Operation: Revive Blog has commenced (I think that sounded better in my head...)
I haven't been up this early in awhile...my friend, Lily, was here for less than 36 hours for an audition (and she sounded great!), so we had to wake up at 6 am to get here back to the train station. Weirdly enough, I found that being awake before sunrise was rather refreshing, especially in NYC...because you can enjoy the true beauty of nature, which is easily forgotten throughout the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. For me, watching the sun rise above the East River was humbling, reminding me that I am where I am supposed to be, and that life is a gift...for which I am very thankful. As for the title of my blog, I know that I can fall asleep every night, counting my blessings.
I am a part of wonderful family of people: the second-year graduate class. These people have not only allowed me to fully embrace who I truly am, but they have helped me to grow in numerous ways. I have also been blessed with two amazing roommates...Sam and Ryan...both of whom crack me up. Last night, the three of us (and Lily, too!) sat in the living room, and just cracked jokes for over an hour, laughing our butts off! It is so true when E.E. Cummings said that "the most wasted of all days is one without laughter"...you have to enjoy life, and live life to its fullest...or you are just miserable.
One of my favorite quotes ever is "God has blessed me with so many wonderful things in my life, and I will spend my entire life trying to figure out 'Why?'" (If you know me, then you know who said this...or you can at least guess correctly on the first try!) Interestingly enough, I had an epiphany this morning, as I was walking back from the train station. I don't need to try and figure out "Why?"...I just need to be thankful, and live my life in a way that shows how thankful I am. (Maybe I should get up early every day...apparently that is when I have the best thoughts!)
About three weeks ago, I was in my first NYU production, Promenade. It was a blast, and I had so much fun, working with such a talented group of people. For me, this production reminded me why I chose to sing and why I love musical theatre so much...I am so happy when I do it! Seriously...it is like a kid in a candy shop...any problem in the world disappears for awhile.
To wrap things up, I am currently planning my graduate recital...yikes! Michael (my voice teacher) and I are so excited about the music. For my character study, I will be doing Archibald Craven from 'The Secret Garden' (talk about gorgeous music!!)
I need to blog more often! 'Til next time...
Friday, December 10, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Update!
Wow...so it has been a while since I last posted a blog. That being said, it is time!
Currently, I am nearing the end of my first year as a graduate student at New York University. I have a voice jury (I sing two songs for the voice faculty) and an Acting presentation left, and that's it! Possibly callbacks for the fall show if I get called back, but we haven't heard yet. For me, this school year has been one of growth, definition, and change for me. Like I said in a previous post, I have met some amazing people here, people who have helped me better discover who I am, as well as what I want to be. Although my start at NYU was a bit shaky, I thank God each and every day that He put these people in my life. As a student here, I have had amazing opportunities...access to seeing mulitple Broadway shows, acting and singing training, and more. Coming to NYU, I knew that singing was my strong point, and that acting was not. Through taking two semesters of acting with Evan Mueller has taught me so much. I will always remember him saying that "a good actor gives his or her partner an experience, and has an experience as a result of their partner." It is so true. In my Song Analysis class, I learned how to better connect with a circumstance that you create for any song that you sing. The key is that you have to put yourself into that circumstance, not put on the facade of a character. Bill Wesbrooks, the head of the Vocal Performance department and my Song Analysis professor, has got to be one of the smartest people I have ever met. He is full of guidance and wisdom, and I am so happy that I have another year to learn from him. In general, my voice lessons this year have been really good. My teacher has a classical background, which works well for me because of my classical background from Houghton. This forms just one problem: at NYU, I am a Musical Theatre-Vocal Performance major, not classical. So while he works with me on good technique, it was a bit of a struggle when it came to repertoire. I would search for songs that I wanted to work on, present them to him, and then we would work on them. It all worked out, though, and I am excited to see what the next (and FINAL!) school year brings...I will have a recital and the graduate showcase...yikes! One last thing is the enormous city that is NYC! It is a great place, somewhere where opportunities are endless. Just this past weekend, there was the Times Square bomb scare...interestingly enough, I was in Times Square with friends when the whole thing happened...trying to weave through multiple barricades to get out of there. It was interesting, to say the least. Now, I am apartment-searching for the upcoming school year, and am confident that through searching and God's guidance, I will find a good place to live.
On Saturday (TWO DAYS!), I am heading home and am SO excited to see everyone and spend some time outside of the city. Family and friends are two of the most important things to me, and they are what keep me going.
I promise that I won't take so long to post another blog! 'Til next time...
