humansofnewyork:

There are several people who dress in full costume and pose in Central Park, allowing tourists to photograph them for a small donation. I normally pass, but this young woman was so enchanting that I could not resist.

humansofnewyork:

“I’m from Belgium. I could try to sing at the opera houses in Europe. They are bigger, there are more of them, and they are less competitive. But honestly, I’m the kind of girl that likes a good battle.”

humansofnewyork:

All those guitar lessons finally paying off.

Hey people! I made a kickin’ remix of a Fatboy Slim song— don’t hate— on Ableton Live! So much fun! :D Enjoy!

I have the thought that I need to do more; reach past arm’s-length beyond the desire to merely pay the rent and into the faction of artists who really make a difference on a global level.  I think my strength lies in my ability to communicate musically.  I have visions of sitting on the ground in a remote village singing songs with bright-eyed kids; connecting.  That’s what we’re supposed to do while we’re here, right? 

I sing because it’s what I was created to do and because it makes me unique while binding me to something greater.  I want to master this craft within a community dedicated to excellence and sharing.  As I slowly discover the landscape of my own artistry, I realize the importance of constant observation in the grand process.  We grow when shepherded by critical, yet caring eyes and ears; we can only benefit from observing first-hand the living masters of our respective disciplines, being guided by their skill, and inspired by their journeys. 

I can’t imagine that my words about song and singing, or the human experience for that matter,  are much different than anyone else’s.  We who sing, create and change the world -  driven by the often-inexplicable need to carry on - do so with or without recognition or validation, or even audience.  We do it because it is inside us and must be let out.

Sometimes I don’t feel this way.  At all.  Part of me still knows everything I think is probably impossible.  I grew up in a place where I was never told to grow, or imagine something greater than myself.  So there are days like today when I wonder why I even bother.  

Hey dudes and dudettes! Here is a little ditty I made on REASON!

(Reason is a music software program developed by Swedish software developers Propellerhead Software. It emulates a rack of hardware synthesizers, samplers, signal processors, sequencers, and mixers- all of which can be freely interconnected in an arbitrary manner. Reason can be used either as a complete virtual music studio or as a collection of virtual instruments to be used with other sequencing software in a fashion that mimics “live” performance.) 

For centuries, music, and specifically song, has served as a vessel into which we can put our collective sorrows, joys, and longings. With that in mind, how you can deny the importance of song in our quotidian experience?  Maybe it’s cliché and too sweet, and I can’t guarantee that there’d be world peace if we all joined hands and raised our voices in song, but why not cling to the notion that we are all called, in our own ways, to put beauty into the world and do our part to make things just a little bit better.  The underlying source of my inspiration and why I believe song has a place in all communities is a matter of connection – being drawn to deep and meaningful moments of simple humanity in a world that is increasingly smaller, yet increasingly disconnected.  As an artist I am inspired by discipline and the human body as a medium for expression – by the technique necessary to make it seem effortless: a dancer’s elegance, line and extension; a painter’s hand manipulating brush strokes, light and hue; a composer’s ear for sonic textures, timbres and words.  I am inspired by words, which are a great gift to singers.  That we get to play with how words feel, sound, and are carried out of us from an unseen mechanism is a wonder.  I am drawn to a line of poetry or a sweep of melody that hitches onto my innermost self and connects me to the past.  When we share our experience with an audience, we connect with the present and the future – a tiny pebble to ripple the waters of creativity and connectivity. 

I was watching the news today and I briefly heard some high school students in an inner city school saying “Education gets you everywhere,” and “…it gets you to college, it gets you a degree…”

And so, I realized higher education is not for everyone– whether it be due to fiscal concern, lack of confidence, or even the inability to attend school based on mental capacity.  Some people simply aren’t wired for school- I am not saying that this must mean they are not “smart” individuals.  Rather, they have no desire or feel no need to continue- they feel satisfied in a particular vocation that does not require higher learning.  And before we judge too quickly–many would be surprised that there are a lot of people who are not college graduates, perhaps receiving their G.E.D. later in life, that read a great deal, and care more about news, economy, and politics, more so than some who have graduated from higher institutions.  That is something to think about.

 I wonder if I’m an education addict?  I wonder if I’m addicted to being a student. I wonder if I continue school and not begin work, that that will make me lazy as a worker, unmotivated, perhaps.

In regard to continuing school and not taking a semester off, or even to start working in a music store of some sort– I combat that with “why not?”

So, readers, do what you want in life — if you feel it is good for you and your well-being, go for it.  And remember, it was Virgil who once said “They can because they think they can.”

Musically and gratefully yours,

Chelsea

Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?  Do I have any hope, that even going to one of the best schools for education can help get me my dream career?

 For now, I work in a glorified soap shop, where *I know* people don’t treat me with even the least bit of respect I deserve.  Gossip flies around, suddenly I’m “immature,” a “gossip queen,” and people are warned to not trust me— Last time I checked, what’s considered “immaturity” in retail, is also known by the term of “professionalism” in the education world.  I have a degree, I’m a certified music teacher, and I am far beyond gossip and eavesdropping on others— especially in a soap shop.  Don’t flatter yourselves. I go to graduate school full time, sing in a professional choir and make money in your store. 

Anyway. Back to the real point of this post.

Everyday the headlines are so upsetting; budgets, executives of this, superintendents of that, principals of whatever school.

