Update

So it’s been quite a while since I posted last.  I’ve been pretty busy over Christmas and since, and it just hasn’t appealed to me to write blog posts here for a while.  I apologise for that.  I’ve got a few ideas in my head for a proper website, and a blog just sort of pales in comparison to the things I have in mind, so I haven’t really felt inspired to work on this blog.

So, as for an update… things have been going pretty well.  Happy new year, by the way!  Last year was a great learning experience for me, very hectic and stressful, but I think this year will be better.  Now that I’ve got a good idea of how things work at the Conservatorium, I think I will be able to handle my workload a lot better.  My results turned out pretty well in second semester – a Distinction in voice, Distinction in gospel choir, and Credit in core studies.

This coming semester I’ll be taking voice, gospel choir, advanced core studies, foundation theory, and history of jazz.  Should be a little more busy but a little more manageable.

I’ve also been applying for jobs – did a trial day at Sheepskin & Opal World, which seemed to go pretty well, but I’m not sure if I’ll be available for all the hours they want me to work.  Gonna have to wait and see when I get my timetable.  I also applied at a lot of bookshops, music shops, restaurants, and other stores.  If you hear of anything in casual or part-time work available, let me know!

On the singing front, I’ve done some recording work, had another performance with the SGC, and have my first paid live gig coming up… reeeeeead all about it over at my music blog!

I’ve also been doing a bit of modelling here and there for friends, images to come.

So, everything is moving along at a steady pace.  I’ve been writing again a bit too, but nothing worth putting up yet.

Keep your eyes peeled for more of me, and maybe a new website, sometime in the near-ish future!

Bec

Hecticity

…should be a word.

So, goodness gracious me I have been busy!  Right now I am rushing to get studying for exams done and assignments in and practice and all that sort of thing so I don’t have time to write much (plus at the moment I need to sleep) but after a long hiatus from writing I have two new poems up at my writing blog, things are going pretty well really, and in 4 weeks I will be on summer holidays, so expect much more art and work from me then!

Keep well, all!

Bec

Exciting things…

So, a few exciting things have happened since I last wrote here.

The two smaller exciting things are:  I have been offered the chance of a gig on a Thursday or Sunday perhaps, at the Alley Cat Bar (very awesome venue by the way) if I get some sort of band or act together.  So I plan to get something organised soon!  And secondly, I have been called back for a second interview for the position of receptionist at the Mercure Hotel.  Wish me luck!

Over at my music blog you can find a detailed post on the Conservatorium/Elizabeth College Summer Rock School, which I attended, and all the great things I learnt there.  Click here to read it all!

The most recent exciting thing that has happened has been through my writing blog, where I post all my poetry and prose.  I have been made an offer involving selling my poems to a composer as lyrics for songs.  Read more by clicking here.

In less significant news, I’ve been rearranging and redesigning this blog a little, you should see some changes happening gradually over the next little while.  I have also  booked my ticket to see John Fogerty, one-time member of Creedence Clearwater Revival, live at the Southern Roots Festival!  Of course there are other artists too (and you’d want to hope so, for $130 a ticket) but it is he who I am most excited about.  I don’t even remember who else is playing.  I saw John live at the DEC a few years ago, an absolutely amazing and explosive concert, so am really looking forward to experiencing him in an open-air gig.  Unfortunately the rules state no musical instruments are to be brought in by patrons, so I can’t get him to sign my guitar as I was hoping… but I’m thinking I’ll maybe just take in my guitar case for him to sign, what do you think?

Photography at last!

Yes, I finally have some of my photography uploaded to a site I like, which I can link to from here!  The images themselves are a little lower quality than I’d like them to be, and of smaller resolution, as I do not have internet access at home and thus uploaded them by first saving them from another site, editing, and re-uploading.  But nonetheless they look quite good and I do like this new website I’ve found.  It’s called RedBubble, and it is designed much better than any other image hosting site I’ve used.  I intend to also upload the drawings & designs I’ve been doing a lot of lately, when I get the chance to scan them.  You can view some of my photography if you just follow this link!

