First Solo!

On Friday, I mentioned our Good Friday Passion musical that we were doing as part of our Good Friday service.  This is a musical with a small amount of dialogue, full orchestra, and choir, along with several soloists.

This was very exciting, this year, for the "One Dad's Life" family, because my wife Dianne was the producer/director/costume person...and also because our 7-year old, Rachel, was going to be singing a solo in the production!

The trick with this solo is that it is a brief couple of lines, inside another song the choir and orchestra are doing.  So, the choir sings their part, the music modulates into another melody over four measures, and Rachel sings - by herself, with the entire orchestra playing.  The measure her part is over, the whole choir comes in.  So, she has to pick up her cues, sing exactly with the orchestra and then the choir comes in. Nerve-racking for a 7-year old, right?

Well, we arrived early to make sure that there were no problems, and that all was in place for the service that contained this musical.  At the time we got there, a family oriented service was going on, so we attended most of that.  During what would be the sermon time, all the kids gathered up at the front and the pastor talks to them at their level about the significance and events of Good Friday.

Rachel would NOT go up in front!

Gregg: Why don't you want to go up there?

Rachel: (acting very shy) I just don't.

G: Are you shy?

R: (nods head)

G: You are KIDDING me, right?  In two hours, you are going to be standing up there, by yourself, in front of HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS of people, singing a solo with the orchestra!  How can you be too nervous to go up there now?

R: (shakes head, shrugs shoulders)

G: Is it so different?

R: (shakes head in affirmation, vigorously) Dad, THAT is TOTALLY different!

G: Really!?

R: Yes, it is. I'm not going up there without a drama going on!

Kids, these days!  However, we are VERY proud of her for doing the solo, which she pretty much ROCKED on!  She can actually sing on pitch and keep time with the orchestra, which isn't bad for a 7-year old at all.

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Photo credit: Larry Jost.  I was running sound for the orchestra and soloists, so couldn't get one in, even though my camera was at arms length from me!  Click on the photo to enlarge. Rachel is the little one in the shot...just in case you couldn't figure that out.

Comments

[Sarah]

Rachel did an excellent job on her solo. She was right on time and perfectly in tune! Marissa would love to be able to sing but the bad news for her is that neither one of her parents have ANY musical talent):

[Courtney]

Congrats to Rachel! Wish I could sing as well as I think I do in the car and shower (;

[Rachel's Grandma]

Rachel, we are so proud of you. The drama is so moving, I cried again. I also wish they would do the whole Once Upon The Tree again. I'm glad they at least did this shorten version.

[Larry Jost]

Thought perhaps you'd retouch the wardrobe malfunction! Perhaps you can later post the audio clip! (I'll get you a better one shortly...I mixed and EQ'd tonight...). Larry

[Aunt Kimmy]

What made it even greater was the huge smile she gave the fam (sitting in the front row) when she was supposed to be acting sad - of course she did pop right back into character - I think she was actually crying.