Senior project has allowed me a lot of time to work on my music. Before project, music was always something that I had to squeeze in when I came home from school, or on weekends when I was home. My piano and singing teachers often got mad with me, as I was so busy I never had the time to practice. Now that I don’t have homework or the after school activities I used to run to, I can truly focus on the thing I’ve wanted to all along.
One thing that I’ve been participating in my project so far is acting. My father and I agreed that acting is something that will help me with my stage presence, confidence, and self expression. It also may open doors for me in the acting industry as well which in turn will help me build a fan base and recognition. I’ve enrolled in acting class called the “Barrow Group,” as recommended from the director of a previous musical I participated in at the school called “Pippin.” It was a bit intimidating as its an “adult” group, and I joined (with the teacher’s permission) at 17. I am the youngest in the group, with ages ranging up to 80 years old. It’s scary to work around them, but also exciting. The class is definitely a new environment that I’ve never experienced before. I participate in this four hours a week.
Along with my acting class, I also have been taking voice lessons with my teacher, as well as participating in chorus at school during x block. Both of these classes help me to strengthen my skills as a singer, and prepare me better for recordings in the studio, posting online, and performances. I love both of these lessons because of their contrast. In my voice lessons, it’s just me singing. It’s me practicing to become a better performer as a soloist in any performance I may do. In chorus, much differently to my voice lessons, I am singing in a group. Rather than strengthening my skills as a soloist, I am strengthening my skills in group singing. What group singing offers that solo singing does not is its ability to train the ear. With chorus, I am practicing my ability to harmonize and listen to sound more carefully. It’s a skill that any good singer needs.
Finally, the thing that has taken up the majority of my time is songwriting. Songwriting is a process that to this day I find hard to describe. Some days it comes quicker, other days it doesn’t. It’s all about the mood that I’m in on whether or not I’m able to create freely. What is interesting about the process this time, is that I am allotting myself given time to song write. Even if I don’t feel inspired, I still plop myself down on the piano and play around with chords, melodies, and lyrics. I force myself to write, even in the times I really don’t want to. Although it may seem harsh, I’ve actually begun to appreciate this task, and use it to my advantage. I’ve even managed to write some songs that I enjoy.
Overall, I’m very grateful for the time that I have been giving, and I cannot wait to see what else I create.