Today was not one of those good days. I woke up with a slight congestion. It went away after an hour. I started my work-out today. Woke up at 6:45am and worked out from 7:00-7:50, and ate breakfast.

I warmed up, and tried to sing “Ecco ridente…,” but I was struggling with the “O dolce contento” coloratura passage (the one with the B natural). In addition, since I’m already struggling there, the following passage after that seems hard to do, even though I usually do it very easily. Maybe I was practicing out of panic, since this will be the aria that I will be singing for Marilyn Horne’s Masterclass at the Lobero Theater on Saturday.

I had a full day of coaching today. My first session was with Prof. Tarquinio, and we were able to go through most of “Basilio” lines. The coaching with Linda Jones was very different. She wants to make sure that I am breathing properly (low and not too high on the shoulders), and that I am not “grabbing”. I can agree with what she wants to accomplish, but some of her routines are themselves somewhat tension-producing. It’s a bit hard to understand, but one of the things I try to remember about singing is not to THINK too much. After that, I was with Susanna and Justin, along with Warren Jones and Phillip for the coaching of Thaïs. I was able to sing my part vocally fine. My last coaching was with Randy Behr. I am enjoying what I’m learning from the Maestro. Everything he says, so far, makes sense in regards to the opera.

After requesting Drew not to be scheduled tomorrow for any coaching due to vocal rest, I decided to borrow three (3) Disney/WB videos from Brian of Cate School. I watched Animaniacs Sing-Along and Cinderella. I might be watching “Mary Poppins” tomorrow. I plan on going to bed early tonight, around 10:30pm, and waking up tomorrow around 7:00am. I decided to do my work-outs on an MWF Schedule. Hopefully, I’ll have enough rest before the Masterclass on Saturday. Ciao! for nao!

Today was the “Compeer Fiesta Brunch” at the Montecity Country Club. Each student is paired with a compeer (comrade), who usually is a native of the Santa Barbara area, and compeers are there to entertain the students through dinners and other activities. My compeer is Mr. Richard Meyn. Everyone was assigned a table, and I was in the same table with Mdme. Collier (French coach), Ami Vice and her compeer(s), another student and Ms. Marilyne Horne. The food was served buffet style. After the brunch, I rode with Erica and Anna, and we went shopping at Downtown Santa Barbara at State St. After few hours of walking and shopping, I bought Armani sunglasses, a beach towel, 1 lb. of French Roast (from Coffee Bean), and some headgear and shorts from American Eagle Outfitters… and not to forget a small remote control/key chain from the Discovery Channel for the t.v. at the Rec-Center at Cate School.

We headed back to Cate School around 7pm. I brought my “Figaro” score and reviewed some recitatives, while some of the singers/pianists were outside having a great time. For the last time, I stayed up late, around 12:20am. This will be the last time I’ll be staying up late. By the way, my dear friend and pianist, Dexter Shepherd, felt bad that I didn’t mention his name in my website during the journal of the “Intro for Singers” and the coaching with Mdme. Collier. There you go.