Going Live

February 17, 2021February 16, 2021 Dawn - The Sparkle Diaries.7 Comments

Regular readers of my blog and those that follow me on social media will know that during our first lockdowns last year, I took the plunge and started to sing into my phone and post the songs online. I finally got my website sorted out and published it and I started a Facebook page specifically for the music sprinkled with positive quotes. I’ve been delighted with all the love and support I have received and all the positive comments, shares and visits have really given me more confidence to keep doing what I’m doing.

About three weeks ago I received a message on my music page from a lady who runs a music group on Facebook. She asked me if I would do a live set for them. Holy moly!!! Fear seized me, then excitement, swiftly followed by more fear. I was stunned. Delighted but stunned. Well I had to say yes didn’t I? This is an amazing opportunity for me to do something I have never done before. I have never done a Facebook live and I have never, ever, ever sang live in public. It’s one thing to sing into my phone and post it online but to sing live!!!!

Practicing the songs for the live event.

So I said yes and arranged the date with her. I go live on Sunday 21st February at 4 pm GMT in The Virtual Bar. I have been practicing nine songs for the half hour set. I wasn’t sure how many I would need and if I start chatting, then I may only need one or two!!! Best to be prepared and have more than enough. I’m very grateful to this lady for giving me the opportunity to sing live and push my boundaries, as scary as it may be. I need to do it.

I’ve been reading a lot over the past months about Law of Attraction and I have watched the film The Secret. It’s so interesting the concept of asking for, working towards and manifesting what you want. Since I was a child I have imagined myself on stage singing. I was in my bedroom as a teenager singing away to my records and working out my dance moves. I lost most, if not all, of that creativity and enthusiasm as life unfolded and I wandered up and down different paths. When I gave up work to look after my parents, their Doctor said I needed to have something for me to escape and unwind with. Back came the music. Now life has guided me down another path and the music has become my main focus. I’m forever thinking of songs, drafting lyrics, dancing in the kitchen and yes again, visualising myself on a stage singing. Especially over these past months when I’ve been posting songs online. Is it possible that I am manifesting my dream?

February has opened up an opportunity for me. I’m pushing myself outside of the comfort zone. I’ll let you know how it goes.

With love and sparkles xxx

The Music Sparkle.

This is like work!

August 16, 2018August 15, 2018 Dawn - The Sparkle Diaries.1 Comment

Well a quick update, actually can I do a quick update? A quick update for me is something like 1,000 words!! I’ll do my best, honest.

There has been much going on, on the singing front. The singing it appears is the easy bit, it all the other bits that take the real effort, organisation, research and time oh yes that precious commodity time. So far we have the tracks recorded and all bar one is completed. Everything is on course at the moment for the video shoot at the end of August. I’m very lucky to be working with Rivermade Films Mulk is so easy to work with, he is aware of my restrictions as a carer with regards to location being close at hand in case I get a call to come home, keeping things simple yet effective and listening to my thoughts on the songs and turning them into a vision. Mulk has already provided me with lots of information on his thoughts and plans for the video shoot and every time I read them I get goosebumps. Mulk has such vision and creativity and I’m so looking forward to the day and also nervous about how I will be in front of a camera.

I had a very insightful and useful hour with Paul Dunphy Esq Paul is a Social Media Curator who I “met” on Twitter some years ago. His knowledge is incredible and to anyone looking for advice on how to use social media for their business or hobby I would highly recommend Paul. Paul advised me to just be me, don’t bother with a separate Facebook page or Twitter account for the music, just use what I have already, be me. Paul pointed out that as a full time carer I won’t have time to keep two lots of accounts going so keep it simple and keep it sparkly.

I told Paul I am not very confident in pushing myself forwards, self promotion but he put me completely at ease with this. As Paul says, most people are nice, most people like to engage with people they like, people want to know more about the person, the back story behind the music or whatever passion it is you have. My Instagram is already filling up with pictures of me. It still doesn’t sit quite right but I would love to share the music with as many people as possible and this is the way to go.