Everyday is a struggle in the world of education; this fact is saddening, because what do we do it for?  If schools took tenure away, how many teachers would still be standing?  You know, hollywood isn’t treated with this much security– if they want you out, you’re out.   But that doesn’t mean you’re untalented, or didn’t once hold a dream for yourself.

I despise how life has become this dog-eat-dog world of jobs and job security– and the times we become obsessed are the times of a recession.

It’s very difficult to not let it reach you, sometimes I feel utter hopelessness– and the only thing that keeps me going are my professors that can dream bigger for myself than I ever could.

I wasn’t  taught to reach for the stars, I was taught to reach for what’s around the block– I still can’t see it, but, hey- at least I know I could possibly get there.

I should probably sleep, but my mind is swimming with thoughts and ideas and gossip from the day.

Goodnight.  

“A Professor of Marketing at the University of Cincinnati, Dr. Kellaris believes that certain musical pieces excite the brain in an abnormal way. The brain in its frenzy to understand that piece will play it over and over, like a bad rash. Songs likely to get stuck in the space between your ears, according to Kellaris, tend to be repetitive, mind numbingly simple and feature sudden changes in rhyme, which sounds like the description for every pop song ever made.”

I like to put on Z-100 these days simply to stay “current.”  Although I often dislike what I hear, and typically don’t put it on for my own pleasure; I like to know where music is heading these days. I know many musicians who disagree- they don’t want to pollute their brains with this non-sense.

I, too, would rather not in a sense, because these songs get disgustingly trapped in my head– more so than Mozart’s Symphony no. 40 in g minor should normally belong.  Perhaps even a nice 40s Cole Porter tune!  These are places where my heart lies, and yet, why does my brain choose to reside on the melody of “E.T,” by Katy Perry?

Are the producers of today really brilliant in that they create this simple melody and keep it on loop with some vile lyrics attached– and that’s your hit?

Typically, in “pop” music– since the beginning of what popular music was–which wasn’t always the image or sound bite of Britney Spears singing some ridiculous nasal disaster.  ”Popular” is where pop came from– meaning what everyone is listening to.  So, why do we have “pop” music of the 40s sounding like Ella Fitzgerald’s “So in Love.” (At the head of this post)

And we have “pop” music of today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzU9OrZlKb8

What makes this song inhabit our brains more?

Do I have to feel guilty that this song will be stuck in my head more than Ella Fitzgerald’s version of “So in Love?”

Perhaps our brains are becoming wired for immediacy of a “dance” beat.

And why does the chorus have to be put on loop?  Are we really developing such a short attention span that we can only keep the radio on, or only be dancing to the fast beat and no other kind? I mentioned this point to my group of eighth graders in General Music.  I was presenting a lesson on rap, and postulated why we had, in this style of music, still a definitive form- such as A B A’.  (Which, is verse-chorus-verse: i.e. “So in Love.”)

Even when Snoop was making his music, there was musicality involved:  They even included a suspension chord!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtUVQei3nX4&feature=artist

And have you noticed the emergence of auto-tune in mostly everyone’s music.  Meaning, you don’t have to have the talent to sing anymore, just show a marketable body and face and you can become a pop star. Also, the constant mixing in today’s music becomes catchy, yet annoying.  For instance, in “E.T” by Katy Perry– the mixed part of “Kiss me, Ki-ki-kiss me, take me- tay-tay-take me.”  It sounds like she’s stuttering. How come something that irritates can also be something of interest?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuYDSa4BRaw

So, when auto-tune is used it is incredibly definitive of an “ear-worm” as well.  We have a typical harmonic progression, captivating to the ear, with an expected melodic line.  A random group of people could come up with a melody like the one presented above.

Much more to come, but that’s some food for thought!

Musically and ear-wormingly yours 

Chelsea

In the beginning, I wanted to sing.  I also wanted to write, act, teach, become a therapist, and so on.  Pretty much everything, except juggling, was carte blanche in my mind.  In the beginning, I did not want to be a music teacher– I decided I wanted to be a Vocal Performance major.  That decision was quickly changed by my mother, whom I must thank now.  However, at 17, how do you honestly pick out the correct path for yourself–for the rest of your life?  I consider myself to be very lucky in that I did choose something I loved–and still do!  Now don’t get a perfect music educator image in your mind just yet; I did want to quit for about a year, and change to Performance.  That whole year in my mind I was going to switch. And I did!  I went right down to my advisor and changed my major at the end of freshman year.  Two weeks later I was back in her office, changing my major right back to Music Education.  Thus, there is something to be said–when I love something, nothing can keep me away from it for long.

Anyway, a bit more about me:

• Engaged to a wonderful and talented Jazz saxophonist.
• Graduate with my B.M. in Music Education.
• Studying at Teachers College, Columbia University for my M.A. in Music Education

So, from that alone, it is readily apparent that I am passionate about Music Education.  Some may think it is silly that I’m getting my degree in the same thing twice.  While I can see their argument- I hope they, too, can see mine.

Music Education- to me, is something quite necessary for human function.  Perhaps music in our schools doesn’t appeal to every student, but I have a Professor that always says the following: “Students don’t just make their decision about signing up for chorus because they like to sing, they sign up because they want that music teacher!”  And I want to be that teacher.

I want to be that teacher for many, many students- for many, many years.

Well, that’s everything! Have a great night!

-Chelsea