Since we last met...

I don't know where to start. Since I last typed here, I have taught and sung at Ashokan, been let go from the Cathedral choir because there will now be only male altos (a.k.a. countertenors), taught and sung at Yale, seen Julie and Julia, read Tim Keller's The Prodigal God, lost my voice, prayed a lot, regained my voice, sung with Janis and Lauren in JaLaLa's debut performance, seen and loved It Might Get Loud, looked at my finances, did some math, and started looking for a cheaper apartment. Then I found an apartment, packed, moved, and unpacked. Then I had to recover from from all that, and though I am not quite rested, I am becoming cheery again. I was in Ithaca last weekend, singing for the elementary students at the Enfield School. They are lucky, and blessed, to have a wonderful, inspiring music teacher, Karla Notarianni. I wish every child in this country had a teacher like Karla, and to know why, read her blog.

On Saturday, October 24th, I will be teaching a workshop with Wendy Lane Bailey and Tex Arnold in Edison, NJ, and am singing in Annapolis with guitarist Tom Mitchell in early November. More details to come... but in the meantime, here are some steps toward a more musical life...

Comments

[Linnie in Dayton]

Only male altos??? In my high school choir, by the time I was a junior we had so few male voices that all of them HAD to sing bass, and I was enlisted to sing tenor!

Does the Cathedral Choir have so many men that they must exclude female altos in order to accommodate them all? Seems a shame to me (speaking as a WWDV - Woman with Deep Voice!)

[Philip Wissbeck]

So you moved. What a pain it is. What section to and from?
Where are the good places to live in NY, the bad?
.

It's good to hear from you. I was wondering about how you were doing.

[Paul Overton]

Laurel - Thanks for the link in your blogroll! XOXO

Call me if you want to talk about internet stuff and branding, etc. Karla said you were talking about it during your recent visit. I'm here if you want to chat.

[Mark DiGiacomo]

I saw Julie and Julia right after your Borders performance -- it certainly couldn't top that, but I did find much of the film quite inspiring.

[Laurel]

Thanks, Phil. I am doing very well now that I am beginning to recover from moving. Still have a big pile of boxes, but I can see over the top of it now.
Good places and bad places to live in New York are not so clear as they were in the 70s. The increasing gentrification of the city has tamed some of the rougher areas, though the human cost of that taming, as people get priced out of their homes and neighborhoods, is great. I wish I had an answer to that issue.

[Laurel]

I think it is a return to tradition, though returning to a tradition that began when women were not allowed to sing in church is a troublesome return indeed, especially in 21st century in the Episcopal Church, in New York City. It also has to do with what that particular director wants to hear when he pushes the choral "On" button. Straight tone, no roundness.

It's difficult to parse.

I should add that there are still female volunteers in the alto section when the choir needs to be extra-big. But no paid alto gals anymore.

[Laurel]

Thank you, Paul. Thank you thank you!!

[Reilly Tillman]

Laurel - I last checked your blog probably just days before this update and thought, "She has been very quiet lately!" Now I see why!! My goodness - you've experienced a lot of life change recently! I'm VERY surprised and sorry to hear about the Cathedral situation and hope you're enjoying your new home!