Here's a video of me singing the Star Spangled Banner:
Here's the back story:
Yesterday (Tuesday, January 13), my friend Stephanie sent me a text message request to sing the National Anthem at an Army Promotion Ceremony the following day, AKA today. Apparently, the soloist originally tasked with the job dropped out last minute and through a string of people saying no and recommending other people, it came to me, and having just made a New Year's Resolution to sing in public (not at karaoke), I said yes.
Most people I told about this asked me why I agreed to do it. Here are the two main reasons I came up with. First, the reasons not to seemed like weak excuses that would continue to get in my way if I let them: "I'm not sure if I can sing that song," "I've never done anything like this before," "why me?" Second, this performance mattered. Major Trang Malone was being promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and according to her, this could likely be the last promotion of her career. This was an important part of an important ceremony, and she was clearly in need for someone to do it (if I was being asked).
To add to the pressure... Both of my parents are known to tear up when they hear the National Anthem. Their love and deep respect for this county and its symbols have been ingrained into both me and my brother throughout our lives. I did not take this request or task lightly and knew I wanted to perform in a way that honored my country, Major Malone, and those I love who have and continue to serve.
After I said yes, there were definitely a few hours of nerves and panic that I feared I had made a horrible mistake in agreeing to do this. I thought of ways I might be able to get out of it, and how I would break it to the Major that I just wasn't cut out for this.
I practiced over and over in my house trying to muffle the sounds from my neighbors by singing into the closet full of clothes or by wrapping a blanket around my face (seriously, I did that). Some of the dry-runs made me feel better, some worse. My friends Stephanie and Brian came over, and they helped me find the right note to start on (and download an app so I could play that note right before singing a capella) and to realize that the high notes aren't TOO high. A calm came over me as I accepted that I was going to do it, and I was going to do it well.
While it was hard to fall asleep, I had a new-found resolve that was still with me when I woke up in the morning. The ceremony started at 3PM, and I arrived at 2PM in time for the rehearsal where I did a dry run that I was happy with. Coincidentally, the ceremony was held at Camp Smith where Austin now works. Austin's superiors fortunately have a "family first" policy and let him attend (yes, I informed Trang I would have a plus one.)
I'm happy with my performance. (I think/hope it sounded better live.) Watching it again, I see how I could improve on it, but I received many compliments, most importantly, from the honoree. Though, I think the best compliment came from Austin who said that not only did my singing make him feel proud of me, it made him feel proud of his country.
So now that I've crossed that resolution off my list, I can just put my feet up until 2016! ;-)
Here's the back story:
Yesterday (Tuesday, January 13), my friend Stephanie sent me a text message request to sing the National Anthem at an Army Promotion Ceremony the following day, AKA today. Apparently, the soloist originally tasked with the job dropped out last minute and through a string of people saying no and recommending other people, it came to me, and having just made a New Year's Resolution to sing in public (not at karaoke), I said yes.
Most people I told about this asked me why I agreed to do it. Here are the two main reasons I came up with. First, the reasons not to seemed like weak excuses that would continue to get in my way if I let them: "I'm not sure if I can sing that song," "I've never done anything like this before," "why me?" Second, this performance mattered. Major Trang Malone was being promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and according to her, this could likely be the last promotion of her career. This was an important part of an important ceremony, and she was clearly in need for someone to do it (if I was being asked).
To add to the pressure... Both of my parents are known to tear up when they hear the National Anthem. Their love and deep respect for this county and its symbols have been ingrained into both me and my brother throughout our lives. I did not take this request or task lightly and knew I wanted to perform in a way that honored my country, Major Malone, and those I love who have and continue to serve.
After I said yes, there were definitely a few hours of nerves and panic that I feared I had made a horrible mistake in agreeing to do this. I thought of ways I might be able to get out of it, and how I would break it to the Major that I just wasn't cut out for this.
I practiced over and over in my house trying to muffle the sounds from my neighbors by singing into the closet full of clothes or by wrapping a blanket around my face (seriously, I did that). Some of the dry-runs made me feel better, some worse. My friends Stephanie and Brian came over, and they helped me find the right note to start on (and download an app so I could play that note right before singing a capella) and to realize that the high notes aren't TOO high. A calm came over me as I accepted that I was going to do it, and I was going to do it well.
While it was hard to fall asleep, I had a new-found resolve that was still with me when I woke up in the morning. The ceremony started at 3PM, and I arrived at 2PM in time for the rehearsal where I did a dry run that I was happy with. Coincidentally, the ceremony was held at Camp Smith where Austin now works. Austin's superiors fortunately have a "family first" policy and let him attend (yes, I informed Trang I would have a plus one.)
I'm happy with my performance. (I think/hope it sounded better live.) Watching it again, I see how I could improve on it, but I received many compliments, most importantly, from the honoree. Though, I think the best compliment came from Austin who said that not only did my singing make him feel proud of me, it made him feel proud of his country.
So now that I've crossed that resolution off my list, I can just put my feet up until 2016! ;-)