I have been researching the various licences I require in order to release a couple of my tracks commercially. This is time consuming as I want to be 100% sure of what I am signing up to. I have done hours of research over the weeks on music aggregation and I have narrowed it down to two organisations. Digital music is changing all the time it seems and having the correct licences for what you want to do is very important. I’m still hoping to release “Summer Love” by the end of the Summer, it just all depends on how fast people get back to me, how quickly license applications are handled and how fast the music aggregator will work once things are in place. I probably could have done this quicker with more time to hand but I don’t have that luxury so dipping in and out of things is how I’m getting things done.

I have located the Musicians Union website and located it is all I have done so far. I switch the laptop on in the morning, access a website and then sometimes get no further and I end up switching the laptop off before I go to bed. Just depends how the day goes caring wise.

I know the above all sounds like hard work and I suppose it is but I am really enjoying learning all about this industry and what you need to do if you want to do anything at all with your music. I have scribbled a few songs, sudden inspiration would hit me and I’d reach for the phone to record the tune and lyrics whilst it is fresh in my mind. I was brave enough last week to play two to my guitar tutor and he said they were good!! I was amazed. He has given me the guitar chords to the tune in my head so that I can practice. It just is so exciting and it does give me an escape in my head to the stresses of the day and I think too brings peace to my soul.

I’m hoping to upload a song to You Tube this weekend. It’s my cover of the Randy Crawford classic “Almaz”. I love this song so much. There isn’t a video, just a photo of myself. I will do a quick post to let you know when it has been uploaded.

My chap has been practising his photography skills taking some photo’s of me in the garden, for social media purposes. I have included some below, I do hope you like them.

With love and sparkles until the next musical update xxx

The Music Sparkle.

Recording!

July 9, 2018July 5, 2018 Dawn - The Sparkle Diaries.6 Comments

I can’t believe it is just over two weeks ago already, but I actually fulfilled a dream to record some songs. What an experience. The week before I was suffering with a sore throat, achy bones and felt I was definitely coming down with some horrible bug. Why that week?!!! Why the week I was due to sing my heart out?!!! I lived on paracetamol, honey and lemon drinks, Lemsip (which is gross even with added honey to sweeten it) and some of Dad’s throat spray as advised by the Doctor. I had ordered some VocalZone pastilles under recommendation. They didn’t arrive until the day of the recording and I was advised not to take them on the day I am due to sing. Happily my throat had recovered somewhat by Thursday evening. I didn’t sleep a wink Thursday night I was so excited and also full of apprehension.

Friday morning I felt my throat was totally constricted, “just nerves” I kept telling myself. My boyfriend arrived early; he was going to look after M & D whilst I was singing. My Guitar tutor arrived with his mobile recording studio and we made a sound booth with two music stands and a duvet…amazing. Then my vocal coach arrived. I wanted her to be there plus she was very interested in how the recording would all work out at home.

I was really nervous but we got started with the songs that are easier to sing. It was weird to hear myself singing in my own ears alongside the backing track. To stop and start. to break in later in the song, to rephrase a lyric, to put my own sound on it. In two hours we had managed to record seven tracks; some Irish, some Country and some from totally different genres…all will be revealed in due course. I was hoarse afterwards and I was on a high. This was one huge tick off my “dreams come true” list. I am very lucky that I managed to choose such wonderful people as Christine (Vocal Coach) and Roger (Guitar Tutor).

A week later I received the unedited tracks to listen to. They sounded amazing, I really can’t believe that it is me. The sound quality is excellent, you’d never think we recorded the songs at home.

