While driving down the highway listening to the radio, doesn't everyone sound incredible? The pitch is perfect, every high note is perfectly struck with the right volume, and the harmonies are second to none. They must just be fantastic singers and that's why they are paid the big bucks right? Wrong!
I few weeks ago I was re-watching an awards show on TV and I was absolutely appalled by some of the singing I heard from professional singers! These guys get paid millions of dollars for singer, and when they go live they sound like a dying cow! OK maybe not that bad, but it was awful. The verdict is that auto-tune is taking over our society. The image is more important than the voice, and in order to keep that image up singers feel they have to be perfect all of the time. What frustrates me the most with pop and hip-hop singers now a days is that most of them focus on the performance part more than the singing aspect? Some fans may totally disagree with me but that's OK. The whole point of these award shows are to recognize the great singers of the year and applaud them by giving them awards, and listening to them on live TV in front of millions of viewers. The issue with award shows are that the singers getting awards are either awful live, or lip sing the entire song. What fun is that? Either you are faking the whole show so that your "image" stays intact, or you are performing an award winning song in an awful way. Both are just despicable.
As an audience member sitting at home I expect the best. Sure I'm greedy and not realistic, but if these performers make as much as they do they better not fake their talents to the world. What does that teach us as kids? "If you fake your way through life you will be successful." No! That's an awful message for us as young people. I shouldn't categorize all singers as using auto-tune as a crutch because most are excellent singers and don't use that weapon of technology, but for the ones that do, it ruins the whole show.
The lesson I take away from watching people use this unforgivable tool is to never be ashamed of who you actually are. Don't cover up mistakes in yourself, embrace them. If you can't hit a note don't sing it! Don't act like you can and then when the public wants to hear it then it's not possible to produce. Every person reading this is special and unique in their own way, and why hide that from people just to be like everyone else? Believe in who you are and what you do and success will come into your life.
Sunday, February 28, 2016
The Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry. One of the most prestigious concert halls in all of America. Home to country music and located in the great city of Nashville, Tennessee.
The Opry house has a special place in my heart because our show choir has performed show choir nationals in that very venue every other year for the last ten years. The building has a special aroma around it for me. This year we are going down to Nashville once again, and the excitement I have is contagious. For one Nashville, Tennessee is my favorite city in the United States, and also I get to perform in a place that icons have performed in. Just thinking about it gives me chills. I have experienced this place two years ago when my sister was in Happiness Inc., and the feeling that has been with me since that day is a sense of pride. Watching them perform on that stage made me want to someday be them, and now that dream will come true in a little over a month.
What is cool about the Opry you might ask? What separates it what other venues? First off it's made of wood giving it an old, majestic sort of feel. The word "Grand" also lives up to its meaning. Walking into the hall it feels like the walls just burst open, the room is so spacious and the amount of seating in what looks like a smaller building is incredible. The acoustics are so live that every seat in the house feels like a front row spot. The Grand Ole Opry made me speechless, and walking into it two years later, I expect nothing different. A trademark that makes the Opry unique is that on the actual stage the very front and center is always lit. Even when the house closes for the night it always remains lit. I think that's so cool and being able to walk through and dance in that space is going to be unforgettable. Country music legends have sat there in that very spotlight and have performed some of the greatest songs ever created am I'm about to share that space. I may sound weird by saying that because it's just a spot on the floor right? To me it's more than that though. The history I've had and the history of country music has made that Opry house into a temple. It's almost like the opera house in Phantom of the Opera. During that movie when the people walk in the main song blares, the cobwebs are all cleaned, and the black and white movie turns into color. The opera house because elegant and lively. That feeling happens to me when I walk into the Grand Ole Opry.
In a months' time I will be fulfilling one of the biggest dreams of mine in Nashville, Tennessee with a group that means more to me than just a name on a shirt. Being up in the bright lights of center stage will give me a burst of energy like nothing before. The Grand Ole Opry is the heart of country music, and is about to be home to a life changing experience.
The Opry house has a special place in my heart because our show choir has performed show choir nationals in that very venue every other year for the last ten years. The building has a special aroma around it for me. This year we are going down to Nashville once again, and the excitement I have is contagious. For one Nashville, Tennessee is my favorite city in the United States, and also I get to perform in a place that icons have performed in. Just thinking about it gives me chills. I have experienced this place two years ago when my sister was in Happiness Inc., and the feeling that has been with me since that day is a sense of pride. Watching them perform on that stage made me want to someday be them, and now that dream will come true in a little over a month.
