Back to the Basics

Hi Guys,
I'm still in the mix trying to hold it all together. I have a full load that includes three different vocal classes this semester. All the while, I'm still rehearsing, gigging, and working on my project P.S.A. due to be released in June 2010.*fingers crossed*

I've never been vocally trained. So I would say that I've relied on natural, raw talent to get me by in the past. But that doesn't fly in class. I have professors who can all seem to spot my vocal weaknesses within seconds. And because I cant see what they see, I get frustrated.

They all seem to be trying to push me (which I totally understand and greatly appreciate.) But there is this one professor who really pushes. I mean he PUSHES ME. It seems like he is always riding me. "J," (he calls me J) "your breathing is too shallow! Drop your jaw! Diction! Tonality!" And it drives me nuts most of the time. I look around class thinking, "Am I the only one who is messing up because this person right beside me is clearly not on the right note and I am. Why is he picking on me?" I'm almost ashamed to say, but I teared up last class. Usually, I just brush it off, but for some reason, this time, I kind of broke down. I didn't understand why I wasn't getting it. I sing so well outside of class, but in class I suck! Everything was new to me. I wanted to "flex" or "squall" as the singers would say. But what he was asking took control, discipline, and PATIENCE.

After talking it out with some friends, I realized that I have to throw everything that I thought I knew about singing out of the window. I HAVE to do this in order to receive and be able to apply the new techniques that are being given to me. I know that in the long run, it will help me tremendously. So I have to stick with it: Start from scratch and re-learn everything.

And today it hit me. Life is a lot like this. Sometimes we get complacent, stagnant, and so used to things being a certain way that we are opposed to any change of circumstances or anything new in our lives regardless of whether it will benefit us or not. I think my opposition came from fear. The fear that my voice would change or that I would lose something valuable. But I realized that by allowing myself to give in to what was being taught, I was actually gaining something a lot more valuable.

If we only allow ourselves to open up, act in humilty and let go of what we think we know, we can begin to learn more and receive bigger and better things in our lives. Sometimes we have to be stripped of what we already have in order to make room for what we are about to receive. But we can only receive it if we let go of the old in order to make room for the new.

If at first you dont succeed...

Ever tried to get something you wanted and no matter what you did...nothing ever worked out?? And you just knew that you would die if you could not get that promotion or make that team, or book that gig and book that audition! Only later to find out that you didn't get what you thought you wanted for a reason!

There's always a reason.

Sometimes the reason is that we didn't really want it, or that it wasn't the best fit for our lives, or that we weren't ready to handle what comes along with it, or that we were predestined to be in another place doing something else at that time, or maybe it was somebody else's turn to have it before us hence the saying, "A delay is not a denial."

It could have been a number of things. As we look back at the journey of our lives, only each one of us knows why certain things happened. Of course we didn't know right away. "Time" took its precious "time" revealing what we so desperately wanted to know immediately after we failed...the question of Why?

It's okay to focus on the why's...but we should also focus on the how's. I like to call it "strategy mode." Okay, I didn't get that audition or book that gig. How do I book this one or the next one or the next one after that? How can I improve so that next time the outcome will be different? How can I use this disappointment as a teacher so that next time I will know "what to do" or "what not to do?" How can I take from this experience in order to gain knowledge that will prepare me for success in the future?

Failure is a part of life. It's bound to happened one time or another. The secret is all in how we deal with it. And we all cope differently...

Even Michael Jordon, the greatest player to ever play the game of basketball in the NBA league, was cut from a team once. Tyler Perry, who never finished high school, spoke of being molested and abused as a child, and who was once homeless, now owns a multi-million dollar movie production empire. Donald Trump went bankrupt three times before he gained his real estate fortune. Sean "P Diddy" Combs was fired from Uptown Records before he went on to start his own entertainment company and now owns a clothing company. His net worth is over 300 million dollars. John Paul Dejoria was fired from every job he ever had, he was also homeless once and collected cans in order to afford to eat from McDonald's 99 cent menu everyday. He now owns the million dollar system of John Paul Mitchell Hair Products. He is also the guy who is responsible for importing and introducing us to a very fine tequila we all know and love so dearly...Patron.

Should I go on....there are plenty more...do your homework...the proof is in the pudding. No great tragedy ever happens to those who aren't destined to be GREAT!

So take those failures and become better, grow, and keep trying until you get where you want to be.

Keep Trying!

Comments: PSAcomments@gmail.com