OCU Performing Arts Academy
Newsletter
January 2008
Vol. 1, Issue 1
2501 N. Blackwelder Oklahoma City, OK 73106
Phone: (405)-208-5410
E-mail: jmoad@okcu.edu
Happy New Year!
New Year’s Resolutions for musicians
With a new year comes the opportunity to make a fresh start, drop some bad habits or begin some good ones. Here are some suggestions to help you start the new year off right.
Practice
You know you should… so make a schedule that includes a time to practice everyday. Consistency is the key to developing technique and building stamina.
Drink Water
We all know that water keeps your voice from getting dry, but did you know that it helps you in lots of other ways. Water can give you more energy, keep your skin healthy, prevent or reduce headaches, and even help you lose weight.
Exercise
Anyone can attest that most of us should exercise more, but getting in better shape can also help you as a musician. Aerobic exercise can help to build up lung capacity and improve circulation. While strengthening muscle groups, especially in the upper-body, abdominals and back, can improve posture, decrease tension in the neck and shoulders relaxing the larynx. Besides, swimsuit season is coming up and we all need to work off those holiday meals.
Happy 100th to Ethel Merman
On January 16th, we celebrated the centennial of the birth of Musical Theatre Powerhouse Ethel Merman. I thought I’d use this opportunity to find out more about this belter extraordinaire.
Ethel Agnes Zimmerman was born in Astoria, Queens. She grew up watching vaudeville shows and silent movies and her powerful voice was first noticed at her church where she began to make concert appearances.
While trying to make it as a performer, Ethel worked as a stenographer in addition to her performing at nights. When her performance opportunities began to grow she quit her job and went under contract with Warner Brothers for $200 a week. Around this time she shortened her last name to Merman so it would fit more easily on marquees.
Merman made her Broadway debut in Gershwin brother’s musical Girl Crazy. Her performance of “I Got Rhythm” sealed her as a star. She would go on to star in 14 Broadway shows over forty years including Anything Goes, Annie Get Your Gun, Gypsy and Hello, Dolly! , her last Broadway show, which was reportedly written for her.
Life Lessons in the Arts
We have all heard of art for arts sake, but are there life lessons to be learned from a study of the arts? According to Elliot Eisner, professor of education and art at Stanford University, there are several. In his article,”10 Lessons the Arts Teach” in youngARTS magazine he discusses what else you can learn from living an artist’s life.
1 The arts emphasize the importance of how things interact with each other rather than what is right or wrong.
2 The arts teach that problems can have several solutions that are equally valid.
3 The arts promote having multiple perspectives.
4 The arts reveal that goals and purposes are seldom final, but rather they change and develop over time.
5 The arts prove that certain emotions transcend language and words.
6 The arts teach the importance of small details.
7 The arts teach how to create within parameters.
8 The arts teach expression without saying anything.
9 The arts allow us to explore things we could not otherwise do.
10 An arts education shows the importance of art in our society.
Music-ally Speaking
Cadence - a resting place in a musical phrase; music punctuation; a particular series of chords that end a musical phrase.
Types of Cadences:
Authentic cadence- V to I (dominant to tonic harmony)
Perfect authentic cadence- both chords are in root position (the root of each chord is in the bass)
Imperfect authentic cadence- either both chords are not in root position or the highest voice does not end on I or tonic
Half cadence- any cadence ending on V or dominant
Plagal cadence- IV to I, known as the Amen cadence because it is frequently used at the end of hymns.
Deceptive cadence- V to any chord but I
Upcoming Auditions for Summer Programs
We have several auditions coming up this spring for our summer programs. Here is a list of Audition dates and locations.
February 1st
Plano West High School
Plano/Dallas, TX
February 8th-9th
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City, OK
March 28th-29th
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City, OK
Don't forget you can always submit a DVD if you can't make it to one of our live auditions. Find audition information and deadlines at www.okcu.edu/music/academy.
Winter Tips for Singers
Winter is always a difficult time for singers, the weather can not only dry out your voice but lower the immune system leading to sickness. www.thehealthyvoice.com has some tips on how to stay well and in good voice this winter.
Atmosphere
Although it's tempting to crank up the heat, dry air can dry out your voice as well. Try a hot steam vaporizer to prevent drying out your voice. Also avoid drastic temperature changes; this can also dry out the voice.
Water
Water is the best way to keep your voice as well as you hydrated. Water is one of the best ways to help prevent sickness by cleaning out toxins in the body. It is suggested that you drink at least 64 ounces of water daily.
Drugs
If you are taking any decongestants or antihistamines make sure to take RobitussinDM or Mucinex to increase secretion on your folds to supplement the medicine. Try to limit staying on these drying agents.
Dates for Summer Programs
Our 2008 OCU Summer Programs Are:
High School Musical Theater Program
(Session I) June 14 - July 6
(Session II) July 12 - August 2
Junior High Musical Theater Program
(Session I) June 14 - June 28
(Session II) July 12 - July 26
Vocal Arts Institute
June 28 - July 12
High School Theatre Institute
June 28 - July 19
High School Technical Theatre Program
(Session I) June 14 - July 16
(Session II) July 5 - July 26
Summer Percussion Program
(High School) June 23 - 27
(Junior High) June 16 - 20
We are still accepting applications and auditions for all programs.
2008 Summer Program Shows Announced
This summer our High School Musical Theater Program will be performing Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd fresh from the silver screen.
Also our High School Theater Institute will be concluding their program with a performance of Shakespeare's classic A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Stay tuned for the announcement of our Junior High musical and Vocal Arts opera.
That's the news for this month! Please feel free to share your thoughts and suggestions with us by e-mailing jmoad@okcu.edu. We always like to hear from our members!
JoBeth Moad
Oklahoma City University
Performing Arts Academy & OCU Summer Music Programs
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