rehearsal all together...sit anywhere...

Reminder: pay your $1.50 for your music! Either by the paypal button here (on this page) or by check made out to Julie Parsons.

FUN FRIDAY

2009-10-09T09:47:00.000-07:00

This, my friends, is why we practice:

COMMENTS FOR CREDIT: "Practice doesn't make perfect; practice makes preparedness." What does that statement mean for choir members? Is it applicable anywhere else outside of music? Discuss...

A tool you need to know

2009-10-06T20:28:00.000-07:00

The UW has an awesome set of internal web tools. One of these is called GradeBook.

Bret & I will be updating your participation, quiz grades, etc. on GradeBook. If you aren't sure if you've missed one class or two, you can check it your very self!

Here's how:

From your MyUW page, click on the link to Catalyst Web Tools. (On my Main page, it's in a box called "Quick Links.")

On your Catalyst tools page, you should see a percent sign icon, and the name "University Singers Autumn 2009". Click that link.

note: Catalyst recently redesigned their tools. You may need to "star all new items" before they show up on your tools list. If you have difficulty with this, email Catalyst support or come see me.

Up pops your completed assignments, whether or not you have paid for your music, etc.

Nifty!

Rehearsal 10/5 Notes

2009-10-05T23:33:00.000-07:00

Choir, you are such a joy!

I know you can't tell it yet, but you are the best-sounding beginning of the year University Singers yet. We have something special here.

Take the time to get to know one another. When you take a seat, be sure to introduce yourself to the people sitting around you. It's important that we know the people we sing with...we have so much to do together...breathe together, think together, sing together, tell stories together. The better we know each other, the better we can do these things together.

Remember, your assignment for Wednesday is to purchase your music from the bookstore and print the pdfs.

We'll be splitting into parts on Wednesday. Get ready for some 4-part fun, and more LEGOs!

This is a test

2009-09-30T21:49:00.000-07:00

It IS a test, though not one that counts for your grade.

If you read this before 10/4, leave a comment.

ARE YOU READY?

2009-09-29T21:03:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow.

We are a new choir tomorrow.

I can't wait.

Two Words: Random Cop

2009-09-16T07:42:00.000-07:00

I think this guy's videos are awesome.

Ever wish songs just sang what was happening in the music video? That's what he does.

A good argument for keeping the arts in schools! (Imagine if we never got to see this.)

This is the Beatles' Penny Lane. My apologies for just posting the link...the only remotely rude subtitle in the whole video was the one they chose as the screenshot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yJ2yWvGnkI

Apparently there is a whole culture of literal videos out there. I'm excited to watch more. A possible class project for some??? HINT HINT.

CarolFest and WinterFest Repertoire

2009-09-11T11:40:00.000-07:00

Our music has arrived at the bookstore! If you're an eager beaver, you can pick up:

All I Want For Christmas Is You
Antiphonal Gloria
Salvation Is Created

We will also do some pieces that you can either pay for in a packet at the Rams (not yet!) or print yourself from our course website:

Carol of the Bells
Lullay My Liking
Gaudete

There will be one more piece added, we're still deciding.

Um...awesome...

2009-09-04T10:40:00.000-07:00

see more Fail Blog

Getting Ready!

2009-09-04T09:17:00.000-07:00

Less than a month from now, we'll be meeting for the first time.

Some of you know me already (or you think you do).

Some of you don't know me at all (or you think you don't).

Some of you have friends in the choir that you haven't seen all summer long, and some of you will make friends in the choir you'll know for the rest of your life.

The best part of a new school year, a new quarter of University Singers? Getting to grow our relationships. We strengthen the ones already begun, and begin the ones that are new.

I'm looking forward to meeting the University Singers of Autumn 2009!

Tess Altiveros performs Nat'l Anthem

2009-07-14T12:08:00.000-07:00

This is video of my dear friend Tess singing the National Anthem at the Seattle Mariners game on 7/10/2009. Tess is a master's student at the University of Washington, and a very gifted singer. Enjoy!

