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Date sent: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 15:15:52 EST
Subject: Re: before I give it all up....(long)
To: vocalist
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

In a message dated 12/14/99 8:48:13 AM, m_mclind-at-yahoo.com writes:
(snips)
>I just tried out for an opera , and a girl who
>sight-read the piece after rolling out of bed got the
>part.
>It is going to be
>a hard semester here this spring, seeing someone who
>didn't deserve the part have fun with it...when I was
>really prepared .

First of all, perhaps things are not what they appear. I know many singers
who spend days and countless hours rehearsing, then deny having done it. For
whatever reason - to make people jealous? As though they have so much raw
talent they needn't even try and will still get the parts? The singing
community is filled with competitive types and I know lots of people who have
rehearsed at great length only to claim they "just rolled out of bed". Don't
let it get oyu down.

>I am singing a Messiah
>solo tomorrow, and I have never sounded better.

That's what you should focus on! Good for you. What a great thing to be
able to do. Enjoy it. Don't let not getting another part overshadow the one
you do have. Others will come. Sing your heart out, you never know who will
hear you.

>It is going to be hard to say
>goodbye to singing for good, but it looks like I have
>no choice.

Well, if that's how you feel, then that's how you feel, but the operative
word is choice. You can pick yourself up, focus on the good stuff and forget
the bad, or you can let it eat you up inside and ruin the spark. But, if you
decide to quit, it doesn't mean saying goodbye to singing forever. There are
lots of ways to keep singing through your whole life, even if not
professionally.

It's easy to get discouraged, especially when your in a fishbowl, such as a
vocal program at college. You mention the music director is also the private
teacher of the woman who got the part. And you mention your teacher's
behavior is unprofessional. Perhaps your rival's teacher would be a good one
to consider. She did get the part and he does teach her. Maybe it wasn't all
about her just rolling out of bed, and maybe it had something to do with
getting good instruction which allowed her to do so well (even if she wasn't
very prepared). It's worth a shot, maybe he'll take you on. And, it's sad
but true that since he teaches her, he might have given her the part over
anyone else simply because he's familiar with what her voice can do and is
confident about how she can do the part with his guidance. Them's the
breaks, but if I were you I'd see about getting a new teacher -- and maybe
even him!

Good luck, and best wishes for a wonderful Messiah performance.

Jessica
Los Angeles