Currently, I am nearing the end of my first year as a graduate student at New York University. I have a voice jury (I sing two songs for the voice faculty) and an Acting presentation left, and that's it! Possibly callbacks for the fall show if I get called back, but we haven't heard yet. For me, this school year has been one of growth, definition, and change for me. Like I said in a previous post, I have met some amazing people here, people who have helped me better discover who I am, as well as what I want to be. Although my start at NYU was a bit shaky, I thank God each and every day that He put these people in my life. As a student here, I have had amazing opportunities...access to seeing mulitple Broadway shows, acting and singing training, and more. Coming to NYU, I knew that singing was my strong point, and that acting was not. Through taking two semesters of acting with Evan Mueller has taught me so much. I will always remember him saying that "a good actor gives his or her partner an experience, and has an experience as a result of their partner." It is so true. In my Song Analysis class, I learned how to better connect with a circumstance that you create for any song that you sing. The key is that you have to put yourself into that circumstance, not put on the facade of a character. Bill Wesbrooks, the head of the Vocal Performance department and my Song Analysis professor, has got to be one of the smartest people I have ever met. He is full of guidance and wisdom, and I am so happy that I have another year to learn from him. In general, my voice lessons this year have been really good. My teacher has a classical background, which works well for me because of my classical background from Houghton. This forms just one problem: at NYU, I am a Musical Theatre-Vocal Performance major, not classical. So while he works with me on good technique, it was a bit of a struggle when it came to repertoire. I would search for songs that I wanted to work on, present them to him, and then we would work on them. It all worked out, though, and I am excited to see what the next (and FINAL!) school year brings...I will have a recital and the graduate showcase...yikes! One last thing is the enormous city that is NYC! It is a great place, somewhere where opportunities are endless. Just this past weekend, there was the Times Square bomb scare...interestingly enough, I was in Times Square with friends when the whole thing happened...trying to weave through multiple barricades to get out of there. It was interesting, to say the least. Now, I am apartment-searching for the upcoming school year, and am confident that through searching and God's guidance, I will find a good place to live.
On Saturday (TWO DAYS!), I am heading home and am SO excited to see everyone and spend some time outside of the city. Family and friends are two of the most important things to me, and they are what keep me going.
I promise that I won't take so long to post another blog! 'Til next time...
Thursday, March 4, 2010
New York...concrete jungle where dreams are made of...
It has been awhile since I last blogged, so I thought I would fix that! I have been meaning to blog for the past week or two, but work and school have been owning my life.
First: NYU. When I came back from Winter Break, I was in this mentality of "Ok, NYU...prove to me that I made the right choice in coming back for another semester." As many of you know, I was very seriously considering staying home and getting a job...allowing me to be near friends and family. Once I realized that many of my friends would be returning to college or going to back to work regularly, I found the motivation to do the same thing. Having said all of that, I am SO happy that I did return this semester. NYU is helping me to grow not only as a performer and musician, but also as a person. I am surrounded by very talented people, many of which challenge me to be the best person I can be. My NYU classmates are some of the most genuinely accepting and understanding people I have ever met...they understand things I am going through and offer to help me figure them out when I feel I have exhausted all options. I am so incredibly blessed to be in NYC, living in the the greatest city in the world. If I want to go see a show, it takes me all of 20 minutes to get to Times Square and choose a show. If I want to find out about an audition, I can look it up, grab everything I need, and be on my way. I truly believe that everyone is where they are for a reason...and I am excited to see God reveal two things to me: 1) Why NYC/NYU? and 2) Why now?
Second: American Eagle. Before I came home for Winter Break in late December, I had been applying for jobs, realizing that I needed a steady source of income to truly "live" in the city. Since mid-December, I have been working as a Sales Associate at the Union Square American Eagle. This is awesome. Not only is it a 10-minute walk from NYU, but it is also in walking distance from where I live. It couldn't have worked out better. My co-workers are a great bunch of people, some of which are studying theatre or fashion. While there are times that I get frustrated with the job, I have to remind myself that I am lucky to have a job that works so well around my class schedule. At first, the job was a bit overwhelming, but now I have settled in and am able to help anyone who walks through the door. The motto for AE Employees is to "live your life...love your job." I would have to say that I do love my job...most of the time :-)
Third: Me. First of all, I cannot believe it is already March...this semester is flying. The next couple months are going to be full of decisions. My lease runs out in May, so I have to move from this college-owned apartment into a legit NYC apartment...yikes! I am excited to see where I end up, and also who I end up living with. Another decision is deciding what I am going to do with my summer. I would LOVE to perform somewhere for the summer and get more performing experience. I am constantly looking for different audition opportunities, and will continue to do so. As of early February, I am an uncle! My sister, Tia, had her baby girl, Ciara, and I am very excited to see her when I am home next. In about two weeks, I will be goin' home for Spring Break, which means having my wisdom teeth pulled...ugh. But, it also means seeing friends and family, which is always nice.