Over that weekend my boyfriend took some photographs in the garden with a camera, rather than a mobile phone, so that I could start on my music social media work. I had been out the night before to see John McNicholl so a tad tired looking but I do like some of the photo’s and have used them for my Music page. I’ll use them for the You Tube channel when I get that up and going. There is so much to do and so limited time to do it. However, I have no great expectations of ambitions. Singing and music is my respite, my stress buster from the caring role which takes up the majority of my time. This is my hobby. I have a lot to research regarding licensing, commercial obligations, royalties, CD’s etc but it will all have to be done in my own slow available time.

I also have the opportunity later in the year to make a video or two for a couple of the recorded tracks. I’m very excited about this and yet this too will pose problems to get around. I can’t not be at home in the morning so a full day out is out of the question. I will need cover whilst I am out so I’m looking at £20 per hour before I do anything with a video. Location is another question, I can’t be too far from home in case I need to get back quickly. I want to keep things as simple as possible as I don’t have people who want to appear in videos and I don’t want to have to hire rooms, theatre’s, bars etc. So before I start I have some obstacles to overcome but as the saying goes, where there’s a will there’s a way.

I spotted some dresses on Instagram in June and when I visited the website I was amazed that they were so reasonably priced, plus there was a sale and a first purchase discount. So I bought two, one in Black and one in White. They arrived at the end of last week…from China. The Black one is huge but I can work with it, that’s what we have clothes pegs for 🙂 The White one is a perfect fit. These are for photos and also for wearing in the videos. How exciting life has become. I am so grateful and blessed to be getting the opportunity to do these things albeit at a very slow pace.

Dad made me laugh the day after the recordings when he asked me what was going to happen to him and Mom. I asked him why he asked that question and he said now that I’ve recorded the tracks things will change. I laughed and said that I had only recorded a few songs, I didn’t think I would be taking on a World Tour next week and in any case, him and Mom are my priority. I’m here 100% for them and that won’t change, global stardom will have to wait.

Pictures are mine or via Pinterest.

With love and sparkles xxx

The Music Sparkle.

Musical Vibes.

June 11, 2018 Dawn - The Sparkle Diaries.7 Comments

Somehow, throughout the last three months of illness here at home, I have managed to keep some music going in my life. Music is my respite. I can escape into it. It brings me peace, harmony, balance and happiness. Even if I am wallowing in the saddest of songs, it brings me comfort. I can dance around the kitchen to trance music and lose myself in the words of a country love song or the lyrics of old Ireland. I am lucky that my guitar tutor comes to me for my lessons and I have been having my vocal coaching sessions online also.

So, the story so far…

I have all the backing tracks I require in order to record seven tracks. It has been a steep learning curve so far. License agreements – the two companies I have bought my backing tracks from work very differently. One based in the UK has far superior tracks, a one off fee and job done, I can use it. The other, head office in France, has excellent backing tracks, no charges initially, I think I need 100,000 downloads from Facebook…can you imagine that…I’ll be ecstatic if I get one download from anywhere!

I’ve been practising when I can, I need to be note perfect plus I need to come in on que. I do have a habit of getting lost in the intro music and forgetting to sing. I’ve also been making a list, which is becoming a never ending list of things to do. I think of one thing which leads to another, then another and another. All things which I know little or nothing about and with being a full time carer, time is premium and these items on my to do list need to be researched fully and properly.

Mom, Dad and I decided that my “Professional” name will be Dawn McDermott Music. I already have cousins in Ireland using my surname professionally so we chose another family name for my foray into music. Last weekend I set up my Facebook Music Page

There isn’t much content yet of course and I think I mentioned before, self promotion is not my thing. After much thought about this I decided that in the end, I just have to be me. I can’t let the unknown scare me. I have no grand expectations of overnight stardom, number one on iTunes etc. I am doing what I love as my hobby and respite. I am making a few dreams come true for myself. I just want to sing the songs I love and if in turn they make people happy then that will be such a huge bonus for me.

I have also set up my Twitter Music Account. If you would like to follow me on my musical journey on either Facebook or Twitter I would love that. Thank you.

