MTC Week #20 - Recording: Applying it to Life

May 18, 2014

The Tabernacle was like a second home this week as the choir members gathered Tuesday thru Saturday to record Handel's Messiah. From 6:30pm to 10:00pm each evening (and 9:45am to 5:00pm on Saturday), we took our places in the loft to create a work of art. Bro. Wilberg was directing the choir and orchestra, while Bro. Murphy was in the sound recording room listening to our sound through microphones and letting us know, continuously, what we needed to fix.

It's a taxing, exhausting, arduous process full of patience and hard work. Consider this: for every minute it takes to perform a piece, it takes about an hour to record. So with 17 chorus pieces, at anywhere from 90 sec to 7 min each, well, you can do the math. That all said, Bro. Wilberg reminded us often of how significant the project was and what a special/historical recording we'd end up with. One that would bless the lives of many people who would listen to it (and be inspired by it) for years and years to come.

Ryan Murphy and others in the sound booth

So...rather than take up space in this blog to write out exactly how the recording process works, I thought I'd liken it to life in general and lessons that can be learned to aid us in becoming more like our Savior.

A. Any worthwhile endeavor takes persistence and effort. Just as this CD would not create itself, and just as getting a really good take of a certain passage took numerous attempts, we've got to keep at at. Work hard and things will pay off.

B. It's important to routinely emphasize the positive. Bro. Wilberg and Bro. Murphy both, while certainly giving us plenty to correct and improve upon as we sang, would also tell us what we did well. "This is very, very good," they would say, or "Some great things are happening," or "Sopranos, you really nailed that section." Etc. I'm sure we could all do better in giving out compliments and praise (when warranted) along with giving out the criticism. 

C. Being kind and being nice are critical virtues. There were times during the recording process that choir members would say something or do something (accidentally bump someone, have to wait for others while exiting or entering the loft or row, complain, not follow instructions, keep singing the notes the wrong way, etc) to slightly annoy or frustrate. Such situations always end up better when both parties remember kindness. Life is the same way. 

D. To get good at something takes a lot of repetition. Is this not true? After the 12th take of a certain passage, we wouldn't even have to look at our music any more. Those notes, rhythms, dynamics, etc. had been integrated into our neural pathways and could be recalled at will. Whatever skill we're trying to obtain in life, whatever habit we're trying to develop, repetition is an important thing to keep in mind.

E. Perspective. If we had looked at this recording process minute by minute, we all would have gone crazy knowing just how many minutes we had left. Knowing the end goal and focusing on finding joy in the journey gives us the needed perspective. As I thought of this CD finally in the hands of listeners and the satisfaction and inspiration it would give them, those minutes didn't seen so long (OK..well, most of the time!)

F. Savor the little things. While recording, we often had to stand for long periods of time. Of course the feet would start to ache and the back would go from a good singer's stance to a slouch... Then Bro. Wilberg would say "Please have a seat." And oh, how good it felt to sit! There are little things every day to savor. Lots of blessings all around. It does us good to find them and be thankful for them.

G. We're all in this together (I think that phrase was already in my head with my wife and daughter just recently participating in a junior high production of High School Musical 2). Taking one page or passage of music at a time, we ALL had to play our part in order to make progress. None of us can really make much progress in life unless we have an interest, love, and respect for our fellowmen around us. Neal A. Maxwell once said "To withdraw into our private sanctuaries not only deprives others of our love, our talents, and our service, but it also deprives us of chances to serve, to love, and to be loved." And one more: "Everyone, in seeking the interest of his neighbor, seeks the larger interest. As a man blesses his neighbor, he also blesses himself, but the contrary is not always so. Let a person or a people persistently seek only their own interests, and there will finally come both a poverty of purse and a shrinking of soul."

There were other things I learned, but those are some main ones. 

