Have you ever had an event so special that you dreamed of coming true, even though you have no idea how or when it would happen? My wife and I enjoy the music of Andrea Bocelli, and attending one of his concerts would be a dream come true. Thankfully, that dream became a reality this Sunday night when we attended his concert in Saint Louis.
Andrea Bocelli concert program cover
Our first experience listening to Mr. Bocelli’s music was when we purchased perfume from Victoria’s Secret in 2001. At the time, my wife enjoyed wearing Dream Angel, and the purchase included a gift – a compilation CD of the Italian tenor’s music. Having never heard anything from him, we did not know what to expect. However, from the first time we played the CD, his mesmerizing voice hooked us. We often played the CD as we would get ready for the day or night before bed. We couldn’t get enough of it, and we wanted to learn more about him and his music.
Since that Victoria’s Secret purchase, we experienced his newly-released albums and discovered his previously-released works. We did not understand most of the music since it was sung in Italian, but Mr. Bocelli did have a few songs in English. His voice is so powerful that it does not matter if it is Italian or English; he can move you, stir your emotions, and fill you with great joy. My wife would often say that she would enjoy going to one of his concerts if she had the opportunity.
A few years back, probably in 2018 or 2019, I had learned that Mr. Bocelli would be performing in New York City. It might have been Christmas special, although I don’t recall for sure. I thought it would be great to surprise my wife with a trip to the Big Apple for that concert of a lifetime. I went as far as looking at airline ticket prices and hotels near the concert venue. But the timing wasn’t right, and the trip didn’t happen. Since we had never been to New York City and knew almost nothing about getting around, I decided it would be best to wait for a better opportunity.
A couple of months back, as I was out running errands when I noticed a billboard with Mr. Bocelli’s photograph and the date October 17. Intrigued, I rushed home to see what I could find. To my amazement, Mr. Bocelli was bringing his world tour to Saint Louis. Our better opportunity now required no airline tickets or hotel reservations, but instead a quick fifteen trip from our house. The original tour, planned for 2020, was canceled when the pandemic was still lingering in December. How did we not know he was coming to our hometown? How did we miss it? But thankfully, good seats were still available, and we quickly purchased our tickets for what we knew would be a memorable evening.
Without a doubt, Mr. Bocelli did not disappoint the crowd of almost 18,000 people. As a man of few words, he let his music speak for itself. He had no long introduction at the opening; he spoke only one brief sentence, saying it was great to be back together since the pandemic had canceled the previous opportunity. His powerful voice filled the Enterprise Center with a mixture of songs from his most recent BELIEVE album and earlier selections. He moved from song to song without long soliloquies, and in some instances, Mr. Bocelli spoke no words. Larisa Martinez, Loren Allred, and Edward Park joined Mr. Bocelli on stage for spectacular duets. You could feel their passion and feel it deep down in your soul. My favorite moment of the night was when nine-year-old daughter Virginia Bocelli joined her father on stage for a heartwarming rendition of Hallelujah. Ayanna Witter-Johnson’s cello solo and singing added a punch of the unexpected. Brittany O’Connor and Paul Barris masterfully danced during many of the songs. Steven Mercurio conducted the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra to add the finishing touches for an amazing night.
The two-plus-hour show left my wife and me speechless, not wanting the night to end. Mr. Boceilli and his friends could have performed for another hour or two, and it would have been wonderful. Their performance left us in awe. Never have we been to a concert quite like it. I don’t know what concert could be any better than this one — only another Andrea Bocelli concert, but this time in Italy at the Duomo in Milan. That would be utterly mind-blowing, but one can dream.
It is safe to say that almost everyone loves one form of music. Many people also nurture hopes of learning at least the basics of one musical instrument. Playing an instrument holds immense benefits to both mental and physical health. Unfortunately, it isn’t the easiest thing to do, especially if you haven’t picked one up before or are unsure where to start. So, how can you learn to play an instrument on your own? Here are some tips to consider.
Choose your preferred instrument The key to learning to play any instrument is repetition, several hours of practice, and dedication. But first, you would need to pick an instrument you would love to play. The happier you are with your instrument, the more willing you’ll be to put in the work required to learn. If you are unsure, you might have to try your hands on several options to find one you’re more comfortable with.
Set your goals Your primary goal is to learn to play your preferred instrument. However, you need to set goals or targets you want to achieve with your practice. Therefore, set a goal that will motivate you to keep practicing your instrument even when you don’t feel like it. For example, it could be to start writing songs, become a sound engineer, or even impress that special one in your life. It doesn’t matter what your goal is as long as you can rely on it for motivation.
Find the suitable lesson sources Thankfully, with numerous opportunities to leverage, taking music lessons today is not as difficult as it used to be before. Today, you’ll find several music tutors, lessons, and programs online, depending on what you want. Regardless of this, the most important thing is finding a convenient schedule for you and staying committed to it.
