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Finding Your Sweet Spot: Why Fame May Not Be What You Really Want

February 19, 2019 by tprochera Leave a Comment

Hello all!

So, I was in New York City last week – my first time in the Big Apple – and I had a blast! Caught up with old friends, saw some shows, went to museums, had high tea at the Plaza. The whole nine yards.  It was thrilling to witness “the best of every industry”, as my friend put it, that was represented in this mythical city. Seriously – since I’ve been back, it seems that every TV show and movie takes place in New York.

But that’s not my point. My point is, while watching these truly talented performs strut their stuff on the Broadway stage, I couldn’t help but wonder, would I want to be doing that?

You see, many of us are programmed to crave the spotlight. We are taught that those we see most often – the Beyoncés, the Bradley Coopers, even the J.K. Rowlings (as famous as a writer can get) – are the most important people in our society and their status is the only measure of significance and success. We are told that if we desire anything in this life, it should be to be the focus of attention in the biggest arena possible.

Now, I’m not saying it’s necessarily a bad thing to go for fame or to want to be the front man. Some people are sincerely meant to be in that position and they inspire the world with who they are.

There are times, however, when the thirst for fame can be misguided – not because we may not be talented enough but because, if we really think about it, it’s not what we actually want.  When we’re striving for anything, it behooves us to actually look into what is involved in living that life. For example, being a prima ballerina seems like a beautiful vision – and they do look lovely and strong – but if that’s what you want to be, be prepared for really sore feet, Like bleeding and blistered more often than not.

The shows that we saw on Broadway involved an incredible amount of physical activity ; not just two people sitting in chairs chatting away.  And one of them, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – completely brilliant, by the way – was constructed in two parts of three hours each. That’s literally six hours a day of running around and throwing suitcases and all sorts of crazy things!  Would you be up for that? Would you be willing to move to a metropolis like New York if it meant being at the top of your field? It’s a big switch if you’re used to living in a small town. What about having to be “on” when you’re not feeling well? I remember watching a live broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera and, while the cast sounded glorious as always, there was so much sniffling and snorting backstage because most of them were sick.

There are often ways to adjust things to better suit our inclinations. For example, you can love singing but not love performing live so you could potentially consider becoming a studio musician. Or you can do community theatre as a hobby rather than going for a full-time career as an actor and all that comes with it. Even so, however, we can still look at where our real talents and inclinations lie instead of towing the party line of fame and fortune. Well, I say that but, in many cases, it’s the ones who don’t have the fame who are actually making most of the money so I’m not really sure why they put those two words together so often. But that’s another topic of discussion.

When I was in university, I went to see a counsellor on a regular basis. Hey, we all need someone to talk to at certain points in our lives.  Anyway, there was a session when I when I expressed my confusion that I would be watching these people on stage and be totally captivated them but, at the same time, wasn’t sure if that was what I should, or wanted to, be doing. I knew could sing but was insecure about my voice at times, I wasn’t sure how I felt about travelling from place to place without fully experiencing it, being isolated, and I was adaptable to a certain extent but didn’t really like being up too late most of the time. I’m usually in bed at 10:00 most nights unless there’s a special event or something.  So what was it that made me want to be these “rock stars”, for lack of a better word?

And then my counsellor suggested something I’d never thought of before. He suggested that perhaps I was meant to be behind the scenes but I was attracted to something else about these people, like their confidence or level of skill. It wasn’t the fact that they were performing so much as they knew they were meant to be performing and they were damn good at it. And, to someone like me who was in a state of flux, that knowing would be incredibly attractive. He made me realize that I could be that assured and skilled as a songwriter or a producer or a director or whatever and have that same sense of self-possession and satisfaction as those “rock stars” seemed to have.

Because, really, I will follow whatever path is right for me and if being in the public eye comes with it, I’ll accept that with grace and humility. But I don’t care if people are screaming my name. I don’t need to be chased down the street by mobs trying to get my autograph. I’m more interested in being respected in my industry, being the one who those in the know whisper about as I stand in line at the grocery store. “Do you know who that is? She’s the one behind <insert life-altering, world-enhancing creative experience here>.”

So, if you desire being in the spotlight and entertaining the crowds and honestly love it and all, or most, of what it entails, go for it. Reach for your marquee dreams and good luck to you. But if you’re at all feeling a sense of disconnect with your creative path, I ask you to consider what your soul is really craving, look at your true gifts and talents and what skills you’re willing to acquire, and learn to be at peace with that.

You may be a good guitar player but maybe you’d be an even better recording engineer or producer or even artist manager. You may be a decent novelist but you’d really be a brilliant journalist or editor. There are so many parts to play in this creative world, so many roles to fill, and none is more or less important or valuable than another, no matter what celebrity mags try to tell you and no matter how some of those celebrities – I won’t name names – like to give the impression that they do everything themselves .

