BWW Blog: A Lot of Livin' To Do: 2019

Hello BroadwayWorld! Welcome Back! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season! Speaking of the holiday season...did anyone receive any Broadway gifts? I know those are always at the top of my list! But aside from all the gift giving and receiving that comes with the holidays, we also welcomed in the new year of 2019! Like many people, as the new year approaches I put together a short list of goals. I prefer to call them goals rather than resolutions. It makes them sound more achievable! This year in particular I noticed that many of my goals were more realistic and mostly related to musical theatre! I find that ever since I started studying musical theatre at my new university, I have been so much more focused. I believe that with focus, passion, and great determination anything is possible. I have taken the step of making my success in musical theatre my top priority. After all, it should be being that that's what I want to do the rest of my life! However, in doing so comes quite a few responsibilities.

I'll explain how each of my goals relate back to helping me become a better performer. We'll start with becoming more fit (attending the gym at leas two or three times a week.) I have such a nice gym available in my apartment that just sits there! One of my friends who just recently finished up with a national tour gave me some advice that has stuck with me. When I asked her how I could become a better dancer, she responded by saying going to the gym is actually very helpful because the first step to becoming a mover is not only being flexible, but also being comfortable with your own body. I've also invested in a fit bit to monitor my activity and food consumption to overall live a healthier lifestyle. (That's very important as a performer too!)

Along with having a gym, we've also got a steam room in our apartment! Another goal of mine is to go there a few times a week just to clear up any gunk that may be happening with my sinuses and open up my vocal chords! I have a MyPurMist as well that I'd like to use more often. (also recommended to me by a performer friend, and it works WONDERS!) Speaking of vocal chords, another goal of mine is focusing on vocal health. I need to keep hydrated more often so I've constantly got water bottle that I carry with me around campus. I'd like to drink 2 liters of water a day. I'd also like to switch over to some type of warm tea with honey instead of morning coffee to keep those chords in good condition. Another thing, I'd like to drink every day is EmergenC to build up my immune system this along with my new daily vitamins is sure to keep me in good health which we all know is vital to a performer! Our vocal chords are an instrument so I've learned it's important to use them properly. I made warming up on my new keyboard or doing breathing exercises a frequent occurrence as recommended to me by a new vocal teacher in New York City. Did you know not only do breathing exercises help you learn about your diaphragm, but they also relax you? Try doing them in child's pose! Which leads into my next goal of doing yoga and stretching. I've decided that I'd like to stretch every morning. As you may have read in my last blog, I am taking a ballet class, and that's really taken a toll on my body! I've certainly learned the importance of proper stretching. Did I mention, I've got a keyboard now in my college apartment?! Music Theory was the class I struggled most with last semester because I never learned how to read music, so this year I've decided to focus on learning more as we all know the importance of being able to sight read in musical theatre!

Along with plucking notes out on my keyboard, I've decided I want to work on building my rep book. Sure I've goy a few pieces I've performed, but why not get more comfortable with the others sitting in the back of my binder or the monologues I've kept in plastic sleeves, but never memorized?!

Overall, these goals are difficult and as stated several times will require a good but of focus. I'm growing to learn that it's okay to say no and stay in to relax or focus on yourself. The main thing I want to do in 2019 which ties all of this together is have more confidence in myself as a performer. That comes with not only believing in yourself, but also practicing to be the best you can be. I'm learning not to procrastinate, but instead be prepared. I'm approaching 2019 full of hope, willingness to learn, and the perseverance not to give up no matter how difficult or hard the task may be. Soon enough, it'll all come as routine and benefit me as a performer! I hope sharing some of these goals with you will help you this year to focus on what you'd like to do in order to make yourself shine both onstage and off.

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