Special Gifts

I believe that my best Christmas present came early this year. My dear friend, Catherine came to visit me for a whole week! We were fully aware of how perfectly timed this visit was...a gift all in itself. Catherine had to book her flights way back in March (she also went to Perth to spend Christmas with her sister), before I was even accepted into Uni or even knew for sure if I was moving to Australia. But I did and had finished my first semester and moved to a new house just in time to welcome my friend to my little world. I didn't have a summer job yet, so other than a few students, I was totally free to be with Catherine and have some great adventures.

(picking up Catherine @ Brisbane Airport)

It was fun showing someone from home where I live and go to Uni and meet some people in my life here. Catherine said that she had pictured me in a Canadian version of Australia, but that this is truly a different world.

We did a lot in our 6 days together. I had the pleasure of being Catherine's personal shopper as I gladly spent her money on new clothes since she forgot her suitcase back in Canada. A minor setback that barely phased us and any sorrows that remained were drowned at Max Brenner, the BEST chocolate restaurant in the world (it's American, so if you find one on our continent, GO!). Despite rainy weather, we managed to get some beach time in at Byron Bay, Surfers Paradise and Marcoola Beach on the Sunshine Coast. The rain stopped long enough for us to walk around, enjoy the view, and play in the waves. We hit the markets, randomly found a glow worm cave tour, hiked through some rain forest, enjoyed some seafood, looked over the Glass House Mountains, and drove scooters around a small island (C also fell off the scooter on the small island...). We enjoyed my new home, cooking some Aussie treats, swimming in the pool, and watching the evening come in as the birds go to sleep, crickets and frogs sing and fruit bats start flying in.

(@ the Big Pineapple on the Sunshine Coast)

How did we get around, you may ask? Why the Datsun Sunny plugged along the coast quite nicely. We bought defogger for the windshield as the air vents didn't do the job of keeping the windshield clear. Turns out neither did the defogger...we used towels. Catherine also discovered a massive water leak on the passenger side as her feet were soaked by the end of a rainy day. We had a couple of hot days and were once again grateful for the invention of air conditioning...in our vehicles back in Canada. Windows rolled down and fluids checked daily, we made our mark on the Eastern Coast of Australia.

Lots of laughter and really cherishing the little things in life, it was an unforgettable week! Catherine is one of the people who has walked with me from the beginning of this journey. It was a cool gift for both of us to celebrate and see how God has blessed and provided, both in direction, dreams and friendship.

(@ Byron Bay)

Moving up in the world

December marked my 7th move in 5 years. I was more than happy to make this move, although Bel did say one HAS to have this kind of living experience to really appreciate the good things in life.

Our lease was up at Daisy Hill and we decided not to renew. Deb got married in November, so we downsized to a smaller house, but definitely have moved up in the world! Dave & Bel's dad has rented us a beautiful newly renovated house in Shailer Park. We even have a pool, just in time for the hot, humid summer! Bedrooms are a bit smaller, but the teaching studio is bigger.

So we've gladly said goodbye to our old house. Gone is the moldy shower, the cockroach infested kitchen, the spider-ridden downstairs. Now we're learning all about maintaining a pool (not easy when it's been raining almost everyday) and trying to keep the house looking new (not easy when you live with Bel & Dave...). :)

Here's a tour of our old house/new house!

'Tis the Season

In keeping with my dad's tradition, I have waited until December 1st to get into the Christmas spirit. I have to admit that with no snow and daily increasing temperatures, I'm not quite into it just yet...but maybe this song will help (I had hoped to upload it on here, but it appears I lack a media player).

Sizzlin' Summer Land (sung to tune of Winter Wonderland, of course)
Door bell rings, it's the neighbour
He needs a hand with some labour
I won't be a fool, 'cause he's got a pool
And I'm sweatin' in a sizzlin' summer land

Ceiling fans are a bad joke
I should have listened to the sales bloke
Could have got an AC, on interest free
But I'm sweatin' in a sizzlin' summer land

In the morning we can hit the beach and
Cool down, slapping on the 15plus
Up at 6am to beat the traffic
Don't forget to lock up Uncle Gus

Kids all chant, "Are we there yet"
"Enjoy the view and stop the racquet
There's a beautiful sight, it's a kangaroo fight"
Now I'm sweatin' in a sizzlin' summer land

By the seashore we can build a sandman
We'll pretend that he is Santa Claus
If you dribble water on his belly
He looks like Jabba the Hutt from Star Wars

Blue bottles sting, are you screaming
It's the pain, as their clinging
It gives you a fright, least it's not a shark bite
Sweatin' in a sizzlin' summer land
(Alternative lyrics by C. Burnett of Scat, a Brisbane Jazz band)

Enjoy the snow.

