Crap - I did it. #PanicSettingIn

Hey all,

Well.. I FINALLY did it.  I was given a deadline that I had to publish something to the web.  I did what I could and made due with my current set-up (which I can't quite figure out because I'm a ding-dong, so for all you audio engineers that wouldn't mind helping - I'm in desperate need!)

And yes, I'm 1 billion% terrified that I've actually put myself out there. But I guess it's something I need to start getting used to. For cereal, yo.

I downloaded the instrumental track to Clarity and tried singing alongside it.  The track isn't 100% correct, it's missing a measure at the end of the 2nd verse - but whatever, I made due and skipped over it.

I tried messing around with Ableton Live Lite and it was a nightmare - can't figure it out. Might be switching to Pro Tools 10.

Anyway, here's my first try and trying to sing alongside the track as practice for this week:

Can see the video here:  http://youtu.be/d26PjppbzIY

Going to try and embed the video here:




I have another session with my voice coach tomorrow to really practice for my performance on Wednesday.  From there, one more lesson on Sunday morning before my 4 song set performance at the bar on Monday, July 1st - EEEEEEEK! #I'mgonnadie.


This time - I'll FOR SURE be taking a drink BEFORE to calm the nerves.  We'll see if I can make my way through them this time.  Here's hoping!

Anyway, I hope you all like the video. Again, it's just practice, I can do a lot better but I figured I was WAY overdue for posting me ACTUALLY singing.


See ya!

Missy

Memorial Day Shopping..

Hey goofballs!

So I did a little damage yesterday.. 

I walked into Guitar Center and bought.. Everything..I think lol. Hahahahah no just kidding, although it did feel like it when I got to my mountain of goodies at the register.  I got the start of what I needed for practicing music at home. What does that mean, you ask?

- a performance microphone

- microphone cables

- microphone boom stand

- piano / keyboard (score!)

- keyboard stand

- chair for playing keyboard

- audio interface (comes with audio software for editing recorded music)

- keyboard/piano pedal

- keyboard cables

- 2 mega awesome speakers (aka monitors)

- 2 books of fun sheet music 

What's left?

I need : 

- a DESK

- a computer that allows all of the above to be RUN

Whew! 2 major questions:

1) HOW on earth do I put this all together and make it work?

2!) WHERE on earth will this fit in my San Francisco apartment??!

A really good first step but I still have a ways to go.. What I was finding is I would make great progress in my lesson but I'd be a sitting duck once I got home. I'd still practice but just to my lessons recorded and just practice my upcoming performance songs acapella. 

I realized I was handicapped. I can't perform live anywhere without being able to play an instrument (seeing as how I obviously have no band) and if I want to take my music to the next level.. Like write my own music or manipulate and change an existing released song - or perform ANY song live without help.. I need to play an instrument! 

Soooooo with that being said, I played the piano a bajillion years ago and have since stopped (and focused on dance instead).. So my job now is to rack my brain and RE-learn how to play the piano. Something that can ONLY help me..

Keep your fingers crossed for me, hopefully it comes back to me SOMEWHAT easily :)

Skip to TODAYYYY, my boo (Alex) and I met my mom in the oh so lovely Vacaville (~1 hour away from San Francisco) so we could 1) hang out and 2) so she could give me my dog back (my fluffy muffin Alfie!!!)

She watches him whenever Alex and I travel.. Which works cuz she begs for him normally :)

Hanging with my mom is my favorite, a little dose of home every time.. We shopped a bit, helped her pick a dress for an upcoming cousin's wedding and then had a little dinner and drinks (or maybe it was just me who drank.. Oh well :-p)

Pics below!

Now to focus on my performance songs this week (Eeeeeeeeeeeeek!!!!!!):

- Clarity

- I Knew You Were Trouble

- Impossible

- I Told You So

My cousin Kelley (who's in an amazing band called 'Breaking Midway') called me today to tell me there's a song that could fit me really well, and that she thinks I could really rock.. Jessie J's 'Who You Are'... Do y'all know it?! I looked it up today and it's an AMAAAAAZING song! A big song, but amazing. Will be trying to check that one out as well.

Okay Luvs.. This Wednesday is the group class performance day!!! I'll be singing Clarity. A week from tonight is my debut at Martuni's! 

Holy s**t!!!

For me this week : Practice practice practice!

Until later, gnite! :)

- Missy

Weekly Singing Bootcamp

You read it right. On Wednesdays my baller voice coach has a group voice class. What does that mean you say??

I bet you'd THINK it'd be like a group choir class. Everyone trying to learn how to harmony and yadda yadda yadda..

NOOOOOOOPE!

It's a small group class, so a lot of eyes are on you. It's:

Leg lifts

Squats

Planks

Crunches

Push Ups

Wall Sits

.. ALLLLLLLLLL ENTIRELY WHILE SINGING. Yeah, that's right. And if you're like me and don't gym everrrrrr (yes for me gym is a verb) - then doing these kind  of activities (or working out at all) is already incredibly difficult. Add belting it like Mariah into that ad you've got a trembling me trying to keep up.

#noteasy

Anyway, it's every Wednesday night. 

Hopefully I'll be some sort of amazing singer one day who makes singing INCREDIBLE look super easy. 

Until later..

Missy

And p.s. yes that is the dance studio that we do these crazy workouts in..

2 Hours of Singing Later

Whew. Exhausted. But the good kind of exhausted. The kind of exhausted you feel when you just did good.

I just spent 2 hours singing the same 8 songs over and over again out loud. I think I'm leaning towards adding in Shontelle - Impossible, but a more slowed down acoustic version. I'm also really liking Carrie Underwood's I Told You So. My boyfriend Alex hadn't heard it and he really liked it after i sang it (which hardly happens, believe me). 

I'm hacking and coughing up a storm but this was a night well spent. 

Night darlings,

Missy