All being well, recording date is set at 22nd June and again I am fortunate in that my guitar tutor has a mobile recording studio and can come to me. My Vocal Coach will also be here and my chap has taken the day off work so that he can be here to help with Mom and Dad whilst I am recording for two hours. I would think the recording will be ready two to three weeks later and then hopefully I’ll be shooting a couple of video’s in late Summer. Even as I type this it is all unbelievable.

A very good friend for many, many years is shooting the video’s with me. He is a fabulous short film maker and this is a new project for him also and we are both really excited about this. Check out some of Mulk’s films here Mulk Raj.

And so for now, that is where I am with the music hobby/project. Still lots of research, broadcasting licenses, iTunes, Amazon Music, CD’s etc…once you start these things you realise there is a lot more to it than you originally thought. I’m just going to go with the flow and do things as and when time allows. Thank you for your support so far and I hope you will continue to support me as I travel along this path.

Pictures via Pinterest.

With love and sparkles xx

The Music Sparkle.

Do It Anyway.

March 5, 2018 Dawn - The Sparkle Diaries.10 Comments

Regular readers of my blog know that I love to sing and that I have been visiting a wonderful vocal coach, Christine, for a number of reasons. The main reason is that singing brings me stress relief; life as a full time carer to two elderly parents is not easy, it’s harder work than I ever thought it was going to be so stress relief of the singing kind works for me.

I have so enjoyed learning about the voice, to hear my own voice develop, to hear the clarity of the notes I can produce and to know that I am blessed with a good vocal range an a natural vibrato (apparently some singers would kill for a vibrato)!!

I am coming on well now with my Guitar lessons. Since Christmas I can actually get the sound of a few chords from the Guitar and I bought myself a new Guitar book “American Country Hits” so that I can practice the chords and learn the songs at the same time. It has taken time and I have more or less cracked “Jambalaya”, very little plink and thunk on that one now. I am learning, practising four more songs and I want to download the guitar chords for some of the Irish traditional songs and country songs that I love to sing.

At the start of the year I mentioned to my Guitar tutor that it would be a dream come true for me to record some songs. I don’t care if anyone bought them or not, but to have recorded and released some songs would be just awesome. He informed me that he can help me with that as he can bring a mobile recording studio to me here at home and we can record away. I’ve to choose four or five tracks so that we can utilise the recording time and keep cost to a minimum. He can then do the mixing at his professional studio.

My vocal coach is almost as excited as I am about this. Every time I think about it I get a headache with excitement. Of course this has now thrown me into a world I know nothing about, the music business…something new to learn.

Choosing four or five songs may sound easy but it is proving to be a little difficult. There is only one I am absolutely sure of and I keep changing my mind about the other four. I have backing tracks but I need to shop around for the best sounding tracks and then I need to check on the licensing. Most that I purchase online are licensed for private use or public performance but not recording. I require permission to use the track and there may be an additional cost.

I also need to research public broadcast licensing and how royalties work. I’ve been told to start getting things ready; website (although there won’t be much content at first), photo shoot (who me?), video’s for the songs (really, me in a music video?) and to get to grips with self promotion.

These are things I really want to do, this is very much dream come true time and if I can get these things done before I set foot on a stage to sing it will boost my confidence enormously. It really is a case of “Feel the fear and do it anyway” for me. However, I’m a full time carer to both of my parents along with running the home and everything that goes with that. I have very limited free time. I’m not sure how I’m going to do it but you can bet your bottom dollar that any free time I have will be spent on the music dream.

I have put together another video. One of my favourite songs is “Making Memories of Us” which is sang by Keith Urban and also a couple of my favourite Irish singers; Mike Denver and Derek Ryan. I managed to locate a good backing track but the key may be not quite right. I can just about hit the bass notes but if I take the key higher, the higher notes may be off.

I used photographs of places I have been on holiday with my lovely boyfriend over the years for the video. Places where we now have memories of being there together from taking him home to Ireland to visit Galway where my Mom is from to our summer holidays in Spain, Portugal and England.