FUN SUMMER!

2009-07-08T10:04:00.000-07:00

Another potential project idea.

FUN SUMMER!

2009-07-01T08:23:00.000-07:00

I'm thinking about projects we can do as a class.

What shall we sing?

2009-06-27T10:28:00.000-07:00

Hello to those joining University Singers for Autumn Quarter 2009!

I'm headed to Tacoma to pick out our repertoire choices for the fall, and I'd like to give you all an opportunity to weigh in.

The concert we sing on is called CarolFest, so if you have a piece that you LOVED from high school or another choir you sang with that is wintery or christmasy or caroly or in some other way appropriate, please leave a comment here.

I'll need to know the name of the piece AND the composer of the piece. (There are a lot of songs out there with the same name.)

If you can get a url to a sound file of said piece, that would be even better.

I'm looking forward to teaching you again this year!

Concert CD available

2009-06-27T10:27:00.000-07:00

For all in Spring '09 USingers...the CD of our Spring Sing concert is in the music library...ground floor, room 19. I thought we sounded pretty awesome!

Bravo!

2009-06-05T09:37:00.000-07:00

Choir, that concert was amazing. Thank you for offering your gifts to the audience...they loved you!

In a couple of weeks (maybe sooner) the concert recording will be available for you. Here's info from Grace on how to get a copy of the recording:

Grace Rosenstiel said...
To get a recording of concerts, go to the listening library with a blank CD (not a DVD), and they'll make a copy for you.

Unfortunately, they don't have another way to make a copy (ie through an ipod or something like that)

Cloths of Heaven

2009-06-05T09:33:00.001-07:00

Here is a picture from Evan Klavon. He took it himself, and I'm so glad he's shared it with us.

From Evan: I just remember that I have a picture of this and thought I'd send it
along. Here's a picture of a sculpture outside the church at
Drumcliffe, where Yeats is buried.

Concert call time

2009-06-04T10:52:00.001-07:00

Call time today is 4:30. Tonight 7:00.

CONCERT TONIGHT!

2009-06-04T07:58:00.000-07:00

I'm getting excited!

Remember, dress nicely if you can for a photo call during our dress rehearsal. We will have 40 minutes on Meany stage, and I think after yesterday's rehearsal that we should be able to get through all our pieces and really feel comfortable and ready for the concert with no problem.

Thank you for the opportunity to conduct you. I appreciate all the effort you've put in this quarter, and I hope many of you will be singing in the choral program next year.

:)julie

Thank You

2009-06-04T00:52:00.000-07:00

Dear choir,

I want you to know that I so appreciate your efforts this quarter. We have had a change in music, which isn't easy, and a couple of changes of directive, which is equally difficult. Thank you so much for hanging in there, and going with the flow.

When you all sing TOGETHER, doing the same thing TOGETHER, you sound absolutely amazing. This is the best the USingers have sounded in recent memory, and you are doing a wonderful job at singing as a choir. Thank you so much for your time, your concentration, your effort.

I am honored to be your conductor this quarter, and this year. I sincerely hope that you have gained a fraction of the knowledge of choral singing that I have gained this year. You have taught me so much about what's important (and what's not) and how to sing and be a choir. I know it sounds pretty lame...but really you've taught me so much more than I could ever teach you. Thank you for the opportunity to teach you, to share my passion and my art with you, and for being willing participants in this grand experiment called "University Singers."

I look forward to tomorrow.

Meany Walkthrough

2009-06-04T00:48:00.000-07:00

Meany Hall artists entrance:

Do NOT go in the main doors (audience entrance).

Instead, go down the stairs on the Red Square side of the building. At the bottom, you'll see a bunch of metal sculptures. Look to the right, there is a door marked "green room" or "artist's entrance". Go in that door.

Once inside, drop your stuff, get your music, and go down the hallway to the left. There's a stairway door on your right. Go down one floor, exit the stairway, there's a big open room with vending machines. We'll meet there for warm-ups.

