DAY 30!!!! Did it and off 7 running----

THE FINAL DAY!!!!

Daily Practice: 
Minutes: 45
Songs Worked on: 14G, Creep, I believe in you and me, Run to you

http://www.upload-mp3.com/files/294837_zo14s/The%20Girl%20in%2014G.mp3
 btw --- if you click this - it will download as opposed to stream :)  yay!!!!

Coaching Session:
Instructor: Ashleigh Ball

Today I got a special treat, and that was to have a coaching session with my long-time singing idol--- Ashleigh Ball of the band 'Hey Ocean'!!! She has such a phenomenal voice and control and was able to give some awesome tips and feed back. Thanks Ashleigh!!!!

check out: www.heyocean.com

they have a new album coming out this year!!!

Recording:
So- I decided instead of a new song, that I'd go with a song I sang before and really wanted to record - the Girl in 14G




Good Deed #2: (finished last week- blogged about b4)
Raised Money for lime disease awareness & research

Good Deed #3:
I registered to be a bone marrow donor thru DKMS here in NYC.

http://www.dkmsamericas.org/



Good Deed #4:
I also registered to be a stem cell donor. whoa - this is intense - I hope one day, I am able to help someone in need.  It's through the National Chord Blood Program. think u'd register too? Save a life?

http://www.nationalcordbloodprogram.org/


Good Deed #5:
I donated money to my friend in Japan's charity to help the survivors of the recent tsunami & earthquakes.


It is the Sendai Tsunami Project -
They are collecting funds to buy and bring supplies to the affected areas. Any supply donations are appreciated too!

if you'd like to donate & for more info:
https://www.facebook.com/sendai.project



THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! To all the support from my friends and family ove the month and also to BROADWAY DANCE CENTER & KURT ROBINSON for facilitating the challenge & giving me some motivation & inspiration!!!!

Its an amazing month and I have come so far. So thank you all so much.

May 29 - Sarah & Tom's wedding day!!!!

Daily Practice:
Mins: 35
Songs worked on: Creep, I believe in you & me & 14G

Worked on the songs for my recording - I am still going a bit between songs - I'll prolly try to put them all down as much as possible and then see how they turn out - so possibly, I'll have 3 over 1! woot!!!


Amazingly Beautiful wedding today!!! Congratulations Tom & Sarah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Day 28: recording prep

Daily Practice:
Mins: 90
Songs worked on: Creep & I believe in you and me

Worked more on the songs for recording - working on interpretation, some harmonies and runs, ornamentation I'd like to do, structure how to build the song etc. Smoothing out and working towards the best vocal production possible. yay!!! I'm stoked for recording day!!! Wahoo!

Healthy Meal #26:
Today, friends--- I COOKED!!! Yay!!! It's been WAY too long - I love cooking, and I swear- it makes my body so happy when I'm cooking most of my food---

Here's what it started as: 

Wild Salmon, a yam, red onion, a mushroom, some fresh ginger & garlic, fresh rosemary I picked on my walk today, some kalamata olives AND yes, a pear (I was feeling creative)

And here's how it ended up! yeah, that's right - it was delicious!!!

Here's some nice picks from my day -
meditation & relaxation, some writing too- on the beach ~ Vancouver is so beautiful

some pretty flowers----

view almost at my friends house!!

Day 27

Daily practice:
Minutes: 60
Songs worked on: creep & I believe in u & me

Warmed up and worked these songs for recording.

DAY 26 - more of the same

Daily Practice:
Minutes: 30
Songs worked on: Just did a REALLY good, thorough warm up today

I wanted to wake up my sinuses if you will, need them for some good resonators and they've been pretty stuffed so I'm working to get the sound up in there if you will. Working on placement or 'ah' vowel sounds in my passagio, breathing, support and glottal stops are all a big focus right now.

***

I also got some Physical Therapy today at my old office here in Van, it was great - started working from the back and I gotta say I didn't hobble out - it was a nice smooth stride. Thanks Paul!!!  L5 needs some releasing as do a coupla muscle spasms in my back (ugh)- anyone know a good manual therapist in NYC that does osteopathic work???

That's it for today - napped, drove a car, bought some tp, working on songs and organizing a recording session in the next couple dayz, visiting wonderful friends and more deep breathing of fresh Vancouver air. And trying to instigate a bonfire.... :) until tomorrow - signing out - me :)

Day 25 - helloooo Vancouver!

Arrived in Vancouver today - nice fresh air - I can smell the trees and grass in the air - weird haha - you forget about that in the concrete jungle sometimes lol

...would you believe it's raining here? ;) Welcome back to VanCity

Daily Practice: 

Minutes: 30

Songs Worked on: Breathe & In Short

Warmed up & continued work refining these songs. same as before- breath, glottals, vowels, consonants... 

Fitness Class! 

Type of Class: Broadway Jazz

Instructor: Leigh Torlage 

I wanted to keep up the dancing, plus say hi to and dance with Leigh, who has been a sorta long-time mentor - I've loved her style and started taking class with her in like 2002 or something and also performed with her in the Candy Girl Show - loved that class & I'm feeling strong - I love it -I love dancing and it feels so good to be doing it so much!!! 