Please give it a listen and let me know what you think. Thank you for supporting me on this journey to my dream.

Life Sparkles

Positives and Opportunities.

February 20, 2017 Dawn - The Sparkle Diaries.Leave a comment

look-for-the-positive

“Our Gallbladder is a 4 inch pear-shaped organ positioned under your liver in the upper right section of the abdomen. The Gallbladder stores bile, a combination of fluids, fat and cholesterol. The bile helps break down fat from the food in our intestine”. (www.healthline.com).

It appears that I have chronic (long-term) inflammation of the gallbladder. This has recently come to a head in the last two months after I experienced two bouts of pain like never before. I couldn’t sit, stand, lie down – I just had to keep walking and no relief from the pain for hours. After ultrasounds, blood tests and Dr’s appointments it was decided that to save further attacks and to prevent further damage to surrounding organs, I am to have the gallbladder removed. Oh joy!

As a carer, this news put me into stress city. I would be out of action for some weeks post operation. The consultant said I would have to stay in hospital overnight – further stress, how can I leave my parents alone overnight?!!! I can’t just bring strangers in to the home?

And therein is the dilemma of millions of carers the world over. Who cares for the carer? There is no way I can put off the operation, apart from the constant pain and other symptoms which I have daily, (pain in the left side which radiates through the to back to up to the shoulder, heartburn, hot flushes and sometimes a chronic attack of pain and swollen tummy). things could take a nasty turn if left unattended. Which would untimely means further pressure on my caring responsibilities.

Therefore I have just had to plan around this. I have worked like a demon for the last three or so weeks, getting the house clean, shopping in advance, getting up to date and prepared for a handover in the day job. I can use my post operation time off to study, I have another assignment due on 16th March. I won’t be able to sing for a little while until my muscles regain their strength but I can check out backing tracks and lyrics. The way I see it is that I have been given a period of enforced rest, thinking time, sorting out time, regain health and fitness time – really, a time to start again, a new page, a new phase of life.

I am thankful to God that he sent me a wonderful boyfriend who has rearranged his caring responsibilities in order to come over to stay with my parents the night I am in hospital. This removes the bulk of my stress and I will not be trying to walk home with my drip attached during the evening or overnight to ensure they are ok. Anxiety can make you irrational!

I will be away from the day job for at least two, possibly three weeks depending on my healing and I intend to use this time wisely. There are so many things I want to investigate for my studies, health and social care, carers, mental health first aid. Then there is my passion for singing and researching music, recordings and video’s. I’ve ordered the box set of “Nashville” as I will be off to see the show in June. This will also be a great opportunity to get my healthy eating, diet and fitness back into harness. A chance to start over. I can also blog a little more, I really enjoy blogging, very therapeutic and I love to read other blogs. People lead such interesting lives, have wonderful talents and some have difficult lives and their words give you an understanding of other aspects of our world.

My thought to leave you with today is to check out any symptoms, pains and aches you may be experiencing, your body has a way of letting you know something isn’t right, don’t leave them unattended. Look for the positives in your situation, grab your opportunities and make the most of each moment.

look-for-the-positive-vibes

Images from Pinterest.

The Music Sparkle.

Mixed up Music.

January 19, 2017 Dawn - The Sparkle Diaries.Leave a comment

My visit to my vocal coach on Monday was brilliant. I always look forward to my session and I am constantly amazed at how my voice is improving, the clarity of notes, the pitch and the resonance. If feels wonderful, because I am doing something I love and also following a dream.

I’ve started over the past few months to download backing tracks and print off lyrics and learn the songs and the music, to inject emotion and passion although my confidence to do this is still not very good.