I'm just grateful, again, to be part of this organization and to have the opportunities I've been given to sing in this capacity. What a blessing. And I must let my wife and kids know how grateful I am for their support. It's weeks like these when I'm gone so much that I appreciate even more all they do to keep the wheels of life turning.

One last thing I learned as I was signing on the Music & Spoken Word broadcast this morning: it's much less stressful to perform music to a worldwide audience if I have sung that music more than once :) (We all did our best today having been so tired from the week of recording)

Until next time, God be with YOU.

MTC Week #19 - The Process

May 11, 2014  Today's post will take you into the details of what goes into singing in an episode of Music & the Spoken Word. At least the details of my experience...

6:00am  Up to shave, shower, get dressed, and eat. While shaving and showering, I go over the pieces we'll be singing my memory that day. I give my sleeping wife a kiss and then drive to meet by fellow carpool partner and friend, Ben Blauer. 

6:45  It's my day to drive, so Ben gets into the passenger seat and we're off to the Tabernacle about 15 minutes away. While driving, we ask each other about the weekend highlights and often talk about the music we'll be singing or upcoming events we'll be a part of. Ben holds a sheet of paper in his hands with the words to our memorized piece of the day "Grand Night for Singing". I smile as I often print out or write down the words myself to take them to soccer games or other kids' events throughout the week. Memorizing doesn't come easy to me, so the more time I take, the more prepared I feel.

6:57:  We drive into the Conference Center parking lot and park next to the South Temple exit ramp for a quicker departure later. Swiping the security badge, we enter the rather long tunnel to get to the Tabernacle and make our way to the men's dressing room and notice via a mannequin what we are to wear for today's broadcast. My tabernacle choir brethren are changing and conversing about various topics as I get dressed myself. It's then over to the music locker to pick up my folders of music. Because there's an extra rehearsal after the broadcast today, I bring both my red performing folder and my blue storage folder. 

7:20:  I take my seat, saying hi to various people I meet. Of course it's always good to see those who were in choir school with me and whether it's a quick "hello" or a more engaged conversation, it's good to see them. It's also good, of course, to meet the other members of the choir and extend friendship to them as well. I notice the various stage crew workers in black work clothing setting up the stage and the camera and various staff members milling about seeing to last minute details.

7:25: Ryan or Mack (depending on who's conducting) greets us all and starts us off with a warm-up. Afterwards, Ryan gave us a tribute to his mother sharing a personal growing up experience, and made some general comments about how great mothers are. We then start rehearsing the music we'll be singing that day--skipping to his part or some other part depending on the notes our director took at Thursday's rehearsal. 

7:45: The choir president or another staff member gives us announcements and then a choir member says a prayer for all of us--thanking God for our talents and opportunities to help share our testimonies to the world in this musical way. He/she also asks a blessing on those whose names are on the Tabernacle Choir prayer roll. 

Bells on Temple Square

7:50: The orchestra warms up and we then all start rehearsing the music. Today was somewhat unique as the Bells on Temple Square were going to be part of the broadcast. I watched part of their rehearsal in fascination. Audience members start to file in a little later...

8:40: We do a complete run through of the broadcast--cameras, lights, action! I enjoy this part. It's a chance to get a feel for how things will go without too much pressure. We watch carefully as our director motions us to stand or sit or bring our folders up or down. While singing, I'm constantly thinking about posture, high vowels, how others sound around me (so I can match them) and what my face is portraying to the audience. And then I try to think about the message I'm singing and what that message means to me. It's a tricky balancing act to get it all just right (especially

Andrew Unsworth

knowing you're on camera at any given moment). And if we're singing a memorized piece, throw in remembering the words as well! Today, I was particularly touched by the organ solo by Andrew Unsworth. It just sort of spoke to me...

9:07: After some quick notes from the director following the run-through, we exit "the loft" (choir seat section) and either go outside for a bit or stay down below/behind the loft. This is the time to eat a quick snack, go to the restroom, get powdered to reduce facial shine by Sis. Make-up, review mentally what you learned during the run-through, and catch a quick conversation or two with other choir members. 

