Renee Calvo | Vocalist, Pianist

Filed under:General — Renee @ 2:07 am

Now that I’ve graduated, I’m devoting all of my extra time to teaching. Fortunately, I still have the use of the studio at College Avenue Baptist, so this is a great blessing.
I’ll also be teaching at the Children’s Creative and Performing Arts Academy in North Park.

I’m excited to have so much time to plan lessons, look for new repertoire, and encourage all of my students to strive for excellence. Some of my seniors are planning recitals and entering competitions, while my adult students are gearing up for the spring recital.
If you or someone you know is interested in taking lessons, drop me a comment and I’ll get back to you!

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Filed under:General — Renee @ 8:46 pm

Yes, its been a while since I’ve updated my journal, but I’m pleased to say, that everything that I needed to accomplish in 2008, is done!

I’m looking forward to this new year and I’m excited about the opportunities to perform and teach.

Hopefully, my new website will also be up and running and you’ll all be able to keep up to date with upcoming performances, journal entries, and notes from the teaching studio.

I’ve applied to 3 schools for doctoral programs and I’ll be auditioning for those schools this month and also early February. I’ll be sure to keep you all posted on what takes place concerning my decision for the next chapter of my musical life.

I’m excited to be teaching again for the Children’s Creative and Performing Arts Academy in North Park. I had some great students and I look forward to teaching them again and I’m planning for a multi-cultural recital in the spring.

My time at San Diego State University has come to an end. I don’t have the final word, but it looks like I completed all of my requirements for graduation. We shall see for sure next week if everything is truly finished!

I’ll be singing with the La Jolla Symphony in early February, a work by Anthony Davis. I’m excited about singing with this organization again and I look forward to meeting the composer and receiving insight into the piece I’ll be singing.

So, there is my update for the beginning of the new year!

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Filed under:General — Renee @ 9:55 am

Yep, just when I thought I had an entire month to accomplish things, it turns out that October is almost over.
Eesh! I have my grad. recital audition tomorrow for my committee and I’ve been debating whether or not to reschedule the entire recital. I have a enormous amount of work with the two grad. seminar classes and my teaching load at the academy and private students is taking up a lot of my life at the moment. I love everything I’m doing, there just doesn’t seem to be enough time in the day to accomplish everything that I want to do. I suppose I am not the first nor last person to speak of such things, but it does help to write it out and read it for myself. I ran into a few people at school yesterday after I rehearsed with Suzy and they also had much to accomplish this weekend as well. It would be nice to be able to do these things surrounded by other people, but unfortuately all of this work requires spending great amounts of time alone. I’m sure I could learn every word perfectly for my recital if I had a few people who drilled them into my brain for 4 hours a day, but the reality is that I must just get to it and make it happen!

On another note…I’m really proud of my student Sarah G. She is determined to get into a good music program at a university next fall and is proving to me that she is willing to do whatever is necessary to make that happen. Saturday morning we recorded 4 of her songs at CABC with the gracious assistance of Scott C. I think she did a good job of keeping her composure and in 1 hour we were able to get some good samples of her singing to send off to potential schools. Its moments such as those that make me appreciate being a teacher.

So, I’m off to church.

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Filed under:General — Renee @ 6:13 pm

I’m in the midst of doing major research on 3 different topics at the moment, and I’m realizing what a great place a library truly is. Fortunately, I have a few to choose from here in San Diego, and currently, I am frequenting the Geisel Library at UCSD. The fall quarter hasn’t started up, so for the past 3 weekends, the place has been very quiet. I am starting to realize that if I want to get any amount of work done, it will have to be at the library, and preferably on a floor that is designated “quiet study.”
For some reason, I can’t muster up the same amount of intensive study at the Love Library, and so my weekends will be spent in La Jolla. Now if only I could figure out a way to use one of the rehearsal rooms to practice in, then I would truly be set!

I couldn’t help but notice that in the periodical section, 2 men were playing Yahoo Games on the computers. Directly above their heads, there was a sign that said “these computers are for university research only.” I wonder what their excuse would have been if someone caught them? ” Um….I’m doing an analysis of internet search engines and their effectiveness in luring people away from their studies.”

On that note, its back I go to work on gathering info. about Charles Ives.

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Filed under:General — Renee @ 11:02 pm

I hear it every day, “I’m so busy” , “I’m so tired”, ” I didn’t get much sleep last night.”
I could understand if only adults said these phrases, but as I find myself surrounded by kids of all ages each day, they seem to be the ones who really use these phrases on a day to day basis.
Is it a good thing to have kids have so many after school activities that they don’t get home until 8 or 9 p.m. at night? Are we teaching kids to that having jam packed schedules is the key to true success or are we merely teaching them how to live more stressful lives?

I know kids have a lot of energy and its important to keep them active in order to help them get their daily dose of exercise. I don’t think its good when a little 9 year old girl is having to drink espresso drinks in the morning just so she can “get through the day.”