Well, there you have it! I hope to begin blogging more frequently...I find it fun!
OH! And the Academy Awards are on SUNDAY...so, make sure you watch!!!
'Til next time...
First: NYU. When I came back from Winter Break, I was in this mentality of "Ok, NYU...prove to me that I made the right choice in coming back for another semester." As many of you know, I was very seriously considering staying home and getting a job...allowing me to be near friends and family. Once I realized that many of my friends would be returning to college or going to back to work regularly, I found the motivation to do the same thing. Having said all of that, I am SO happy that I did return this semester. NYU is helping me to grow not only as a performer and musician, but also as a person. I am surrounded by very talented people, many of which challenge me to be the best person I can be. My NYU classmates are some of the most genuinely accepting and understanding people I have ever met...they understand things I am going through and offer to help me figure them out when I feel I have exhausted all options. I am so incredibly blessed to be in NYC, living in the the greatest city in the world. If I want to go see a show, it takes me all of 20 minutes to get to Times Square and choose a show. If I want to find out about an audition, I can look it up, grab everything I need, and be on my way. I truly believe that everyone is where they are for a reason...and I am excited to see God reveal two things to me: 1) Why NYC/NYU? and 2) Why now?
Second: American Eagle. Before I came home for Winter Break in late December, I had been applying for jobs, realizing that I needed a steady source of income to truly "live" in the city. Since mid-December, I have been working as a Sales Associate at the Union Square American Eagle. This is awesome. Not only is it a 10-minute walk from NYU, but it is also in walking distance from where I live. It couldn't have worked out better. My co-workers are a great bunch of people, some of which are studying theatre or fashion. While there are times that I get frustrated with the job, I have to remind myself that I am lucky to have a job that works so well around my class schedule. At first, the job was a bit overwhelming, but now I have settled in and am able to help anyone who walks through the door. The motto for AE Employees is to "live your life...love your job." I would have to say that I do love my job...most of the time :-)
Third: Me. First of all, I cannot believe it is already March...this semester is flying. The next couple months are going to be full of decisions. My lease runs out in May, so I have to move from this college-owned apartment into a legit NYC apartment...yikes! I am excited to see where I end up, and also who I end up living with. Another decision is deciding what I am going to do with my summer. I would LOVE to perform somewhere for the summer and get more performing experience. I am constantly looking for different audition opportunities, and will continue to do so. As of early February, I am an uncle! My sister, Tia, had her baby girl, Ciara, and I am very excited to see her when I am home next. In about two weeks, I will be goin' home for Spring Break, which means having my wisdom teeth pulled...ugh. But, it also means seeing friends and family, which is always nice.
Well, there you have it! I hope to begin blogging more frequently...I find it fun!
OH! And the Academy Awards are on SUNDAY...so, make sure you watch!!!
'Til next time...
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Random Thoughts...
So, I just finished watching 'Julie and Julia,' which stars Meryl Streep and Amy Adams. First of all, I love the combination of the two of them...they are a dynamic duo. If you haven't seen the movie 'Doubt,' which stars them both (along with Philip Seymour Hoffman), you should...it is excellent. Right after the movie finished, I decided to bake Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars. Coincidence? I think not. My sister, Kathy, told me before I watched the movie that it would make me want to bake...she was right. The two main activities in the movie are baking and blogging...need I say more?
There are two main reasons (besides the inspiration from the movie) that I am blogging: 1) to share my thoughts on this upcoming semester at NYU and 2) the People's Choice Awards are on tonight!
First, I am going to discuss my NYU thought process. A couple days ago, I went on to the NYU website, and printed off my Spring semester tuition bill for my parents. Noticing that the bill for next semester is very high, it challenged me to answer one big question, "James, do you really want to go back to NYU next semester?" Honestly, I thought to myself, the answer might be "no." NYU is very expensive, and I only want to go back if I am 100% sure that it is the right decision. On the way to my best friend's house the other day, my mom and I discussed this very topic. We both concluded that NYC is the place for me to be because it is the city of opportunity, especially since I want to become a successful recording artist. It is a place where I can find out about an audition, and the next minute, I will be on my way there. As many of my friends know, living in NYC is how I found out about the 'America's Got Talent' auditions (speaking of which, if we are to advance to the next round, we are supposed to find out soon!) My struggle is this: being home, having a job, having a car, and being near to so many of my friends is SO tempting. Living at home would completely cancel out the cost of living in NYC, having a job would mean a steady income for me, having a car would mean freedom, and living near my friends would get rid of long absences. On the other hand, living in NYC would present me many opportunities. Continuing to pursue my Master's degree at NYU would give me more vocal training, acting classes, career connections, and lasting friendships. To sum all of this up, I am seriously torn. To me, not going back to NYU would be quitting something...and I am not a quitter. On the other hand, I would be saving my family a lot of money. Second semester begins in two weeks, and I need to make a decision. I will keep you posted as to my decision...
