When am I going to get to the point when I can say "I'm a song-writer"? I can't do it! I don't like when other people say it either. It's uncomfortable for me! I feel silly! I feel like a wanna-be. I feel like one of those people. You know, the ones that try out for American Idol and walk in talking about how great they are. And then they open their mouth. You are absolutely positive that they must have some incredible talents, but you are just as positive that singing isn't one of them.
Roger Hoffman introduced me to someone as a song-writer and it made me feel so...ridiculous.
Will that ever get any easier?
I ran a 5K today. But I'm not a runner.
I make dinner every day. Okay, most days. Fine! Some days! But I'm no chef.
At what point do you earn the right to give yourself a title?
Does it even matter?
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
I Did It!
I faced my fear and sang my song myself Saturday night. I was surprised at how nervous I wasn't. I think there were several factors playing into that. As soon as I finished my song my stomach was immediately killing me! But I was thankful that those pains were kept at bay until I was through.
It wasn't the best I've ever sang, but it went okay. And for me, facing my fear was an ENORMOUS accomplishment!
It felt good!
It wasn't the best I've ever sang, but it went okay. And for me, facing my fear was an ENORMOUS accomplishment!
It felt good!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Daring to Write It
http://ldsmag.com/lds-church-updates/1/7367/article
I was shocked while reading the above article to find out that this ICON in Mormon music had a stroke about 5 years ago. I was even more shocked to read that once upon a time she wrote a goal down - that someday Primary children might sing one of her songs. Where would Mormon music be without Janice Kapp Perry???
So I'm going to do what Sister Perry says. I'm going to write my goal.
It seems ridiculous.
Feel free to laugh.
I want one of my songs to be performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (or one of it's factions).
And it would be extra wonderful if it was arranged by Mack Wilberg.
I was shocked while reading the above article to find out that this ICON in Mormon music had a stroke about 5 years ago. I was even more shocked to read that once upon a time she wrote a goal down - that someday Primary children might sing one of her songs. Where would Mormon music be without Janice Kapp Perry???
So I'm going to do what Sister Perry says. I'm going to write my goal.
It seems ridiculous.
Feel free to laugh.
I want one of my songs to be performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (or one of it's factions).
And it would be extra wonderful if it was arranged by Mack Wilberg.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
It's Official
Yesterday I committed to performing my song at the Composers Spectacular at the end of the month. You know how I feel about singing in public, but I have a new boost of confidence (thanks to my church calling). Also, this is a song-writing competition not a singing competition. So, who cares? Right? Well, me actually. But I feel pretty good about it.
So here goes nothin'!
So here goes nothin'!
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Clear Answers
Don't you love when you have a question regarding about something - anything - and get a clear answer?
A few weeks ago I contacted a singer about singing one of my songs. My hopes were that her heart strings would get the best of her and out of sheer curiosity she would want to see it. It's a good song! Then I hoped she would say, "Do you have any others?" And then she would just become the go-to singer of my songs. She is already established and I LOVE her voice. So to me it seemed like the easiest answer.
I didn't hear anything from her after I first contacted her. Then I won the composers guild competition and had a new sense of encouragement. I determined that I would contact her again. I would tell her that I had won and would she PLEASE just look at this song. Surely, she would at least look at it.
So I went to open her website to contact her and and it was....gone! Gonzo! Her website is no more! Here she is, a very popular singer with a career that is just starting to branch out and all of a sudden she doesn't have a website.
Therein lies my answer. For whatever reason, that is not the route my songs are supposed to go. And I thought I had it all figured out. Back to square one.
A few weeks ago I contacted a singer about singing one of my songs. My hopes were that her heart strings would get the best of her and out of sheer curiosity she would want to see it. It's a good song! Then I hoped she would say, "Do you have any others?" And then she would just become the go-to singer of my songs. She is already established and I LOVE her voice. So to me it seemed like the easiest answer.
I didn't hear anything from her after I first contacted her. Then I won the composers guild competition and had a new sense of encouragement. I determined that I would contact her again. I would tell her that I had won and would she PLEASE just look at this song. Surely, she would at least look at it.
So I went to open her website to contact her and and it was....gone! Gonzo! Her website is no more! Here she is, a very popular singer with a career that is just starting to branch out and all of a sudden she doesn't have a website.
Therein lies my answer. For whatever reason, that is not the route my songs are supposed to go. And I thought I had it all figured out. Back to square one.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Kindness
Everyone has been so kind and supportive the last few days. I wanted to record some of these things to have to look back on later in life.
A few days prior to the concert I told my sister that I was nervous. She sent me this text filled with sisterly love...
I especially love the touching ending. Better get a kleenex!
I didn't tell many people that I had even entered the contest until I was invited to perform in the concert. When I did tell people their responses were all so kind!
It was especially tender the day of the concert when throughout the day I got text messages like this...