I’ll leave you with this. We love our lives the most when we are giving the best of our authentic selves to the world, whatever that looks like. So don’t be afraid of discovering what you’re really here to do. You’ll only be happier for it!

In Swimming Tigress news, I’ve just put up some new tracks for licensing on Pond 5 . So, if you need music for your media production, whether it’s a commercial, TV show, web video or podcast, check out all available tracks here  https://www.pond5.com/artist/tprochera#1 .

Have a fabulous day!

Tiffany

Filed Under: blogs about music, blogs about writing, books about singing, canadian authors, Canadian composer, canadian composers, canadian music, music blogs, music by canadian composers, music by manitoba composers, music for film, new music Tagged With: blogs about music, canadian composer, canadian compsoers, canadian music, celebrity, composer blogs, creative career, creativity, fame, inspiration, manitoba music, performance, podcasting, pond 5, production music, stock music, swimming tigress music, tiffany prochera, tips for artists, tools to create

Guiding Your Students Through Arts Competitions

September 30, 2015 by tprochera Leave a Comment

shutterstock_244326235Hey guys!

The idea of competition and the arts is extensive and can range from the local arts festival to a national or international affair like The Booker or Nobel Prize or American Idol.

Competition is a funny thing, isn’t it? It suggests that, based on a one-time experience, a person or group of people is able to accurately declare that one person is a fundamentally better artist than all of the others. Kind of an odd notion!

But there are can be legitimate reasons to compete. Perhaps an opportunity lies on the other end – to get a recording contract, to be published by a reputable publishing house. Perhaps there is a cash prize – always helpful! And perhaps the main impetus is to have your name more recognized and to obtain the bragging rights. As far as I know, an Oscar does not come with any monetary add-on but most people in the film industry would love to have that little ®Academy Award winner attached to their names!

Of course, there are different types of competitions – those which involve real-time performances such as dancing or singing vs. those which involve pre-existing works that are presented, or even nominated, for consideration; those which involve adjudication or critique vs. those in which a winner is announced and nothing more.

So, I would like to talk about the potential pros and cons of artistic competitions, particularly when it comes to teachers who have students who may be interested in competing in real-time events.

It is just my opinion, of course, but I think it’s important to make sure your student is, in fact, in a position to handle competition in the first place. You might want to ask them if they have ever lost at anything before. How did they take it? Did they become really upset? Will they be alright performing under pressure? Can they take a certain amount of criticism?

While encouraging students to try something new can be a valuable catalyst, you might want to think twice before pushing them into something they may not be ready for. Particularly with young students, a negative experience can be damaging and turn them off any future attempts – I have had students who made a mistake during a recital, ended up in tears and were afraid to get on stage again for years afterwards – so it’s important to make sure that you set them up for as positive an experience as possible and be there to support them if things get rough. Even adults can be affected by an adjudicator who matter-of-factly points out only the things you did wrong and fails to mention anything you did right!

As I’m sure you know, as with any performance it’s critical to prepare the student so they know their piece inside and out. If you leave it at the point where they’ve gotten it right once or twice, there could be problems once the nerves set it. If possible, you might want to try creating the vibe of the competition so they feel more comfortable on the actual day by having them present in front of a few family members and pretending they are walking onto the stage and all of that, just like with any performance scenario.

Performing can be rather unpredictable. Even at your most prepared, things can still go wrong – you can get a lump in your throat, your jewelry can get hooked onto your costume, you can forget words – and younger students will likely not know what to do in these situations and might get flustered. You might want to try intentionally distracting them while they perform to dispel some fear of the unknown but be warned that it could backfire and make them even more nervous! But, at the very least, it’s a good idea to remind them that, no matter how they do, the fact that they are getting up there in front of people is a big thing in itself for which they should be commended. And doing really well or winning are just bonuses.

It’s probably a good idea to be with them at the competition, even if you don’t technically have to be there to accompany them on the piano or something like that, until they have a few under their belt and have gained some confidence. If something happens during the performance or they don’t get the results they were hoping for, they will need a supportive shoulder to cry on.

Sometimes in competition there is a clear winner. There is someone whose skill level is obviously higher than the others and everyone sees that. There are also times when there are several good performers and it’s hard to tell who the judges or adjudicator are going to pick. I present as an example the story of a vocal competition where the adjudicator chose the winner essentially on the fact that the song he sang reminded her of her childhood. She apparently came right out and said it and didn’t even disguise the fact!

So, as we know, the winner of a competition may not have as much to do with skills as we want to believe and it’s important the student knows that as well.

If the performance goes well and the student wins, brava! It’s time to congratulate them on a job well done! Enjoy the moment and wait until later to let them know that there is always work to do and ways to improve.

