Hatrack River Forum: Help me, Hatrack

This is topic Help me, Hatrack in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :

I'm a music major, more specifically, voice performance. I have been looking for some sort of summer program that will give me more performance experience, instead of wasting my summer doing something worthless.

The problem is, however, there doesn't seem to nbe any middle ground, or anything that corresponds with what I'm actually looking for. I would like to participate in a performance (preferably an opera), not for too long, and without taking thousands of language and diction classes in between, as I have alreeady completed those in my college curriculum. I also am not looking for a high school program, obviously, nor do I want something terribly professional that my chances of getting into are very slim.

I have already looked at a list of about 20 different programs, and none of them seem to fit... and those that DO fit are >$5000, which, sadly, is not a feasible option for me (especially since I'm going to China in two weeks on a choir tour, and must pay for that as well).

Does anyone know of a way to find performance opportunities, or of any programs that fit this criteria? I'm getting really discouraged, not to mention terribly fatigued by the researching/applying/auditioning process. Even if there's an opera put on somewhere over the summer that I could simply audition for, or something like that, that would be nice. I don't really know why I'm posting this thread but in searching I'm not only getting discouraged but starting to convince myself that singing is maybe not what I want, something that I KNOW is not true. So please, help!

Thanks. [Angst]

Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :

I don't know of anything, but I want to extend encouragement and best wishes. Keep looking and don't lose heart. The search will be worthwhile.

Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :

How about advertising yourself as live wedding/christening/etc. song singer person? You'd get more performance experience *and* you'd get paid for singing one or two songs that wouldn't be too hard. You could make a demonstration CD of a few really popular/common choices, and take out a few advertisements in the newspaper or on local listings or whatever.

I had a singing teacher who told me I should do this and that she had, although I never tried it. If I ever get really short of cash and I am no longer living at hime I have the idea on the back burner since it would be a fun and undemanding way of making a few weekend bucks.

Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :

Ooh! What a good idea!

Let me look into that...

Thanks Teshi! (((Teshi))) for the great idea. [Big Grin]

I KNEW Hatrack would be a good place to look. Thanks in advance for keeping the ideas coming! [Smile]

Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :

[Smile]

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

You could do funerals, too, if you don't find them too depressing. And if there are any elementary schools nearby on the year-round schedule they might be interested in having you come and give a short (like 5 minute) presentation and then singing a few pieces. It probably wouldn't pay much if anything, and it's not semi-pro or college, all of it would be on you, but it would give you experience singing in front of a possibly hostile audience and self-promoting.

Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :

Heh, that's true. Thanks. [Smile]