My sister left me a prize on my doorstep prior to the concert. It was a little book with the story of how one of my favorite Christmas songs, "A Baby Changes Everything" by Faith Hill, was written and came into her hands with a cd single of the song (which I haven't stopped listening to since).
There was a little note of encouragement inside...
I wish I'd seen it before leaving the concert, but I didn't find it 'til after. It was so sweet!
Then after the concert these started arriving. Callie's brought me right to tears!
I text my friend who was out of town at 12:30am. Chris asked WHO I was texting at that hour. "Em." I figured I'd text her and she could just see it when she woke up the next day. IMMEDIATELY I got this response...
My friends, the Peck family, are a football family. Dave coaches a team. Whenever they have a big win I make celebratory cinnamon rolls and deliver them for breakfast the next morning. I called Dave and left him a message that said, "Dave, it's Paige. I've got bad news for you. You're going to have to figure out how to make cinnamon rolls because I won first prize last night!"
Last night he showed up on my doorstep. With these!
Everyone has been so kind! All the kind comments on my blog, being emailed to me, texted to me, comments made in person and over the phone have made this such an incredible experience!! I am SOOOO thankful!!
A few days prior to the concert I told my sister that I was nervous. She sent me this text filled with sisterly love...
I especially love the touching ending. Better get a kleenex!
I didn't tell many people that I had even entered the contest until I was invited to perform in the concert. When I did tell people their responses were all so kind!
It was especially tender the day of the concert when throughout the day I got text messages like this...
My sister left me a prize on my doorstep prior to the concert. It was a little book with the story of how one of my favorite Christmas songs, "A Baby Changes Everything" by Faith Hill, was written and came into her hands with a cd single of the song (which I haven't stopped listening to since).
There was a little note of encouragement inside...
I wish I'd seen it before leaving the concert, but I didn't find it 'til after. It was so sweet!Then after the concert these started arriving. Callie's brought me right to tears!
I text my friend who was out of town at 12:30am. Chris asked WHO I was texting at that hour. "Em." I figured I'd text her and she could just see it when she woke up the next day. IMMEDIATELY I got this response...
My friends, the Peck family, are a football family. Dave coaches a team. Whenever they have a big win I make celebratory cinnamon rolls and deliver them for breakfast the next morning. I called Dave and left him a message that said, "Dave, it's Paige. I've got bad news for you. You're going to have to figure out how to make cinnamon rolls because I won first prize last night!"
Last night he showed up on my doorstep. With these!
Everyone has been so kind! All the kind comments on my blog, being emailed to me, texted to me, comments made in person and over the phone have made this such an incredible experience!! I am SOOOO thankful!!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
If A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words...
Here's three thousand....
Saturday night went so great! The performance went great! I didn't fall off the piano bench or anything! I played, since the music is only in my head, and asked my friend to sing. We performed the song that won, "I Want Someone", with a few slight variations that make it a Christmas song. Susan had a horrible experience with the mic, but I felt good about the whole thing. So...50% ain't bad!
For those that want a few more details, here's how the whole thing went down.
Back in the first week of September my dear friend came over to my house to "play". She had never seen any of the songs I had written. She has a STUNNING voice and I told her to come over some time and we'd have a little sing-along. She said that day how great she thought my songs were and asked why I never entered them in any competitions. I told her I didn't know about any competitions to enter them. She emailed me the next day with the details of the Utah Composers Guild competition. (Her mom had entered it in the past. That's how she knew about it.)
Interestingly, when she sent me the information she said that the cut-off date for entries had ALWAYS been August 31st, but this year - for some unknown reason - it had been extended to about the 13th of September. So I still had time to enter it. I have 5 songs recorded, and they prefer a recording. So I had those songs to choose from. I counseled with my friend, my mom, and my sisters and finally decided to enter the one I wrote about my hubby and "I Want Someone".
Some details about the competition:
My friend who told me about the competition and her mother, my mother, my brother & sister, two of my aunts, my friend who sang it and her husband, and of course, my hubby were all there to support me. Not to mention all the good vibes coming my way from everyone else. I really didn't want all those people to have come all that way and walk away completely empty handed.
After the concert was over and it was time to announce the winners, the first thing the Composers Guild President said was, "I was a little disappointed with the judge this year. He said he didn't feel there were many entries even worthy of an honorable mention this year. My heart sank. I thought, "I'm toast!" The way they announced it was completely haphazard too. Rather than saying, "In the ______ category, 1st prize goes to ____________; 2nd prize goes to _______________;" etc. they just named a person and then said what that person won. So it was "John Doe from Oregon won 2nd in the __________ category. Jane Smith from Tennessee won the Grand Prize. Joe Blow from Kokomo won 1st in ____________." LOTS of the winners weren't even there (like the person from France). Winner after winner was being announced and I had NO IDEA where things stood. Were both of the categories I entered absolved into other categories? Has she named a winner - ANY winner - from either of my categories yet? What is my name again, just in case it is called?