9:20: We file back to the loft. I sit down and look into the audience, realizing that they (and the thousands watching remotely) are about to have a spiritual experience. At least that is my hope. I realize too, that I need to put on my A-game to help facilitate that. It's all very humbling. Brother Newell talks to the audience about audience etiquette--reminding them that it's important to be quiet during the broadcast as well as warmly welcoming them there.

9:29:30:  One of the broadcast producers yells out "30 seconds" and then it's 15, and then it's 10. And then, well, we sing. We replicate the run-through, but try to do better. Will someone be touched today? Will they want to be a better person? Will they decide to make some changes? Will they feel God's love and have a desire to repent? Will they want to know more about the Church and ask a missionary afterwards for more information? Will they leave feeling renewed and refreshed, ready to meet life's challenges head on with more hope? Yes. All of this happens and more. That's the miracle of it all.

10:00: With the cameras off, Bro. Newell says a few words and then we turn to the audience and sing our farewell song, "God Be With You Till We Meet Again." I pick out one member in the audience and even though I can't see his or her face, I sing to that person. And I hope they know that I love them. I hope they are changed from having attended. And I hope that I come away changed, and more dedicated as well. 

Until next week...God be with you!

MTC Week #18 - Thus it Officially Begins

May 4, 2014 

I've made a lot of comments already on Choir School ending but this week it officially ended. We met Tuesday night to go over the results of our final exam and to hear some closing tidbits of advice from our instructors. What's funny is that throughout these past four months, our instructors and the staff members have alluded to the possibility of some of us not actually making it into the choir due to various (but elusive) reasons. Exam results? Not incorporating good singing habits? Incompatible personality? Even up to the

Acceptance Letter

last moment when Scott Barrick brought out letters addressed to each of us officially extending the calling to serve in the choir (the letters were in two distinct piles--leading one to think acceptance vs rejection). . .  But, you'll be glad to know that everyone received a favorable letter and we're now all official members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. In the days ahead, we'll be set apart as "musical missionaries" and our term of service will be, well, as long as we're willing to serve (up to the mandatory retirement age of 60, or 20 years total, whichever comes first).

There was some good advice given but I think the advice I'll remember the most was from Cherlyn who said that there are two main ways that Satan will work at you while you're in the choir. The first is routine. There's a danger that as time goes on and we fall into the routine, that it will become something that we don't put your whole heart and soul into. Elder Henry B. Eyring once said: "Complacency can affect even the seasoned adult. The better and the longer you serve, the more likely that the tempter can place this lie in your mind: “You have earned a rest.”  We need to remember, that each time we're rehearsing or 

A few of us bases

singing for and audience or singing on camera to the world, that our voice, our attitude, our preparation, our testimony, and our personal worthiness all need to be in ship-shape condition. People are counting on us. And though there are 400 of us, each of us matters.

The other way Satan tries to distract us from our calling is through people. There will be times when the people we interact with or sing next to, start to annoy us for whatever reason. We need to keep our hearts in charity mode and look for the good in people at all times. 

I don't think it's a stretch to liken these two things to everyday life :)

At Village Inn

Well, with class ended, we celebrated by going out to Village Inn. Some chose to go home but many stayed and welcomed the opportunity to further friendships and celebrate. It was fun. 

Thursday night was our "first" rehearsal as true choir members and we readied ourselves for Sunday's MSW (Music & Spoken Word) performance. We don't have permanent seats as of yet for some reason but probably soon. 

Today we went a bit early to get our pictures taken, and then fell into the normal (but enlightened!) routine of rehearsing for the broadcast and then performing. My wife was there, along with my father and mother-in-law who are down from Washington for the week. At the end, before we sang "God Be With You" to the audience, Bro. Lloyd Newell said a few words and then invited all of the new choir members to stand. So stand we did-- to much clapping and accolades of support. We all talk of those moments that "mark the occasion" and, well, this was one I doubt I'll forget. (Broadcast link HERE)

Until next time, God be with you...

