Today we got up early again and put on our swimsuits. We had to be down on the dock at 8:20 am for our Molokini Crater Snorkel. Kym Hulbert was on our bus, and said she'd never been snorkelling before. We sang Happy Birthday to someone called DiDi in Chicago.
The bus took us to Ma'alaea Harbor where about 50 of us boarded a catamaran called Ocean Intrigue. We were issued with flippers and snorkels as we boarded, and we both rented wetsuit tops as well, as the water is still quite cold. (No photos were taken, by mutual agreement.) It took 45 minutes to travel south to Molokini Islet, the remains of a volcanic crater. When we got there we both stayed on board for Snorkelling 101, which was a really helpful explanation of how to snorkel for beginners. Then we put everything on, including a float belt, and collected a noodle, and descended the ladder into the ocean.
Although the coral colours weren't as vivid as the Great Barrier Reef, there were lots of colourful fish around, and the next 50 minutes passed too quickly. We were impressed by how safety-conscious the crew were: they counted and recounted to make sure everyone was on board, and they had a 'lifeguard' in a kayak as well as crew on deck watching to make sure we didn't get into trouble.
Then we travelled east back to the coast of Maui to another site where there were green sea turtles. We saw them from the boat, briefly, but didn't stay in the water long enough; other people saw at least four different turtles and were very excited. We handed back our equipment and had lunch as the catamaran headed back to harbour. There was a short stop at the Pacific Whale shop for souvenirs and then the bus took us home (and Deborah slept most of the way).
Back in our cabin, we had to laugh at our windswept reflections - a good thing we didn't take any photos. After a shower, a cup of tea, and a rest on our balcony we felt ready for dinner and went back to the Skyline Restaurant. The ship sailed while we were having dessert (Warm Apple Bread Pudding, and Chocolate Caramel Bombe, if you're interested).
Jo's gone to her "How to be a great lead" class and Deborah is blogging. At 9:30 we have chorus rehearsal again for two hours (and Cindy Hansen is going to teach us choreo for That'll Be The Day in 20 minutes), and then on Tuesday we take the helicopter flight over a live volcano that Jo has been looking forward to for months.
Jo's back from her class and this is what she learned (which is very similar to what Vicki has been telling us all along):
- pulling words out on string for smooth, fast phrases
- keeping chin level, don't drop your jaw so much
- think up when trying to cover break zone
- descending notes get louder
- lean forward to feel it in your mask and then try to keep it there
- touch your nose to help you remember where you want the resonance to be
- the higher notes are tenor notes and you must build up the muscles of the voice to reach them
- assertive lead sound - sing forward like into a catcher's mitt; get past the director, and then get past the judge
- for Lazy Day, sing 'blue' with spin on the lips
- always sing the notes at the top end of the pitch
- all notes that are held must be resonated forward
- sneak breaths in Lida Rose
- higher notes should be sung lighter
The bus took us to Ma'alaea Harbor where about 50 of us boarded a catamaran called Ocean Intrigue. We were issued with flippers and snorkels as we boarded, and we both rented wetsuit tops as well, as the water is still quite cold. (No photos were taken, by mutual agreement.) It took 45 minutes to travel south to Molokini Islet, the remains of a volcanic crater. When we got there we both stayed on board for Snorkelling 101, which was a really helpful explanation of how to snorkel for beginners. Then we put everything on, including a float belt, and collected a noodle, and descended the ladder into the ocean.Although the coral colours weren't as vivid as the Great Barrier Reef, there were lots of colourful fish around, and the next 50 minutes passed too quickly. We were impressed by how safety-conscious the crew were: they counted and recounted to make sure everyone was on board, and they had a 'lifeguard' in a kayak as well as crew on deck watching to make sure we didn't get into trouble.
Then we travelled east back to the coast of Maui to another site where there were green sea turtles. We saw them from the boat, briefly, but didn't stay in the water long enough; other people saw at least four different turtles and were very excited. We handed back our equipment and had lunch as the catamaran headed back to harbour. There was a short stop at the Pacific Whale shop for souvenirs and then the bus took us home (and Deborah slept most of the way).
Back in our cabin, we had to laugh at our windswept reflections - a good thing we didn't take any photos. After a shower, a cup of tea, and a rest on our balcony we felt ready for dinner and went back to the Skyline Restaurant. The ship sailed while we were having dessert (Warm Apple Bread Pudding, and Chocolate Caramel Bombe, if you're interested).
Jo's gone to her "How to be a great lead" class and Deborah is blogging. At 9:30 we have chorus rehearsal again for two hours (and Cindy Hansen is going to teach us choreo for That'll Be The Day in 20 minutes), and then on Tuesday we take the helicopter flight over a live volcano that Jo has been looking forward to for months.
Jo's back from her class and this is what she learned (which is very similar to what Vicki has been telling us all along):
- pulling words out on string for smooth, fast phrases
- keeping chin level, don't drop your jaw so much
- think up when trying to cover break zone
- descending notes get louder
- lean forward to feel it in your mask and then try to keep it there
- touch your nose to help you remember where you want the resonance to be
- the higher notes are tenor notes and you must build up the muscles of the voice to reach them
- assertive lead sound - sing forward like into a catcher's mitt; get past the director, and then get past the judge
- for Lazy Day, sing 'blue' with spin on the lips
- always sing the notes at the top end of the pitch
- all notes that are held must be resonated forward
- sneak breaths in Lida Rose
- higher notes should be sung lighter
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