Okay, NOW I'm panicking

[figmo]

Today the rabbi arrived in San Jose. She left me a packet of songs she'd like me to do tomorrow night.

It's 1/4" thick.

I'm not going out tonight in hopes of possibly making it through some of these. I'm about ready to crash and I'm terrified. I can sort of sight-read the ones written in simpler keys (two flats/sharps or less), but when I get something in E flat, AIEEE! As if that isn't enough, these prayer tunes often have complex rhythms or time signature changes every couple of measure.

To top things off, some of these are not in "my key" (as in "it hurts my throat or sounds screechy when I sing them"), but because of the way I am, I suck at transposing while sight reading them. I'm cursed with perfect pitch, which means if I see a C, I "have" to sing a C.

If I didn't have to work tomorrow I'd just spend the day entering them into my computer and trying them in different keys. Unfortunately, I don't have that option.

Comments

[aliza250.livejournal.com]

Call my father. 301-984-0033 (given with his permission)

[sdorn.livejournal.com]

First, break a leg!

Second, you'll sound great in comparison. You know that. It's like the story of the sneakers in Doctor Who's "Survivor" episode (you have the sneakers on). You may not be happy with your performance, but you'll do fine.

[teddywolf.livejournal.com]

s'too bad you can't combine relative pitch with the perfect pitch. (It's a handy little trick I use sometimes)

[ladymondegreen.livejournal.com]

I know it's late, but if you're still working on it:

Get out the guitar, try to play the chords, and transpose from there, that will probably help a lot for comprehending where your voice is supposed to go.

B'hatzlacha!
LMG

[randwolf.livejournal.com]

Eeeek! It really is a trial by fire, isn't it? Yom Kippur is the height of the Jewish liturgical year and the prayers are long and long. But you're a very practiced singer and I think you'll do fine.

[randwolf.livejournal.com]

...and you never told me you had perfect pitch!