Practice like your life depends on it When it comes to learning a musical instrument (or anything else in life), you can only become as good as you practice. The best players you will find today sacrificed (and still do) hours of practice to become as good as they are. However, the key to effective practice is time. Create a schedule that is convenient for you and gives you ample time to practice. You should also find almost all the practice resources you need online, depending on your preferred instrument. For example, if you want to practice the saxophone, you will find a broad collection of saxophone sheet music or music notes for a saxophone.
Watch or listen to talented musicians There’s a lot you can learn simply by watching your favorite musician play their instruments, especially when creating a personal style. Aside from watching other musicians, watch yourself play. Whether it’s before your mirror or by video-recording yourself, you can identify what you’re doing wrong when you see yourself play.
Choosing to learn how to play an instrument is great! With these tips, you would be playing your instrument like a pro in no time.
Online flute lessons are well worth considering if you want to play an instrument yet you are not completely sure of what is going to be the right instrument for you. There are a lot of things to love about the flute, which you will discover in further depth below.
One of the great things about the flute is that, contrary to popular belief; it works in a whole host of genres. This is something that Robert Dick taught learners. Dick, who won the National Flute Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015, showed people that the flute was not only suited to jazz and classical, but also to contemporary genres, including rock and roll.
The flute is also an instrument with a lot of history, and you can find many variations of this instrument for your online music lessons. They can be played vertically or horizontally, and there are those that have multiple tubes, such as a panpipe or aulos, as well as those with a single tube, including a recorder or concert flute.
In addition with this, a lot of people opt to learn flute online because it is an instrument that is lightweight, low maintenance, and extremely portable. This means that you can easily take it with you wherever you go.
The flute can also help with your confidence. A lot of people with hearing difficulties also practice the flute because recognizing sounds can help with their hearing problems. You should discuss this with your audiologist when you have your hearing aid evaluation, as he or she may be able to provide some other tips.
Finally, the flute is regarded as a difficult instrument to play, and thus it is certainly one of the most rewarding. Nothing beats the thrill of mastering a new piece of music.
Breathing Exercises Learn to play the flute online and you will no doubt have a lot of fun in the process. This is an incredible instrument, which makes a beautiful sound when played correctly of course. One thing you will need to master when you learn flute online is your breathing, and below we have some exercises to help you develop the control you need.
Firstly, let’s begin with a stomach breathing exercise. You need to use your diaphragm to breathe if you are to sustain longer notes by inhaling enough air. Before you begin this exercise, relax your shoulders and neck and sit up straight. Start to inhale, and as you do so, think about an object around your waist, for example, a hula-hoop. Breathe in as deeply as possible, and at the same time, push your tummy out so you are holding the object in place. Count to 30 while exhaling slowly. You should make sure you practice this exercise three times a week during your online music lessons. Now, let’s focus on breath control. To ensure your tones sound rich, you need to have strong exhalation. If you exhale in mild, short puffs, your tone will be poor. For this exercise, you will need to cut some paper, roughly a square of two inches each side. Then, hold it against the wall, and use your breath only to keep it there for as long as you can.
This week has been a whirlwind of fall to winter in a day. On Sunday, my hubby was cutting up the leaves with the lawnmower while I worked on bringing the perennial plants inside the house. Then on Monday, the very next day, we had at least 3 inches of snow. I really enjoy watching and playing in the snow so I was tickled pink. I’m have been listening to Christmas music for a while now. I am different. I actually like to play in the snow, I enjoy it and thank the Lord my hubby does too.
JTwisdom in GILI quilted coat
My hubby photographed the burning bush with its red leaves covered so delicately in snow. It snowed off and on throughout the day. It was beautiful. Even though Monday was Veteran’s Day, my hubby and I still had to go into work because it was no holiday for us. My hubby and I had to take it slow in the JEEP.
Burning Bush covered in snow
What do I wear?
When temperatures are from mild to cold what are we suppose to wear?
I learned long ago that I have to dress for the day. It’s been colder than normal this November so the layers pop out of the closets. With a high 27 one day, I pulled out a soutache sweater that I recently purchased (on sale) from Soft Surroundings. It retailed for $90 but I snagged it on sale for an amazing price of $19.99. The sweater has a wide bateau neckline so I added a slim-lined turtleneck and I paired the sweater with my Isaac Mizrahi brocade print pants, Clark ankle boots, and Patricia Nash leather backpack.
I haven’t taken many pictures because I’m working on getting my body more tone and tight. No body-shaming just a fact. After nine years of blogging, I’m still surprised that I do what I do. It has only been God that takes me out of my comfort zone. I have never been a size 0 and don’t have a million followers but I have always been told that if you touch one person’s life it’s all worth it. Being thankful and grateful, I am humbled. God is good.