What is cool about the Opry you might ask? What separates it what other venues? First off it's made of wood giving it an old, majestic sort of feel. The word "Grand" also lives up to its meaning. Walking into the hall it feels like the walls just burst open, the room is so spacious and the amount of seating in what looks like a smaller building is incredible. The acoustics are so live that every seat in the house feels like a front row spot. The Grand Ole Opry made me speechless, and walking into it two years later, I expect nothing different. A trademark that makes the Opry unique is that on the actual stage the very front and center is always lit. Even when the house closes for the night it always remains lit. I think that's so cool and being able to walk through and dance in that space is going to be unforgettable. Country music legends have sat there in that very spotlight and have performed some of the greatest songs ever created am I'm about to share that space. I may sound weird by saying that because it's just a spot on the floor right? To me it's more than that though. The history I've had and the history of country music has made that Opry house into a temple. It's almost like the opera house in Phantom of the Opera. During that movie when the people walk in the main song blares, the cobwebs are all cleaned, and the black and white movie turns into color. The opera house because elegant and lively. That feeling happens to me when I walk into the Grand Ole Opry.
In a months' time I will be fulfilling one of the biggest dreams of mine in Nashville, Tennessee with a group that means more to me than just a name on a shirt. Being up in the bright lights of center stage will give me a burst of energy like nothing before. The Grand Ole Opry is the heart of country music, and is about to be home to a life changing experience.
Solos
The spotlight is on you, all eyes are watching you, and the microphone is in hand. In a matter of seconds you are about to sing all by yourself and the crowd will be sitting on the edge of their seats. You hold yourself high and proud, and show the audience what you are made of.
Solos are a fantastic thing in the performing arts. It allows kids to feel confident about themselves and showcase their talents as a singer or dancer. I experienced this back in eighth grade and I can honestly say that it changed me as a person. I performed Greased Lightning back in the eighth grade and I was privileged enough to sing the entire song. My first time performing it in a competition was absolutely nerve racking. I can still feel the anxiety of that one performance every time I had a solo later in my choir career. That song however, made me feel confident. I felt strong. Not to sound cocky, but when a whole gymnasium stands up and cheers after you perform, it's unforgettable. I still dream about that spotlight in the eighth grade even now as a junior in high school. That feeling never will go away and nor should it. It's special.
When watching kids do solos, whether they are really good or still improving their talents, I give them one hundred percent of my attention, and wish them the absolute best. It's not easy going up in front of thousands of people and singing a song all by yourself. That's why when I look at idols such as; Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, or Rascals Flatts, I think about how much confidence they have inside of themselves in order to do what they do. It's inspiring. They not only teach an audience how to portray a message and share their talent, but they show that anyone can do anything, and even if that little thing in life is a thirty second solo, it will one of the best thirty seconds of your life.
The point of the matter is that confidence and hope can spark from the smallest things. That solo changed how I was as a person going into high school because I wasn't scared of anything anymore. Whether people thought I was good really didn't matter to me. I was having the time of my life and I felt like a star for two minutes of my life. I believe every kid should have that moment that they feel like they rule the world because at the end of the day, that's what we all want isn't it? Not everyone is going to be able to perform on the Grammy's in front of millions of people, so when you are able to do something special in front of an audience, own it. Feel confident and believe in yourself. After all it's not about the destination it's about the journey, and why not stop and enjoy the view from the top when you are given the opportunity.
Solos are a fantastic thing in the performing arts. It allows kids to feel confident about themselves and showcase their talents as a singer or dancer. I experienced this back in eighth grade and I can honestly say that it changed me as a person. I performed Greased Lightning back in the eighth grade and I was privileged enough to sing the entire song. My first time performing it in a competition was absolutely nerve racking. I can still feel the anxiety of that one performance every time I had a solo later in my choir career. That song however, made me feel confident. I felt strong. Not to sound cocky, but when a whole gymnasium stands up and cheers after you perform, it's unforgettable. I still dream about that spotlight in the eighth grade even now as a junior in high school. That feeling never will go away and nor should it. It's special.
When watching kids do solos, whether they are really good or still improving their talents, I give them one hundred percent of my attention, and wish them the absolute best. It's not easy going up in front of thousands of people and singing a song all by yourself. That's why when I look at idols such as; Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, or Rascals Flatts, I think about how much confidence they have inside of themselves in order to do what they do. It's inspiring. They not only teach an audience how to portray a message and share their talent, but they show that anyone can do anything, and even if that little thing in life is a thirty second solo, it will one of the best thirty seconds of your life.