I’ve started a new teaching job this week and I’m finding that I enjoy the hustle and bustle of kids running to and fro. Their energy and enthusiasm for life is contagious and I’ve only met great kids. I do worry that some of them might be bogged down with too many after school activities and I’m concerned about how things will be once we get closer to the holidays.

Although I don’t have any classes in the morning, I do have a jam packed schedule in the afternoons and evenings. Once I get home after a seminar, I really don’t want to open another book think of anything other than recuperating. I know this crazy schedule won’t last for longer than 4 months, so its not forever.

So, my question still goes unanswered, how much it too much?

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Filed under:General — Renee @ 3:07 am

   Change is sometimes a fearful word, especially when one considers all that it implies.

Last week, was the start of a new school year for many students all over the U.S. The excitement of seeing friends, starting college in a new state, buying new clothes, school supplies, etc. etc.

For myself, its the beginning of the last semester of my current chapter of higher education. I didn’t experience excitement when I drove to school last week, all I could think of was the anxiety of trying to find a parking space amid thousands of others. My blood not only boiled from the heat, but from the many people crammed onto the State campus. Its no wonder there is road rage, impatient drivers honking their car horns for no apparent reason than to merely rattle someone’s cage. Yes, this is what I experienced last week, and it has also started to leak onto this week as well. Change is something that we will all have to deal with from time to time and if there is anything to be gained, its inevitable that risks are also involved. Many of my friends are involved with various local church ministries and if I had to attend one of their services and provide music, I would surely be the out of my comfort zone. I know none of the current worship music that is being sung in most of these churches, and furthermore, I don’t think I could even play the keyboard to the style in which the congregation is accustomed towards. I know absolutely nothing about the current status of worship teams and their effectiveness in conjunction with pastors’ messages. In order for me to “fit” in, I would have to make some major changes in the music that I not only grew up with in the church, but also the job skills that I would need in order to be employable.
Its a sad thing to admit, but I would not be employable to a good number of the churches that have music programs here in San Diego. That’s just unreal to me! What happened to traditional church music? What happened to just the simplicity of the guitar, piano, organ, and the occasional flute or violin? It seems that most church music resembles that of the world. Its loud, the lyrics are often hard to understand, and the musicians are not really musicians but people who just “picked” up the drums a few months ago and wanted to play in the services. Whatever happened to being a trained musician in the key leadership roles of church music ministry? Granted, volunteers for choir, solos, are necessary for the foundation of the church body. Then again, what is happening to the church choirs? Are they too becoming a thing of the past?
Again, let me reiterate, that change is good. Its necessary for growth, renewal, and rejuvenation. I am concerned that the church music of today lacks the tradition to be passed on to the next generation of worshipers, since it resembles the trends of commercialized secular music. You don’t see anyone changing the Lord’s Prayer, so why change the traditional hymns of the church?
I want to share the hymns of the church with my children someday and pass onto them the tradition of gathering around a piano and singing for the sheer joy and pleasure of worshipping God. I want good music that all people can enjoy and be a part of, but how am I supposed to sing along with when I can’t even hear God speaking to me or speaking through the lyrics of a song when my ears are ringing from the loudness of the stereo speakers? Is is possible to still hear God’s voice amidst the high frequencies of the guitar, drums, bass guitar, keyboard, and brass section?

In conclusion, I don’t know where the music of the church is going in the future, but if people are able to find God and be ministered to, then all I can hope for is that the music in the church never distracts from the whole entire purpose we attend in the first place, which is to give glory and honor to God in the fellowship of our brothers and sisters.

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Filed under:General — Renee @ 9:38 pm

I’ve had some time to think lately about the things I would like to accomplish before the end of this year, 2008 that is. In the process of it all, I’ve been quite inspired by the dedication and work ethic of the U.S. Olympic Team. Just thinking about the many hours they put in on a weekly basis to become the best they can be is a great example of living out one’s dream.

Realizing that there is always something to improve upon, really makes a person humble. Even when you’ve finished reading one book, there are so many more to read thereafter. My point is simply that, no matter what types of goals you set for yourself, there is always something else to work towards.

I’ve always had a process of learning music that has worked for me. I learn it quickly, get it ready for the next lesson or performance, and then I work it through until its at its best. One thing that has always been my nemesis is the text of a song. Why is this the case? If I look within the layers of my soul, the answer is that words have always tended to hold the least importance to me. So many times I’ve heard ” we should, or maybe we should, or I want” but why can’t it just be a yes or a no? Why make promises that will never be kept? or Why say anything?
These are all rhetorical questions, but my point is that words should be the most important thing that we have as human beings who communicate each and every day we are alive. They should have meaning and importance and shouldn’t be used flippantly.
With that said, one of my main goals for the rest of this year and hopefully for the rest of my life, is to put emphasis first on the text, its meaning, nuances, and subtleties. If I can hold on to truth, beauty, and love, then my words will not only be understood, they will also have value.

