Monday, February 7, 2011

Still Shaking

At my community choir rehearsal tonight, I auditioned for *gasp* a solo! I don't know why I do this to myself. I guess it was a good way to stretch since I'm not really an experienced soloist. I mean, I can sing--I sight-read a pretty mean alto line, if I do say so myself--and I love singing in the choir. And I've sung in my fair share of ensembles, duets, etc. But solos? Not so much.

Anyway, my choir has this really fun Rogers and Hammerstein program coming up for our next concert this month. Maybe it was something in the air? Perhaps the natural euphoria that is inevitably resulted by singing "I Whistle a Happy Tune" (who can resist "Whenever I feel afraid, I hold my head erect, and whistle a happy tune, and no one ever knows I'm afraid..."?), or possibly the ever-inspiring "O-o-o-o-o-k-lahoma where the wind comes rolling down the plains...". And of course the loveable "Do-Re-Mi" from the Sound of Music. Can't help but feel the music through an awesome rendition of "Doe- a deer, a female deer! Ray, a drop of golden sun....". You get the picture.

Whatever the case may be, I picked up the music for one of my old favorites, "My Favorite Things" from the Sound of Music (also the easiest since I've known it word-for-word probably since I was 3 years old) and stewed over it for the last couple of weeks. Sang it to Anna and David all week long, and now they will know it for the rest of their lives too. Except Anna is already 4--I feel bad for delaying her exposure to good ol' show tunes! Poor deprived child.

And tonight, you'll be proud of me, I got up there of my own free will and choice and sang in front of the director, accompanist, and the few people there in the room. Man, if that feels scary, heaven help me if they actually choose me to sing the solo for the actual concert... But that wasn't the reason for the audition in the first place. I'm definitely not expecting to be given the solo, and kind of hoping I don't get it, eek! But now I have one more experience under my belt, helping me to gradually overcome my nerves and fears. See, I'm stretching myself. Can you just tell my teeth to stop chattering now?

Oh, and now I get to have "Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens" floating around in my head all the time. That makes me smile every time! But next time I get a wild hair to go auditioning for something, feel free to remind me that I've already "stretched" myself and don't need to anymore.

6 comments:

Carrie said...

The audition is the worst part. The performance is exhilarating! With an audition people are there to judge you, a performance to enjoy. I just recommend not knowing anyone in the audience the first night you perform. Good luck! I hope you get it!

Sarah@The Best Stuff said...

Good for you Liz! And trust me, if you get the solo it won't be nearly as scary as the audition. By the time you perform it in a concert, you will have done it so many times it won't be scary at all.

Greg and Tammy said...

That is AWESOME!!! I hope you get it! They are lucky to have you in their choir.

The Scherbel Family said...

Thats great! I'm so inspired by your desire to develop and share your talents!

Melissa@thebblog said...

You Rock! I hate auditioning too! That's why I never joined anythig but University Chorale in College, they let everyone in. funny thing, i sang "whenever I feel afraid . . ." for my tryout for Madrigals in high school. i thought it was a great song for a scary audition. Congrats on another notch on your belt whether you get it or not.

123 checkoutourfamily said...

Awesome Liz! I hear you...I get nervous about stuff like that too. I'm definitely not cut out for solos. When I was in HS and our choir would compete, I had a way of making other people nervous as I verbalized my fears. Crazy!

I'm the same way about giving talks. I like preparing them but giving them just gets me shaky.