i LOVE to SCAT

it's the most sensational feeling ever.....
Last week during vocal jazz workshop(a subject I'm taking), the class was divided into 5 groups.... 1st being bass(foundation of the group) and the top(mine) being the short melodic or with more notes anyways. We had to create a canon rhythmic/melodic line of 8 bars. It was rather interesting, fun and scary all at the same time.
After figuring out our parts, we were told to each improvise(scat) from the group. I was 1 of the 3 asian ppl in the class who wasn't a jazz student(classical students) so we(me and my fren) were scared to death. I've never done scat before(not in front of ppl anyways). And many ppl have said asian/chinese ppl can't do jazz coz they can't feel the rhythm.
I was the 6th person to sing/scat in front of the class. I couldn't chicken out. After all, this IS a music school and it IS part of learning isn't it? After all, I DID wanna do or ALWAYS wanted to do jazz vocal. So I tried it out. I closed my eyes to hear tunes in my head and started scatting. Then I opened my eyes to increase confidence. I was leaning on one foot to keep time tapping on one foot and prevent visibility of my feet trembling out of fright. Teacher asked me to balance on both feet(hard to tap feet balancing on both feet but I learned a technique which changed that) and I was the only person she asked to project my voice out although half the class were as soft as me or softer. I tried again closing my eyes and opening it again. Then the teacher told me to try using a few long notes here and there. It was really fun and scary all the same being in a classroom full of experts and jazz people. I didn't wanna stop scatting yet I wanted to.
Soon it was the next person's turn. I was impressed with myself and enjoyed every bit.
The other asians either wasn't quite able to scat with rhythms or I didn't get to hear them. We all tried our best so I'll give them thumbs up for trying after all it IS hard for classical students and it IS a new thing for us to improvise on the spot.
After that day, the more I hope and wish to perform mostly on jazz and wish to one day ACTUALLY scat in a performance. I don't have a band in Sydney so I'm stuck here. I have sorta a band or know a band in Kuching. Not sure about Kuala Lumpur. I'm sooo looking forward in actually finally going to the states and performing there jazzing and scatting my voice away. I love jazz so much I wish I could throw all my classical pieces and actually start jamming and singing away..... =)
*sigh* (smiling)

You are my hero

I just bought a new gadget and as promised here's a better version of one of my songs. Enjoy =)
If you want the lyrics, just click on the title of this post.

Kurt Elling (jazz singer)

He's my new inspiration to continue pursuing my dream in doing jazz singing for future. I went to his concert at the opera house. It was my 1st time inside the opera house. Rather exciting.
I didn't only get inspired, but I met a new fren and I found out that I could have gotten free tickets instead of actually buying them. Kurt Elling's scat was superb. Made me wanna take jazz vocal lessons which is more expensive then my classical vocal lessons. Planned with the guys to actually sing at circular quay with me. We were just walking down from opera house and fooling around singing jazz tunes when suddenly my fren started adding the bass part and stuff. It gave me an idea and the guys seemed to be into it. I hope it'll work out. It'll be fun and interesting =D Performing in front of public. That'll be something new for me.
I have on this post 1 recording of Kurt Elling's live performance and 1 of his music from the cd I bought. Enjoy....

Aurora festival 2008

I just got bck from working there. It's a volunteer thing for our assignment for 'music festival and administration'. I was co-ordinator for tonight. Absolutely tiring i think. Or maybe it's just me. Surprisingly it's my easiest most relaxing job as being boss. My members did my job and although we had last minute changes, everything went smoothly.
We all came late for the briefing but he had that later on. Interesting night although the music wasn't my taste of music (classical contemporary music). Our dinner was crap. Had sandwitches from the cafe. It was 1 place which looked like less then 1/4 of a loaf of bread for 6 people. We ended up getting mc donalds but the organizor/my lecturer felt bad and gave us each AU5 for our dinner. We felt bad taking it but we did.
It was life broadcast at ABC classical FM. 1 of the composer and a newspaper critic were late and we couldn't let them in until they string quartet finished their piece.
While working we(the volunteers) were just talking. I had to talk. Couldn't stand silence and it would feel awkward considering we're working together and I'm boss. I was teaching a girl key signature and an easy way I figured out myself figuring out the key signature and stuff. I only then realised the many techniques I found out my whole life learning music on my own. I can really teach and ppl I teach most of the time learn well from me. Be it maths or music. Anything I've figured out while going through my favourite subjects. It feels nice knowing it but the fact that I don't wanna teach for a career still stands firm. I still wanna sing and perform. That has always been my passion. Although I'm still stage fright. My mind is not stage fright but my body just responds automatically. Weird I know but thats how it is. And to think I've been performing almost all my life.

Billy Elliot the musical(Australia)

Just came bck from it. It was superb. I'm so glad I actually finally went for it. I enjoyed every bit of it. It was funny, touching, interesting, etc. The settings were so interesting with movable settings. That's what I've been trying to accomplish for SONS choir in Kuching. But heaps of work on working on the probs and planning. Don't think the Malaysians can handle that much work (no offense).
The dancing was incredible. Make me wanna continue doing tap dancing. It's alot of effort n practices to make the whole production great. The singing wasn't 100% perfect but it was good enough for me. The accents were incredible.
I could imagine the amount of movement behind the stage and the amount of customes used and the time they have rushing for the next scene. Wish I could get a recording of the production for future usage =)
I even cried at one bit.
The musical definately gave me back my confidense and hope for my future in music. I'm been feeling really discouraged and stressed since the last post and it was because of that problem which got me feeling down but the musical raised myself to continue reaching for my dream in performing arts and singing....