I am listening to some Harry Connick,Jr. right now and it feels like the holiday season. Check out the video to the song, Just One of Things, Harry Connick, Jr. A Celebration of Cole Porter. Jazz was a favorite of my daddy’s and it’s rubbed off on me.
Music is such a major part of faith, and whether you just enjoy it as a pastime, or you want to turn it into a career, there are so many different things that you could do to get the benefits of music in your life. Running your own music events may seem a little bit on the adventurous side for you but if you really want to make a living in music somehow, it’s quite a diverse thing you can get into. Let’s provide you with some methods.
Selling your own music If you want to make your own songs, the act of music promotion is such a diverse thing; what you can do is promote things through websites like SoundCloud, and, at the very least have people subscribe to your music on youtube. Granted, a lot of people don’t want to pay for music these days, but in terms of your faith, and if you want to communicate your love of Jesus, then doing it through music events at the church, can be a way for you to connect with your fans.
Other ways of being involved in music It’s not just about the act of performing. But if you want to make a living performing, it can be quite a long road to making money purely from this. As such, many people diversify their practices. You could start reviewing albums and work with other websites. Others tend to find other ways to diversify their income through merchandising and promotional practices. But what you can do, if you have specific expertise, is to help others to make their own music. If you have various skills associated with music, then it’s important to do as many different things as possible.
Teaching music It’s one of the main ways musicians make a living. We have to remember that if we want to be a musician and make a full-time income from it on now we’ve got to try numerous approaches. It’s not just about one method anymore. It all depends on how you structure your time, but you could teach musical instruments to others, and if you have a background in music theory that you can help others start towards their own careers. Either do it from the school, or you can be a tutor that goes to other people’s homes. On the other hand, you could create YouTube lessons, and after a while, this can be a perfect way to supplement your income.
Be a wedding player Many musicians have to supplement their income by going to public events and playing cover versions. One of the great things about playing weddings is that you can earn a substantial income. If you are performing original compositions, you could earn royalties from performing these, and this can be a great way to get a regular following for your own songs. But it’s about being competitive, especially when playing faith oriented music.
For all of the above career options, one thing is certain: you need to ensure that you have the very best quality equipment, from instruments to the best looper pedal. These can make the difference between sounding like an amateur and sounding like the real deal.
Is it possible to make a living as a musician? Yes, but it is most definitely about expanding your horizons. There is no one way to earn a substantial income anymore, especially through music.
So in the summer, a lot of us like to buy tickets to any music festival we can find, and then have a good time surrounded by ravers, misheard lyrics, and those cheap cups of beer. It’s a great summer experience to have, but the fact that all the festivals are crammed together whilst the sun streams overhead often means we’re sweaty, uncomfortable, and there’s no time. So why not bring the party to your own living room? For the autumn, just before Halloween rocks up and we’re lost to the spooky skeletons in our backyards, hold your own music festival to bring family and friends together for a taste of the warm summer. Here’s a few ideas how!
Use Karaoke to Good Effect Karaoke means we can all have a good sing along with our mates, or make fun of them for picking a stupid tune or missing a particularly hard high note. Let everyone who attends get the chance to act like a real popstar and have a karaoke machine behind a curtain.
Set up a microphone and mini stage in the corner of the room by cordoning off an area usually by the windows. This can be done with some different coloured carpet, which you can get cheaply via places such as Amazon, or with some rope or wire you have in a shed. Similarly, use fairy lights to good effect and drape them over your cordoning material to give the atmosphere that real flowery aesthetic.
Try Out a Taste of the Vintage There’s nothing like a bit of 60s crooning to remind you of the stereotypical ‘summer of love’ vibe that’s resurging recently. Why not use some vinyls to induce this feeling in your party? Literally everybody will enjoy thinking back on the top hot pop star of the period, and that David Bowie track is timeless!
Try using vinyl records to have a quiet or jazzy spell in between the big numbers you’ve got lined up. If you don’t have a record player, that’s fine! Vinyl players are more popular than ever, so check out the internet for where to buy them. When it comes to knowing what turntable you might need to invest in, as there’s quite a few differences amongst brands, you can read everything on this page as a handy guide.
Serve at Your Own Bar Use your kitchen as the catering area of the festival, but without any of the mess. Set up your own bar with either collapsible tables or a breakfast nook if you’re lucky to have one. Them mix together whatever cocktails people like, and there’ll be plenty of drink available to sneak some in between customers.
Print out tokens the night before and hand then out to guests when they arrive, and have your own bona fide economy system! Just like an oscars themed party, but a little more fun!
Hold on to a little of that summer loving this fall season with your own music festival.
Learn More About JT
Bubbling with Elegance and Grace started out as an outlet for my passion for fashion but has evolved into a place for me to teach, collaborate, and inspire. My hubby has since joined the team and we have been digital creators for 13 years. We are thankful for those who believed in us from the beginning and those who have just started riding with us on this lovely journey.
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