Lessons From My Queens

When I was greeted with hugs at my first audition with MAXX Factor, I never in a million years thought that I would be sitting here a year and a half later, reflecting on my experiences and what I have learned.  I went into that audition with two goals.  I wanted to see if I really had what it took to hang with the big girls, and I wanted to meet members of my new Region 19, so if I went to any activities I would know someone.  Something special happened that afternoon.  I opened my mouth to sing and for the next two hours I did not have to think once.  Not once did I have to change my placement, change a vowel, or sing more softly.  I just fit.  I was singing with Leslie, Val, and Molly, and actually ringing chords!!!  Obviously I got the job, but seriously, they picked me??!!  Never in my wildest dreams did I think that that would happen.

            I began rehearsing with them in Mid-August of 2012 and our first show was in the beginning of October.  I had to learn 10 songs, interpretation, choreography, and the banter in between in 7 weeks.  It was a daunting task, but I knew it could be done.  Well, it had to be done.  Every waking hour in my car was spent singing along to the learning tracks.  We rehearsed every week on Thursdays and had coaching sessions on weekends a few times as well.  We rehearsed in front of mirrors to make sure the visual plan was working.  This I am sure was more for my benefit than theirs, but they never once acted bored or disengaged.  What I realized was that these three ladies work VERY hard.  They are always prepared for every rehearsal and have a schedule planned out to get through.  We usually get through it all while having a bit of fun too.  My first show with them was in Canada and aside from the flight fiasco, it went well.  It was not my best performance on record but I got through it, and their encouragement helped.  It was nice to have my friends Boston Accent on the show as well, so I had some familiar faces to make me feel a bit more comfortable.

            The last year and a half has been filled with experiences that I only would have dreamed about a short while ago.  I have sung on the Coronet Club Show, been an international web-cast anchor, taught regional weekends, sung the national anthem for the Baltimore Orioles (who were playing the Red Sox that day), gone to Australia, and did a few shows with the Sing Off Tour. These are all once in a lifetime opportunities, to say the least and participating in just one would make life complete, but I have done them all.  It is quite surreal at times because it is just little old me doing these things, but MAXX has been ever supportive and understanding of my many star struck moments.  J 

            Having my own personal voice lesson with three queens when I rehearse has also been priceless for me.  I listen to recordings of myself and compare my sound from then to now and I know that I have grown as a singer.  I have had to up my game considerably to sing with these ladies.  I would like to try to share all that I have learned with you.  Not surprisingly, most of it we have all heard a million times before.  The difference for me was to actually experience and feel what it is that our coaches have been trying to tell me each time I saw them.  It all makes so much more sense when you feel it all the way down to your toes.

1.  Vowels do matter:

• Barbershop is built on vowel match
• Do vowels every rehearsal- in the beginning we did it for 30-40 minutes
• This is the grunt work, but it has to be done in order to improve scores

2.  Resonance:

• All members must have resonance for true vocal blend  (I did not know what it truly was until I started with MAXX)
• This is the Ah spot singing, preh singing, bending upside down for placement singing, molar space singing…  It has many explanations.  Do whatever you understand and works for your quartet

  3.  Be Relentless:

• Practice, practice, practice – The work ethic of this group is staggering.  When learning new music, EVERYONE knows their part by the next rehearsal.  There is a competition between us to see who can be off paper first.
• Keep up your quest for knowledge.  Attend regional events, IES, international competitions.  You will always learn something.  Watch top 10 international quartet videos.  What do they do differently than your quartet?  How can you learn it?...
• As a quartet, become proficient at one thing at a time.  Don’t try to do it all at once.   Vowels first, then add breaths, diphthongs, interp, choreo… Layer it on one at a time.

4.  Song choice is key:

• Do not sing songs out of your capability, not even for a show.  Everyone has to sound great to score well.
• Choose songs that have personal meaning to you – especially the lead.  If the story of the song can be personalized, and then emoted, you will always score better.
• Choose songs that match the quartet’s personal style.  Don’t try to swing on down to Dixie if you don’t like that style of music.  You won’t be able to sell it.

  5.  Don’t live by the score:

• This is the hardest one for many.  Go by the score and not the placement.
• Try to maintain or improve upon your SCORE.  If you earned C scores, try to improve to C+ scores the following year. 
• Work on improving one category per year.  Too much will overload your system.  Focus on one thing at time.
•  Did you reach your goals personally and as a quartet
  

6.  Undergarments, lashes, and makeup

• Everyone should always wear a flexi, all in one, unbelievabra, or whatever smoothing undergarment you prefer. It does make a huge difference in how the costume looks and fits!
• Everyone should always wear lashes for a performance. I did not do so for many years, but they do make a huge difference in expression from the stage. More points for emoting the song.
• We do not all wear the same pan makeup! What looks good on Val looks orange on me, and what looks good on me looks terrible on Molly, etc... It makes it easier for choruses to all use the same makeup so that it is a bit more consistent, but with a quartet you don't have to look like a much tanned pumpkin! Wear your skin tone just a shade or two darker. You should just look sun kissed, not orange or like George Hamilton.
• For eyes we have two choices. We do either brown shadows or purple shadows. Val usually will tell us which color palette to use. We do not all use the same colors or brands. We just go by the color palette and wear our personal favorites.
• For performances, we always have our toes painted and nails done. Toes are any color of our choice, hands are French or nude shade.

One of the most interesting things that I have learned from this bunch is that they do not rest on their laurels.  As a quartet they, I guess it is we, want to put our best out on that stage.  Mediocre performances are not what people want to see, and we prefer to maintain the same level of performance that was achieved on the contest stage.  We rehearse, we still get coached, we still set goals for ourselves personally and as a quartet, and we are still competitive.  If we get a new piece of music, it becomes a contest to see who will learn it first.  I feel as though I am living in a dream most days.  I still have to pinch myself when I get texts from Leslie.  My mind still thinks what in the world am I doing texting with a queen!!!!  I have been very fortunate.  I hope that you were able to take something away from this rambling of thoughts.  I do miss my region 1 sisters all the time.  Regional weekends are not the same without your smiling faces and many hugs.  I am excited to come and share my good fortune with you all next fall.  MAXX will be singing on October 11, 2014 in Massachusetts!   I hope that I have the opportunity to see most of you there!

Xoxo
Dawn

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