Welcome to Chanel's '30-Day Full Voice Challenge' blog

This is a challenge that I participated in during the month of May. The blog is in reverse order. So please scroll to the very bottom to begin reading about what the challenge was and where I begun. The challenge took place in New York City and was the best thing I could have done to have my passion for performing re-ignited:)

I Made it!!!!!!!!!!! Reflecting on the past 30 days...Day 30!!!

Hooooray!!!! I made it...

Vocalizations: 30 minutes
songs worked on: "One Night Only"

Ballet class:

with Andrey Silantyev

20 physical classes at Broadway Dance Center

Here is the evidence for ALL of my 20 physical classes that I did at BDC (on a sprained ankle) over the past 30 days... Each class is stamped with the date, obviously only the MAY stamps count and please disregard the vocal classes...

WOOHOOOOOOO!!! I did it:)

4 private vocal lessons with Christian Fletcher...

I have 100% noticed the growth in my voice from Christian's guidance over the past 30 days!

Lesson 1) May 4th

Lesson 2) May 11th

Lesson 3) May 18th

Lesson 4) May 25th  

2 Coaching lessons with Darren Cohen:

Fantastic accompanist and provider of a life-times worth of audition repertoire:)

Coaching Lesson 1) May 10th

Coaching Lesson 2) May 17th

Charitable Deeds:

1)  

Holy Apostle soup kitchen (May 16th)

 2)

Fight For Air walk volunteer (May 21st)

3)

Pancreatic Cancer Walk volunteer (May 22nd)

 4)

Volunteering at the West Side campaign against Hunger (Food Pantry)

(May 25th)

5)

2 garbage bags worth of clothing donations to Covenant house (May 28th)

 6)

Singing at the Benefit Concert for Japan (May 28th)

7) No Photo...research/advertising for M.O.V.E/Be well living Gluten-free and diabetes retreat

Watching Live Performances:

How To Succeed in Business without really trying (May 5th)

Rock of Ages (May 12th)

Lady Gaga concert Central Park (May 27th)

Industry Audition:

Here Lies Love - Off Broadway (May 24th)

Live Performance:

Open Mic Duplex (May 21st/22nd)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kDL0KxzNsk

Japan Benefit concert (May 28th)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtxsAwki_Tw&feature=related

Healthy Meals:

Well I consumed and photographed (for my blog) well over 30....so I'll just show tonight's dinner :)

Vegetable tempura hand roll and prawn and avocado sushi...yummmmmm!!!

Demo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMFhsXXexRI

30 minutes of Vocal practice EVERYDAY for 30 Days!!!!!!!

Seeing it all summarized like this...I can't believe I achieved it all within 30 days! What an amazing experience. It just makes me realize what we are each capable of if we put our minds (and hearts) into it.

It feels like the end of an era, and the beginning of something new and exciting. This challenge has helped me to develop wonderful routines in my day-to-day life that I will continue into the future to further myself as a performer and as a person. The vocal excercises each day, the healthy meals, the dance classes, and lessons are all fantastic! The live performances, industry auditions and demo recordings are great exposure and always an awesome experience...and then of course the Charitable Deeds...words cannot explain how this alone has changed me. It makes me step outside of my life, and look around at the lives around me...and want to help, to be a part of change! 

I have gained so much from this experience and I never want to forget the things I've learnt and experienced and the inspirational people I have met along the way. Thankyou to everyone who supported me by reading my blogs, and to others who were there to listen, offer advice, guidance and give me a little push at times. I'm sad it's over, but so Happy for what lies ahead...

This has come at the perfect time for me, I have 9 months left in New York, and I feel like this challenge has pushed me in the direction I am ultimately aiming for "Broadway"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As I said in my very first post, It's not whether or not I "make it" it's embracing every experience along the way. I just want to sing....For a single person or for hundreds, doesn't bother me. I feel alive when I sing and that's why I came to New York...TO LIVE MY DREAMS. I feel like I am doing just that, I truly do....

