An Introduction

So, for my first post I felt that it was probably best to introduce myself - hello, I'm Kyera. And now I'm sure you're saying, "Well I gathered that much already if I've found your blog, silly blogger." Okay, okay. I see where you're coming from new friend, so where shall I start? I am officially a college graduate, exciting right? As of two weeks ago, I walked across the stage crowded with distinguished professors who were bedecked in their graduation regalia - or wizard robes. One even resembled a plush velvet foot cushion, but I digress. Upon crossing that stage and receiving my rolled piece of paper (diploma to be received at a future date), I became a member of the real world, the adult club, whatever you wish to call it.  Once I have enough money saved for an apartment (for about two years) and tuition for grad school, that's where my life will be heading. For now, its just working, cleaning, and saving. But you don't particularly care about that, do you? To the interesting stuff - hobbies, likes, dislikes, and all that jazz.

Music is my life. There, I said it and its completely true. Its not just one of those overused tag lines or graphics, music really means so much to me. And I think the same can be said for many people, as music can get one through the good times, the bad, express every emotion you've ever had, or bring you to a type of realization. When I write, music inspires the stories and the characters, when I sing, I am able to express myself or just have pure unadulterated fun. I may not be the best at what I do, but I love it and would never want to stop. I've been singing since I was 16, not professionally, but for fun. Obviously, I sang before that as everyone does along to the radio or to a CD. At the age of 16, I convinced my mother to let me take voice lessons and that is when it all began. My sophomore year of high school, the drama club at my school decided to put on a Disney Cabaret in which we sang various songs from Disney movies such as Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, the Little Mermaid, etc. I'm a pretty quiet person, but I love Disney and wanted a part in the Cabaret. Unfortunately, the circumstances surrounding the auditions did not play out in my favour. They were down to the last 5 people auditioning (there were four people after me, so I was nervous and the next one up) when we were forced to relocate because the basketball team needed to begin practice. At that point, they were already tired and essentially ended the auditions there. I was allowed to sing the first few lines of my song (Colours of the Wind) before they said thank you, that was really sweet (referring to my style of singing), and asked me to do a quick read through. Who knows how it would have turned out had I been given a true chance to audition? Honestly, it probably would have turned out the same way - I was probably not ready to perform like that, I never had before, but it would have been a great first opportunity.

Now as I mentioned, this was hosted by our (newly created) Drama Club, not the school sponsored Drama/Theatre that occurred every other year. So the "director" was a senior, a boy who picked who would be cast in what role. Ironically or not, his friends were the ones who received the main roles and the remaining roles were given to people I believe were deserving of roles, but did not fit the roles they were given. By that, you have someone who sings well in their alto-range, but they were cast as Annie, a small child with a high range. I played one of the orphans from Annie, a townsperson from Beauty and the Beast (who has one of the singing lines in Belle), Nakoma from Pocahontas, a napkin from the Beauty and the Beast number Be Our Guest, and was almost in the Lion King number but it was cut due to time constraints and a limited budget. Now, I may be forgetting something, but I think that's everything. I was asked to help certain individuals with their songs over the course of the rehearsals. Now I was incredibly honoured that they would ask that, believe that I could help people in any fashion, but at the same time - it made me wonder why I was helping people sing and not being allowed to be the one to sing. I was even forced to be a stand-in (pseudo-understudy) for the people who rarely showed up to rehearsals, to sing or act for them. Overall, it was an incredible experience, it was fantastically fun, but the feedback that I received on it "the singing wasn't very good."

It was because of this experience, that I decided that I wanted to start taking voice lessons. For two years, I saw a wonderful person who helped me with my technique, breathing, and range. (Now, my mom didn't like the way that she taught me, thought it didn't make me sound "good" but I definitely think I've improved since I went to her.) When I went to college, unfortunately those lessons had to stop and I've not received any training since then. As much as I would love to take voice lessons once more, I can't afford it at the moment. But someone must have thought that they were worthwhile, as I performed in a few open mic nights with my friend on guitar, and was in a band for a few years though we were never able to record anything, instead just performed covers. In the band, I shared vocals with one of my best friends who was great at figuring out harmonies for us to do. The main reason for the shared mic? I am still not comfortable being the centre of attention. If you're in the car with me, my room, a concert, chorale, or anywhere else... chances are you'll hear me singing. In chorale, I know for a fact that I project more than anyone else there (a curse or gift of my voice lessons) and that means even in a room full of people, if you know my voice you're going to be able to pick it out. And that doesn't bother me. But the solo I'm given in the chorale concert? Incredibly nervous. If its a formal occasion, one in which attention is on me - I become nervous. I just can't help it. Even if I'm the only one singing somewhere like my room or the car, as long as its just casual singing, I'm completely at ease, even if there are multiple people in the room.

I would love to be a singer, to make music videos on YouTube, or record covers on my computer - but I still don't think I'd be ready for that. For the attention, its just not me. If there's someone else with me? I'd probably be more than happy to do it, let them be the one out front and I'll just be supporting in the background. I'm happy that way. Perhaps I can find someone talented to teach me guitar, piano, or ukelele so that I have my instrument and I can officially just do backup vocals. Any takers? Granted I also have a djembe drum, but I think I'd be better off learning the strings or keys to accompany myself. I've tried picking them up and learning on my own, but I honestly think that I'm not disciplined enough to do so unless I have a teacher. Otherwise, I pick up the guitar, strum the chords to Mad World for a few hours until it feels natural and that's it. I memorize how to play something (usually on piano, or the notes on guitar) before I am able to internalize the chord structure, scale, or read the music. I'm sure I could memorize the note scale, but as a kinesthetic learner - I learn by doing.

Since we're talking about music, you may be wondering what I'm listening to as I write this ramblog, because I know that I can ramble a bit when I blog or write. Two days ago, I discovered this incredible band by accident - Anthem Lights. If you've never listened to them before, I suggest you do so right now. Best of Pop 2012 Mashup begins playing through my speakers, "I'm at a payphone... I threw a wish in the well..." and instantly the music junkie in me becomes interested. Whenever I sing, I usually try to harmonize or figure out how I can turn a song into a duet. This is because whenever I sing, I have one of my best friends (the great harmonizer) singing with me or my actual BEST friend. Which means, its a duet and if I'm singing with my best friend it means that I need to figure out how to harmonize on it, pick who sings when, etc. That's just kind of my job with us, I figure out what we do and she learns it. The second the song begins to play, I just know its something that we need to cover, its beautiful and all their harmonies are spot on. I'm incredibly jealous. I am not very talented in that department, if you figure out a harmony for me to do I can be spot on, but I just need to practice a lot more to develop my talents of harmonizing on the fly. Back to the song though, its immediately one of the best harmonies I've heard, and on top of that its a mash up, even better. I finish the song and go in search of their music, discovering they have an entire album of covers (score, download album from Amazon) and some of their covers are Give Your Heart A Break, Don't You Worry Child, and a One Direction Medley. (They've also recently posted a Mirrors cover on their YouTube.) I hope