Full Contact Caroling

Not exactly full contact - but definitely marthon like.
Last night was not a "hit it out of the park" kind of night for any group with whom I sang. First caroling gig - Parole Town Center - it had it's challenges. In my vow to not be critical of any one person. . I will only say that it was a group effort at mediocrity. I'm a member of that group.

Next gig - WBAL Children's Fund concert - better. Only thing that really annoyed me there, and that annoys me at any time - is to lose my "lostness" in the music by someone pointing up with a wise expression at everyone - indicating "you are going flat". As if the group I was with actually had to be told that - those people with whom I was singing - are just fine musicians - and know better. Not to mention the group leader was involved in the singing and didn't even budge to knowingly look at us and point up like. . . okay you guys - it's really important not to go flat - really? I didn't know that.

Back to my same argument which has been repeated over and over and over again in this blog: Get your head out of the music and put your heart into it. Suspend judgment of yourself and others and just do your best - you cannot control other people. Isn't that amazing - you cannot control other people. No matter how well you want them to sing you have absolutely no control over that. So, what does that leave you - well, that leaves you YOU. YOU are the only one you can be responsible for in the long run.

Many people annoy you. Fact. Singing next to everyone isn't the best experience. Fact. Here's another fact - why should I feel so privileged that I expect to always have situations around me perfect? Ain't gonna happen. Perfection has only been achieved by one Being of which I am aware. If someone knows someone else - let me know.

I think you have to examine your motivations. Are you singing to sing with a perfect group? Find another group. Are you singing to sing with a group who is accurate all the time? Find another group. Are you singing to make perfect music? Find another group. I really hurt for people who were raised by the critical and then internalized that critical nature in themselves. Worse, they are also critical of themselves. What is the result - they back off. They never jump over the edge - they always carefully check to see if it's safe, if it's okay, if they can get it back if they make mistakes. Jump people!

I once had someone say that when you sing, you think with your heart and feel with your brain. . . many of us need to get that process in place. Love what you do. . . put everything into it. . invest your heart, soul, and mind into it and realize that there is absolutely NOTHING that you can do about mistakes or flatness around you.

It just frustrates me and, guess what? It frustrates me more than someone singing flat. I really want everyone to have a WONDERFUL time just singing. Do I want you to bring your A game? Darn straight I do. Do I want you to care about it as much as I do? Yep. Do I have any control over that - NOPE. So, what does that leave me - the music and me. And that's what it comes down to - the music and me.