One night Only...Day 29:)

Vocalizations: 1 hour
Songs worked on: One Night Only - Dreamgirls
Worked Meow, to get the mix in a good place:)


After the japan concert last night...which was Amazing! The talent, the cause, the potential...I got home at 3am. Then headed off to BDC to do 3 classes back to back today...During the 3rd class Hip Hop, my ankle was not enjoying the jumping so I just watched. I'm glad I stopped when I did. After icing it and resting it, I think it should be fine. But here are the photos from the first 2 classes:)


Latin Fusion:

Ashle Dawson from SYTYCD

Jazz Funk:

with Chio (I'm the same colour as my top hahaha)

So with one day left in the challenge...I am looking forward to a rest. I have truly gained so much from the past 29 days and am definitely aiming to carry on much of the 'challenge' on in the future. The healthy meals are a MUST, simply because I need the nutrients to get through the 12 classes a week that I'm getting back into now...The vocal practice, I think I will feel like I it's part of my daily routine now, not to be skipped! The vocal lessons I hope to continue on a fortnightly basis as I have felt a huge growth in my vocal resonance and sound from the past 4 lessons with Christian...The charitable deeds, well I'm working at a soup kitchen on Tuesday and still receiving donations from the neighbours which I will give to the Food Pantry that I volunteered in previously as they are interested in childrens clothes, I also want to help at the soup kitchen and food pantry on a weekly basis...Coaching lesson I will most likely have in another 6 months, or until I learn the songs that I already received from my last 2 lessons (it's well over 30 new songs!)...As for the demo, I want to challenge myself to posting a self-recorded demo onto youtube atleast once a month, so that I can monitor my progress and I have incentive to learn new material...The live performances, I am a regular at the Duplex Open mic night, so I would like to expand and maybe see about doing small sets at a piano bar (cabaret style), and Auditions...I have one next week:) I need to go to every single one that I am suitable for regardless of what theater it may be for, it's all good experience:) as for blogging...Mum I know you want me to continue and I will do my best, but there is no way it will be on a daily basis, sorry. More like a weekly basis.

Thanks so much for supporting me through these past 29 days...only one to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

xoxoxox

Day 28 continued...

Last night at around 10.30pm I did a performance in the Benefit concert for Japan....
All donations and proceeds from the night are going to Japan.

Which is my 2nd Live Performance:)


I was up first, so there was a little bit of pressure to set the tone for the rest of the night, but the performers were all fantastic and the acts were all so different. Here it is for those of you that couldn't be there (So everyone in Australia!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtxsAwki_Tw


Here are some pics with some other performers/challengers....

Bear from Poland

Stephanie from Arizona

Marina from Italia

Also this is Charitable Deed #7:

I have one just like it at home:)

It was a fantastic night! Everyone sounded amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm glad I got to sing first so I could just watch and enjoy everyone and cheer them on:)

Just made it...Day 11 (updated with photo)

It is 11.50pm and I am rushing to get this post up in time...

Breakfast...

The usual...berries, yoghurt and granola

Then practised vocal warm ups for 30 minutes...worked on "Rita's Tune"

Had a one hour VOCAL LESSON with Christian Fletcher...

In this lesson I really began to understand the differences in the tone and sound of my voice in direct relation to the shape of my mouth, the lift of the soft pallette, my posture, tongue placement even.

I realized that I have to really work my technique more than I have been if I want to be a true soprano again. It's going to take alot longer than 30 days but atleast I have found a new goal.

We worked on "Rita's Tune" at the moment it's just getting the musicality and text into my body, hopefully by next week it will be ready to go. I would love to sing this for my live performance. It shows the tone of my voice that I like, and it's a sultry song but still very lady-like..."playful" is the best way to describe it. 

From today's lesson I now know which soprano warm downs I should be doing after belting...and they are super easy which is a bonus... 

Then I went to staples and photocopied most of the sheet music that I borrowed from my vocal coaching lesson yesterday...It took me a while because they NEVER make music books A4 size...they are always awkwardly bigger than A4 so it takes about 20 times before you can get every single note on the one page!

