Vocal approach challenge finale

Alas, the last week is here
This is the final week of Christina Aguilera's Singing Masterclass Vocal Approach Challenge. For this week's challenge, we had to record the final version of the song that we were working on for the last three weeks.You can take a listen to the song that I decided to work with for the last week of the challenge here.

(Although we were required to choose one song to work with, I inadvertently worked with a different song). Here a recap of my song selections and renditions:

Week 1 - Funk version of Roberta Flak's Killing Me Softly
Week 2 - The Platters' The Great Pretender
Week 3 - Rock version of The Beatles' Eleanor Rigby

My excitement spilleth over
I'm filled with an unending sense of excitement as I've never participated in a vocal challenge quite like this. I'm grateful for the opportunity as I learned a lot more about the thought process and time involved in creating, modifying and re-conceptualizing a song.

The value of practice, rediscovery and time
As a result of participating in this challenge, I relearned about the significance of the popular saying that constantly reminds us about the importance of continuous practice. I was also reminded about the significance of furthering the development of our skills, passions and interests - especially if we desire to take ourselves to the next level.

I also relearned about the importance of setting aside enough time to try different versions, or a different option of whichever task or challenge we undertake.

I wish you all good luck with whichever task or goal you aspire to achieve. Thank you for taking the time to read about my vocal experience, as well as for listening to my singing voice.

"What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals" ~ Zig Ziglar

Vocal Approach Challenge: Style Time

Did someone say challenge?😁
As a student in Christina Aguilera's Singing Masterclass, we had the option to participate in an inaugural vocal challenge - a challenge I happily accepted! The first week's challenge involved working on our vocal approach with a song of our own choosing. The vocal approach also involved re-conceptualizing our chosen song into a new genre.

Adaptability is a must.
Once again, I learned that you have to adapt and adjust your goals. I initially wanted to a pop rendition of Sarah Vaughan's "Tenderly" However, I realized that some of the notes of the song didn't blend nicely with the pop rendition that I envisioned. I then proceeded into trying a jazzy version of Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly". However, I quickly realized that I wouldn't have been able to whip up a piano jazz tune in time for the November 21 deadline.

Then I suddenly remembered some song loops a professor created for students to use from a Coursera songwriting course I'm currently enrolled in. Ahh yes! One. step. closer. to. my. goal.😊

Time to get funky.
For the vocal approach I decided to do a funk version of Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly" I must say that I felt excited and "anxy" as this was the first time that I've "uploaded my voice" in an online, social media community. I initially recorded a pop version with one of the pop loops but I didn't like the resulting sound. I then tried one of the funk loops and it was a match made in musical heaven! You can take a listen to the funk version here.