Performance outside of Percussion

Since my last post, I've done alot of vocal performance, and also preparing for my first night of acting (which is actually TONIGHT!!). So, I've been digging into the transitions that accompany
"switching gears" from life outside of the performance to the show itself.

It's odd.

During the summers, this doesn't necessarily work. Being in the Phantom Regiment envelops your entire life, so preparation for the show is smooth and almost care-free because ALL day is rehearsal of the finished product. Of course, the performance is special and unique, but it's not a difficult change of pace or mindset when you only have to put on a uniform.

However, I've been continuing the process of becoming a character (actually, 2 different characters for 2 different short, one-act student directed shows), and its been vastly different. Before a scheduled rehearsal, I've been at classes, taking a nap, doing homework, or whatever, and then switching gears led me to learn a few things that are consistent and over-arching in any performance. I think that the most important and effective aspect is to just DO it! I really have had troubles aggressively jumping into whatever character. The thing is, NO ONE, the director, or fellow actors care about what I've just been doing until this point. They all showed up, just like me, to make something happen right away. There shouldn't have to be a warm-up. Mentally, yes, preparation is necessary. But, they want to tweak and alter the show, not individuals. This comes together with a paradoxical idea that, the show isn't about a single person, but that there is a perfect groove for each character that influences everything else about the performance, especially the plot and character development. So, energy, awareness, and passion all synergize together for something to happen outside of one person, and it then is cast out onto everyone else. Another eye-opening epiphany is that the audience is paying attention. I never realized just how loud laughter is, and what I had been doing when I go to see a show. On the other side of the fence, then, it's very important to use it, and more often then not, manipulate it into something else.

Whatever. Tonight, I don't have to think about any of this. The only things that I have to think about are Guy and Axel Magee, and that's only at their respective times. Easy! I'm excited to see where this leads me in the future. Seriously, this whole process has been awesome!

Here goes nothin'! And everything, really.

Some thought(s)

I like the whole acting thing. My only prior experience included auditioning for The Sound of Music during my sophomore year of high school and...not getting a part at all. But now, I'm trying something new, and loving it. Here at CSP, I auditioned for the student-directed one act plays, and I'm cast in two of them. Tonight, I was able to see a full production of one of the plays, Some Girl(s). It's quite the learning tool to be in the audience's perspective, especially because I have only been thinking about what I was doing as a character. Also, relaxing and watching the whole thing take place was great--it put the individual scene that I'm working on into quite the perspective, especially because I could understand the timeline and context of the play. I saw things that I liked and didn't like, things that I thought were especially impactful or maybe even overdone. I also enjoyed having background knowledge about what I was about to go see. Learning encompasses a whole range of the experience--before, during, and after--and it all is combined into a memory that can be used for something outside of that single experience.

It didn't help that it was "pay what you can night" at the theatre, either! Pretty sweet evening, if you ask me.

Music-ordering mayhem

Over Thanksgiving break, next Wednesday, I'm supposed to be videoed playing 25 snare solos that my lesson teacher from back home assigns to every lesson student. I've played them all before, but somehow I have lost the book. So, I venture out to a music store in the area to buy it, because they don't have it in stock. Not a big deal!

Well, I placed the order 2 weeks ago...I was concerned that the order wasn't placed because I hadn't received a confirmation call, so I went on Thursday to the store. They said that they JUST put the order in yesterday, and the company that they get music from doesn't subscribe to the publisher of the book I need. I was a little flustered by this, so I asked them to cancel my order and I would just order the book off of the Internet.

So, back at campus I load up my computer and I navigate to a premier percussion provider, and I order the book. Easy! Simple! Why didn't I do that in the first place, I ask myself.

Everything was fine and dandy, and I believed the matter to be done with. I'm comfortable with the music anyway, but I just need to make sure I can play everything well enough for people to be educated from. Well, I learn from the shipping company via email notification that the book won't arrive to my mailing address at school until...wednesday. Just my luck! I'm going to be home by then, hopefully recording said solos! I called my lesson teacher and he said that I would be fine. I'm going to be home by Tuesday night, so I'll just have to stay up a little later preparing.

I guess it's not that big of a deal, but I just want to make sure that the solos go well. The recording is being made for other players to understand what they're playing, so the notes have to be basically perfect. I like that sort of pressure in performance or anything. It's not about me as a snare drummer, but through me others can learn that a) the solos are acheivable an b) that they are enjoyable to play. That's why I'm frustrated with not having the book right now. But, when that camera begins recording next week, I'm going to be ready to play! That's all that matters.

Only 2 days of classes this week, and then a well-deserved break. It's going to rock!

first post!

I guess we'll just see how this goes.
It will follow my life as a student, musician, and anything else that seems to come up.
Reflections, reactions, reasoning, and probably randomness will flourish here...I think.
Enjoy!