Snapshots

To catch up on much time passed, here are a few snapshots of life in OZ. Enjoy!

The Jacaranda trees are in full bloom (my favorite Aussie tree so far!) and that means EXAMS in uni world. That's right! I am in my final week of classes and will be done my first semester by November 19th (for those of you shaking your heads right now, just remember that while you were lounging on the beach this summer, I was already hitting the books). This semester has flown by and I have loved learning again, especially about something in which I'm so passionate.

At the beginning of October I had the incredible opportunity to volunteer (and thereby attend for FREE) at a conference for the Australian National Association of Teachers of Singing. This was an incredible opportunity as it exposed me to resources and connections that I otherwise wouldn't have been privy to. I left feeling inspired and even more motivated to learn all I can about the voice.

This book was officially released at the Conference. Two note-worthy people have a chapter published in it:

1. A PhD student, Daniel Robinson, who is doing his thesis on Teaching the Contemporary Worship Singer. He was highlighted on the Griffith University website and is one of the reasons I am here! I had coffee with him in September and we had a great discussion about worship and singers in the church. He is doing much of what I hope to do in Canada once my studies are completed. A great contact has been made here!
2. My current voice teacher and pedagogue mentor, Irene Bartlett. I need to share with you a quote or two from Irene's chapter as it confirms once again that I am in the right place. Her chapter is entitled, One Size Doesn't Fit All: Tailored Training for Contemporary Commercial Singers.

"Singers of non-classical styles have urgent need for a pedagogy that fits their genre, one that recognises that produced vocal tone, registration and sound qualities inherent in their commercial singing differ greatly from accepted, western classical-music standards."

"I propose that with some modification to accepted thinking and practice, it is possible for voice teachers to build a healthy vocal technique for all singers, regardless of style."

It is the second statement in particular that actually choked me up. I have said these very words in my search for ways to help my contemporary students. That was about four years ago and now here it is in writing and with some answers! I truly believe God led me here to study with Irene. He is so good and has done far more than I could have ever imagined.
And of course, what would life be without the awesome (and oh so entertaining) people that you get to enjoy it with? Dave has returned from his trip to Canada (let me tell you, if you ever want to know how to travel cheap, this is your man! 2 months in Canada, traveling across the country in a car he bought for $350 and slept in and then sold it again for the same price...this guy has got to be somebody's hero...). So our fourth housemate has been re-instated. And the car that he gave me to drive is a lot easier to steer now that he put some air in the tires...oops. (How was I to know the tires weren't made that small?!)

(L-R: Megan, Bel, Me, Anne-Marie, Kim, Deb)

Bel likes to organize "themed" tea parties. We just had an Australian-themed tea party to welcome Kim, a former housemate, back home from London, England. These ladies are a blessing in my life and we have lots of fun together! Other tea parties have included "Tartan" (either wear it or bring tarts), "Goodbye...to Dubai!)" (as we said good bye to a friend moving to Dubai to work for an airline...everyone had to wear turbans)....and it continues. Never a dull moment in Daisy Hill!

So there you have it...or at least a piece of it. There are many "moments" I would love to share, but I'm not sure blogger.com can handle it. Hope it's given a taste! More to come...