voice lessons anyone?

i just saw this on INQ7.net today, and i thought it might interest some of our choir members. as quoted:

CRIS Villonco has just completed her junior year at Sarah Lawrence College. She has invited her voice professor, Eddye Pierce Young, to conduct Master Classes in Manila. Schedule: July 25, 2 to 5 p.m., UP College of Music. July 26, 2-5 p.m., Santiago Hall, Equitable PCIBank, Makati Avenue. July 27, 2-5 p.m, UST Conservatory of Music.

Cris shares, "My purpose is to give music teachers and standouts an opportunity to interact and address problems of vocal technique with a clinician experienced in the field of voice training and care, most particularly of students and professional singers in New York City.

"Although Ms Young's specialty is opera and classical singing, she will also address contemporary styles like musical theater, jazz, gospel and pop. Voice students and audience alike will receive coaching in a performance-based setting where they can also learn from each other."

Psalmi: Mga Model Daw!

Inspired by the MEGA Magazine black and white exhibit over at the Gateway Mall hall, I recently tried my hand at fashion photography. And what better way to experiment than to tap the most accessible source of cheap modeling “talent”, the Psalmi Deo Chorale. The following photos were shot using my Powershot A400 over at the parish church stage.

Special thanks to Kim, Janno, Lawrence, Moji…. (sige na nga) pati na din kay Ajel for being patient with me after I took shot after shot as I tried to coax the camera into delivering various effects. Next time charge ko na kayo for labor…hehehe.

click on thumbnail to view larger image


To view the entire PDC modeling album please go to this url:
http://photobucket.com/albums/a294/manongguard/Psalmi/mga%20model%20daw/

the new struggles of the PDC

The PDC has a lot of struggling to do if it hopes to keep itself afloat amidst the changing times that has found its membership dwindling ever so slowly. to be fair, the younger generations in the locality of the St. Paul of the Cross parish has been dwindling in the past years. However, the choir should find a way to provide for the needs of the group in these aspects:

Better Choir Value.
Fr. Ric has mentioned that the involvement of the current membership is already a feat in itself, being committed to a 6AM schedule. are the members really committed to this time? Or have we just gotten so used to the schedule so much that it never got out of our systems anymore? A new attendance system was recently implemented to penalize delinquent members, but will it be enough to get people back in line?

Another approach that could be explored is to find a way to create value with one's membership in the choir. More voice lessons, more songs, more power (via GA-deliberated decisions) - these all give the members better reasons to stay, allowing them to have a hand in steering the choir's direction.

More Aggressive Recruitment.
The choir has only done one strict recruitment run, and that one was only performed for one day, as opposed to the 2-3 Sundays that it was originally planned for. Posters were also placed in key areas near the Church. How come there were so few who heeded the call? surely there are more people who are interested in singing. After all, we are Filipinos.

While linked to the need for value creation, the group needs to exert more effort in finding ways to infuse fresh blood into the already struggling group.

The Return of "La Psalmidaridad"

Illustrados with an illustrado-wannabe

A re-birth of sorts... or at least I hope it is. The next "La Psalmidaridad" has been long overdue, and, as I've become more and more addicted to the blogging medium, I decided to get my proverbial butt off the floor and do something productive. I think this is a good time to re-establish connections with what the Psalmi Deo Chorale was and should still stand for.

Hopefully, this blog would grow into a site that Psalmideans, old and new, would visit as a habit. I've been missing the old gang, scattered all over the globe now. Kuya Ike's finger snapping kumpas. Eric Manahan's constant smoke belching. Dong's drunken boxing. Lara's rod. And then there are the younger 'uns. Diane who looks like Birdie's twin. Deo and his Jolli-briefs... everyone else. To the current Psalmideans, some of these names may be unfamiliar to you. Let's hope the alumni finds time to visit us in our new web home.

It's weird how things turn full-circle and kicks you right back to where you started. I've been part of the first version of La Psalmi, back when all we had was the Tajonera Macintosh and Newsmaster (tama ba?). Back when Jok-jok was the rumor monger (and Janno was probably still in short pants). Now I'm back with La Psalmi... still fighting to publish, to inform, to excite. Maybe this time we will get to publish more than just a couple of issues. Interest will never wane.

"If you build it, they will come!", let's hope Kevin Costner knew what he was talking about.

Welcome to the new La Psalmidaridad.