The point of the matter is that confidence and hope can spark from the smallest things. That solo changed how I was as a person going into high school because I wasn't scared of anything anymore. Whether people thought I was good really didn't matter to me. I was having the time of my life and I felt like a star for two minutes of my life. I believe every kid should have that moment that they feel like they rule the world because at the end of the day, that's what we all want isn't it? Not everyone is going to be able to perform on the Grammy's in front of millions of people, so when you are able to do something special in front of an audience, own it. Feel confident and believe in yourself. After all it's not about the destination it's about the journey, and why not stop and enjoy the view from the top when you are given the opportunity.
Pentatonix
Arguably the best a cappella group in the United States and never fails to impress an audience. The way their cords fit together and the amount of genres they are able to perform to perfection is unbelievable! What is it about this group that changes the entirety of music?
I remember the first time I watched Pentatonix it was on a show called "The Sing Off."? This show allowed and found vocal a cappella groups to perform in front of a live audience and get voted on week to week by America to see if they were well perceived. From the first song these guys sang I knew that they were something special. So did America. They won that show by a landslide and moved on to bigger and bigger things in the lime light.
What does Pentatonix do well? Well as a high school musician they are flawless! Their tone is impeccable and the amount of different emotions they can portray is truly inspiring. For a singer like me, being a part of a group such as Pentatonix would be a dream come true. The singer that really makes me feel the music however is the bass. Sure the beat boxer and tenor who can sing soprano notes are very impressive but the bass is like the binding of a book. Without him I feel like the whole group wouldn't sound the same. That is semi true with every group though. Without the bass part the choir tends to have difficulties because the basses have that bottom line that keep all of the other lines in order. Also the basses give the music a fuller sound, which results in more audience enjoyment, at least to the trained ears.
The greatest performance I've seen Pentatonix do was the Star Wars medley that they performed on the Grammy stage. It started off with a low beat box and then the five of them all broke out into parts and it brought back memories of the movie just how they sang the song. The performance ended with the symphony joining them in performing theme songs from the saga, and the amount of blend and their pitches were perfect. Absolutely astonishing.
What separates this group from most other a cappella groups is the fact that they are so versatile. One day their top hit could be "Can't Hold Us" and then it could be "Mary Did You Know" or "Hallelujah" the next. They are never ending! That's the power behind music though. If music stops then the whole world would stop. New songs and new genres are always able to take flight, and this particular group is making that statement a reality. From sea to shining sea, this group has taken the heart and soul of America.
I remember the first time I watched Pentatonix it was on a show called "The Sing Off."? This show allowed and found vocal a cappella groups to perform in front of a live audience and get voted on week to week by America to see if they were well perceived. From the first song these guys sang I knew that they were something special. So did America. They won that show by a landslide and moved on to bigger and bigger things in the lime light.
What does Pentatonix do well? Well as a high school musician they are flawless! Their tone is impeccable and the amount of different emotions they can portray is truly inspiring. For a singer like me, being a part of a group such as Pentatonix would be a dream come true. The singer that really makes me feel the music however is the bass. Sure the beat boxer and tenor who can sing soprano notes are very impressive but the bass is like the binding of a book. Without him I feel like the whole group wouldn't sound the same. That is semi true with every group though. Without the bass part the choir tends to have difficulties because the basses have that bottom line that keep all of the other lines in order. Also the basses give the music a fuller sound, which results in more audience enjoyment, at least to the trained ears.
The greatest performance I've seen Pentatonix do was the Star Wars medley that they performed on the Grammy stage. It started off with a low beat box and then the five of them all broke out into parts and it brought back memories of the movie just how they sang the song. The performance ended with the symphony joining them in performing theme songs from the saga, and the amount of blend and their pitches were perfect. Absolutely astonishing.
What separates this group from most other a cappella groups is the fact that they are so versatile. One day their top hit could be "Can't Hold Us" and then it could be "Mary Did You Know" or "Hallelujah" the next. They are never ending! That's the power behind music though. If music stops then the whole world would stop. New songs and new genres are always able to take flight, and this particular group is making that statement a reality. From sea to shining sea, this group has taken the heart and soul of America.
Thursday, February 11, 2016
The Music Man
The man that makes the magic happen. Who doesn't get nearly as much credit as he deserves for helping teach kids not only about music, but on how to become great people. This man has been an idol since I was a little boy and has always been a great friend to my family. He is the man behind many award winning show choirs and is my most respected teacher of all time. That man is Mr. Storm Ziegler.