Last Monday I sang “Rose Garden” made famous by Lyn Anderson and more recently by Martina McBride. From there I moved to “Love of the Loved” by Cilla Black. A totally amazing song written by Lennon and McCartney in the early Sixties and was Cilla’s first single which I think entered the charts at Number 35 and she was disappointed at that. I first heard this song when I watched the film/documentary “Cilla” a couple of weeks ago. What a story. I think it made an impact on me because I grew up to the sounds of Cilla, I remember my family watching “The Cilla Black Show” on Saturday evenings and I remember Cilla hosting “Blind Date” and “Surprise Surprise” she was definitely a UK national treasure. This film brought to life her start and the whole music scene in Liverpool in the early Sixties, her friendship with Ringo Starr and the Beatles, singing at The Cavern, the fashion of the time and her wonderful friendship/relationship/romance with Bobby Willis who became her husband and was her only love. A truly fabulous story and I fell in love with that song, “Love of the Loved”. It is not easy to sing, it jumps up and down and there are a lot of lyrics to fit into a few bars of music but I still loved singing it.

From there I made a complete change to a rock song, “Home Sweet Home” by Motley Crue. Oh yes, a big change from Country Music and The Sixties. I have loved this song since I heard it in the 1990’s and wow – can I belt it out too – it is in my vocal comfort zone but still needs a lot of practice to perfect it.

So a few new songs to learn here, to sing out clear and brightly, to inject the emotion and to gain confidence. To record on my iPad and listen back to, to see where I can change a note or a phrase to make it mine.

Video’s shared from You Tube – I hope it is ok to do this, I just wanted you to get a feel of my mixed up music this week.

Thank you for reading my blog.

Life Sparkles

Decisions, Decisions…

January 15, 2017 Dawn - The Sparkle Diaries.Leave a comment

happy-day

It’s been a funny couple of weeks. I’m finally starting to catch up with all the tasks, chores, studying that was let slide whilst I was in preparation for Christmas and the day job is now back to normal routine too. I like January, I don’t find it bleak, dull or depressing. Once the Christmas decorations are taken down on Twelfth Night and put away, yes, the house looks a little bare for a couple of days, but there is almost an air of expectancy. Of positivity, small bursts of excitement for what can be achieved in this new year. Winter can be very cold and dark with inclement weather, little daylight and the lows after the highs of Christmas. Winter is prime time for Mom’s “Sundown” to hit and although we have had quite a number of extremely late nights, we have had only one where I haven’t been to bed at all – which is a huge improvement.

Every day brings it’s own blessings, challenges, thoughts and ideas. I like my “day job” but how much longer do I want to spend in an office – there are so many other things I want to do with my days. Of course, I need money to live so perhaps not an option to just give up on the day job immediately. I’ve caught up with my studies and submitted my assignment and am now straight into the next block of study – I’m loving this module “Promoting Public Health” so interesting and because of my caring experience with M & D, these modules bring health and social care to life. For those of you in the UK, you know that Mental Health Funding has been in the news this week as has crisis in the NHS with overloaded A & E departments on the busiest weeks of the year. This module is the final one of my degree course. I have the study bug. It will have taken me seven years to obtain this degree, part time with The Open University and it has been hard work. I’ve done many all night working in order to get assignments in on time. I’ve “met” some wonderful people online in the module group pages and become friends with them -we can scream together, support each other and celebrate together. I think I will miss the studying, I’ve already started to explore the Open University website for next modules.

I’m trying again with my healthy eating and lifestyle, trying to eat healthier, move more and I did start the Couch to 5K podcast again last week and although it was hard it felt great to be back out there and running. Oh boy did I ache for a day or two afterwards. I achieved this last year and I really want to do it again this year and in fact I want to beat that 5K target – let’s go for 10K. (Feel free to remind me of this later in the year).

I returned to my vocal coach last week and oh how I loved that hour and a half. I can hardly believe the clear pure notes I am singing with at times and it is great to stretch my vocal ability. I’m hoping for some free time coming up so that I can download some more backing tracks and learn some more songs. (More about that to come on The Music Sparkle).

However, there are at times things that happen to slow you down a little.