Then I did yoga class at BDC...found some Zen:) I still have 14 classes left to do in the 19 days left.

Then went to the physio for my ankle...she gave me lots of strengthening excercises... but I apparently need some real sneakers for walking for proper support...another expense, of course.

and here is dinner...

Best salad...romaine lettuce, egg, grilled chicken, spanish onion, walnuts, capsicum, croutons and balsamic vinaigrette... I am so full now!!!

I was planning to go to the radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular singing audition tomorrow...but realized that none of my current repertoire is appropriate for such an audition. So I need to find some bright, cheery songs...up-tempo is definitely missing from my book....

But I'm loving the new additions recently given to me to work on:)

Just a quick one today...Day 28!!!

Vocalizations: 30 minutes
Worked on warming up soprano then worked into mix.
Songs worked on: "One Night Only"

Charitable Deed # 6:
So I didn't get a photo for my Charitable deed for the Celiac and Diabetes research. So I did a sixth deed in case that one doesn't count.
The posters that I put up in the surrounding apartment worked! I collected 2 garbage bags full of men's clothes for the Holy Apostle Soup kitchen. Then when I rang to tell them, they told me they no longer needed clothing donations...so I did some research into a place that really NEEDS MEN'S clothes. I didn't want to give them to a random charity for the sake of it. So I found the Covenant house, a place for young homeless men usually aged 18-21. They take them in and feed them clothe them, do wonderful things for them. Get them ready to find jobs etc. So I caught a taxi downtown to give the donations. When I asked if I could get a photo they said no, so I got a tax receipt instead...
Also enquired about volunteering here, it really is amazing what they are doing to give these young men a second chance.

My awesome hand written posters

The donations

The receipt from donating to the covenant house

Pop Ballet:

with Dawn Hillen

OK gotta run to the Japan benefit concert...BYEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

So So tired...Day 27!!!!

Vocalizations: 35 minutes
Did Kurt's vocal performance class this afternoon, where we did a 20 minute warm-up. Then I performed "A Way Back to then". Came home and rehearsed his notes from class and warmed down my voice for another 15-20 minutes. I received some really important notes in today's performance class. It was all in the acting choices and how they are communicated. I did my song as a monologue then as the "little girl" who then suddenly finds herself taking life too seriously. Anyway my acting choices previously were too small and not communicated clearly. This was a wake up call for me, I realised afterwards that I am really holding back. And it shows in every aspect of my performing. I haven't given myself entirely to my singing, which is no one's fault but mine. I haven't because I'm scared...I don't know what of. Maybe the thought that if I give it everything and fail that a part of me will die inside. All I have ever wanted to do since I can remember was to sing. I feel like coming to New York was the peak, the absolute last chance (and first chance) to really give it a shot and now I feel as though I'm standing on the edge of a cliff and I can either fall or take a leap and maybe end up flying. I just want to be able to answer the question 'do I have what it takes?' some days I'm a yes, others I'm lost as to what 'it' is. Whatever happens I want to go home with my head held high knowing that I gave it everything. And right now, I don't think that's the case. Stop holding back!!!!

Live Performance #3:


LADY GAGA!!!!!!!!!!!

It was Amazing!!!!!!!!!! Even though the line to get in was REDICULOUS!

woke up 5am, in line for Gaga at 6am...Sound checks from 7am, 8am she soared onto the stage via flying fox...what an entrance! She definitely knows how to market herself... inspired:)

Broadway Dance classes:

Ballet...

with Andrey Silantyev (my mentor...so good to be back in his class!)