Kennedy High School music has always had a special place in my heart and it's because this guy knows how to make music. His technique is impeccable and the emotion behind what he does is always there. The year I truly got him though was two years ago when my sister was a senior in his show choir. They performed a military show that in all honesty didn't place as well as what I would have thought. To this day that show is my favorite happiness show of all time. However that year I never once saw any sign of defeat. And in tribute to that my sister wrote a letter that won him director of the year at Show Choir Nationals in Nashville, Tennessee. That was the first time I ever saw him cry and I don't think I will ever forget it.
The greatest thing about Mr. Ziegler is that I'm able to joke around with him all the time. Most teachers aren't like that, and I can honestly say he is more of a friend to me than a teacher. I'm able to talk about anything with him and the advice I get back is second to none. The thing I can always count on however is that he will be honest with me. To many people "fluff" stuff up and make excuses, but not Zig. I love that and it makes me trust in him more because whether the answer is what you want or not, it will be the truth.
I have two proudest moments so far with Mr. Ziegler and I'm assuming the best has yet to come. First was the last performance from happiness last year and I was a tech. He circled everyone up and looked at every single person in the group. He stare can make people cry, but in a good way. We I stared at Zig I could see the passion in his eyes. The only way I could describe it is as if a father is looking at his kid. When he looked at me, I knew the start of something special happened. The second time was minutes before my group was about to audition for all-state. We sang through all of our cuts and by the last one, he teared up. Now before that time I saw him tear up one time and it was two years prior. The thing he said to us will stick with me forever. He said, "You guys have made the last four months' worth it...you guys aren't singing music, you are making music, and that's all I could ever ask for." We all four made all-state.
The music man is a jack of all trades but most importantly he is my friend. He is the reason music is so influential in my life and he makes singing everyday enjoyable. I can't wait to go to Nashville again this year with him and relive what happened two years ago. At the end of the day though he has taught me one important lesson. He has taught not to coast through life accomplishing things and looking back and wondering where it all went, but to enjoy the journey and bask in it as long as you can because great things happen in all of those little moments. Don't just sing music, make music.
Kennedy High School music has always had a special place in my heart and it's because this guy knows how to make music. His technique is impeccable and the emotion behind what he does is always there. The year I truly got him though was two years ago when my sister was a senior in his show choir. They performed a military show that in all honesty didn't place as well as what I would have thought. To this day that show is my favorite happiness show of all time. However that year I never once saw any sign of defeat. And in tribute to that my sister wrote a letter that won him director of the year at Show Choir Nationals in Nashville, Tennessee. That was the first time I ever saw him cry and I don't think I will ever forget it.
The greatest thing about Mr. Ziegler is that I'm able to joke around with him all the time. Most teachers aren't like that, and I can honestly say he is more of a friend to me than a teacher. I'm able to talk about anything with him and the advice I get back is second to none. The thing I can always count on however is that he will be honest with me. To many people "fluff" stuff up and make excuses, but not Zig. I love that and it makes me trust in him more because whether the answer is what you want or not, it will be the truth.
I have two proudest moments so far with Mr. Ziegler and I'm assuming the best has yet to come. First was the last performance from happiness last year and I was a tech. He circled everyone up and looked at every single person in the group. He stare can make people cry, but in a good way. We I stared at Zig I could see the passion in his eyes. The only way I could describe it is as if a father is looking at his kid. When he looked at me, I knew the start of something special happened. The second time was minutes before my group was about to audition for all-state. We sang through all of our cuts and by the last one, he teared up. Now before that time I saw him tear up one time and it was two years prior. The thing he said to us will stick with me forever. He said, "You guys have made the last four months' worth it...you guys aren't singing music, you are making music, and that's all I could ever ask for." We all four made all-state.
The music man is a jack of all trades but most importantly he is my friend. He is the reason music is so influential in my life and he makes singing everyday enjoyable. I can't wait to go to Nashville again this year with him and relive what happened two years ago. At the end of the day though he has taught me one important lesson. He has taught not to coast through life accomplishing things and looking back and wondering where it all went, but to enjoy the journey and bask in it as long as you can because great things happen in all of those little moments. Don't just sing music, make music.
The Culture Behind Music
Music is an interesting form of communication that's main purpose is to tell a story or a message. Just like in regular speech, we talk in order to get a point across or tell someone an important piece of knowledge. Music is the same way. Composers and singers don't just write a song because they think it sounds good, or should I say successful composers and singers don't do that. Musicians that go far in life and are known for great music, but incorporate an even greater message. Some pieces of music are composed for religious reasons, some for social stances, and others for love or the lack of it. Regardless of the meaning of the song the lyrics and beat have a reason, a purpose. That what makes music intriguing because each song is different and creates a different feel or vibe to the listener.
