Welcome to the Mixed Chorus Journal! Once I get enough entries in this thing, the old ones will end up in the archive which I have not yet made.
11-08-00
Darn! I knew (kneeeeeew!) I shouldn't have gone to that voice lab!!! It was the worst one in choral history! Ok, so I waltz into the room about 8 minutes late and make sure that Vehar marked me down..."Miss Danielle, 6th period, Wedensday, for 7". So as he goes through the chart to mark down other people, he stops and asks a bunch of questions to one girl, Alisha, who periodically stops by the machine as we fill it. So she told Mr. Vehar about 23948723 times where she sat and how she was singing 1st soprano. He kept on insisting that she was an alto, and after a few minutes of heated discussion, he concludes that the first four of us in the first row were altos. The 2 of us in the voice lab were just like, umm...ok whatever. We did not yet realize how boring the alto parts were to sing. Just when I was actually enjoying chorus, he switches my part to one that's as boring as hell. I'm not really caring, though, b/c I'm just gonna sing the soprano part anyways...it's not like the first sopranos sing loud or anything! And besides, I can't even barely sing below B...which is hard to believe if you know the pitch of my speaking voice. It's just so awkward now, and it doesn't feel right singing it. AND THEN! to make matters worse! He made ME SING in front of the WHOLE voice lab!! I almost peed my pants...he recorded it too...and then...::sniff:: he...he...PLAYED IT BACK AND MADE ME LISTEN TO IT!!! And he was squeezing my lats...or should I say, the lack thereof, and I was so nervous I sounded so bad on the tape... I KNEW I SHOULDN'T HAVE GONE TO THAT VOICE LAB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
11-17-00
Lately, I'm beginning to wonder about people who write chorus music. Take for example one of our songs - Wassail, Wassail. Nobody in the chorus knows what a wassail is!! We just shrug and sing it anyways. It goes like this - "Wassail, wassail, all over the town, our bread is white and our wassail is brown". So as I was leaving yesterday after the bell had rung, I over heard a freshman talking about it. He said something like - Maybe wassail means s***. That would make the song go - "S***, s***, all over the town, our bread is white and our s*** is brown". I almost burst out laughing when he said it! Now I think of those words when we sing it!! I hope I don't sing the wrong words in the concert!!! Hehe! Don't worry! Another funny thing that happened today...Mr. Vehar was telling us the breathe like we were just startled - a quick breath without moving your shoulders, and taking in a lot of air (this really helped!) So he said - Think of it this way: You just walked into a room and everyone said (::in a weird voice::) Happy Birthday! And you go: ::pretends he was startled::. Now you guys try. And he really wanted us to breathe like we were startled, and we all did, except this one girl, Tara. She started to say "Happy birthday" in Vehar's little weird voice! It was SO hilarious everyone burst out laughing, even Vehar! Tara couldn't believe she had just done that! After a few minutes, we all settled down. I would have been SOOO embarrassed if that was me!! =) And one more thing...Whenever people take attendance, they ALWAYS mark MY name when it is Jen S. who is missing!! Almost every single day they do it! Then I have to go: No, I'm here, Danielle Smith is here, it's Jen who's not here. Then EVERYONE in chorus turns around and stares at me! Geez people! That's one of the things I hate about chorus. Everyone always looks at you!!! Back in the days before Mr. Vehar realized I should have been an alto instead of a soprano, the "firsties" as we were called, could never sing very loudly. So when Mr. Vehar had to keep telling us to sing louder when we sang by ourselves, EVERYONE turned around and looked at us! And that made me nervous! Next time when the guys or the 2nd sops can't sing strong, I'm going to get off my little riser and stare at them right in their face! So enough venting for one journal entry!!
11-20-00
Today was a happy day for "Chorus Student D"! This girl who sits in front to me (I think her name is Jenna) finally gave me the Girl Scout cookies I ordered! I love thin mints! And if that wasn't good enough, Theresa told me that Mr. Vehar had made a mistake, and that we weren't supposed to be altos any more! So I was ready to give Mr. Vehar a hug, but I had just sat down and didn't feel like getting up. And after we started singing, I noticed he kept saying stuff like, - More altos, or Come on altos...I hope he doesn't switch me back!!! =) I have improved a LOT on sightreading and singing...and there's no school for the rest of this week on account of snow, and that makes me even MORE happy! =D I am an exremely happy D! �D
12-01-00
Just when I decide to be brave and go back to a voice lab, he makes me sing again!! It wasn't as bad as last time, though, because I wasn't the only one. Everyone had to sing, but I had to go 2nd!! I also stayed after the voice lab to get some music to sing b/c I am trying out for the musical! Hehe! I can't believe it either! So...more to come...
