It's Chilly Outside!

I'm so glad that its becoming more winterlike here in Alabama. Who knows, we might get some snow this year...I doubt it, but it would be nice.

So today was cool. This morning after opening up the Foundation, I got the opportunity to speak at UAB Day for the Department of Music. Ms. Reynolds had asked me if I could do this since the person who normally does this is gone with the band to Memphis and I graciously accepted. It wasn't anything extremely formal, although I met the Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities and he introduced me along with Ms. Reynolds and Dr. Price to the incoming Freshmen and their parents. After all the A&H departments splited up, the Music Department people went upstairs from the Hulsey Recital Hall and Ms. Reynolds gave her spiel about being a music major at UAB. I thought she did a fantastic job at that. She then allowed me to introduce myself and share about being a music major at UAB and how and why I chose to come to UAB. I did speak good things about our outstanding ensembles (with special emphasis on the Choir and other vocal ensembles...just so you know Dr. Copeland...) and I spoke well about our outstanding Music Education program of which I am a part of.

So now, after all of that, I'm back here at Lakeshore for about another hour until we close for the day. Tonight I am going home to spend the night with the dog and I'll be back in town tomorrow.
Ok, so here's some sad news. Tomorrow, I am officially turning in my two weeks notice to Starbucks. Although I have loved working there for the past four months, I am being called back (again) to Family Christian Stores (our Gardendale store is moving to Fultondale and I'll be a Sales Floor Leader [Shift Supervisor] there...Christmastime is VERY VERY busy in retail after all...). I'll miss all of my good friends I've made while at Starbucks...not to mention all the coffee and what not...sadness, no more markouts... But don't worry, I'll go back to being a patron there again. It is one of my favorite places to go and read or just chillax for a while.

On a lighter note, it's 37 days till Christmas, my favorite time of year! I'm already listening to Christmas music in anticipation for the holidays. I recently purchased Josh Groban's new Christmas album, Noel and it is somewhat amazing. One new song I discovered on his album is a French Christmas carol called "Petit Papa Noel" and I have recently fell in love with it and I purchased the sheet music for it and maybe I can sing it next Christmas for Juries.


Another great Christmas album I purchased was David Phelps' One Wintry Night. IT IS AMAZING! He is my favorite singer, and you can never go wrong in one of his albums. I mean, wow! It is so great and I invite everyone to go get it. Trust me, you won't regret it. In fact, Amber and I might be singing the song "One King" at her church sometime in December.


UGH!! Speaking of juries, they are two weeks from today. I've still got to get my last song completely memorized. Here's a rundown of the songs I'm doing for juries this semester:

"Sebben, crudele" – Antonio Caldara (1670-1736)
"Standchen" – Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
"Oh, Is There Not One Maiden Breast" – Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900)
"Bring Him Home" - Claude-Michel Schönberg (b. 1944)

So yesterday, I went to the Birmingham Public Library and checked out a few cds from them. One was Jussi Bjorling, and I don't regret checking out his cd. He has a great tenor voice. It's very silvery and brassy. Dr. Kris recommended I listen to him since both he and I are lyric tenors.

Well, I'm about to have to close up shop here at Lakeshore. Geez, it's been nearly an hour since I began to type this blog entry. I've had to pause and resolve problems and what not. So I hope this will do for now. Maybe I'll update this again later tonight or something...probably not, so don't count on it... :-p

Brian

Like a blur...

...that's what life feels like right now. Everything is going by so fast. It seems like yesterday I was moving in at my apartment and going to UAB for my first class there. But now, it is past midterm and things are starting to pick up fast. For example, tomorrow, I have a playing test in Woodwind Methods, I have a sight-singing test in Music Theory, and I have an audition tomorrow evening for our Spring opera, Pirates of Penzance. That's just Monday. Later this week, on Thursday, I'll be singing at the Alabama ACDA Collegiate Choral Festival with the UAB Concert Choir. I'm looking forward to Thursday because I'll get to see all of my Jeff State friends as well as I'll get to hear what other college choirs in Alabama are performing. It's always an event I look forward to each Fall.

Juries are on December 1, and that will be here soon. I've got to put at least two more songs in my repertoire before then. Being at 200 level voice (and I'm hoping to jury up to 300 this semester), I have to have six selections prepared for Juries. I'll get to pick one and the jury, comprised of the Voice Faculty, Dr. Copeland, and Dr. Reynolds (I think) as well as Ms. Reynolds, our accompanist, will pick another for me to sing. I'm nervous about this as most music majors are when it comes to Juries. Pray for me.

Well, I've got some more practicing to do before bed tonight. Jeez, playing the flute isn't as easy as it looks. You've got to get your aperture just right or horrendous noises will come from the flute.

Goodnight!

Vocal Repertoire (so far)

Ok, so here is my vocal repertoire list so far. I guess I can use any of these if I had to for Juries (which is December 1st...yikes!). Below you'll see what I've got so far. I've listed my vocal coach for those pieces, as well as the ranges for those songs, so here they are:

Spring 2005 – Margaret Heron, Choir Director, Mortimer Jordan High School, Morris, AL:
• Danza, danza fanciulla – Francesco Durante (1684-1755) [A#4-F#5]

Spring 2007 – Jessica Hall, Instructor of Music, Director of Choirs, Jefferson State Community College, Birmingham, AL:
• Black Is The Color of My True Love’s Hair – John Jacob Niles (1892-1980) [D4-G5]

Fall 2007 - Rachel Mathes, Voice Instructor, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL:
• Caro Mio Ben – Tommaso Giordani (1733–1806) [D4-F5]
• Sebben, crudele – Antonio Caldara (1670-1736) [E4-E5]
• Standchen – Franz Schubert (1797-1828) [D4-G5]
• Oh, Is There Not One Maiden Breast – Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900) [G4-Bb5]
• Bring Him Home - Claude-Michel Schönberg (b. 1944) [E4-A5]

I'll try and update this list as songs are added.

So, I've started a new project. I'm cataloging my entire sheet music library. It is a small (yeah, right) undertaking, but it is coming along. I know Dr. Copeland is scanning his entire library. I don't think I could do that right now. That might come later. I'm also updating my iTunes library constantly with new music. It's an addiction...i know.

Well, I might update later tonight. I've got a Music Theory test tomorrow and my Woodwind Methods midterm on Friday...fun.

Later all!