MTC Week #17 - Small Group Performances

April 27 - 2014  This week's post may be a little shorter as there wasn't a lot of Mormon Tabernacle Choir-related activities going on this week (I don't think I've been able to say since this journey began in January!). 

As I've already mentioned previously, 
we took our final written exam a couple of

weeks ago. Then last week was full of Messiah rehearsals and performances, and this week we had our 2nd to last Choir School class in which we sang, in small groups, in front of Ryan and Mack. Basically, we were divided into three groups, given a hymn to sing (which we've been aware of for a few weeks now), and then listened/replied to feedback that our director and associate director gave us. The whole point was to think about everything we've learned and directly apply it, real-time. After singing in through once, they had us re-sing a few sections, had us try and sound more unified, and asked us about any traps/trouble spots we observed (and tried to fix) while singing. Along the way, they gave us advice and instruction and told us the things to always focus on when we joined the choir. They also congratulated us on making it through Choir School and expressed their confidence that we'd be a valuable addition to the choir. Mack cautioned us that we'd have a steep learning curve this first year as we learned music each week and were asked to memorize some of it for the performances each Sunday. While I completely agreed with his comment about learning curves, I was thinking that those of us who already did the CD recording and The Messiah performance have already been exposed to that curve and now have somewhat of an idea of how challenging each week can be. For that, I'm grateful. 

The hymn we sang for Ryan and Mack was "Lean on Thy Ample Arm"--which certainly is not one that most congregations sing. In fact, I'd wager to say that most have never sung it. Period. As I was rehearsing it with my group, I finally realized that I hadn't taken the time to really hone in on the lyrics. They are actually very comforting so I thought I'd share them hear.

Lean on my ample arm, O thou depressed!
And I will bid the storm cease in thy breast.
Whate'er thy lot may be On life's complaining sea,
If thou wilt come to me, Thou shalt have rest.

Lift up thy tearful eyes, Sad heart, to me;
I am the sacrifice offered for thee.
In me thy pain shall cease, in me is thy release,
In me thou shalt have peace eternally.

The line about the storm really resonated with me. Recently it seems like life has been so very busy and stressful, that's there's been a storm within me that often seems to smother the peace I long for. But the hymn is clear: come unto Christ who loves you, who is interested in you, and who has the ability to comfort you. And He will provide you with some rest and peace. Just as he calmed the raging sea of Galilea, He can and does calm us.

It reminds me of a beautiful scripture from Moroni in the Book of Mormon: 

32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

Until next time...God be with you!

MTC Week #16 - The MESSIAH

April 20, 2014 - After Friday night's performance of The Messiah, Scott Barrick (General Manager of the Tabernacle Choir) sent this to us:

---------------------------

ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!!!  That's what last night's performance of Messiah was!  Thank you!  In addition to thrilling audiences in the Tabernacle, Legacy Theater and Conference Center Theatre, our audience stretched around the world!  Here are some of the highlights:

At the high point, we had 3,000 viewers watching on YouTube.

We were "trending" on Facebook, meaning that a lot of people were sharing the link to the concert and commenting and liking the content.

As I write this at 8:30 Saturday morning 1,920 people had liked the Facebook post about Messiah, with 815 shares and going up by the minute.

The concert had already been viewed over 6,000 times on YouTube. (editor's comment: we're now at nearly 9,000 as of 4/20/14)

We had comments from Portugal, Brazil, Mexico, Africa, Switzerland and all the way to Grain Valley, Missouri!

--------------------------

Steve D (who stood
on my right and
helped keep me on
track!)

