Losses, Gains, and Nerves (A Short Anecdote)

          Hey blog readers! So, if you don't know, I am a totally passionate singer and plan to pursue that professionally for the rest of my life. Also, if you don't know me personally, than I need to explain to you the anxiety I face when a performance draws near.

          Since I was like nine or ten, like fourth or fifth grade, I have been interested in music and when I moved from Virginia to Florida, for middle school, where I attended Marco Island Charter Middle School (one of my favorite schools), I chose to take choir where I seemingly excelled. That was when the passion and drive for vocal success gave me a purpose. I lived in Florida for roughly 4 years and in that time I managed to face my stage fright more than once, starring in Hairspray (as Link), High School Musical (as Troy), and various Christmas plays (as Santa Claus). Then when I went to high school I took choir as one of my electives, expecting nothing but great success, but no. Marco Island Academy actually managed to help me and screw me over more times than I can count. Yes, they are an amazing school and yes, I got like 100+ volunteer hours for my college resume, but all I wanted was an amazing arts program and what I got was not that in the slightest. We managed to sing every holy Christian song ever written and the funny thing is out teacher was JEWISH! I couldn't even fathom this and not only that but she could hardly play the piano (which is necessary to be a teacher of the vocal arts), had trouble with getting anyone's attention and keeping it, and was 100% socially awkward. Don't get me wrong, she had a passion for music (which is ALWAYS admirable) but teaching was not the job for her, at least not at Marco Island Academy. So, I moved 3,000 miles away to get a proper arts education and live with my dad, stepmom, and two beautiful twin sisters.

          Though, let's get back on track. For the first four or five months of me living here I made zero (and I do mean ZERO, nada, nothing, zilch) progress in my vocal capability, although I was taking a drama class with one of the most amazing, creative, interesting, and CRAZY directors that you will ever meet. I'm just going to tell you straight up, that this class is the bane of my existence. This women with push you harder and expect more from you then you even thought a person could no idea! Though she explained, that she did like it and that even people with talent need a little push and as a performer you are always going to be a student. (Disclaimer: For those of you out there that thing "Oh, I don't need a coach I'm good enough. False. You're actually probably not, but nobody wants to hurt your feelings. You are probably just arrogant and so being loud gets you by, but don't be mistaken, that is NOT how the world works.) handle, but she gets results and we do make progress. I thought to myself after seeing these results myself "Maybe I need to try to connect with her more and get her to allocate special time for me", well that failed and I'm pretty sure she actually loathes my being now more than I hated her class, but it allowed me great opportunities because this lady has contacts from everywhere including Broadway, LA, and everywhere in between. So I pulled her aside and asked her if I could sing for her, knowing that she was also trained as a music theatre director. She said yes and so I sang her the Star Spangled Banner, actually the only song I could remember the words too because she made me so nervous. That's when something I never expected happened... she loved it! I mean listen, I choked and screwed up and started over, I think, three or four times, but she heard something and so she gave me a contact to a vocal coach. At first I thought she was insulting me, because basically when she loves something it's like staring at a painting with five million emotions, you don't know where to look, her arms were up, her mouth was straight, her eyes were focused, and it was like reading a foreign language, I had

          Now realizing how much I've written, I now see that most of you probably aren't going to read this entire thing so I'll get to the point quicker. I have this thing called IE's (Individual Events) and all the performing arts kids at Timberline say they hate it or it's stupid, though I don't care. I signed up and on this night of Friday, January 13th, I have picked my song with the help of my vocal coach. I will be singing Take a Chance on Me from the Broadway musical Little Woman. Though, to be completely honest I am very nervous and yet super excited!

          The next performance I have is for my drama class. I am in a one act called Aftermath and it's a story about bullying and the harm it can cause with comedic undertones to make it a light play. It's basically my entire 2nd quarter grade and I'm probably going to screw up because, like I said before, the teacher is crazy (but still good) and wants everything to be perfect. I've almost got my part down but the thing that irks me about the play is the fact that there is always that one kid that gets to be the

Jonah Hill

exception to the rules because they are basically just to stupid and unreliable, and guess what we have one and for their monologue they get to just MAKE IT UP! I sit there and learn word for word every line I have and I'm still criticized by the teacher to do better and yet this person can just get up and do improvisation and that's just considered acceptable, I think not! If a student in drama cannot perform adequately for a grade and lacks any passion to do so then he/she needs to drop the class or fail because it is unacceptable and unfair to all the others doing their best and trying as hard as they can to please.

          Another performance I have is at my dad's promotion for the Army. I'm not dreading this but I am singing the Star Spangled Banner at the ceremony and it is nerve-racking to think that my family and several of my father's friends are going to be in attendance and everyone will have served or currently be serving so, knows by heart, every word of the song. Yes, you may be sitting there thinking "This idiot doesn't know the word to our National Anthem?", well as a matter of fact I do and for your information singing it in the shower and singing it in front of hundreds of people, including your own family, for your father's promotion are very different. Although, after working through it today with my coach I am fairly certain that I can do it and do it well

          Thanks for reading this whole thing if you did and don't forget to vote in the left column of my blog! Till next time, LOVE YOU GUYS!