What other news do I have?  Since December 19th…. well, on the 4th of January the Southern Gospel Choir had a huge performance down at Sing Salamanca, which was part of the Arts Festival.  More over at my music blog!

Since then I have been editing photography, doing a lot of writing and reading, and trying to find a new place to live, which is never easy.  I was called today by someone from the Conservatorium informing me of a summer school they’re running at Elizabeth College next week, involving students from all three years in their degrees, and with the opportunity to complete a whole unit towards your degree in a week!  Sounds like something I’ll definitely be doing.  From what I gathered, it will be contemporary ensemble work.  I wouldn’t mind so much if it was hillbilly punk, really.  A unit in a week!

Other than that, just chilling out and looking forward to regular SGC rehearsals starting up, and becoming more and more nervous about starting at the Con.

More soon

Bec

Anger about inaccurate publishing

Yesterday I went into school for my exam and while I was there I picked up my copy of Agora, the Rosny College yearbook.  I was eagerly anticipating seeing my poem “Paper Glass” published in the book, as well as photos from my drama performances and so on.  I was bitterly disappointed and very irked when I discovered that in publishing my poem, the students in the Agora class had completely changed the formatting, turning one of my best poems into a total mess.  You can find the details, and the letter I wrote to the person in charge of Agora, over at my writing blog. If you ever write anything, or publish others’ writing, this is a VITAL post to read.

Theory is not as boring as I expected.

On Sunday I began my lessons in music theory with tutor Ashton Maggs, in preparation for my Conservatorium entry test. Read more at my music blog by clicking here.

Last night I finished a critique for Drama, today being the final due date for them, and got it done, which was incredibly satisfying because now I have no more written work left for school! It is such a wonderful feeling of freedom. I have so little left now before I’m off completely for holidays, and all that I have left is fairly easy and enjoyable.

Updated to do list:
-Theory lessons (plus homework) twice a week until my theory test for the Conservatorium.
-External music performance exam next Monday.
-Singing with Claire in her external performance exam next Tuesday.
-Conservatorium audition, then theory test
-Southern Gospel Choir rehearsals & final concert

And that’s it! I am very much looking forward to a break after such a busy year. However I won’t just be sitting around playing video games the whole time. I’m looking forward to getting a bunch of stories, poetry & philosophy writing done, doing some musical collaborations with a drummer friend of mine, perhaps doing some modelling for some friends of mine who do photography. And most of all, finally getting together with those who have offered to model for me, and attempting some of the ideas for photos I’ve had written down for a while.

Something else I am looking forward to is spending some time with my friend Paul George of Digital Graffiti: http://www.digitalgraffiti.com.au He’s offered to teach me how to properly use Adobe Photoshop and other graphics programs, which would be handy, and could even possibly lead to some kind of employment. We’ll see. He also said that I can borrow his digital SLR camera if I need to, which is good.

So yes, the holidays are shaping up to be productive and fun. I might even see if I can get a waitressing job or somesuch.

One more interesting thing before I go, I found this site and that of my friend Justin Smith linked to from this page:  http://www.tas.gov.au/tasmaniaonline/Nav/Topic.asp?Topic=Personal%20sites
There’s even a small summary that someone has obviously taken the time to write.  I was delighted that someone would do that, and that my blog was deemed interesting or informative enough to be of use in that stockpile.

Looking forward to the warmer weather!

Bec

One more day

I went to see a preview performance of Wait Until Dark on Wednesday night at the Playhouse Theatre.  I quite enjoyed it, but then I think I am easily pleased in theatre.  The set could have done with a bit of minimising, but other than that I have no real criticism.  I enjoyed the performances of the evil Mr. Roat (Craig Mears) and the blind woman, Susy (Marti Moroney).

The preview performance/last rehearsal of The Tempest was on Friday.

