Wednesday, September 29, 2010

An Unexpected Blessing of Music

I cannot believe that it is already the end of September! The 4 postulants have now been here for over a month, and seem to be adjusting well despite the changes in lifestyle. We are kept busy with school, charges, and music lessons, and of course our prayer life and recreation. Yesterday, I worked in the kitchen and made a couple fruit trays with apples, oranges, and grapefruit.

Piano is still going well. I have now been taking lessons for two weeks. It is getting more tricky, because my fingers are starting to move up the keyboard a little bit, and I am starting to play more than one note at the same time. I am enjoying it very much though, and I am always excited to see that what I struggle with one day comes easier for me the next day.

I began voice lessons yesterday, too, with Leslie, one of the postulants, and that went well. I became a second soprano this year. Generally we sing the alto part, and only sing the second soprano part for SSA music. (SSA- first soprano, second soprano, alto). In junior high, I was a second soprano at Saint Cecilia Music Society, but that was ages ago. In high school, I was moved to first soprano, since I could sing higher notes...I think my range developed. In College Chorus, I sang the descant part. Ha ha I just remember the splitting headaches we all got from singing those high notes for over an hour at rehearsals. So now I am back at second soprano. Some how, I had only learned solfège for the key of C up until now, so in the voice lessons yesterday, I was introduced to the phenomenon that the solfège moves.

I have always had a passion for music, but I never thought that I would get to use this passion later on in life. It is one of the blessings of belonging to this community.

9 comments:

  1. I'm so glad that you are enjoying your music and singing Sister Monica! You have a lovely voice!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have never regretted the training in music I had as a youngster and then in the convent. I think it develops another part of the personality and brain. Praise God wholeheartedly with your voice and with instruments!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sister Monica, you are an inspiration for me! You are faithful to practice and it is exciting to hear your progress! The gift of music fills the Novitiate and is indeed praising God!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you Sister Monica..

    Friar Simon ofm.conv
    Africa

    ReplyDelete
  5. Aw, thanks everyone for your comments! Wow, Friar Simon, thanks for reading! I pray that you have a blessed and joyous St. Francis Feast Day! God bless you!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love to listen music.i believe music has a magic for peaceful life so good to see about your passion.God gives this life & such quality make us perfect.
    so which kind of music you compose?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for your comment, Madyjojjef! I am glad that you enjoy music too, and that it makes you feel peaceful!

    Right now, I am playing mainly children's songs on the piano, to learn how to play the piano. For singing, I sing the songs we sing for prayer and mass. It is nice to play music.

    Thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks too Dear, so you can play every instrument? well i love to learn Guitar..
    you an also invent some traditional music which is natural like birds & rain.
    thanks once again

    ReplyDelete
  9. You know what- the piano is my very first instrument. Like you, I would love to learn guitar at some point. Wow, it would be fun to invent some traditional music like that.

    God bless you!

    ReplyDelete