12-02-00
Well, Mr. Vehar finally told us what wassail means. He told us that when people used to go caroling, they would sing on someone's door and expect the person to come to the door and let them in and give them some wassail, or cider. But the question is, why would it be all over the town? And why is it in a green maple bowl? LOL. Chorus songs as well as Jazz songs are screwy. The concert is coming up on Thursday!!!
<12-07-00>
Today we had our first concert....yes...D's first vocal concert! When I came into the chorus room, I felt like I was forgetting something b/c I didn't need my flute or anything! So I had nothing to hold! =) Almost nobody was in the chorus room, and it was quarter to 7. I guess there is no such thing as a "chorusie" b/c bandies LOVE to come into the band room early! =) So our concert wasn't too bad, but we did screw up some things. For one, about all the sopranos besides me and few other people missed an interval, so it created some strange harmonies. Then next thing wasn't our fault though, but poor Andrea N. was accompanying us on "Hannuka Holiday" and she was playing it by memory, and she totally forgot where she was, and Mr. Vehar had to stop and start over. I'm sure she felt horrible, but I know what it's like to be in a concert and screw up....b/c I've done it many times! =/ woops! hehe. Other than that, we got a lot of other compliments on how well we sang for our first concert...especcially from the members of Chorale! Well, that's it.
12-11-00
Oh boy! I mustered up all my courage and auditioned for the musical. ... I had previously borrowed some music from "The Sound of Music" and somewhat learned "My favorite things". But I sang the song unfavorably. When I got there, Tim L. was just finishing up his audition, and it was great, along with his brother (who could sing so low it was unbelieveable) and everyone else did a REALLY good job. They sang loudly. I then thought...I MUST SING LOUDLY! But I had not practiced it loudly. So I get up on the stage, very unnervous, and showed Ben the music and all that stuff, but when I tried to sing loudly, I had to use my chest voice. Not a problem, I thought, until I realized that I can't sing a B in the staff with my chest voice. My voice cracked and I'm sure my cheeks went red, and I then forgot the next line, and felt SOOO embarrased, then Ben wasn't playing the right chords and I didn't know where the pitch was, and I didn't wanna look like an idiot starting my horrible song over, so I just kinda guessed at the pitch! That had to be the one time that I actually embarrased my self, because Vitello was there, and like, the entire flute section, and lots of chorale people who are "famous"...I felt even more horribler when Mrs. Girzone tried to tell me I did the best job I could with Ben sightreading and all...I felt like throwing up. Well, today was a good day for me, wasn't it!!!
1-12-01
Today I took my mid term! It was SOOO easy! The rhythms weren't bad at all, and he gave you like, the WHOLE period to look the sightreading over! I don't see why everyone was so worried about it. That's about it!!
2-14-01
Piano test today...not a big deal for D, though! I only practiced the part once, and I let 9 1/2 years of piano experience take over. When I played the song perfectly, Mr. Vehar asked me if I took piano lessons, and I told him, "Yes, since I was 6!" And he's like, Oh, I thought you had only taken piano for just a little while. I shook my head. He then asked me if I would like to accompany the chorus on a song. I definatly agreed, because I was very jealous that he let John D. accompany a song on the last concert. The next day, he told me I could play "Do you hear what I hear", the song we couldn't fit on the Holiday concert...I guess Vehar thinks it also fits in with the Sacred Choral Music concert too. Anyways, I'm very happy about it, and when I told my piano teacher about it, she couldn't believe it, because when she was a member of the chorale, Mr. Vehar never let anyone but his wife play the piano with them. =) I'm so happy, I practiced it SOOOO hard it's perfect already! =D
2-27-01
Today was a good day! Seriously, I'm the only firstie that knows what she's doing!! I sort of am reluctant to sing when he isolates us, because I don't want to be the only one singing loudly and differently, even when I'm right! But today, Vehar was getting a little pissed at us for singing wimpy, so I sang louder. Mr. Vehar then complimented me for singing the right thing, and notified the rest of the firsts to stop "following the leader and just sing". Many of my freshie friends were proud of me. Nicole D. even told me I sang well! 2 points for choruster D!!! Chorale, watch out!!!
3-01-01
You guessed it. Another voice lab I have to complain about. As you can probably tell, he made me sing again!! GR! And of all the songs, he made me sing the one that is the lowest..."When Jesus Wept". I was shaking, it was even worse than the voice labs before! I didn't sound like me at all when he played it back, and I had mad helicopter vibrato from nervousness!! =O And no diction at all! =P So for about 10 minutes he tries to make me sing better in front of a voice lab of 15 chorusters, most of which I am aquainted with...even though I tried telling Vehar that I just can't sing alone! When I'm with the chorus, or even my musically challenged colleagues, I sing amazingly! But isolated...mmmhh....not good. Alex even tried to back me up by telling Mr. Vehar that I sing differently in chorus than now. And she would know, too, because I practically sing in her ear. I was greatful, but it didn't stop him from making everyone stare at me and...::sigh::. I only seem to have stage fright if I'm doing something that I'm not good at. I could get up and play my flute for the whole nation, and I wouldn't be the least be scared. but take my flute away, and make me sing; the whole thing crumbles. I know it's for the better, though, and I know that Vehar keeps wanting me to sing in V. L.'s because he either wants to showcase me if I do good, or he badly wants me to improve. I'm gonna practice my songs so hard for next voice lab...I'll show that Vehar who's afraid to sing...!!!!!
