Reflection by Melanie

One thing that I will take away from this class is thinking not as an instrumentalist but as a vocalist. A lot of what I have had to in a sense unlearn are habits I have picked up from playing piano. Learning how to project my voice and be confident when I sing. I've never had confidence to sing in front of people so that is one thing that I have overcome through the class. Another thing that I will take away from this course is the benefits of picking out appropriate warm ups and why some are more beneficial than others. I've learned that you do not just pick out random warm ups. You have to look at the music you are working on with your choir and see what will help them grow as singers.

Reflection 200-500 words Tom Bassett

The largest concept I will take away from this course is thinking vocally.  This includes standing correctly, having my mouth in a singing position as I lead, singing preps for the class to come in instead of speaking them, and using hand gestures that promote healthy singing; essentially everything I do should be done in a way that will suggest good vocal technique.  Other important items in the class were learning technical terms and physical characteristics about that voice that I don't believe I would have learned otherwise.  The greatest lesson that I learned as an instrumentalist in the vocal world is to speak the music.  I used to do this when I was young until a conductor at a summer music camp told me that I need to start using my singing voice.  Ever since then I've had no idea what to do in order to sing and this class has helped me largely in having a foundation to fall on.  I believe having the book and cards are a valuable resource in my music career even if I never end up directing a choir.  The course has helped me in the area of composition in that I now begin to understand what makes a piece a high school piece, or a professional piece and can adjust my writing accordingly.  It has also helped in the technical aspect of writing; what makes sense vocally and what does not.    I believe this class was a valuable and necessary experience towards a music education major. 

Life Warm-Up Exercise No. 3

Its a late night at the end of the semester and one of your friends decides that it would be a good idea to sneak out to the pond and go for a swim across and back while security is locking down the dorms...

You jump up from your seat, throw some swimming trunks on, and run out of the dorm with your buddies. You reach the edge of the pond and remember that the last time you went swimming you pulled a muscle in your abdomen...you twist, turn, and stretch your whole upper body and then proceed to bend down and do some calf stretches.

After a long, open sigh you jump in the cold water! You swim across, racing your friends one end to the other. Once your back to your starting spots, you jump out of the pond, run back to your dorm, shut the door and are home safe! Ken Morris will never know...

Life Warm-Up Exercise No. 2

You are the worship leader for a small church in the middle of nowhere, PA. Its time to tune your guitar before the morning set. You bend down to grab your guitar, put the strap around your body, and give the guitar one large and round strum for a sound check.

You pluck each string with your right hand and tune each peg with your left hand stretched out to the top of the guitar. Your bass player who is standing next to you isn't paying attention so you play a prank on him by stretching out your right hand and quickly un-tuning his bass guitar.

After the tuning and sound check is complete you invite the congregation to "stand and sing praises to God!" As you are worshipping you look out and see some parishioners with their hands stretched high in the air, some are jumping for joy, and others have their eyes closed and their heads leaned far back in awe of the God to whom they sing.

Life Relaxation #3

Going on an Easter Egg Hunt

It's Easter Sunday and your parents have prepared an Easter egg hunt for you and your siblings. You are very excited! You are given the ok to start search all around the house and yard. You start of by searching on top of the kitchen counter and all the book cases. You stretch up to feel around for an egg. You find one and say "I found one!" You then move on into the yard and you bend down to look under the bushes where you find 3 Easter eggs. You squeal with delight! Now you have found all the Easter eggs. Your parents tell you "Great job!"

Maeghin's 3rd Relaxation Exercise

It's time to get some new spring apparel so you decide to stroll (walk) through the outside shopping mall and peruse the shops. You are enjoying the warm sunshine and the light breeze and exclaim "Oh what a beautiful day."  Suddenly the wind whisks away the wad of cash in your hand. "Oh no!" You sweep your arms to catch all of the stray bills (sweeping high and low).  The last dollar flies into the nearby shoe store. You start to peruse the aisles of shoes, when suddenly you see them.... the ones.  You've been searching for these shoes for nearly six months! But they're on the topmost level.  You're so excited you forget to call a clerk and reach for them yourself (reach as high as you can).  You then put them on anxiously (reach down to your feet) and take a look in the mirror.  A perfect fit! And they're on sale! You sigh with joy as you are united with the suede Doc shoes you've searched for for so long (aaaaahhhhhh). :)

Tom Relaxation #3 for 4/7/14

Clarinet Warm-Up


You have an imaginary clarinet you have to warm-up.  First you rub your hands together (with your imaginary clarinet between them) to physically warm-up the wood.  You put the reed in your mouth to soak, but someone asks you a question.  With your tongue totally relaxed and unable to move (since the reed is on it) you respond in a funny voice, "Hold on a minute."  You put your clarinet together and inhale a deep breath and begin your long tone warm-ups.  Inhale for 3 counts and exhale for 12.  Now its time for fast chromatic warm-ups at a forte.  Inhale for 3 counts and exhale on "ssssss" at a forte for 8 counts while your fingers move rapidly.  Since this clarinet is imaginary you warmed up enough.  You say, "ahhhh" before you begin playing your favorite piece.