15|4|15 - Singing Techniques - Finalising the Programme

Within my final discussion with Chipp, I want to make sure I have the timings right so I could set in stone how the evening will plan out. 

With 10 to 15 minutes of 'chat' time we will have 3 solo's and a duet. 

Abbie - Somewhere that's green 

Carys - Castle on a cloud

Carys & Poppy - Falling Slowly

Poppy - I'll be here 

These songs don't have 'peaks' that use a climactic belting technique meaning that the audience will be able to continue conversations with music that is enjoyable but relaxed.

I decided to switch around 'I'll be here' and 'Say the word' due to the length of I'll be here and also it's downhearted nature. I feel that 'Say The Word' is enough of a slow ballad to offer variation with the programme but not bring a negative or atmosphere that might have been possible with the themes presented in the song 'I'll be here'. With solo's sandwiching a more lyrical, emotional ensemble piece I feel both solo's should be more positive, one being more upbeat than the other. I will be starting & finishing with 'Naughty' & 'Mama I'm a Big Girl Now' that involve a lot more movement and fit the light hearted nature of the awards evening a lot more enjoyable than perhaps ensembles that are overly serious. 

Here is a video of the actual performance night: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DgswNfxzmM

Overall I feel that the evening was highly enjoyable for both performers and audience. The close nature of the group made created a great atmosphere. To improve I would either have live accompanists for the songs, this makes it easier for the performers as the accompanists will follow the singer on pace and volume, as I felt the volume of the music was too quiet, this is due to the fact that the person I requested to control volume was sat next to the speaker so it always sounded louder to her than the rest of the audience. This also could've been solved by having sound control panel at the back of the room, this means that the sound person would get an overall feel for the alterations needed on the volume. Due to this, I never had to worry about how quiet I was, but I had to focus a lot more on timing as I found it heard to hear cues in the backing tracks that I did during rehearsals. 

1|4|15 - Singing Techniques - Developing the Programme

After doing a rehearsal and meeting with the people that would be involved in the performances, I looked back over my programme to decide on changes that I could make that show more variety and would be more ideal for the context of the performance. 

We have been given a half an hour time slot before the actual award ceremony starts, this will be when the audience will not have their full attention to the songs, rather sat around enjoying provided nibbles and drinks. During this time, myself, Abbie and Carys have songs prepared that we can sing for light entertainment these songs will be:

Somewhere that's green (Little Shop of Horrors) - Abbie

I don't know how to love him (Jesus Christ Superstar) - Carys

Still Hurting (The Last Five Years) - Poppy

Falling Slowly (Once) - Carys and Poppy

Castle on a Cloud (Les Mis) - Carys

First Solo: Say the Word (The Unauthorised Autobiography of Sam Brown) - Poppy 

We will then move onto the Opening: 

Naughty (Matilda) - Carys, Abbie and Poppy. - As we are performing to a drama crowd and it is the same few people, we have devised movement to create a more enjoyable piece to watch. This will increase the energy and I will have to think about how I to control my voice whilst moving. A common issue when singing Musical Theatre songs as they are not usually performed as a recital, rather a performance which is what we will try to do. 

Second Solo: 

I'll be here (Ordinary Days) - Poppy. As I have just done a high energy ensemble piece I feel I am able to do this longer song here. The audience will not have been here long and it would be better to do a longer story telling song now then at the end when their focus has lapsed and require to see more high energy songs. 

Second Ensemble Piece:

The Letter (Billy Elliott) - Carys, Abbie and Poppy. We will have Carys playing Billy Elliott as her voice suits that part more than the two older females. Abbie will play the dance teacher and myself the dead mother. This is because my voice is stronger at the higher harmony part whereas Abbie voice suits the lower part. This is a simple song to perform, which makes it easy to set and allows the audience to focus on the words and feel empathy to the song making it more emotional. 

Third Solo: 

Pulled (The Addams Family) - Poppy. More high energy, with slight comedy it's also a much shorter song meaning after two emotional songs we can regain the audiences attention. 

Third Ensemble Piece: 

Mama I'm a Big Girl Now (Hairspray) - Poppy, Abbie, Carys, Zack, Robert and Nefyn. - Ending the evening with this number, highly comical as the boys will be in drag. This will be high energy and ends the evening on a positive note that includes members from N2C meaning the humour will be more involved with the audience as well. 

By doing some slow and emotional numbers against high energy numbers we show off the type of members N2C has. It allows for a more interesting programme as it provides songs from different musicals, both well known and more undiscovered.