WE KNOW YOUR PASSWORD ! Let the games begin!!! (Taken with instagram)
This blog by @b_reith was a GREAT read. It was exactly what I needed to confirm & justify the next chapter in my life; writing. Check it out and check out his music too! #inspired
5 years of my life. Pacific Standard Time - CSULB Vocal Jazz
What is this? This was a freakin’ vocal jazz ensemble! A group of musicians comprised of 10-16 singers and 3 instrumentalists. Plus an amazing director. :) Being a vocal-music major in college, you had to be in ensembles. They not only beefed up your vocal skills but trained your musicianship abilities to the max.
What a crazy run it was! I would NOT be the person or musician I am today had I not been in this group. Singing close harmonies, going on retreats up in the mountains, concerts & performances, educational exchanges and touring; this is what I did for 5 years! And I would never take any of those years back.
This blog will finally be my chance to talk about all the things I never said about PST, things that only surfaced now because of our upcoming reunion this weekend. So here we go!
First off, college for me was PST. It wasn’t partying and drinking (although there was some of this). It wasn’t studying for hours in the library. It definitely wasn’t worrying about having an overload of credits. It was about this group…getting to rehearsals on time, clearing my schedule for performances, practicing and memorizing my part outside of school etc.
This was first priority.
I don’t know why it was. It just was. A big part of it was because of the director, she knows who she is…she changed my life. But we won’t go into that. That’s a blog topic on it’s own.
Another part of it was because I made it into a premier group as a FRESHY-MC-FRESHMEN. That was a big deal to me…and I remember my first rehearsal. My sight-reading skills & technique were HORRIBLE…I had to get better. Everyone around me was better than me. They pushed me. So I got better.
And…another part was because anyone that made it into that group afterwards became some of my closest friends. I won’t name names. Could you imagine being in a performing group with these kids for years? Bound to be homies. CMON!
So it was a priority. And because it was a priority, my musicianship improved IMMENSELY. I always have work to do…there’s always room to grow, but I wouldn’t be able to hear or sing music the way I do now without it. It taught me to be disciplined in my singing…it refined and strengthened my voice.
I also have an appreciation not only for jazz (which is what we mostly sang - straight ahead stuff), but I have an all around respect for all types of genres. You name it. I probably sang in that style/groove for at least two bars in one of the arrangements.
Anyways, going to the ending of all this. I was hurting after I graduated. I had SO MANY withdrawals, I didn’t know what to do with myself Tues and Thurs 3pm-4:30pm and Wednesday nights 7-9pm. I missed it so much. It got better as time passed, every now and then I think about it. But man, that first year out of school was rough. I wanted to go back, but knew I couldn’t.
Ok I’m gonna stop going into the details, you get it. It doesn’t end there though, there is SO MUCH MORE I can say. So many things that I can’t even sum up with one blog. So maybe I’ll conclude.
Yeah. I’ll conclude with this. Where ever you are in life, enjoy it. Revel in it. Because you’re not gonna be there forever. As I continue to memorize my music for this upcoming weekend I’m definitely going to enjoy it as best I can. Mostly everyone that I met in college will be there…plus the kids that were in the group before my time. It’s going to be some what weird, yet amazing. I can’t wait to make a documentary on it. Can’t wait to sing a solo for it. Can’t wait to sing with amazing singers. Can’t wait to see everyone and be back in PST again, at least for a little bit. :)
Wow, this was JUST what I needed to hear. I spent 20 minutes listening to EVERY word she had to say. Every artist needs to hear this, maybe this can change your perspective too? Thanks to my friend and my voice/life teacher, Christine Helferich Guter, and friends Alex Domingo and Steven Blum for posting this. #OLE
Website is spiffy looking for the new year. New photography and events updated! Thanks for all ya’lls support. :D
Hey ya’ll! My website is going through some changes, it’ll be back up on Monday. :) Love, VJ
I was in 6th grade when I saw this scene. GOOD TIMES! :)
Check out my friends’ new, SICK, song “I Rememeber.” She is SANGIN on this one! I <3 @GenevieveArtadi.
