The source of this quotation may be Outward Bound, the program that helps people gain confidence through adventure. Or someone named Patricia Ryan Madison, a leading teacher in improvisational theater. Or Gretchen Rubin’s mother. Whoever! I will quote my friend Cecelia here again, who said about a youth group trip to the Six Flags amusement park during the heat and humidity of a Virginia summer, “No one can make me miserable.”
Okay, we’re now launched into the rehearsals for the March concert of the Cherry Creek Chorale. Usually I say about the current concert, “This is the best one ever!” which is a good attitude. I get into it.I even said that about our Celtic concert a couple of years ago when we had to learn several songs in Welsh. Mercy! But I got into it. I loved it. I was even glad that we did three performances, since that meant one more opportunity to sing this very difficult but very beautiful music.
But for this upcoming concert? Not so much. The main reason has been that about half of the concert is comprised of show tunes from old movies. (Our title is “Movies and Masterworks.”) So we’re singing “Cheek to Cheek” and “That Old Black Magic” and “They Can’t Take That Away from Me.” And “Pennies from Heaven.” Oh, and “Somewhere” from West Side Story. I’m not all that much of a fan of West Side Story, to be honest. Don’t shoot me! While I recognize the flair and artistry of those songs, they’re just not much to my taste. So I have basically three choices: I can 1) not sing in this concert, which I would never do as I love being part of the Chorale so much, or 2) sing, but not work on the music and just slide by, which I was sort of doing until this week and which is very unsatisfying, or 3) get into it.
So I’ve decided I’d better go with option #3. Today I have on the schedule that I should spend an hour going over the music. I’m finding that some of these songs are a lot more complicated and difficult than they might seem. I’m of course writing my usual posts over on the Behind the Music blog. (Be sure and check those out if you haven’t done so.) And I’m thinking that I might try to watch 2-3 of the films and at least hunt up the scenes that contain the songs we’re singing for the rest. I’m going to throw myself into it. Our concert is March 10 & 11, so five weeks from tomorrow. (The link will take you to the page where you can buy tickets.) I’m making a commitment to work on some aspect of the music every day. And you know what? At some point I’ll probably find myself saying, “This is the best concert ever!”
What’s an aspect of your life where you need to get into it?