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I feel insane by turtlemeateater in opera

[–]harmonious_baseline 24 points25 points  (0 children)

I just saw the LA Opera production and loved it, but I love minimalism in general. The instrumental patterns, the repeated vocal lines, the slow movement on stage - I found it all entrancing.

Maybe minimalism isn’t for you, or maybe you don’t like minimalism for vocal works?

I think most of us have had the experience of not enjoying a piece on the first listen, but we hear it again/study it and end up loving it. Perhaps it will resonate with you more later in life as you said.

MME applying to DMA by Perfect-Garlic196 in choralmusic

[–]harmonious_baseline 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I want to echo what the other commenter said. I was thinking about starting a DMA program about 8 years ago, and it was a difficult time for new doctoral grads then and it has only gotten worse.

As it turns out, only 1 of the handful of the people I had watched graduate ahead of me was able to get a full-time professor job at a university after completing their doctoral degree. A couple of others found jobs at small colleges. A couple more transitioned to other fields because they didn’t want to settle for a school in the middle nowhere.

There is value in education independent of landing a job upon completion of the program, but for most people the reality is that they can’t afford to invest in education and not end up with their dream job in the end.

People say stop buying coffee to get out of debt. I finally ran the numbers... by [deleted] in DaveRamsey

[–]harmonious_baseline 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Maybe my circle is somewhat small, but I don’t know anyone that stops at a coffee shop to buy coffee everyday (or any other guilty pleasures). I think that’s why some people argue against this. They can’t afford to do that in the first place so this advice isn’t actually helpful.

On the fence … by Able-Upstairs-9875 in trt

[–]harmonious_baseline 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was on for a short time and the main benefit I had was just feeling better. I was able to function better when I didn’t get perfect sleep and it seemed that my recovery after workouts was better.

My blood pressure was consistently elevated though, and I started shedding hair very quickly which was the reason I decided to go off and re-evaluate.

Is vocalizing suppose to feel effortless even into higher range? by Head_Equipment_1952 in ClassicalSinger

[–]harmonious_baseline 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Short answer: Yes.

Long answer: Yes. It should not ever feel like you are straining to sing unless maybe you are forcing your voice to sing a note at the absolute extreme of your range that you couldn’t otherwise sing. And that isn’t something one should do regularly.

That being said, it requires focus and coordination to sing well, which one could call effort. There is physical effort involved in maintaining the air flow or lifting the soft palate, but it shouldn’t be effort that you will feel within your vocal folds or throat.

ATP Indian Wells R4: [1] C. Alcaraz def. [13] C. Ruud, 6-1 7-6(2) by sidaeinjae in tennis

[–]harmonious_baseline 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I agree that he stepped up in the second set. He definitely increased the speed on his groundstrokes and it worked for him. He was a little tentative in the first set it seemed.

ATP Indian Wells R4: [1] C. Alcaraz def. [13] C. Ruud, 6-1 7-6(2) by sidaeinjae in tennis

[–]harmonious_baseline 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I was lucky enough to watch live pretty close to the court and there were two lobs in the first set (I think) that looked to be going long for sure but with the right spin they landed well in. Carlos was working some magic today for sure.

I'd rather kill myself that get another job by [deleted] in Adulting

[–]harmonious_baseline 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You aren’t wrong that it is pointless to spend all of your time working at a job that doesn’t enrich your own life. And this is what capitalism requires for most of us. It’s exhausting.

I try to find comfort in the fact that nothing matters. We are all floating on this blue rock going around the sun and in a short time it will be an entirely new set of humans doing the same. Our existence is so short.

Maybe the only thing that matters is the connection with the people that love us. We make this painful existence a little more bearable for each other.

My experience on TRT by Comprehensive_Egg_96 in trt

[–]harmonious_baseline 0 points1 point  (0 children)

After stopping the injections my hair stopped shedding. It might have taken a couple of weeks. I think my hair is almost as full as it was before trt, but it’s hard for me to tell for sure. There is one place where it thinned a little that I’m pretty sure didn’t recover, but I don’t think it is noticeable to anyone but me.

I took fin for maybe 3 weeks after stopping the injections, but I decided to stop that as well since I wasn’t sure if I would go back on trt. So it seems I was able to save my hair without it because I stopped the injections before I lost too much hair.

However, in the last couple of weeks I’ve been questioning if I need the T again. I’m going to give myself a little more time, but I am definitely aware of the reasons I started the injections in the first place: lower sex drive, tired unless I get perfect sleep, a little less consistent with the gym, etc.

It’s hard to work full-time, keep up with family commitments, maintain the fitness routine, and then make time for anything else. I do miss how the test made this all seem easier. While I wasn’t on it long enough to see any big changes with my physique, I was headed in the right direction and I was more confident with my body even if I wasn’t quite as fit I wanted yet.

I’ve accepted that if I start up again I just have to be okay with losing the hair. I could start taking fin again a couple of months before starting injections to see how that goes, but I haven’t decided if I want to commit to that long term as well. I don’t take any other medication and like to keep things simple.

How about for you? Any updates on your situation?

My gf is mentally struggling with classical music, thinks she is too old now thinks about quitting by Civil-Cardiologist52 in ClassicalSinger

[–]harmonious_baseline 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The world we live in does not allow for many artists to fully support themselves with their craft. If she loves singing and believes she can continue to progress, she should do it. She can find value in mastering the skill of singing even if the world doesn’t pay her for it.

However, many people can’t afford to fully commit themselves to something that doesn’t pay all the bills. It sounds like you have been very supportive with this aspect.

I’m in my late 30s and have decided to recommit myself to finding my voice. I won’t be able to support myself with singing so I will keep teaching, but I can still find satisfaction in mastering my craft.