3-07-01
I went to voice lab today and............HE DIDN"T PICK ME TO SING!!!!! GRRRRRRRRR!!!!! I was very mad b/c I practiced "The Lone, Wild Bird" very much!! Geez, and it was one of the rare times I actually want to sing, too!! But Vehar did use me in VL, he made me get my flute (!) and stand in front of the mirror. I played a C "my way" and "his way" and my air stream got better! It was amazing! It made me a happy musician! Well, tommorrow, I'm going to audition for the solo in "The Lone, Wild Bird", even though I'm not going to get it. Mr. Vehar says that I'm auditioning for Chorale during every voice lab and every chorus rehearsal! Eeeee!!! Or should I say: Ee-e Oo-o Ee-e Oo-o EEEEEE!!!! Oh, and one more thing, Vehar is going crazy to complement me on my accompaying the chorus, and I'm kind of sick of it! But it is fun...I get to watch everyone TRY to sing! Haha....the concert's in a week....=O
3-08-01
After school today, I auditioned for the solo in "The Lone, Wild Bird". I don't really want to get the solo, I just wanted to prove to Mr. Vehar that I could actually sing! After waiting and listening to Kristin, Danny (singing like the godfather LOL), and Travis, it was my turn! ::dun dun DUN!:: I sang pretty well, actually, and Mr. Vehar said I was very close to singing very well. I beamed! Barbara and Katey (who were also in the room) told me I had a pretty voice! I'm not sure if they were just saying that, but I don't really care, I sang well in front of Mr. Vehar! I can do anything!!! Well, except fly...
3-14-01
Concert of Sacred Choral Music! It was good....much better than the last concert. At least for the mixed chorus! But it was scarey when I was virually the only first to come in on the second time of the "Ossana"! John was very good at accompanying Lone Wild Bird...and I almost messed up "Do You Hear What I Hear"! The music almost fell off the piano! I managed to somehow turn the page and make it sound like I didn't screw up at all! ::sigh of relief:: Vehar would have killed me!! =)
3-04-01
Today was the "Choirs in the Round" concert! Again, Mr. Vehar let me play piano for one of the songs we did. While rehearsing it, he called me "Denise" a few times! I was like, ok?? It went alright, but I discovered that the piano was broken the day of the concert! The Ab key sometimes stuck! Mr. Vehar looked at it, and told me that it was something to do with the pedal and the key being played at the same time! That was a big concern for me, since I needed to use the pedal, and Ab was the first note of every arpeggio I had to play! =( During the concert, it stuck once, but I don't think it sounded to bad. Vehar even backed me up by telling the chorus the next day that the piano was broken and it wasn't my fault for screwing up!
4-09-01
Today they posted the list for Chorale...and....I was on it! I'll be able to wear the robes next year....and more importantly...THE RED TRIANGLE!!! =D Those things are cool; I keep telling Barbara to just let me wear her triangle over my clothes for the concert! =)
4-11-01
Today we found out that Mr. Vehar is retiring after this year. Many people in Chorale were distressed. Why couldn't it just have been one more year???
5-23-01
Tonight was Mr. Vehar's last concert! =( It was wonderful though! When Mr. Vehar walked on the stage for the first time, the applause lasted forever! Many of his old students came (and some from very far away) to see his last concert. We started off singing well...and we only went a little bit sharp on "Follow my Path"...but it was ok. The sightreading also wasn't as bad as I thought it would be...even though we had to repeat the last measure of the rhythms. Also, I suprisingly won the award given to members of mixed chorus along with 5 other people! (Everyone knew Erin would win it!) I was proud of myself! =) The songs I accompanied were great...even though I made two inconspicuous mistakes in "The Water is Wide". Nobody noticed, though! =D After us, the Chamber singers and the Chorale sang. I loved the songs that they did...they were very challenging and fun to listen to! Barb had a solo..and it sounded great! "Georgia On My Mind" was also REALLY great. My favorite was the Russian Picnic...I loved those chord changes! What a cool song! =) The members of Chorale also sang a song for Mr. and Mrs. Vehar called "Seasons of Love" which they rehearsed themselves. They gave them presents too, and Mike Farrow said a few things....and was very funny in the process! (Humming the note, then jumping off the stage to where the seniors were assembled!) There were many alumni there, and I bet they were really proud of us. Best wishes to the Vehar's on their retirement.