Masterclasses and Politics

It has been a Monday of note in the scholastic life of Alex Redding at Luther...

At 5:00 today in Jensen, I was privileged to be one of four students to sing for a Bass-Baritone from the UCLA graduate program, Michael Dean, in a masterclass. What an experience it turned out to be. In reflection, I can say that there are few times in my life thus far that I have felt that amount of vulnerability and hopefulness all at once. Through the process, I learned that I was basically doing so many things just outright wrong that it was almost depressing. But I can see a light, and I know that every experience I have in this way will allow me to grow even more. I'm awaiting my lesson tomorrow quite eagerly to see if some of the issues that were brought up can be worked out. Stay tuned, this might be one of the bigger turning points in my voice so far during my career here.

Also, I have a recording of my turn at the masterclass. I may be able to get up some video soon. Stay posted!

Following that event, I arrived (late, unfortunately), suit and all, to the Ed Psych lecture in Olin where our "skits" took place. My group had met earlier today and sketched out some questions, positions, and responses to things other groups might have said. We were playing the role of teachers in the district against the new administrative plan because we thought it focuses too much on standardized test scores, etc. Also unfortunately, my group went first before I got there, so I assumed a more observational role. The atmosphere of the room when I entered was absolutely electric. People were really getting in to what they had to say, even though everyone was just "role-playing." Something gave me the idea that many of those roles that people picked were not at all a far cry from their actual opinions!

That said, politics has always been a shady area in my thought processes, especially within schools. I don't much care for them. But I suppose, with the help of this class and my classmates, I better learn to start. The dynamic of the school system in our modern world is changing so rapidly; I may get left in the dust.