The Girl with the Goalden Boot

Monday, September 15, 2003

 

I had a good day today. But before I go on, I need to say this:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KIT! :)

Haha! Why was my day good? I've recovered from Forbidden City/Kit/Singapore withdrawal symptoms, and am back to reality, ie. being kiasu when taking the bus and getting seats at lectures...hehe... I was very miserable last week, and fortunately, I recovered reasonbly quickly to focus on my mid-sem exams.

I made a new friend in Creative Writing class. :) It was her turn to present her piece of writing, and it was based on her personal experience at a singing eisteddfod. I felt a connection instantly! After class, we started talking to each other and sharing each other's experiences at various eisteddfods, and our passion for music and performing. Later we discovered we live quite near (she lives in Hurstville Grove). She is a 4th year economics student, but her main goal was to do opera. Plus she told me she only started proper singing lessons when she was 19.

I thought I lost all hope when I finished high school and still haven't begun my singing training. Then I started asking all these questions, and hey, it's not too late to start singing! The last time I was in choir was in primary school, but I never liked the songs chosen for us (erm...stuff like Happy Little Vegemite and Louie the Fly O_o), so I ended up joining the instrumental ensembles in high school (ie. band and flute ensemble). Then sometime during high school, I started singing at church. And then came Kit! Seriously, that was when I started having the biggest urge to start proper vocal training (cos when you listen to Kit, right, you do realise what your voice is like compared to hers!). Up until now I still haven't had the chance to take these singing lessons because I told myself I had to complete my piano stuff first (still one more diploma left, need to get that out of the way).

So last weekend I watched Forbidden City. That was certainly more inspiration to take those lessons! I was reminded a lot of the days when I did ballet, and there was an annual dance concert in December. All that hairspray in my hair, the disgusting foundation (hahaha!!!), the beautiful costumes and tutus, the chaos backstage with last minute disasters... I had to take a break from dancing at the end of year 11 because of school and to concentrate on my music studies. But I knew I would be back on stage one day, like I couldn't just give it up. Joanna, you must remember this too, never give up your ballet. Yes, take a break to concentrate on your studies a bit, but return to the stage one day!

I do sing at church, I sing karaoke occassionally, and I do sing in the shower (hehe!), but what I really need are singing lessons. I need to learn how to breathe properly and use my diaphragm properly, extend the range of my voice, strengthen my voice. My friend told me I had a head start because I could read notes already, and I have perfect pitch. Then we both discussed how difficult it really is to make it into the scene. She's pursuing opera, but I think I'll stick to musical theatre because I still want to dance. Problem for my friend - Opera in Australia? Hmm...yeah right. Problem for me - I'm Asian, trying to enter into the Caucasian-dominated scene. As much as we think that isn't a problem, it is. Like what Kit said, if she just started out in musicals (in the international scene), all she would be doing was Miss Saigon over and over again. But then, I don't want to do pop music, I don't think I'll be able to withstand the media hype and the managers. Then how?

Maybe, just maybe, see me in 12 years' time in the re-make of Forbidden City! Hahahaha! Maybe by then, I could possibly be Yehenara (if I work hard enough), and Kit could be the older Empress Dowager! Whoa! Yeah right. *dream dream dream dream dream...*

After all this, yes, I will be taking those singing lessons. Hopefully by summer. :)

Lola Nadal 7:46 PM