Interesting revelations...

At least, in regards to my singing. So, I have to present a couple of pieces this weekend for some composers. We were told to choose pieces we felt showed us off best. I couldn't decide between four pieces so I sent a potential 'Two of these four' and will decide probably the day of or something. I also brought these pieces into my voice lesson yesterday. I sang through the first piece and then the second...and then my teacher said 'What are you trying to tell them about yourself through these pieces? What makes you, as a singer, special?' I paused. I had no immediate answer. I finally said 'I know what I -don't- want to show' and so we started there. I didn't want to show a sustained, high tessitura -- when composers know you have high notes, they tend to write music in the stratosphere and I don't like singing there. I didn't want to show that I only had high notes. Interestingly enough, my teacher said 'That's just what this one, particular piece is showing. I finally figured out what I -did- want to show...and it had nothing to do with my vocalism. I wanted to show: I am a strong actress I am willing to take risks. I am musical and intelligent I am imaginative and quirky None of this has to actually do with my voice. It's about what I have to say. This was...amazingly revelatory for me. I guess I never thought about 'having something to say' as being things like this. Why does it always take me so long to figure these things out? Why couldn't I have done it 10 years ago when I would have had a chance of being more...desired for performances? Better late than never, I suppose. But now, I have Something To Say!