Just Keep Singing....Just Keep Singing.....

I am getting really nervous. All-State auditions are this coming weekend which means that my life will be consumed for the next week. Instead of having regular choir, we will be practicing with only All-State quartets. Instead of having a life after school, I will be practicing...a lot. Also, instead of being completely stress free, I will be a wreck. A big, fat, nasty wreck that no one can avoid.

We have been practicing this music now for around two months and I realize that I should probably feel ready, but I simply don't. Our group hasn't practiced enough...I haven't practiced enough! The other day we had a workshop with a woman who does vocal lessons for the all-state music. Out of my four-person quartet, I was the one who received the most criticism. "Slim, try not to sing so gruff." "Slim, try to stop singing around the pitch." "Slim, eye contact!" It was embarrassing! Hear I have been for the last two months singing this music and this lady notices all of the things I am doing wrong in one hour. It made me feel so bad about myself. Still, I can make the best of this. She may think I am a terrible singer, but if I practice as much as possible and focus on the things she pointed out, I can (maybe) make All-State!

Singing is hard. I feel like a lot of people do not realize that. There are so many different things that you need to think about and implement into your performance. Are you using the right vowel shape? Is your tone too bright? Are you standing up straight? If I wanted to stand up straight, I would have joined Manners Club (that would be kind of hilarious if that actually existed). I honestly did not know that by signing up to do All-State, I would bringing this much stress upon myself. Sure, I have learned a lot, but what if, in the end, I do not make it? Was all of my hard work for nothing? Honestly, I don't really care that much. If I do not make it, I do not make it. There's always next year.  But if I do not make it next year, you better move aside because this train wreck is taking everyone down with it....just kidding.