When we think of classic music what's the first thought that goes to mind? For me it's that the music is either going to be about religion or be very proper. Now what does proper music mean? When sung proper music normally consists of long, tall vowels and between five to seven parts. These songs are performed with very accurate precision and have many intertwined parts. This is because when written only the wealthy and elite could listen or perform this music so it had to fit the lifestyles of those people. Also the sound is normally very dark which shows professionalism, and the consonants are sung with such purpose that every word can be heard from an audience member.
Unlike classical music is jazz. First established around the 1930's by African Americans in the years directly after the Great Depression. The genre started in the southern United States and was sung for people to understand the struggle and purpose of blacks in society. The style of jazz is different compared to all other pieces of music because singers are allowed to improvise and scat their own syllables to create a different feel in a song. Many jazz songs have a particular part, normally bases, who don't even have words so that the syllables they sing instead can sound like an instrument. The cool thing about jazz to me is that no matter what you can always improvise and will never be wrong. When the African Americans made it in the 30's I can guarantee you they didn't practice time and time again trying to get something to sound perfect before chanting it down Bourbon Street. They just sang whatever came to their heart and that's why the meaning of jazz is so amusing. This style of music gave more respect to a whole class of people and is still performed daily everywhere in the world. Crazy how music works huh?
A final genre of music is rock and roll. This style really didn't get started until the 1980's but was created for entertainment of the public, and to create a style so people could dance to it. Groups like Journey, Foreigner, Styx, and Aerosmith went absolutely viral during this era. Obviously these groups did this profession for the fame and the money, but their music is still popular now, in 2016. At every show choir competition I've ever been to "Don't Stop Believin'" or "Dream on" has come on the radio at some point. This music creates an energy in a room and lets people express themselves in different was ever known before. And from this genre of music things such as rap, country, and pop have all evolved. That's today's radio, the compilation of the last 50 years of music.
Over time things change, even music. The purpose behind these genres are fascinating and the thought put into each piece of music is mind boggling. If there is one thing I know for sure it's that music will never grow old because it is always adapting and recycling. From this day forward the culture of music can only grow because it will never be able to deteriorate.
When we think of classic music what's the first thought that goes to mind? For me it's that the music is either going to be about religion or be very proper. Now what does proper music mean? When sung proper music normally consists of long, tall vowels and between five to seven parts. These songs are performed with very accurate precision and have many intertwined parts. This is because when written only the wealthy and elite could listen or perform this music so it had to fit the lifestyles of those people. Also the sound is normally very dark which shows professionalism, and the consonants are sung with such purpose that every word can be heard from an audience member.
Unlike classical music is jazz. First established around the 1930's by African Americans in the years directly after the Great Depression. The genre started in the southern United States and was sung for people to understand the struggle and purpose of blacks in society. The style of jazz is different compared to all other pieces of music because singers are allowed to improvise and scat their own syllables to create a different feel in a song. Many jazz songs have a particular part, normally bases, who don't even have words so that the syllables they sing instead can sound like an instrument. The cool thing about jazz to me is that no matter what you can always improvise and will never be wrong. When the African Americans made it in the 30's I can guarantee you they didn't practice time and time again trying to get something to sound perfect before chanting it down Bourbon Street. They just sang whatever came to their heart and that's why the meaning of jazz is so amusing. This style of music gave more respect to a whole class of people and is still performed daily everywhere in the world. Crazy how music works huh?
A final genre of music is rock and roll. This style really didn't get started until the 1980's but was created for entertainment of the public, and to create a style so people could dance to it. Groups like Journey, Foreigner, Styx, and Aerosmith went absolutely viral during this era. Obviously these groups did this profession for the fame and the money, but their music is still popular now, in 2016. At every show choir competition I've ever been to "Don't Stop Believin'" or "Dream on" has come on the radio at some point. This music creates an energy in a room and lets people express themselves in different was ever known before. And from this genre of music things such as rap, country, and pop have all evolved. That's today's radio, the compilation of the last 50 years of music.
Over time things change, even music. The purpose behind these genres are fascinating and the thought put into each piece of music is mind boggling. If there is one thing I know for sure it's that music will never grow old because it is always adapting and recycling. From this day forward the culture of music can only grow because it will never be able to deteriorate.
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