All State Auditions

My day....

My day started out pretty good considering the fact that I didn't sleep well last night. I once in awhile wake up with my heart pounding for no reason. I wonder what that's all about. Maybe I had a bad dream.... Anyways.... The morning was normal, I had the kindergartners and they are always so sweet and quiet. One child told me a story of how there were rats living in his house and it some how got in the refrigerator and was eating the celery. Oh MY! He was so confused on how it would get in the refrigerator so several other boys were telling him how a rat could get into the fridge. It was so cute! If I could I would love to listen to their stories all day! :)
 The rest of my morning, I was productive with some vowel research. I decided I am going to do my research project with my high school choir (not sure if it will be mixed or womens). It will be on vowels and how we can sing the perfect sounding vowel. So this morning I got out my college IPA for Singers book and wrote in all the IPA for one of our Christmas songs. I think it will be useful for the singers to see a vowel in a different way, and to see it separated from the rest of the word. Comment below if you have any experience in vowels and using their full potential in a choir.
My biggest excitement for the day was high school vocal. We had all state auditions! This is always a nervous event for my singers and one for me as well. I do not do the judging. I have a judge come in from out of town. The way we do it is I have the singers sing as a quartet instead of as individuals. It is a faster way because we can still here an individual and we can also hear if they can hold their own part while someone else is singing a different part. We end up switching the quartet around several times until the judge is close to making a final call. Today was close! We have so many GREAT singers! I was so proud of everyone that auditioned! I know it takes guts and hard work to do what they did! This year we had 3 people audition on every part except the bass part where we had 2. It was very close all around. The judge listens for pitch and tone and sometimes we have to go with work ethic for a tie breaker.  I always feel bad for the people who do not make it! Its tough but sometime that is life. And thankfully most of my singers are younger so they have more years to try it again! I hope they do! I am always glad to see the audition part is over. Now we can work on all the All State Pieces and get down to the nitty gritty! YAY!
Tonight I head on over to Platte to audition their All State singers. I always have fun with this. Platte has amazing talent and I love to hear them sing! ANNNNNDDDDD I will eat at SUBWAY!!! :) Its the little things in life that make me excited!