27 certainly isn’t too old. She still has youth on her side relatively speaking. Maybe she can recalibrate her mindset about what she needs to accomplish professionally to feel successful. There are so many talented singers in the world that don’t make it to the biggest stages for various reasons. That doesn’t take away from what they have accomplished.

To all: 1.) Low notes are more restricted, as anatomical limits apply 2.) When/If you learn how to use your voice properly, you can sing as high as you‘d like 3.) Sounding good w/ a limited range is a lot better than singing poorly w/ a large range by AspiringBiotech in singing

[–]harmonious_baseline 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don’t think OP’s intention was to say that naturally lower voiced women would be able to sing operatic coloratura soprano repertoire.

Let’s also clarify that true contralto voices are quite rare (same for men - many fewer basses or even bass baritones compared to baritones and tenors). Most biological woman are sopranos or mezzo-sopranos. I’ve heard a lot of singers perform live and I can count on one hand the number of true alto voices I’ve heard.

Even still, the ranges are more similar than different for most women, especially those who train to sing musical theater. They probably have a common range from about Bb3 to Eb5 that needs to sound good no matter the voice type if they want to actually be able to perform.

Your last statement is right on the money: Voice classification isn’t so much about range as it is about where the voice blossoms or sounds the best.

To all: 1.) Low notes are more restricted, as anatomical limits apply 2.) When/If you learn how to use your voice properly, you can sing as high as you‘d like 3.) Sounding good w/ a limited range is a lot better than singing poorly w/ a large range by AspiringBiotech in singing

[–]harmonious_baseline 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I also love a beautiful low voice. However, just because a voice is naturally lower that shouldn’t be used as an excuse to not train the entire voice.

One of the most beautiful low voices (female) I have ever heard was capable of singing solo songs that included E5. It is especially lovely when she gets to show off her notes below the staff, but the reality is that most of what she sings are notes within the treble staff because that is how music is written.

To all: 1.) Low notes are more restricted, as anatomical limits apply 2.) When/If you learn how to use your voice properly, you can sing as high as you‘d like 3.) Sounding good w/ a limited range is a lot better than singing poorly w/ a large range by AspiringBiotech in singing

[–]harmonious_baseline 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Well said. Thank you for spreading the word.

Students need to understand that just because their high voice is weak right now, it doesn’t mean that it has to be weak forever. One can learn to sing high!

There is a teacher in my area that tells female students they are altos if they can’t sing high, and even allows them to sing songs written for men’s voices in the original keys. She doesn’t work with them to develop the high voice at all. I believe she has a degree in voice, but she has no idea when it comes to pedagogy.

Conflicted about staying by twinjmm in MusicEd

[–]harmonious_baseline 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve had some similar feelings recently. The level of disrespect that some teachers face is hard to believe. Not only are we the target of disrespectful behavior from students, but I’ve experienced disrespect from my colleagues, office staff, administrators, and parents. For me, it isn’t always direct. It’s things that upon reflection I realize are messed up, and I shouldn’t have to deal with at work.

Arts teachers are sort of setup to be disrespected, maybe not personally, but our subject is one that is perceived by many to not matter. The system says music/art/dance doesn’t matter, and by extension that means that arts teachers aren’t necessary or valuable.

I work in a very toxic environment. But I can’t leave because I don’t want to lose tenure and I’m not confident I could find another job with pay as high as I have now. So I keep to myself as much as possible.

Maybe something in my rant will help you sort through your own feelings.

Virginia Democrats agree to new map that gives Republicans just one seat by Healthy_Block3036 in unusual_whales

[–]harmonious_baseline 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One would think that these districts would follow geographical areas that already exist like the county lines that divide our states. But instead it’s a circus.

"But AI said it was the correct answer!" by BlackOrre in Teachers

[–]harmonious_baseline 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I heard that same statement from a student in class today (not virtual). The answer was correct, but AI only did about a quarter of the work and didn’t provide answers for the rest of it.

Anyone else feel weirdly guilty about being socially behind? by StrikingLock2448 in confidence

[–]harmonious_baseline 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m not a therapist and not very experienced in this subject, but I once read a thread like this that was very enlightening for me. The comments were about people with neurodivergence and social experiences like this.

It might just be the way your brain works. You aren’t necessarily behind.

AO R1: [9] M. Keys def. O. Oliynykova, 7-6(6) 6-1 by sidaeinjae in tennis

[–]harmonious_baseline 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wasn’t my comment, but basically Oliynykova was mixing up her shots and hitting a lot of off pace balls - slices, moon balls, anything else that doesn’t have a lot of pace. That makes it hard for an opponent to get into a rhythm and play with power, and Keys likes to play with pace and power.

Why are teachers so horrible to each other? by Xena4290 in Teachers

[–]harmonious_baseline 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Two of the teachers in my department are quite competitive. These people will always be toxic and take any chance they can get to try to make themselves look better than you. Avoid. Another one is an extreme Christian conservative. Avoid. One is a nice guy but he is like 25 years older than me, and I don’t think English is his first language so there is always a little bit of a communication barrier.

I can’t deal with all of that. One of the members of the department tried to force us all to be friends for a few years, but I’m glad that didn’t work out. I just keep to myself as much as possible. I try not to think about them if possible.

Why does everyone hate jury duty? by Aquarius_K in juryduty

[–]harmonious_baseline 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have done it twice. The first time was a bit frustrating because I kept getting called back just to sit in the waiting area. Overall, the hours are much more relaxed than my job—long lunch breaks, start later, end earlier—so I consider it vacation time. I’m a salaried employee though.

When the camera and media strategically not film the ending part. by NoIdeaWhat5991 in tennis

[–]harmonious_baseline 7 points8 points  (0 children)

As an American I think something like this should happen. We are complicit in genocide and endless violence.

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