While I'd have to agree that it WAS stunning (and lots of other adjectives such as incredible, stirring, emotional, sacred, and moving), from a singer's perspective, it was also emotionally draining and mentally exhausting! As one who has never sang The Messiah before (minus the Hallelujah Chorus), I

Rob G. (who stood on
my left, and helped me
as well)

found it very difficult to truly enjoy the experience as much as I really wanted to because I was trying so hard to sing it correctly. That said, there WERE many moments where everything seemed to "lock in" and I was able to be immersed in the testimony of Christ that Handel had ingrained into this work of art. And for those moments I'm very grateful. Other choir members I talked to (particularly those of us in Choir School still) had similar feelings about the experience.

Those who came and witnessed the event enjoyed it immensely. I couldn't believe the applause at the end. I felt like I was in a football stadium. 

At the end of the day though, if it helped someone, in someway, come closer to their Savior and want to be more like Him... then as Choir members, and orchestra members, and soloists, and Director, and stage crew, and choir supportive staff making it all possible, we successfully lived up to our calling as musical missionaries.

Happy Easter to everyone. May you find a greater desire to be like our Savior in all you do.

Until next time, God be with you!

MTC Week #15 - Final Exam

April 13, 2014 - Amidst all of the preparations for our upcoming Messiah Concert (which takes place this coming Friday and Saturday), there was the little detail of preparing for, and taking, our FINAL EXAM. No one was too excited for this event and I think secretly we in the Choir School were all hoping that somehow it would be canceled. We envisioned the Choir President coming into class Tuesday evening and saying "Beloved Choir School members: because this year had been a very unique year for our choir school in that you've delivered a beautiful concert a whole month earlier than normal; have sung in numerous Music and the Spoken Word performances before graduating; have already contributed to the recording of a new CD; and have attended numerous extra rehearsals for the upcoming Messiah concert, we feel it only appropriate that you be considered full-fledged Mormon Tabernacle Choir members without needing to take the final exam. Congratulations!!"

Ha!

This of course did not happen. So, we combed through our notes, handouts, and other materials that covered music theory, important music habits, and singing technique (oh, and of course, the Choir Handbook)--all of which we have been learning over the past 14 weeks, and showed up Thursday night to do our best. Truth be told, it wasn't THAT bad. Some tricky questions here and there to be sure, and I'm sure none of us enjoyed the multiple choice ones that had a bazillion possible answers ("a & e", "b & c", "a, d, & e", "all of the above", "none of the above".....you know the kind). But in speaking with others after it was all over, everyone felt about the same: just glad to be done and thankful for the things they had learned.

And truly, I am grateful for the things I've learned. While I believe I've incorporated a few of them already, I hope to incorporate a lot more as I continue on this journey.

I realized however, after it was over and I was walking up to the loft to rehearse Messiah pieces, that I was feeling a bit sad. Sad that our Choir School group was about to be incorporated into the Tabernacle Choir proper. Don't misunderstand. . .I'm stoked to be joining the Choir soon. I have to pinch myself often to remind myself that my Heavenly Father has given me such a choice opportunity. However, being in a smaller group, getting individualized attention, going through this part of the journey with the other choir school members (and becoming friends with many of them), getting to learn a difficult piece of music under the direction of Ryan Murphy...I will miss it. A lot.  A big shout out to all of the choir school members, the instructors, and the staff members who have made it all such a good experience. Thank you.

Well, we performed several pieces from The Messiah, on Music and the Spoken Word today and we have a couple of rehearsals left to try and perfect all of the other pieces we'll be singing (I counted, and I think there are 20 or so chorus numbers we'll be performing). This is challenging music to learn and my diaphragm is about ready to call it quits singing all of the melismas. But at the same time, it's been amazing. Handel was a genius and his music is truly inspiring and a work of art. His testimony of Jesus Christ is something that all of us in the choir (coupled with our own testimony of Christ) hope to share with the world this coming weekend.

Until next time...God be with you!

PS: The Choir announced their 2015 tour destination. You can find the official announcement here!

