Tag Archives: music

Musical Madness Monday

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I’m not a huge fan of Monday’s, but then again, who is?  I think things will change, but right now it’s just a reminder that it’s the start of another week where I won’t do anything.  I rely heavily on music to get me out of the house in mornings.  And I usually watch some YouTube videos once I get to work.  Since I’m not really in the mood to delve into certain issues right now, I just thought I’d share some of my favorite videos.  I have eclectic taste.  I know.

Because I love Pentatonix.

 

One of my favorites, with a beautiful tribute at the end.

 

Musical Madlibs–taking famous songs from musicals and changing up the lyrics.

 

Ivy League A Cappella

 

And because I love a good flash mob.

 

Watching Bob Ross made me want to paint.

 

The closing number from this year’s Tony Awards.

The Sound of Music

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All of my friends know that my ultimate favourite movie is The Sound of Music.  I don’t know what it is, but I absolutely LOVE it!  I love Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer.  I think I first saw the movie when I was 3 or 4 years old.  I watched the whole thing, but my dad had to hold me when the Nazi came into the picture.  I was frightened they wouldn’t make it out safely.  I was so relieved when they made it out.

I’ve seen the movie so many times, I can recite it verbatim.  You can give me a line at any part of the movie, and I can keep going from there.  I’m not even kidding.  It’s my go to movie.  Whenever I need a pick me up, or relax, or when I’m mass baking, I’ll put it on.  The story is simple and sweet.

I would sing the songs around the house.  I think at some point, I begged my parents for the sheet music.  I was able to play some of the simpler versions on the piano as I was growing up.  (I think I still might be able to.)  I wanted to be part of a singing family like that.  And it made me very disappointed to find out my mother is tone deaf.  But that didn’t stop me.  Even into my teens, I would normally use a song for any musical theatre auditions.

I think my first talent crush was on Julie Andrews.  I thought she was (and still is!) the bees knees!  She has such talent and poise.  I was so excited to see my first Broadway musical almost 20 years ago, but the icing on the cake was that it was Victor/Victoria with Julie Andrews.  My classmates knew how much I loved her and allowed me to have the ticket closest to the stage.  It was heavenly.

Remembering how much I love The Sound of Music, reminds me that I haven’t seen it in a couple of months.  I think it’s time to pop it in the DVD player and relax.  🙂

Dance With Me

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I love dancing! I really do. It’s the one thing in this world that can make me forget about everything and just live in the moment.

My dad took me to my first ballet class when I was 4. I loved it. It was fun for me. Even when I was learning new steps, it was never “work” for me. I enjoyed every minute of every class. I had fun performing, too, but there was a difference. In class, there was always forgiveness for not knowing a step or not being on time with the music. On stage, there was no room for that. There could only be perfection. And since the rest of my childhood was structured the same way, I loved the freedom that going to ballet class gave me.

I really don’t think I came into my own as a dancer until college. I learned about and fell in love with modern dance (what is now being touted as “contemporary”). Modern still needed the discipline of ballet, but there was more forgiveness in the performance structure. And that’s where I found my niche. I loved everything about it! I got to jump and travel and roll around, but also be soft and quiet. It’s almost as if there are no rules. It all had the potential to be beautiful.

I threw myself wholeheartedly into all classes and pieces I was in. I had no fear. I trusted the choreographers and teachers to guide me through. And they did. Even to this day, some *cough*15*cough* years later, I can still remember their words and smile. It meant a lot to me that one of the professors who was choreographing thought I was good enough to be in the front and to learn a phrase from a video in 5 minutes. A grad student saying the other grad students were negotiating to have me in their pieces. And most importantly, a different grad student teaching me how to accept a compliment. (I still may not believe it, but I can at least say, “Thank you.”)

I slowly made the transition from dancer to choreographer. One of my mentors took a chance on my dance for a concert. And that unleashed a beast.

I love creating work to share with others. I love having a picture in my head of how the movement should look and the deeper meaning behind the piece. I love how the combination of the lights, costume, movement, and music can come together to create an experience that can never be recreated. I also love how I can really put myself out there and be vulnerable, but the audience doesn’t know that and can take what they want from it.

Dance is my passion. Whether it be taking a class or choreographing a piece (performing is a nice bonus), that’s where I feel most comfortable in my own skin.

I need to go back to it.

Music Love

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A few weeks ago, I share a video from Pentatonix.  I think they’re an amazing a cappella group.  I think it’s fairly safe to say that I’m obsessed with them. (Major talent crush.)  I listened to several of their songs on the way to work and at work.  It helps start my day.  So when they partnered with Lindsey Stirling, I thought it was pretty awesome.

 

 

Since it’s a cover, I immediately had to go and look up the original artist.  I listen to both the original and cover to figure out which one I like better.  Since Pentatonix came into my life, their covers have usually won.  But then I saw this:

 

 

And really?  The video is awesome.  Anyone who can make stuffed animals/puppets fight gets a big thumbs up from me.  So I had to listen to as many songs from Imagine Dragons as I possibly could.  Yeah.  Loved them all too.

So it’s a tie.  It really is.  I love both arrangements and both videos.  I could never pick between two loves.

TGIF!

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I am so incredibly happy it’s Friday.  This week has gone by so slowly and I’m happy it’s over and I can move on.  Or I can forget it ever happened.  Either way is fine by me.  I just hope that today flies by.  I can’t handle not having that much to do at work.  Did the invoices.  Making the deposit after lunch.  Hopefully, taking more orders, but I highly doubt it will be enough to keep me busy.  And I’ve read the majority of the articles on Foreignpolicy.com.  I feel too rude to break out the magazine I have in my purse.  Besides, that’s subway reading.

I’m not going to lie.  Last night was difficult.  Therapy was difficult.  Getting to therapy was difficult.  My anxiety is at the highest level it’s been in almost 5 years.  It’s spilling over into the other parts of my life.  I had to take a cab home last night because I was just too anxious.  I felt a tad discombobulated leaving therapy.  I talked a lot.  Probably too much.  My therapist brought up a subject that I’ve never spoken to anyone about.  I practically freaked out about talking about talking about it.  I don’t know how I’m ever going to actually talk about it.  I know logically the only way I’m going to be able to really, truly leave this in my past is to talk about it.  I think I’m afraid to give the memories a life through words.  Then it’s out there.  It really happened.  And it happened to me.  I won’t be able to deny or “forget.”  I feel like I’m standing on a precipice and I don’t want talking about it to make me lose my footing.  I need all the stability I can get.

Music has always been a huge part of keeping me sane.  I listen to certain tracks to calm me down, to get me energized, to take me away.  I can escape the hustle and bustle of New York City streets with my headphones on and walk to the beat.  I can lose myself completely in the score.  Part of is it the numbers.  I can count out the phrases as if I were dancing/choreographing, or conducting.  Or I can pick apart the harmonies.  Both are just as fun.  Quite honestly, nothing brings a smile more to my face when I hear a different part of the harmony I hadn’t heard before or if I finally notice it’s not in “normal” 4/4 or 3/4 time.  I listen to a wide variety of music.  And each song holds a special place in my heart, my body, and my soul.  Music makes me smile.

Happy Friday!  Enjoy!