All of a sudden she said "Paige Norton..." I couldn't believe it! I had won something! As I stood and put my coat on my chair she continued, "...has won first prize in the Vocal Solo category." I cannot confirm or deny if I peed my pants right there on the spot. I walked to the front to get my award. I had to fight back tears - not JUST because I'm a total boob and I cry even at tv commercials, but out of sheer relief. I don't completely stink like tuna. Everyone hadn't come for nothing. I haven't completely wasted A LOT of time in the last 7 years writing the songs that come to my mind. ENORMOUS RELIEF!!
I was among the last to be called. So shortly thereafter it was all over. Love and I went to dinner with my friend and her hubby. We got home very late! But it sure was a great night!
Thank you, everyone, for your kindness and your good vibes! It means the world to me!!
P.S. I have to have carpal tunnel surgery before the Composers Spectacular, so I can't play at it. I'm considering letting my sister play for me (if I can get the music on paper in time) and singing it myself. My cousin says I didn't get up early my whole life to practice to NOT perform it myself. She is right.
Saturday night went so great! The performance went great! I didn't fall off the piano bench or anything! I played, since the music is only in my head, and asked my friend to sing. We performed the song that won, "I Want Someone", with a few slight variations that make it a Christmas song. Susan had a horrible experience with the mic, but I felt good about the whole thing. So...50% ain't bad!For those that want a few more details, here's how the whole thing went down.
Back in the first week of September my dear friend came over to my house to "play". She had never seen any of the songs I had written. She has a STUNNING voice and I told her to come over some time and we'd have a little sing-along. She said that day how great she thought my songs were and asked why I never entered them in any competitions. I told her I didn't know about any competitions to enter them. She emailed me the next day with the details of the Utah Composers Guild competition. (Her mom had entered it in the past. That's how she knew about it.)
Interestingly, when she sent me the information she said that the cut-off date for entries had ALWAYS been August 31st, but this year - for some unknown reason - it had been extended to about the 13th of September. So I still had time to enter it. I have 5 songs recorded, and they prefer a recording. So I had those songs to choose from. I counseled with my friend, my mom, and my sisters and finally decided to enter the one I wrote about my hubby and "I Want Someone".
Some details about the competition:
- Even though it's the Utah Composers Guild, you don't have to be from Utah to enter. In fact, there were winners from France, Tennessee, Utah, Oregon, and more.
- There are 10 categories. However, if there aren't enough entries in one category to make it a good competition, they will group categories that are the most similar to increase the competition.
- There is one judge. It is someone with a doctorate degree in music.
- The entries are completely unanimous. The judge doesn't know anything about the composer of the piece he is considering. Even our names were whited out. So other than the judge's own personal taste, it is an unbiased competition.
- There is prize money!
- Anyone who wins 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or an honorable mention in any category is invited to perform their piece at the Composers Spectacular the end of January.
- There are entry fees. So depending on how many pieces you submit, you could win first place and still lose money.
My friend who told me about the competition and her mother, my mother, my brother & sister, two of my aunts, my friend who sang it and her husband, and of course, my hubby were all there to support me. Not to mention all the good vibes coming my way from everyone else. I really didn't want all those people to have come all that way and walk away completely empty handed.
After the concert was over and it was time to announce the winners, the first thing the Composers Guild President said was, "I was a little disappointed with the judge this year. He said he didn't feel there were many entries even worthy of an honorable mention this year. My heart sank. I thought, "I'm toast!" The way they announced it was completely haphazard too. Rather than saying, "In the ______ category, 1st prize goes to ____________; 2nd prize goes to _______________;" etc. they just named a person and then said what that person won. So it was "John Doe from Oregon won 2nd in the __________ category. Jane Smith from Tennessee won the Grand Prize. Joe Blow from Kokomo won 1st in ____________." LOTS of the winners weren't even there (like the person from France). Winner after winner was being announced and I had NO IDEA where things stood. Were both of the categories I entered absolved into other categories? Has she named a winner - ANY winner - from either of my categories yet? What is my name again, just in case it is called?
All of a sudden she said "Paige Norton..." I couldn't believe it! I had won something! As I stood and put my coat on my chair she continued, "...has won first prize in the Vocal Solo category." I cannot confirm or deny if I peed my pants right there on the spot. I walked to the front to get my award. I had to fight back tears - not JUST because I'm a total boob and I cry even at tv commercials, but out of sheer relief. I don't completely stink like tuna. Everyone hadn't come for nothing. I haven't completely wasted A LOT of time in the last 7 years writing the songs that come to my mind. ENORMOUS RELIEF!!
I was among the last to be called. So shortly thereafter it was all over. Love and I went to dinner with my friend and her hubby. We got home very late! But it sure was a great night!
Thank you, everyone, for your kindness and your good vibes! It means the world to me!!
P.S. I have to have carpal tunnel surgery before the Composers Spectacular, so I can't play at it. I'm considering letting my sister play for me (if I can get the music on paper in time) and singing it myself. My cousin says I didn't get up early my whole life to practice to NOT perform it myself. She is right.
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