Know What Else I'd Like to Do?

I have another crazy dream. Besides the crazy writing dream, I mean. I want to sing in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

I meet the following criteria:

1. Be between the ages of 25-55.

2. Live within a 100 mile radius of Salt Lake City

3. Be a member in good standing of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Okay, that's the easy part. First you have to fill out an application about your church and family background and musical experience. That doesn't sound too bad. They have right there on the website all the time requirements, which are considerable, so you can decide if you even want to fill out an application. Next, you're asked to create an audition CD in which you have to sing one of three hymns and do some other musical stuff. Harder. If you make it past that step, you have to take a music theory test which includes stuff like: listen to a musical phrase followed by three notes and determine which note is the key tone. Listen to a musical passage while looking at a corresponding musical notation and mark every measure where the pitch is different from what was played. And on and on like that--all live without the opportunity to hear anything repeated. Um, okay. That sounds really hard, especially since I have no professional musical training. If you pass the music skills and theory test, then you get a live audition in front of the directors. In. Person. This includes singing a hymn and part of a challenging choral piece, followed by some sight reading. Absolutely terrifying. (Kind of like pitching your book to an editor or agent at a conference, no? Actually, I think the choir audition would be scarier. You don't actually have to read your manuscript out loud at a pitch session.)

 

 (Here's me with the choir I sing with now. The Musettes.)

So, I'm wondering. Which of these crazy dreams of mine is harder to achieve? What do you think?

I'd say that, as hard and frightening as the Tabernacle Choir audition sounds, I think it's still easier than writing a book , getting that book critiqued, revising the book, making the book shine, writing a query, a synopsis, a pitch, marketing plan, etc. for the book, submitting it, and getting it published. There is no website for aspiring authors with all the steps clearly mapped out like there is for the choir. Wouldn't it be nice if there was? Last year, 400 people auditioned and 78 made into the choir. That's almost 20%. I can guarantee you that significantly less than 20% of manuscripts submitted last year were published.

I think I could get into the Tabernacle Choir if I really wanted to. I could study my butt off for that music theory test. I could work up the guts for the live audition. I really could. You know what else I think? I think I can do what it takes to make it as a writer too. I can work hard, develop my talents, and gather up the courage I need to succeed.

And so can you.