It went pretty well, apparently the schoolkids loved us – especially Ariel, but no surprises there!  The performance was fine, the storm the best we’ve ever done it, only a few small mess-ups.  We had to improvise for a minute when some spirits were late in coming on, but it was all fine.On Saturday night I saw Miriam Margolyes in Dickens’ Women at the Theatre Royal.  I’ve been there three Saturdays in a row now… quite extraordinary.  Miriam was amazing,a talented woman and you can really tell she enjoys acting thoroughly.  If you have a chance to see her, ever, go for it.  If you need some context, she was on Andrew Denton’s Enough Rope recently, and she played Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter films.

On Sunday The Tempest opened at 1pm for our first real performance.  It was quite a small audience, only about 17 people, which was a challenge to keep up the energy for, but we managed it.  A security alarm went off in the middle of the second act, so we had to stop the show, but it was dealt with quickly and we continued.  I am looking forward to tonight’s performance – our first night performance, which will make a difference I am sure.  I am getting rather tired of this show, however only tomorrow night to go and then we will be finished.

Work is piling up as exams creep closer.  The most mind-boggling thing is the amount of organisation required – Uni application forms left right and centre, scholarship application forms of several different kinds, TQA cover pages for all our major assignments, criteria to be met, word limits to be kept under (always my downfall, keeping under word limits… though I did cut my Tempest folio down from 5,000 to 3,400 words today!) and all that sort of thing.  I am now getting to that point of tiredness where I become rather hyperactive, which I hope will last at least until the performance ends tonight.

I ran through some of my program for my music exam, and I am very excited about singing Aretha Franklin’s “Won’t Be Long”.  It is a very fun song to sing, and my accompanist, Randal, has fun playing it, too, and I am just feeling really positive about how it sounds.  I still have to record “Evil Gal Blues” for the Young Jazz Players competition.

On the writing front very little has been happening – I’ve hardly had time to even write a poem, however after seeing Dickens’ Women I was inspired to write a descriptive piece about a person – sort of a portrait in prose form.  I have started that and am feeling quite pleased with it so far.

I’d best be off and continue with my critiques.  I’ve got a few hours until I need to get into costume and makeup.

Bec

Job interview & The Tempest

I had an interview yesterday with “Santa’s Photo Factory” – for the job of photographer of Santa photos in a local department store.  You can read more about this at my photography blog by clicking here!

Right, what other things do I need to update about?  A quick update on my writing blog is over here…

I saw the state final of Storm The Stage on Saturday.  Some of my friends performed, all were brilliant, Ellen Watts got into the national finals with her amazing monologue.

Rehearsals for The Tempest going well, nearly at an end now!  Our first (preview) performance is on this Friday (the 12th) during the day.  Then we have a 1pm performance on Sunday the 14th, and 7:30pm performances on Monday 15th and Tuesday 16th.  No booking required, just come along!  It’s a good show, with marvellous costumes.

Anyway, I’d best be off to the supermarket and then get into makeup for rehearsal!

Bec

Compliments

I received a reply email from Liz Winfield today, she gave permission for me to post what she said about my poetry, which you can read over at my writing blog, by clicking here!

Sorry about the short update, but I must get back to work… filling out scholarship applications, working on my folio for The Tempest, working out my program for my music exam… plus critiques… my goodness I have so much to do!

Bec

Update

My life has been busy doing homework & rehearsals for The Tempest continue at a bit of a tedious pace.  We filmed the last scene of Inspirit on Saturday, which was good.  I saw the play Ying Tong on Saturday evening, that was amazing, hilarious, and very poignant.  I love Spike Milligan, such a pity he’s dead, I so much wanted to write to him.  I’m going to see Miriam Margolyes next Saturday, that looks like it will be a fantastic night out.

Update on my progress in entering the Young Jazz Players’ Competition, and exciting Southern Gospel Choir possibilities, over at my music blog!

I’ve also posted an update on my writing blog, and finally finished uploading all my poetry in chronological order, both of which you can read by clicking here!

As for modelling and photography, I’ve actually had a few ideas recently so once exams are over I will be back into that!

I must go finish filling out my scholarship application forms… and do my homework!  I’ve done 1000 words on my Tempest folio, so 2000 to go!