Cords (hear us and have mercy)

*Just had to re-post this as the original video had been removed from YouTube.

Here's a YouTube video that Irene showed us in our final pedagogy class today. This reflects some of what I've been studying all semester. Very cool...and gross...but mostly cool. You can see how different each voice is in size and function. Soprano, alto, bass, and tenor. Each with different size of folds. It's so amazing to me how we make sound with two tiny folds that lengthen and shorten and vibrate. I can't imagine how difficult it would have been for these singers to keep their cool as they sang with the stroboscope in. WARNING: it's not pleasant to watch...but this is what the voice looks like. So if you can stomach it, be amazed with me!

(Looking down on the vocal folds, you can see the epiglottis which assists in swallowing, you can see the vocal folds staying open as they breath and come together when they sing. They also change length as they sing different notes (lengthen for high notes, shorten for low notes). The two "horns" at the back of the folds are cartilage that closes/opens the vocal folds.)

A Glimpse into my studies

Here's a YouTube video that Irene showed us in our final pedagogy class today. This reflects some of what I've been studying all semester. Very cool...and gross...but mostly cool. You can see how different each voice is in size and function. Soprano, alto, bass, and tenor. Each with different size of folds. It's so amazing to me how we make sound with two tiny folds that lengthen and shorten and vibrate. I can't imagine how difficult it would have been for these singers to keep their cool as they sang with the stroboscope in. WARNING: it's not pleasant to watch...but this is what the voice looks like. So if you can stomach it, be amazed with me!

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...

Brief Encounters

Time is flying by! The more I settle in here, the busier I get and the less time I have to post blogs. So it's time to catch up.

Let me take you back to 1996...I promise we won't stay there very long.

I was 18 and experienced my first taste of independence as I toured for 6 weeks in the summer with the Continental Singers (there are actually people who are proud of this fact...I'm still making up my mind). Despite the inevitable cheese-factor of this singing/dancing choir, the experience had a huge impact on my life. For the first time in my life, I was surrounded by people who loved music as much as I did and who wanted to use it to serve God.

There was one girl in particular that I had a "kindred spirit" connection with. Amy & I would hunch down in the seats of the tour bus for hours, solving all the world's problems and a few of our own. When tour ended, she gave me a small gift that she had brought with her on tour to give to a new friend. It was very special...I still have it somewhere!

After tour, I went off to college and Amy returned to Japan where her dad was posted as a US Military Chaplain. This may be hard to believe, but hardly anyone had email back then! We wrote a couple of letters, but then Amy's family moved from Japan and a letter got bounced back to me...and that was the end of our correspondance.

Nine years later, I had returned to my college to teach singing lessons. I went to the Post Office one day and there was a card in the mail...from Amy. She randomly decided to try and get in touch with me, hoping I would still be at the same address (which would be really depressing if I were still a student there!). The Post Office knew me and just moved the card into my new mailbox. We had reconnected! What a gift! It was amazing to catch up and hear each other's journeys. She was now in Nashville, TN, but it was difficult to line up a time to reconnect in person.

And then Facebook happened...making keeping in touch even easier. Amy has developed a speaking/singing ministry that has flourished and has taken her all over the world. In fact, it took her to Australia, to a young adult retreat on Mt. Tamborine, just 30 minutes from Brisbane. And I just happened to be attending this retreat.

So after 14 years, we reconnected in Australia. How crazy is that? It was really cool to see her again...in fact, we found a couch and hunched down to chat just like we did on the tour bus. Her teaching throughout the weekend was rich and it was exciting to see someone so vibrant in their ministry.

Although we didn't get to spend a ton of time together and it could easily be years before we see each other again, it was a great brief encounter. And even "moment friends" are blessings.

(if I had access to a picture of us in 1996, I would include it...it would make for some good laughs)