MTC Week #14 - Top Ten, April 2014 Conference

April 6, 2014 - There are so many experiences and thoughts to share about this past week that I thought I'd do a Top Ten post (in no particular order). My hope is to convey how blessed I feel to participate in this great organization whose goal it is to spread the great Gospel of Jesus Christ.

10 - Hearing from the individual in charge of arranging guest artists to come sing with the choir. He told us some interesting stories, focusing on the experience he had in arranging for David Archuleta to sing at the Christmas Concert a few years ago. It gave me appreciation for all that goes into the process of securing a guest artist, and it was interesting to hear how each guest artist was changed for the better after their singing experience. 

9 - Practicing for conference. We spent several hours Tuesday and Thursday

View from the choir seats at the Conference Center

evenings rehearsing songs for conference. Choir School members were assigned to sing at one of the five sessions of conference but we were asked to learn music for all of the sessions just in case an opening became available (someone from the Choir got sick, had other commitments, etc). The songs we rehearsed have such powerful messages and it was a privilege to sing them over and over and over again.

8 - Conversing with other choir school members about our chore of memorizing music. I think this talent comes easier for some than others. Personally, it takes me quite some time to memorize--time spent outside of rehearsals. I gained strength listening to others as they worked on it, and as I spent a few hours myself memorizing, I was reminded of how good it feels to be prepared. "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear." (Doctrine & Covenants 38:30) In the back of my mind I kept thinking "I already was asked to sing for one additional session (aside from my assigned one), so the chances of me having to sing this last song I need to memorize (which was for a different session) are REALLY slim." But, I finally decided that feeling prepared was worth the effort. Not to mention that getting my memorization skills up to par will certainly help me for future memorization requirements!

7 - Singing in the Conference Center and becoming more acquainted with this marvelous building. The spirit there is incredible and it's an architectural wonder. I was humbled again at being able to take part in singing in this Choir.

6 - Singing next to Andrew, Eric, Preston, Ryan, Mark, and Ben during rehearsals and live performances this week. What awesome singers!

5 - Hearing compliments given by choir members to other choir members. There's just such a spirit of love in the choir and everyone thus far has been so friendly and supportive and ready to compliment whenever possible. I was the recipient of several such compliments this past week and they really made me feel happy.

Hanging out

4 - Having opportunities to talk off-topic behind "stage". Truth be told, there is very little time to actually just talk to other choir members. Mack and Ryan run a tight ship and talking really isn't tolerated during rehearsals. However, this past week there were several opportunities to have various conversations with people and further friendships.

3 - Pondering some of the lyrics to the songs we were singing. Here are just a few of so many we sang:

Take time to be holy, speak oft with the Lord;

Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.

Make friends of God's children, help those who are weak,

Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.

(Take Time to Be Holy)

I believe in Christ; so come what may,

With him I'll stand in that great day

When on this earth he comes again

To rule among the sons of men.

(I Believe In Christ)

Fear not, though the enemy deride;

Courage, for the Lord is on our side.

We will heed not what the wicked may say,

But the Lord alone we will obey.

(Let Us All Press On)

Press on, enduring in the ways of Christ.

His love proclaim thru days of mortal strife.

Thus saith our God: "Ye have eternal life!"

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

(Press Forward Saints)

My wife Jennifer and one of
my sons Joshua at the Sun
PM session

2 - Feeling the support of friends and family, particularly my wife and kids who allow me the time away to do this. It's not easy but my wife doesn't complain one bit and my kids work hard to pick up the slack. THANK YOU!

1 - Being able to listen to modern day prophets and apostles. I relish Conference every April and October and being able to sing in the Choir made it an even more cherished experience. I love what these brothers and sisters say to us and am grateful that in this world of shifting values and general chaos there are voices reminding me what is good and true. 

President Thomas S. Monson (middle) with his counselors Henry B. Erying & Dieter F. Uchtdorf

It's now onward and upward to learn music for our upcoming performance of The Messiah. 

Until next time...God be with you!