This week has seen a lot of focus on singing. There’s been lots of singing in our last three rehearsals for Calendar Girls before we get into the theatre on Sunday and practising the numbers at home in between rehearsals. We’ve had two more run-throughs of the show and I’m so excited about getting on stage next week and playing the role of Annie. I have three solo numbers in the show, all of which are quite emotional songs and are challenging ones to sing, but hopefully I can do them justice.
Sunday was a very busy day with a run-through with costumes and props, which was then followed by more singing in the evening as I was performing two solos and a duet in a concert. It was a bit of a rush to get there in time. Thankfully my numbers were in the second half, although I did make it there before the concert started!
Sophie has also been doing lots of singing in her panto rehearsals and preparing for the Year 7 singing festival which took place yesterday at school. She was really pleased that she was selected to sing a solo number in the singing festival after auditioning for this. Unfortunately, she was unwell yesterday and ended up being unable to take part which was a shame.
I usually play the piano at church each week to accompany the hymns, but this week I also played the organ for the first time in several months. Last time I played it in a service, I was a little too ambitious with accompanying a couple of hymns and got mixed up with using the pedals which didn’t sound great. Since then I’ve been focusing on just playing the piano in services while carrying on with my organ lessons. I set myself a target of being able to play the organ at the end of the service, or for a part of the service where I wasn’t accompanying singing, such as during communion, in the autumn and so this week was my first try. It wasn’t perfect, but no-one seemed to notice the couple of small mistakes, and I had some nice comments about my playing which was good. I’m now focusing on Christmas carols with the aim of playing them during a carol service in December, and maybe next year I’ll be confident enough to accompany some hymns as well!
What I’ve been grateful for this week:
- Day 283 – I am grateful that my husband has been able to be home in the evenings this week.
- Day 284 – I am grateful for a beautiful day for getting out and doing a flyer drop in the area around the theatre.
- Day 285 – I am grateful for being home after a very busy day of activities, including a run-through of Calendar Girls at rehearsal in the afternoon followed by singing a couple of songs in a concert in the evening.
- Day 286 – I am grateful for 25 years of us.
- Day 287 – I am grateful that Sophie enjoyed making a disco light.
- Day 288 – I am grateful for a calm, quiet moment before bed to wind down after the final rehearsal for Calendar Girls before we get into the theatre on Sunday.
- Day 289 – I am grateful for autumn leaves.
Other things that have made me smile this week:
- Thomas telling me all about the bearded dragon and snakes he got to hold at the Brigades’ ‘Meet the Reptiles’ event.
- Sophie’s lovely school photo.
- ‘Meet the cast’ photos for Calendar Girls appearing on social media.
- Thomas telling me he loves me “googolplexes and googolplexes” after I told him I love him “millions and billions”.
Joining in with Raisie Bay for Word of the Week.
How exciting! I hope the show for you goes well! What fun to be doing all of the singing. Oh no! So sorry Sophie was unwell. I hope she’s feeling better now. Well done with playing the organ! x
So exciting about the show. Such a shame Sophie missed her solos. Hope she’s feeling better now. I’m obsessed with watching an organist Anna Lapwood on FB. She’s amazing. #Good luck with your goals for the organ
Your voice is so beautiful I’m sure you’ll do brilliantly in the show. I wish I could see it. I’m sorry Sophie has been unwell, I hope she’s feeling better now. Well done for giving the organ a go, such a difficult instrument to play. My mum was a natural when it came to keyboard instruments, she was self taught too, she could even play the accordion! I didn’t develop her talent or her singing voice either.
I have no doubt that you will do the songs justice; you have an amazing voice!
I’m sorry Sophie couldn’t sing at the concert. I hope she’s feeling much better now, and the opportunity will come up for her again in the future.
Congratulations on your anniversary. I hope you found a little time to celebrate.
Wishing you all the luck for Calendar Girls.
Happy anniversary. Well done for playing the organ, it seems like such a complicated musical instrument. It’s wonderful that you took the risk, as this is how you learn more.
I hope Sophie is feeling better now.