Journey Towards My Passion

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Home > My Growth as a Musician

My Growth as a Musician

University Chorale Spring Concert - 2010

This photo was taken on April 15, 2010 at the FIU Choral concert, while University Chorale was singing "Saul" by Egil Hovland. It is a very dramatic setting to a Biblical passage. We are singing the words "why do you persecute me?". I chose this photo to represent my professional growth as a singer. I have been in the University Chorale for four semesters and have learned many valuable lessons regarding what makes a good choir and a good conductor.

Music has always been an important part of my life, but my growth as a musician has been unconventional. I am presently pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education at FIU. The following attachments are samples of my identity as a musician.

File Attachments:
  1. Music theory sample - 2010 Music theory sample - 2010
    A Theory IV assignment in which I demonstrate an understanding of various types of sequences. Music Theory has been a challenging and enlightening subject. I have worked very hard at it and have learned more than I ever knew was possible!
  2. Treatment of a da capo aria - 2010 Treatment of a da capo aria - 2010
    This is my Performance Practice Research Paper for History II. As a singer I selected a topic related to opera. I received an A for this assignment and the professor said it was a pleasure to read. I am pleased by what I learned about arias in the process of researching my topic. I am also more enlightened regarding the conventions of scholarly writing, as a result of the experience.
Videos:
  1. Accordion accompaniment - 2010 Accordion accompaniment - 2010 ( 7 MB )
    This is a video that I prepared for a class project called "Music Around The World". I am singing "Home on the Range" because I was born in Houston, TX. I like the fact that as an accordion player I can face my audience.
  2. Classical guitar piece - 2010 Classical guitar piece - 2010 ( 7.3 MB )
    I studied classical guitar when I was a teenager. In this video I am playing "The First Noel". I made a few mistakes, but kept going. I don't practice classical guitar very much anymore, so my skills are "rusty". I chose this video to show that I can play the guitar.
  3. Folk drum skills - 2010 Folk drum skills - 2010 ( 14.1 MB )
    This video was also for the class project on "Music Around The World". I own an Argentinian folk drum called "bombo legüero", which is a crucial instrument for beating the distinct rhythms that characterize Argentinian folk music. I selected this video to show that I can keep a beat and do a folk rhythm while singing. The guitar accompaniment in the background is myself. I recorded it prior to filming the drum playing.
  4. Guitar accompaniment - 2010 Guitar accompaniment - 2010 ( 5.2 MB )
    In this video I demonstrate two styles of guitar accompaniment for "I'm a Little Teapot": first picking, then strumming. I mostly use strumming for accompaniment when singing alone or with others. I chose this video to show that I am able to accompany singing with strumming.
  5. Peer Choral Conducting exercise - 2010 Peer Choral Conducting exercise - 2010 ( 2.7 MB )
    This video was made in Choral Conducting class on March 8, 2010. In it I am conducting a portion of "See What Love", by Felix Mendelssohn. I am pleased to see that I am making progress in that my hand is not pointed downward, as it was at the beginning of the course. I need to practice all of the skills we've been taught until they become second nature. I have a long way to go.
  6. Singing C'est mon ami - 2010 Singing C'est mon ami - 2010 ( 19.9 MB )
    In this video I am practicing a French song for Voice Forum, titled "C'est mon ami". I am in my 3rd semester of Applied Voice lessons, and am excited about growing my vocal skills. I need to improve my breath support and phrasing. I'm a work in progress.
Web Links:
  1. Personal website - 2011 Personal website - 2011
    This is a website I designed in Spring of 2011 for my MIDI Technology course at FIU. I chose to enter this link to show my use of Finale software and sound technology.
  2. Senior Recital, Canción al árbol del olvido - 2011 Senior Recital, Canción al árbol del olvido - 2011
    A YouTube link to one of the Spanish selections of my Senior Recital repertoire. I selected it because it has a taste of Argentine folk music and because it is brief.
  3. Senior Recital, Il vecchiotto cerca moglie - 2011 Senior Recital, Il vecchiotto cerca moglie - 2011
    A YouTube link to the Italian aria of my Senior Recital. I selected it because it is humorous and shows my comfort level in front of an audience.
  4. Young Voices Festival - 2012 Young Voices Festival - 2012
    During my internship at Southwood Middle School I was privileged to be able to conduct the students singing "Homage", by Z. Randall Stroope, and to play one of the drums for "It Takes a Village", by Joan Szymko. I selected this link as a sample of my conducting, although it is filmed from the back of the church's sanctuary which makes it hard to see what I am doing.
Author: Julia Swindoll
Last modified: 7/27/2012 5:09 AM (EST)