Jumping into January
- Bailey Sheats
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Hello and happy new year! I’m writing this on what feels like the 78th day of January after finally shoveling that last of Sunday’s snowstorm from my driveway. Don’t worry, the first thing I did after it snowed was shovel a path for Fred in the backyard.
We were thrilled to jump right into new music when we returned from the holidays! Along with the traditional selection of new songs, we’re also spending rehearsal time working on our performance skills. Now that we are in our fifth year together, we’re challenging ourselves to perfect our sound by listening to each other more and improving how we balance our voices. We start each rehearsal with warmups focused on adjusting our volume together. One of my favorite exercises begins with one person singing a note, and then passing it around to each group member. We all try to match the person who sings before us, so to the listener, it sounds like a single continuous note. It teaches us to think about volume, pitch, and intonation, and I can feel how it is helping us hear each other better when singing songs together.
Another exercise, which guests at this year’s annual concert will be treated to, is layering parts. Looping one section of a song, we start with one part and as they begin the second round, another part joins in. Eventually everyone joins in, and the audience gets an inside look at how a song is put together. If you want to see our inspiration for this, check out @maisiebull on Instagram.
Speaking of our annual concert, keep an eye on our social media and website for details on our fourth annual concert. You read that right - FOURTH! I often think back on our first annual concert - walking into the room to find every seat filled, with people standing in the back. I knew then that our community was exceptional; to feel everyone’s support as we shared our first songs with you was the best feeling. Every year, I’m honored to see more of you in the crowd, cheering us on.
We’re also excited to be part of Pop Up PortFringe again this year. Just a few weeks before our annual concert, we’ll be joining other Portland actors and theater lovers as we tell the story of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid in creative ways. Learn more at portfringe.com.
Like so many, our hearts are heavy with the violence ICE has imposed on immigrant families in Maine and across the country, which has us thinking about how we can be better neighbors and community members. We are doubling down on our efforts to spread joy and connection through music, but we want to do more than that. As a group, we decided to donate to local organizations who are supporting those affected by ICE raids, providing legal aid, groceries, transportation, and much more. Please consider joining us in support of our community - the links below can help you identify how to do so:
Until next month, stay warm and safe out there.
Comments