If something goes wrong during the performance – and it may – you’ll want to discuss what happened from your viewpoint and from the student’s viewpoint. Did they get distracted by something? Did something happen musically that threw them off? You need to do an analysis to see what may or may not need to be addressed for next time. Gently let them know that these are just things to work on for the future and it doesn’t mean they aren’t good.

If there is a fellow competitor who is, as mentioned earlier, a clear winner, a student may be inclined to think well, what’s the point? I’m not as good as they are so why should I bother doing this again? I have certainly had these thoughts!

As the teacher, you can use this as an opportunity to inspire the student. Ask them what they liked about the performance and why they thought it was so good. Was the performer dynamic and theatrical? Was there a fluidity about the movement or the voice that they admired? Are there any of those elements that your student could start incorporating into their performances? How much practice do they think would be required to get to that level and would they be prepared to dedicate themselves in the same way?

Then there are the comments from the adjudicator. In theory, the adjudicator should have, in addition to their knowledge of their craft, experience dealing with the age group of the participants they are adjudicating. There are also competitions that are meant for those who just want to have fun and those who are more serious about their craft. Their comments should use language, ideas and sensitivity commiserate with those to whom they are speaking.

But unfortunately, this is not always the case. Sometimes adjudications can be overly harsh, overly complex or just plain rude! And, certainly, the organizers can be notified in such cases but, as far as the participants go, the damage may already be done.

So, once the adjudication has been given, you need to go over those comments with the student and discuss what to keep and what to dismiss – which suggestions are valid and worth incorporating and which don’t make sense. This will help retain the student’s confidence and help them discern what criticism to acknowledge.

Well, those are just a few things to look at! If you are engaging your students in competitions, good luck to them all and may they all have productive, positive experiences!

Have a great day!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: arts festival, canadian composer, competition, music blog, music teachers, performance, swimming tigress music, tiffany prochera, tips for artists, tools to create

The Importance of Choir – An Interview With John Rutter

April 14, 2015 by tprochera 1 Comment

John_RutterHey guys!

 

Have you ever been part of a choir, be it through a church, your school or a maybe you joined a community group?

I have been in a number of choirs throughout the years. I joined my first choir, a youth community group, when I was six and always participated in the school choirs even into university.  In recent years, I have been privileged to be a member of a women’s choir that will soon be heading off to an international conference with world renowned groups. So this topic has been on my mind!

There is something about the experience of choral music, especially as a participant but even as a listener, that creates this sense of connection to the other singers and to the world as a whole. If you’ve ever been singing in a group and allowed yourself to truly be in the experience – trying not to think about what you’re going to make for dinner when the rehearsal is over, etc. – you’ll know what a magical thing it can be. The harmonies take you to another place and you almost wish you could stop singing to absorb it all but you also know that your vibrations mingling with those of the others is part of that magic.

I would like to share with you an interview with the acclaimed British composer, John Rutter, on The Importance of Choir, originally posted on the J.W. Pepper website. In it, he explains the significance choral music has for the individual and society at large.

Enjoy!

So, if you’ve never been in a choir before, you might want to try it and, if it has been a while and you’ve been thinking about singing again, look around and see what groups are in your community and have fun!

And, remember, if you want to add your two cents or a nickel to this topic, post your comments below! I’d love to hear what you think!

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: choir, choral singing, composer blogs, j.w. pepper, john rutter, jw pepper, manitoba music, music and the brain, music blog, performance, singing, swimming tigress music

Learn how to get over stage fright with MuseTV

September 2, 2014 by tprochera Leave a Comment

stage fright 1Stage fright – that moment before your performance or presentation that can seem like hours – and sometimes it does last hours! – where you find yourself shaking with sweaty palms, thoughts of doom running through your head.
You tell yourself it’s going to be a total disaster and you can’t go on. You would rather die!
Getting up in front of a group of people doesn’t have to be a terrifying experience – really, it doesn’t!  But what can you do to get over these nerves so you can still go out and rock that stage?
In this episode of MuseTV, I offer you four tips to help get you back on track.


If you found the video helpful, feel free to share with your peeps, add your thoughts in the comments section below and subscribe to the Mews and Moos Blog for more fun stuff!
In other news, with the approach of fall, I am happy to be starting another season of vocal instruction this week! Yay! Always a fun time of year! If you or someone you know is interested in learning to sing, check out the Music Education video from the last post and don’t hesitate to contact me. With the advances in technology, not only can you take lessons with me in person if you live in Winnipeg but you can also study online via Skye.
What will they think of next?
Well, have a great day everyone! Carpe diem!

Filed Under: blogs about music, canadian composers, learn to sing, manitoba music, music teachers, stage fright, swimming tigress music-cat, tiffany prochera Tagged With: blogs about music, canadian compsoers, composer blog, learn to sing, manitoba music, music blog, music teachers, performance, public speaking, singing, stage fright, swimming tigress music

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