haven't listened to the recording yet

[solarbird]

I don't think anybody from here was there, but if you were, hey! Sorry I missed you. Hopefully I wasn't too bad. I haven't listened to the recording yet; I know I had trouble doing the new voice techniques in performance. Know for 100% sure. Very frustrating. I also continue to have trouble relating to dynamic microphones. Also very frustrating. I could solve part of this by getting a pickup for my mandolin, because I'm having to deal with relating to two microphones at once, and relating to only one at a time would be a hell of a lot easier. But those cost dollars.

Another performer did ask me to do back him up for one of his songs on mandolin, just making up a counterpoint part to his three-chord song, though, and I did, and that actually worked pretty well. Sound guy in particular liked it. When I'm second banana on stage I'm a lot calmer; I just watched the guy for his changes and made stuff up as I went along, and that was easy and apparently popular. He videos his performances and has a myspace page, so I'll post a pointer when he sends it to me. (Assuming he does. He said he would.)

And now lo I am wiped.

eta: Decided to listen to the recording before going to bed anyway. 1. Pitch control much better. The a cappella opening to "Thought You Knew" still isn't quite hitting, but was better. 2. Tone control extremely spotty... tho' I don't sound as entirely bad as I'd expected I'd might, for once. Some quite bad spots, others not so bad. Clearly need much more work at getting a grip on that; I can tell that while I was occasionally not cutting off my sinuses, most of the time I was, and that's fail. 3. Too damn fast. Again. Mandolin work sounded better than I'd expected it would, and would probably have been okay if I hadn't been too damn fast.

Comments

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

/me wonders how much that mando pickup would run.... just curious.

[emmacrew.livejournal.com]

So the voice tricks you've figured out. It took me several years (of not really working on it much, admittedly) to get the full resonance in my head and great support that helps that happen to be something I can do consistently and at will. I remember when I first figured it out, I was a junior in high school. It was spotty through college. Even now on some pieces (Beethoven 9, anyone?) I occasionally revert to bad old habits and don't do it right. So don't beat yourself up about not having it perfect all the time right away!

And yeah, it does take way more breath than most people imagine. Sounds like you're on the right track!

[kathrynt.livejournal.com]

looks like one-fifty.

[kathrynt.livejournal.com]

Also, Dara, due to the huge amounts of air you use, you lose water at a _frightening_ rate while doing this, something like a pint per hour. Be prepared to hydrate more to compensate.

[cafiorello.livejournal.com]

I know nothing about singing, but I do know that when my students work while being observed, they are way too quick because of the fear adrenaline. If relaxation breathing etc. aren't cutting it, you might try practicing at a deliberately too-slow tempo, then performing at that too-slow tempo, only to discover that you have speeded up to normal.

You know, or not.

Cathy

[z111.livejournal.com]

I'm adding you to my flist on the recommendation of emmacrew because I was looking for financial/economic analysis and information.

Feel free to friend me back or don't. I mostly write about life in general, though I have filters for occultism and one for horses.

[solarbird]

I've noticed that! Very surprising. Worth it tho'.

[solarbird]

I'm mostly working on just getting tempo control. Practicing too slowly creates its own problems.

I suppose having essentially all the uptempo songs at these things has some amusement value. Or distinguishing value. Or something.

[brightbeak.livejournal.com]

Sounds to me like you had a VERY decent evening, and that much fun was had by all! :) :) I *so* wish I were local to hear these happenings LIVE! :P

[maellenkleth]

Congratulations on the pitch control; and utterly second what Kathryn says about air and water.

[pstratt.livejournal.com]

When I'm second banana on stage I'm a lot calmer;

Nifty! You're getting over your pre-minstrel syndrome.

[solarbird]

Don't make me harm you.

[solarbird]

Expensive enough that this isn't a hint. I have a flattop mandolin which means slightly more expensive than Kathryn thinks. There are some other kinds but I don't think that's all the components you need. I've written my mandolin's maker to see what they suggest tho'.

[solarbird]

...and the builder says he uses the McIntyre Acoustic Feather (which is model nr. MF-200) which requires professional installation and I'm pretty sure also involves drilling a hole. Also requires external preamp, since it's not powered, but that seems pretty common.