HOORAY!!!

Tomorrow - I light do some hot yoga, but also, I should giv my body a day off at some point --- it's been a while---- 

Signing off from the land of rain, ocean, forrest & some beach :) 

MAY 24TH!!! WOW! MARATHON DAY!

Ok- today was my last day in NY for the challenge as I'm heading to Vancouver for my wonderful friend's wedding at 6am!!! So - that meant I had to make sure everything that needed to be done in NY got done by today - and I did it!!! phewph!!!

It was insane, and AMAZING! I can't even believe I managed to pull it off! and THAT I attribute to PLANNING, my new focus. Couldn't've done it with out lots of careful consideration for sure. OVERVIEW:
5 dance Classes
Singing Audition
Saw Memphis the Musical!!!

Daily Practice:
Minutes: 35
Songs Worked on: Audition Songs; Isn't It Better, Lover Man, No Bout Adoubt It

Warmed up - worked on cuts for the songs and prepping for the audition today!!! Yay!!!
BAH!! Audition day!!!

Live Performance:
Show/Venue: Memphis (Broadway Musical) @ the Schubert Theater
Performer: Cast & Montego Glover
What I enjoyed the most:

Tonight- for my live performance, I went to see Memphis the Musical on Broadway - I'd heard the singers and music was amazing - plus it won the Tony last year for best new musical- so I have to see it :) AND happily, my friend Stacey Hughes, a super talented dancer and awesome gal came with me!!! YAY!!
I was really impressed with the singing and then on top of everything, the way all these phenomenal singers danced & moved too!!! Wow! What a super demanding show!! I was really moved in the first act too! I looked back after the curtains fell closing act I & Stacey was feeling it too - I was not expecting to be so struck by the material. Great Show!

Me 'n Stacey after seeing Memphis on Broadway! 

Audition: 

Show: White Christmas
Company: Papermill Playhouse NJ

Casting: Jay Binder Casting

Song: Isn't It Better & No Bout Adoubt It

So - I ran to the audition 3 times total today lol- in the morning to sign up, in a 30min break between dance classes stuffing food in my mouth to check how things were going to make sure I played my cards right to be seen (can be very difficult in this city sometimes - I tried to go to In the Heights on Friday - but so many other hundreds of people showed up - I couldn't be seen -whoa!!!) 

Back to today's audition: 

So after my 4th dance class, I quickly cleaned up, threw on a dress & warmed up again as I walked there - haha, it's starting to feel pretty normal for me to be doing lip trills in the streets these days hahaha

SO THE AUDITION:  

I felt like the audition went really well, I felt solid, vocally I felt strong & I felt pretty dropped in to the need and acting in the song too - which is nice in an audition. So - I'm starting to feel more/pretty comfortable! No shakes, no cracks, no crazy nerves. I think I could smooth out my entrance & exit - I can get pretty awkward & geeky I think--- hmmm... possibly Ron Stetson's Audition Class is in order - onwards & upwards!! 

Me in audition gear standing in front of the break down & casting sheet posted in the audition room. 

Screen Shot of the Breakdown on Backstage.com

Fitness #16:

Type of Class: Jazz Funk

Instructor: Chio

Fitness #17:

Type of Class: Pilates

Instructor: Allyson Gracie

Yeah- still liking Pilates, I think it's just the type of strengthening work I need to be doing. Great! 

(do you like the 'Beatles' look my hair appears to be going for in this pic? lol)

Fitness #18: 

Type of Class: Ballet

Instructor: Jack Hertzog

Fitness #19: 

Type of Class: Theater

Instructor: Crystal Chapman

Wah! we learnt the Fosse Choreo to Bye Bye Blackbird!!! SO awesome - I love Fosse! so amazing and I just love to dance it - so alive and full, dramatic, sexy - RAWR!!!! yes-yes-yes

& Crystal is SO Sweet - I really like her! Thank you for the class & now I can add a bit more Fosse Choreo to my storage of them - it's getting pretty vast  - and I want MORE! I was to BE in a Fosse show!!!! 

Fitness MAGIC NUMBER 20!!!

Type of Class: Tap

Instructor: Ray Hesselink

Really enjoyed his class - different style and a lil slower than Laine's class, which could be a great compliment to each other. Good to do one, I can slowly work technique and one I gotta bust out all the moves and where all that foundational work you've been doing kicks in and gets mopre chances to solidify and stick. 

Thanks for the class Ray!! 

SO- that's IT! Fitness/Dance Class requirement is fuifilled today too!!! 20 dance/fitness classes in the last 24 days. 

 Looking back - one thing that is really positive from doing these 20 classes, is it forced me to try out and go to some classes that I might not have, we are creatures of habit ya know, but this got me out trying other teachers classes and I definitely found some I really jive with and will input into my regular dance schedule after this challenge is over. For Sure :) 

...I have no idea what I ate today lol- but it included 3 shots of Espresso lol

SO NOW. What's Left?

1 Coaching Session
Recording
Daily Practice
3 good deeds

THAT'S IT!!! YAY!!!!