Pilates:

with Linda Farell

Yoga:

with Amber Paul

Demo Day...Day 26

Vocalizations: 45 minutes
Warmed up at 8am this morning so I would be ready by the time I got to the studio

Breakfast:

Banana and strawberries:)

Record A Demo:
Today I went to Moonlab studios in Brooklyn to record my demo for youtube.
I was rushing around to get there on time, and it was boiling hot...and then I realized I was actually an hour early! Clearly I can't read a DIGITAL clock correctly! Anyway, it gave me time to relax before I went to record.
The backing track I used has these weird backing vocals which are a little too loud and distracting but that can't be helped. It was a change hearing my voice through a REAL microphone! It picks up everything!

We spent the first 15 minutes working on levels in the head-sets, backing tracks, my feedback levels etc. Then maybe 40 minutes of me singing. The rest of the time was spent editing. Enhancing the softer parts to match the rest of the track. I asked to hear the difference if he added in auto-tune, and there wasn't a noticeable difference, which is good. Atleast I'm singing in tune:)

Lane and me outside the singing booth

I am now officially on youtube!
It was between "Black Velvet" or "Friday" by Rebecca Black...clearly I can't match her awesomeness, so I chose to pay homage to Alannah Miles instead:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMFhsXXexRI

I still have around 9 more dance classes to do over the weekend...so fingers crossed my ankle will stick it out!
Also this morning I had a look at my stats on this blog, and it's had over 1000 views! Thanks everyone for the support, and emails of encouragement! It really has helped me...Love you xoxox

On the home stretch...Day 25

Vocalizations: 45 minutes
Songs Worked on: "A Way Back to Then" and "21 Guns"

Breakfast:

Low-fat yoghurt and Banana & Walnut Natural Granola

Singing Lesson #4:

Christian Fletcher

In my lesson we worked on Black Velvet and my mouth shape (need to stick my lips forward more!)

Had some really encouraging feedback from Christian, after 4 lessons I feel like I have already come alot further in my soprano. Got to a High F in a Lyric Soprano! woohooo...

Charitable Deed #5:

This Afternoon I volunteered at the West Side Campaign Against Hunger food pantry. Here it is set-up like a supermarket (on a smaller scale). One third of the food is donated and two thirds is purchased by the Church/WSCAH. Anyone may come and shop here, it works on a points system...the more people in your household, the more points you have to use in the food pantry. The points are allocated to each catagory e.g Every person is able to have 1 x rice, 1 x Pasta, 1 x Bread bag, 1 x cereal...then I may have 3 points to use on beans (so I may purchase 3 pkts of beans), 8 points on vegetables (so I may have 8 pounds worth of fresh vegetables or 8 tins of canned veggies, or you may split it) the other catagories are Meat/Poultry/Fish, Dairy, Fruit, Extra item. They do not ask for a referral from their guests, they believe if you have come here for help, then you must need it. I helped other customers today in working out the point system and helping them choose the right amount of things (many were non-English speaking, and some were unable to read). Then when the pantry closed I helped stock shelves for a few hours. There were boxes and boxes...I really enjoyed volunteering here! And will aim to work here for a couple of hours every week. 

The shelves to be stocked...

Packing up

I also called the Holy Apostle soup kitchen to arrange to drop off the clothes I picked up from the neighbours BUT they told me they couldn't take anymore clothes! oh no...So I asked here at the WSCAH if they needed clothing donations, and they do! Perfect:) I will hopefully get a chance to drop them off in the next couple of days.

Dinner:

Whole-wheat spaghetti with LOTS of Garlic (to keep the Vampires away, as well as help my sore throat), parsley, olive oil and black pepper

P.S. Garlic is amazing! My throat feels better already... sort of.

Also had a physio appointment today...during which I mentioned my hip was playing up. So Shannon (the physio) decided to dig her elbow into my butt cheek for the most painful 10 minutes of my LIFE!!! I thought she was going to rupture my glute, and as I held back the tears I thought "why did I even mention it?" Anyway it fixed my hip but was the pain really worth it? Im going to have bruises for a week atleast! Apparently my sacroiliac joint was out which can also effect my balance and other problems, so lucky she fixed it. But my ankle is stronger. i still need to take care of it and do my exercises but there is improvement, no swelling...yay for returning to dance!