So, I think for now, I keep plotting and planning for the future, thinking about what I really want to do and how do I go about doing it. My Pinterest feed of late is full of working from home, which at the moment is a requirement for me. It is also full of blogging tips, blogging ideas, blogging this, blogging that…I’m not good at self promotion but I think this is something I need to get over and start doing – I can’t be backwards in coming forwards if I want to sing and if I want to set something up regarding carers and their mental health and wellbeing as a carer. So I need to work out what I really want to do, how I am going to do it and what steps I need to take to get there. Perhaps it is time to step out of the comfort zone and try new things, to make every day count, to help others, to be there, to listen, to be kind and to reach out.

intuition

Thank you for visiting and reading my blog, I very much appreciate it.

The Music Sparkle.

Sunday Evening Country Music.

November 24, 2016 Dawn - The Sparkle Diaries.Leave a comment

As you know I love to sing and I enjoy going to gigs to see my favourite singers, especially of the Irish Country kind. Music is an escape for me. It takes me into another world. I love singing the songs I remember from childhood and also new songs which I hear and have to make a note of immediately in case I forget them. I have a list on my iPad of songs to learn, songs to put my own mark on, to play around with how I can sing them. My head is always full of music, songs, dreams…

Last Sunday evening I was lucky enough to attend a wonderful concert. “Stars of Irish Country”. It was a fabulous evening. From long time singers such as John Hogan and Frank McCaffrey to a Queen of Irish Country, Louise Morrissey to the up and coming talents of Lee Matthews and Tracey Macauley. They were brilliant. From hits from the past to new material, engaging the audience, including the audience and singing their hearts out. The backing band “Keltic Storm” are awesome musicians and complimented the artists perfectly.

During the interval and after the show we had the opportunity to meet the stars and purchase their CD’s. I have waited two years for Lee Matthews to visit England and I wasn’t disappointed. A truly lovely lad who can really sing and entertain. He’ll surely go places. Meeting John Hogan was a delight, a favourite of my parents he is a true gentleman and with a unique voice. I can still hear him singing “Please help me I’m falling, in love with you”, in my head, just beautiful.

I was so happy to meet Louise Morrissey again. It has been a very long time since we met and she was still singing with her brothers then. A pitch perfect voice with such clarity and power, an inspiration.

It was the sort of evening you just want to relive over and over again, a rare evening out for me these days and a very happy one. If you get a chance, check some of their video’s out on You Tube.

A few pictures below of the evening.

The Music Sparkle.

A little bit of Dolly…

July 11, 2016 Dawn - The Sparkle Diaries.2 Comments

Like most Country Music fans I love Dolly Parton. Her songs, her quotes, her style and her humour, to name but a few reasons why.

It has taken about 4 months but I have finally mastered singing ‘Why’d ja come in here looking like that”. I thought I’d never get there!! I just couldn’t get the lyrics to fit the music. The first few times I attempted to sing it I was out of breath in seconds. I started to wonder why I’d chosen such a difficult song. As the week’s went on and I still couldn’t sing it, I began to wonder if I ever would manage to sing it without keeling over and requiring medical attention and then one day… I just sang it. No breathlessness, no couldn’t get the words to fit the music, no incorrect key change…the girl had got it!!!

Picture via Pinterest

I’m still practising this fabulous song, I want to bring my own emotion to it, to live it when I sing it. If I just think of my own boyfriend in Cowboy boots that will inject the correct level of surprise into my voice.

I have two further Dolly songs on my list; “If I could fly” and “Better get to livin”. I find I am choosing songs which not only challenge my ability but which also have meaning for me.

My amazing vocal coach said that only a lack of self confidence and self belief would hold me back. If I am to make any kind of headway at all I must start to throw myself into this heart and soul. I am a confident person but I’m not good at self promotion. I believe God gave me a voice and now is my time to use this talent. I can do this!!!

Picture via Pinterest.