On a lighter note, the PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS are on tonight...woot woot! I am so stoked for these awards. First of all, Queen Latifah is hosting!...and I love her. Second of all, Miss Carrie Underwood is going to be there!!! I have heard rumors that she is going to perform...I really hope she does! As many of you know, this past year, I was very discouraged because Taylor Swift kept winning all these awards, many of which Carrie was also nominated for. My biggest disappointment was when Taylor beat Carrie for 'Female Vocalist of the Year,' dethroning Carrie as the three-time Female Vocalist of the Year. Why was I so disappointed? Don't get me started. Tonight, Carrie and Taylor are both nominated for 'Favorite Female Artist' and 'Favorite Country Artist.' I cannot even tell you how many times I voted for Carrie...because I lost count :-) I am really routing for Carrie tonight...I would LOVE to see her win. She is already having an amazing year...engaged to Canadian hockey player Mike Fisher, her third album 'Play On' is doing really well, and she is about to launch another tour (which I will be attending in Rochester on March 31st...6th row!) Oh, and she is making her acting debut in an episode of 'How I Met Your Mother' in March...awesome! In other categories, I would love to see 'Glee' take home the award for 'New TV Comedy,' as well as 'The Proposal' to win 'Favorite Movie.' There are a couple other categories I am interested in, but those are the main ones...we shall see what happens!
Anyway, thanks for reading. If you have any comments on any of this, please leave me one. I will definitely read them.
'Til next time...
There are two main reasons (besides the inspiration from the movie) that I am blogging: 1) to share my thoughts on this upcoming semester at NYU and 2) the People's Choice Awards are on tonight!
First, I am going to discuss my NYU thought process. A couple days ago, I went on to the NYU website, and printed off my Spring semester tuition bill for my parents. Noticing that the bill for next semester is very high, it challenged me to answer one big question, "James, do you really want to go back to NYU next semester?" Honestly, I thought to myself, the answer might be "no." NYU is very expensive, and I only want to go back if I am 100% sure that it is the right decision. On the way to my best friend's house the other day, my mom and I discussed this very topic. We both concluded that NYC is the place for me to be because it is the city of opportunity, especially since I want to become a successful recording artist. It is a place where I can find out about an audition, and the next minute, I will be on my way there. As many of my friends know, living in NYC is how I found out about the 'America's Got Talent' auditions (speaking of which, if we are to advance to the next round, we are supposed to find out soon!) My struggle is this: being home, having a job, having a car, and being near to so many of my friends is SO tempting. Living at home would completely cancel out the cost of living in NYC, having a job would mean a steady income for me, having a car would mean freedom, and living near my friends would get rid of long absences. On the other hand, living in NYC would present me many opportunities. Continuing to pursue my Master's degree at NYU would give me more vocal training, acting classes, career connections, and lasting friendships. To sum all of this up, I am seriously torn. To me, not going back to NYU would be quitting something...and I am not a quitter. On the other hand, I would be saving my family a lot of money. Second semester begins in two weeks, and I need to make a decision. I will keep you posted as to my decision...
On a lighter note, the PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS are on tonight...woot woot! I am so stoked for these awards. First of all, Queen Latifah is hosting!...and I love her. Second of all, Miss Carrie Underwood is going to be there!!! I have heard rumors that she is going to perform...I really hope she does! As many of you know, this past year, I was very discouraged because Taylor Swift kept winning all these awards, many of which Carrie was also nominated for. My biggest disappointment was when Taylor beat Carrie for 'Female Vocalist of the Year,' dethroning Carrie as the three-time Female Vocalist of the Year. Why was I so disappointed? Don't get me started. Tonight, Carrie and Taylor are both nominated for 'Favorite Female Artist' and 'Favorite Country Artist.' I cannot even tell you how many times I voted for Carrie...because I lost count :-) I am really routing for Carrie tonight...I would LOVE to see her win. She is already having an amazing year...engaged to Canadian hockey player Mike Fisher, her third album 'Play On' is doing really well, and she is about to launch another tour (which I will be attending in Rochester on March 31st...6th row!) Oh, and she is making her acting debut in an episode of 'How I Met Your Mother' in March...awesome! In other categories, I would love to see 'Glee' take home the award for 'New TV Comedy,' as well as 'The Proposal' to win 'Favorite Movie.' There are a couple other categories I am interested in, but those are the main ones...we shall see what happens!
Anyway, thanks for reading. If you have any comments on any of this, please leave me one. I will definitely read them.
'Til next time...
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