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Filed under:General — Renee @ 10:32 am

August is here!
After a month in Germany, I am now home here in the good ol’ USA.
I’ve been spending some time partaking in the viewing of the Olympics and I must say, they are addicting to watch.
Pride in one’s country is something that all of America’s youth need to be taught. There is more freedom here than in any other place and to be able to have that is an honor.

Auditions were plentiful in the past two months. Still waiting to hear about the results, but there are definitely lots of things to partake and prepare for.
Classes at SDSU will be starting soon and I will be thankful to be in the homestretch towards my Masters Degree.
Also, preparations are underway for the big Graduate Recital. I’ll be singing some difficult and mesmerizing music…Stay tuned!

I’m also happy to report that 12 of the people that live in this neighborhood are going to be gone for the entire week. I know I will not only sleep better, but I’ll also be able to sing as loud as I want!

Last week I went to the Coronado Beach, the San Diego Zoo, and 24 Hour Fitness. Yes, that’s about as exciting as things get when it comes to summer activities.

I’ll be teaching again real soon. I’m hoping that all things related to the studio will be rewarding.

Things at First Pres. are good and joyful. The choir is back together again and we have much to look forward to for the Christmas season.

I’m reading “New Moon” by Stephenie Meyer. I must say, its an excellent book for those that like to indulge in the supernormal world of vampire and werewolves. She writes with an auspicious air that captures the imagination of young and old minds. Remember, this is summer reading for me, I’ll get back to the vocal pedagogical journals in a few weeks.

Fun? Isn’t this fun?

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Filed under:General — Renee @ 3:29 pm

Well, the time has finally arrived and in 2 days, I’ll be in Germany. Perhaps I would be more excited if I knew what to expect from the program I am attending. The details have been few and far between since this is relatively a brand new summer training program. In many ways, that’s a good thing but in many others, its not.
Anytime that a large amount of money and time is invested in something, I get a bit worried. First of all, I don’t have thousands of dollars to waste, but if I know that I will gain a tremendous amount of experience and education, then I have no problem. But, as I learned many years ago, just because you spend a large sum of money, doesn’t guarantee that you will get the type experience that is meant for you.

So, I’m taking a risk. I’m hoping that since my friend Candace is coming along, that I will enjoy everything no matter what. Usually, when I’ve had summer adventures, I travel alone. This time, I actually will have someone to share in the joys, frustrations and the triumphs. I know that she is super excited to go and I know that she probably won’t get many opportunities to travel without her husband when he returns from his military duty.

In preparing for my trip, I’ve noticed just how expensive the small things are. For example, I stopped at one of those self-serve frozen yogurt places with my little brother. The problem with self-serve is that you end up getting a lot more than if you would have just ordered a Small-Medium-or Large. Between the two of us, we spent 9.00 on 2 yogurts. GULP! That was only supposed to be a treat, not a meal! Of course the other expensive item is gasoline. Since I travel quite a bit to and fro, in the past week I’ve tried to just fill my tank halfway. Even with that, I spent 40.00 for one week. YIKES! Then, the small item of snacks for the trip, a whopping 24.00! Well, hopefully they will last longer than just one day, maybe for the next two weeks if I’m careful.

As much as I’ve tried, I don’t have the entire score memorized. I’m familiar with it all and can sing it with the music in front of me, but the role isn’t memorized. I still have 4 more days realistically to put it inside my brain before I have to sing it in front of the other cast members, but I’m hoping for some type of miracle to either A. learn it all or B. just do scenes from it. I suppose this will all come to pass when I see and hear everyone else. What is the worst that could happen? Mmm…not singing the role would be a huge disappointment, but if I could do some German agent auditions, sing my arias in a public performance, learn more German, and visit the local sites, maybe it won’t seem so devastating.
We’ll see… and hopefully I’ll be able to find a hotspot so that I can use my laptop and update on a regular basis!
Say some prayers and offer up some positive thoughts my way!

Love you all and be safe in all of your own summer adventures!

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Filed under:General — Renee @ 9:42 pm

Sometimes, whether we realize it or not, everything works out for the betterment of our self.
We can’t always see the grand composition that is being manifested by God almighty up above, but we can take comfort in the fact that God is always in control.

So, I’m moving on. I normally write a few sentences of my discontentment or feelings of being rejected once again. But this time, its not going to happen.

I’ve signed onto this walk of life knowing full well that if I want to achieve great things, then its going to require not only discipline, dedication, and hard work, it will also require being vulnerable and showing the world who I am and what I have to offer. Not everyone I audition for, interview for, or even perform in front of, will be a fan. I don’t have that power, nor would I want it, but it is my job to live each moment with a tremendous amount of love, passion, creativity, and compassion for everyone that I do touch. Whether it be through my spoken words, written words, or through the example of just living life.

So, I’m moving on…..

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