Singing boys continued

I really need to, as a follow up, post a vid of the boys choir rehearsal. It is so amazing. I always bring a book or something and it is so fascinating watching the director work with the boys that I don't ever read.

He seems to be teaching them things that I didn't even know could be taught, like pitch memory and guessing the starting note and stuff like that. I pretty much assumed that if you could do that you could do it and if you couldn't too bad. But they learn amazing things every time, and their ability is growing exponentially. I think they are learning more from being in the choir than they would even if they were taking private voice lessons, because as I know from singing myself, what I did learn I taught myself from listening to records and trying to merge my voice kind of automatically to the singers' voices. Remember that, Jape?

But in terms of me finding them opportunities, actually I have been feeling like I don't do nearly enough, but it is interesting that since I haven't been feeling well the last few years I have cut other things out of my schedule, like adios to taking classes or trying to work even a little bit, so I have had time for all of this, and I think it is pretty worthwhile. It helps keep me from feeling guilty that I don't work on the house or anything, because in ten years when these boys are gone I won't feel sorry that I didn't drive them to choir because I was busy rennovating. What's the point of feathering a nest when the fledglings are going to be gone too soon to have it matter?

I actually started the Boychoir thing because I thought that what the heck, auditions are really good for them, but I didn't really think that they would make the choir. I didn't think that they would get two out of ten of the spots in the premiere performing boy choir in the Portland area. In fact, in a way they are PROFESSIONAL singers, even though they don't get paid. People pay 25 dollars a ticket to listen to this choir! And then when they got on, I didn't know if I would do it, because it is going to be so much work to take them, but after the first rehearsal I was sold, this guy is amazing and my guess is by Christmas these kids will be amazing singers. They get noticably better after every practice.

And next year is going to be pretty busy because it will be Drake's first year in high school, when it really starts to count gradewise. I fully expect him to get all A's and be valedictorian like his dad was, because there is not a CHANCE that he isn't as smart as his dad. Sorry, dad, but Drake whomps on you. Slade is smart, but he isn't a THINKER like Drake is. Drake actually likes to learn stuff, and Slade pretty much only did school as a means to an end.

Our biggest struggle is that they still aren't exactly sold on the singing thing. They are so incredibly gender stereotyped that they still resent not playing basketball or hanging with their homies every spare minute. I am about 45% bullying them into doing this, and they certainly wouldn't do it on their own, not that they could, anyway I guess.

It is really sad, because always said to myself that if I had boys I would get them into singing because supply and demand indicates that boys/men who can sing are valuable. Even if they aren't THAT GREAT.

Like all of the boys that auditioned for parts in the high school play or places in the choir that pretty much got to walk right on even if they were halfway tonedeaf, and the girls would be stepping over dozens of other girls for the two bit girl parts in the musical. It isn't fair, but I guess the reason that is is exactly what I am dealing with, boys just don't want to do music, and girls do.

That is why I was so shocked when Sadie got a part in the community play. There were tons of girls that want to sing and dance onstage, and I have pretty much been preparing her for the eventuality that she won't get that much opportunity because of it.

But if Slade and I can at least get on the same page (he is rather gender stereotyped like his sons) then I think we will at least be able to induce enough bribes to keep it afloat long enough that at least they will get to the point that they can choose for themselves. Drake has the best voice of all three of them, and he has pretty much broken me to the point that I don't even try, but with the twins they are at least going along with it, so I have reason to be somewhat optimistic.

Archer and Chase in Porlandboys Choir

They auditioned last Sat. for this choir that supposedly they had to have gone through the intermediate and prep choirs, and the routine was they would discuss it and let the parent know in a few days. He aparently gave some signal because the assistant brought in forms and said they were in. He skipped even their two month intro to choir that they do in the intermediate choir, they are right in the performing choir. Archer, of course because he can sing high C (the C above the E where most songs in the hymn books end) and Chase is Alto because he can sing lower and read parts.

It is going to be my whole life getting them to and fro all of these things they are doing this year, including dance class for the boys too, but it is also cool in a way to have my time structured like that. No worrying about the fact that I really SHOULD be getting the house clean. This is MUCH more important, right? I'll clean house when I don't have amazingly talented kids to shuttle around!

Sadie got part in play

Sadie got a part in a community play they are running this fall here. It was a coveted part, particularly because little girls love to do that stuff. She got it even though they didn't want anyone under eight, but said she was so good at her acting, projecting and tap dancing that it was an easy decision. Looks like these kids are going to keep me busy!

New articles sold

THis is cool, someone was just browsing through some old articles that I put up, not even ones that I entered for sale or anything, and offered me money for them. It is getting like an ebay of verbal wares to cash in on. Cool.

One of them wasn't even 'rated ' well. I have a feeling that's because it had a typo in it and Helium raters don't really know what else to look for than when they find spelling mistakes (paydirt) whereas the actual editors know that first of all have editors they can use change simple things like that, but choosing 'good writing' is more important and harder to just hire someone to spruce up with a dictionary and MSWORD. At first I was amazed that they look down to the fifth article in a title, but someone at Helium told me that they probably found ME first because my articles appealed to them in general and then looked for the titles that they wanted to run this month. She said I might find that they buy from me every time they publish now. So cool.

The other one is about my experience buying Harry, which I initiated for Helium and two other people wrote to.

The next cool thing is that I will still get to keep them up here (non exclusive rights is what they bought) so I will still get my helium revenue (about twenty dollars a year, not bad - once I increase the volume it will be good indeed).

http://www.helium.com/items/1121691-purchasing-a-purebred-english-bulldog



http://www.helium.com/items/1158742-battle-hastings-1006-invasion-normandy-william-conqueror?page=2

So again, no more "will write for free" sign necessary.