Music Theory Woes

{Remixed: F21 jacket}

I'd been putting off studying for my Music Theory test for ohhh about a week or so, anticipating the scary multitude of sharps and flats that would inevitably make me go cross-eyed. If any of you have taken piano lessons, you know how obnoxious and brutal music theory is. It is probably the least favorite thing ever for every music student known to man. Amongst all my procrastination, moaning, and groaning it then dawned on me...not many people have this opportunity. Why was I complaining?

This opportunity to sing, learn technique & theory, and have lessons every week to help build up my musical talent really is a blessing. I shouldn't be dragging my feet about learning major and minor key signatures. I should be taking advantage of all this knowledge so I can one day put it to use when teaching voice lessons or teaching my future children how to read music.

I sucked it up and studied all the key signatures, melodic and harmonic scales, and so forth. Said a little prayer then walked into the test a little nervous. Once the test was handed to me I wrote down everything I had memorized while it was still swirling around in my head. Then I started to notice that this test was pretty easy...actually SUPER easy. I finished in a half hour! With all my studying and focus, I was able to completely throw myself into the subject matter which made the test seem easy. If you can't get out of it, get into it right?

This whole semester is jam-packed with music-related courses and I'm really going to focus on having a better attitude about the mountain of work that comes with it. Because when am I going to have another time in my life where I'm required to practice music?

Practice, Practice, Practice

Wanna know why I'm here at 1 in the morning? I just really need a break from this English project that is currently frying my brain in a saucepan {if you were curious, I'm writing a children's magazine article about how Ginger Rogers & Fred Astaire brought romance and hope to American audiences during the Great Depression, cool huh?} Anyways, I'm just thinking about how this semester is going to be a crazy one. Although none of my classes are difficult in the scholastic sense, my schedule is grueling because it takes so much time. 

Piano lessons? 5 hours a week. 

Voice lessons? 3 hours a week. 

Conducting? 2 hours a week. 

Latin dance? 2-3 hours a week. 

Choir class? A 3 hour retreat & 2 concert reports. 

Did I mention that these are just practice hours and that they are in addition to the time I already spend in class? Plus, I still have Intro to Jazz, Music Fundamentals, and Writing About Arts & Humanities sprinkled in with the classes above. {Which comes to a total of 14 credits and 8 separate courses}.

{My 25-minute walk home from school}

Even though I might twitch and complain about the workload sometimes {and it might occasionally be warranted}...I secretly love every minute. I literally sang all day today. This morning in voice lesson, when practicing piano, during University Chorale, driving to and from school, then finally during my 2 hour Conducting class. Have I mentioned that singing is one of my top 3 most favorite things in the world? It's pretty awesome that I'm technically "required" to sing, dance, and play the piano every day...my new neighbors downstairs are gonna loooove me ;)

Sean Coury

You know those really artsy/vintage-y people you see playing their guitars/ukes/harmonicas and improv-ing like it's no big d? The ones that spend their spare time writing songs and playing at cool gigs? 

The people you wish you could be like because they are that cool.

Ya, I have more than a few friends that are like that. 

The chill/laid back/So-Cal musically inclined kind of friends.

One such friend is Sean. 

I've known him since about 8 years old and he is seriously the sweetest guy ever.

And he also happens to be extremely talented.

Check out his music, his answers to my questions, and his totally cute pics. :)

Megan Miller Photography

{My fav song is Best Kept, I've had it on repeat for the past few days!}

When did you start singing and playing the guitar?

I started playing music my freshmen year in high school and I graduated in 2010. So 5-6 years now.

What artists have inspired your own work?

I have so many artists I could name that contributed to my desire to play music, but if I had to pick a few I would say Rocky Votolato, Dustin Kensrue, Joshua James, and of course Bob Dylan. Bands like Delta Sprit and Dr. Dog gave me a lot of inspiration as well.

What genre would you place your music in? What group of people are you playing for?

I played different genres of music growing up, but I pinpointed the sound that I stuck with have now about a year ago, it's Folk/Folk Rock. I'm up to play for anyone who genuinely likes the kind of music I play. The folk/acoustic genre has kind of risen from the dead the past few years and more and more people are starting to enjoy that sound, so I look to play for people who have the same love and appreciation for this kind of music as I do. 

What has been your biggest challenge with your music so far?

My biggest challenges have been just striving to progress. I'm always trying to write that next catchy melody, or great lyric, or powerful chorus. I used to be insecure about how I sounded and worried a lot about what others thought. Once I let that go and just wrote the most honest songs I could, was when I really started progressing. I feel I've made some good progress from where I use to be, and I'm constantly trying to improve myself as a song-writer.  

Any other things you would like your listeners/fans to know about you?

I do music because I enjoy it! Something about expressing ideas, thoughts, and emotions in the most creative way I can brings me joy. It's just fun! And, I don't plan on stopping anytime soon!

Download, share, and enjoy listening!
Find Sean on Facebook.
<3 Bri

Fa La La La La

Here is my Christmas-y church attire for today.

I sang a solo in church today and ROCKED it.

{Here is the sheet music-When Mary Sang Her Lullaby}

I love love love to sing.

The worst part about singing in front of people is the waiting part.

At the beginning I'm like yeah! I can do this and not mess up!

Then I start fidgeting, my mouth starts getting dry, my hands get sweaty, my body starts shaking, then it's finally my turn, and I feel like a newborn giraffe trying to walk up to the podium.

Even with all the times I've sung in church meetings, baptisms, auditions, national anthems in high school, or even giving the announcements over the school loud speaker every day, I still get these mini heart attacks. I kick myself in the tush that I've done this how many freaking times and I still am a mess?

But.

I don't know what it is, because as soon as I get up the microphone, all the jitters go away.

I open my mouth and start singing along to the melody of the piano, and lose myself in the music.

Hitting every high note, breathing at the right times, and looking at the faces in the crowd enjoying the peaceful melodic line of the song.

This is one of my favoritest feelings in the whole entire world.

Other than drinking hot chocolate and snuggling. Obviously.

Maybe one of these days I'll put up a lil' video of one of my favorite songs to sing.

We'll see how confident I am to put up a video of me singing for the world to see.

Yikes!

Dress, Bracelet: Fossil. Shoes: ?. Sweater, Belt: Loft. Necklace: gift. Lipstick: Revlon.

In the meantime, go listen to the new "She & Him" Christmas album by my girl crush, Zooey Deschanel, or Michael Buble's Christmas album.

Merry almost Christmas!

<3 Bri