Floor dancers

2009-06-02T10:31:00.001-07:00

Hi all floor dancers!

Apparently a bonus rehearsal for those on the floor was called for 2:30 (if you can make it). I have no idea where...someone please post a comment to this effect?

Be Our Guest video

2009-06-01T21:59:00.001-07:00

Okey-dokey, artichokeys. I got this to work. Here's the choralography. On video. For you. Learn it.

Practice files

2009-05-29T11:57:00.001-07:00

Hello choir!

I have fixed the error in Funiculi Funicula for the basses. Thanks Dan!

After listening to Cloths of Heaven, I think that tempo is closer to where we'll end up, so go ahead and practice with the faster tempo. Then we can slow if we want to!

Practice...

FUN FRIDAY

2009-05-29T10:08:00.001-07:00

An oldie but a goodie. And musical!

Be Our Guest practice files

2009-05-24T20:54:00.000-07:00

The practice files for Be Our Guest are online!!!

http://courses.washington.edu/usingers/practice%20files.shtml

Practice! How much can you have memorized by Wednesday?

I arose from dreams of thee...

2009-05-22T09:26:00.001-07:00

Really. I woke up at 3:30 this morning, thinking about you, choir. And I couldn't get back to sleep! I thought about all the time we've spent together this quarter. I thought about all your faces and how beautiful you all are when you sing together. I thought about filling the barrel of sound, and I thought about the new phrasing in "Orpheus with His Lute."

And then I thought about all the work yet to be done.

Yes, choir, I know it is a lot. I know we have far to go and few days in which to get there. And I know that we can do it.

I have made a strict rehearsal schedule for the last three days. It will require everyone's focus and attention (including mine!) and if we work as hard as we can work, we will absolutely be ready for the concert on June 4.

Video files of the choralography will be online tomorrow as will rehearsal parts for "Be Our Guest." My apologies that the parts weren't done sooner...I didn't know until Wednesday!...but they will be there for you. You are also welcome to come to any of the Friday sessions to rehearse if you wish.

Please practice some this weekend. Sing through your music with the rehearsal files. They are here: http://courses.washington.edu/usingers/practice%20files.shtml. Think about these beautiful poems and what they mean for you, to you. Find the trouble spots in your music, those places that you know you just don't know...then practice just those spots with the rehearsal files. And, when we go over them in class, you'll work extra-double-hard to get them, right?

I want you to know that I am in it with you. I am working to make your concert the very best it can be. I know you are too.

NO CLASS MONDAY

2009-05-21T11:11:00.000-07:00

It is a holiday (apparently). I had completely forgotten about it! Enjoy your day off, and practice practice practice practice practice.

CONCERT INFO (revised)

2009-05-21T08:43:00.003-07:00

Sorry, all. The concert is:

THURSDAY June 4.

Discussion Topic #5

2009-05-20T07:40:00.000-07:00

Now that we're 75% through our course, what are some of the things you've been learning in addition to our repertoire?

CONCERT INFO

2009-05-19T08:19:00.000-07:00

Our concert is:

SPRING SING!
Tuesday, June 4, 2009
7:30pm
Meany Hall

Tickets are $10. You can buy them here. Or call 206-543-4880 between 10a-6p.

Invite EVERYONE! This will be a great concert, featuring the University Singers, Women's Choir, and Men's Glee Club, as well as guests Orpheus Men's Chorus.

(You know the story of Orpheus, right?)

Today's rehearsal

2009-05-18T09:22:00.000-07:00

A quick warm-up today. Please be on time.

We need to work on "He Wishes for the Cloths..." and "Be Our Guest." Last 15 minutes sorting out solos, dancers, etc.

Lots of work to be done these last 3 weeks. Focus...you and me both!!!

He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven

2009-05-15T10:09:00.000-07:00

THANK YOU to Darren for scanning the piece!

Practice files are up, as are the scans if you don't have a copy. HERE

FUN FRIDAY

2009-05-15T08:29:00.001-07:00

No, we are NOT adding this to the concert.