Birthdays, Boston, Burrrr....

Pics:
1. Lindsay laying her show at the bar I got carded to enter into on my 21st birthday
2. Me singing one of my originals "Feel Your Love"
3. Me and my birthday buddy Calen...I'm a year older and a head shorter...sweet! :)

Wow, it's been a long time...sorry about that. I do not intend for it to take me so long to post, I think it's just been a long busy week and then a weekend away, I feel like now is the time when I can finally sit down. So let's see what has happened since I last talked to you...

Well, I was on the schedule to perform last week so most of my week was spent getting everything together for that. I had to finish 2 songs writing chords and parts for both of them. I still can't say I did all that great a job but at least we got through the show with me singing 2 of my own original songs. Last Monday I sat at a keyboard for 3 hours plunking away on the notes and trying to come up with a melody as well as chords...I can say that I actually did it. I wrote chords for an entire song, the funny thing is how I did it. Follow me here...

I was sitting there at the keyboard in our main performance room. People were going in and out, working on lights and other aspects of the stage. I asked my prof for a bit of help...but he got me nowhere. He turned a sad/deep/angry song about one of my campers from this past summer into a Latin pop song...not the "stormy" look I was going for. So I sat back down and worked at it. Then as I was playing I realized I didn't know the name of all the chords I was playing...Eminor flat 5? WHAT? oh...that is actually E diminished. As if I am supposed to know that. So as I Was sitting there playing chords I didn't know the name of a piano player would walk in and I would simply play it and ask them what I was playing...so then 3 hours, a lot of D minors, a few F augmenteds and some G and E diminished chords later I had my song...haha! Believe me, for those of you with no music background as confused as you are now is how confused I was on Monday.

I practiced a lot all week and then performed on Thursday. I can't say it was the greatest, but a lot of people said it went really well. My band is so awesome we had a lot of fun with my set. I was really excited to perform my songs that I had written and then I also did "Girl Next Door" by Saving Jane. It is really nice to know that I am not performing for another few weeks. I think I am actually going to redo one of the songs I did last week. Today in class I brought it before the chopping block and I was told I had a really solid Broadway or Evanescence...I said lets lean towards the Evanescence (don't worry mom it's not a bad thing). He actually said that it could be a really cool song which makes me really happy! The song is about the struggles a child has with depression and thoughts of suicide that rage within them like a storm that never goes away. On of my campers this summer was feeling like she should not live, like she would help those around her if she just didn't exist any more. It was these brewing feelings within her that made her feel as though she should end her life. The song sounded almost like a storm with loud drum cracks and a low rumble on this thing called a mogg as well as a cool piano part that sounded like rain and then an electric guitar part that added a lot of color to it.

I just realized that I talked a lot about that song...sorry...

Well, yes...I am 21 now, and to top it off I got carded on my 21st birthday, but not for alcohol. One of the artists who is simply living here with us students had a show in Boston on Saturday night in a Bar and so we had to be 21 and up to enter. Funny part is as we were walking in my friend had to point out to the guy that it was my birthday...so the question we ask is, did he not care? or did he really not look that close and basically I could have been 20 and he still might have let me in...hummmmmm....who knows?

We had a great weekend though. After being couped up on an island for 1.5 months we didn't realize how good it felt to be in a city...crazy! haha (and I'm not a city girl at heart...I just like it) We spent most of the weekend shopping and eating. But it was fun just to hangout with each other and enjoy not doing music stuff. On the way home my friend goes, "This has been great...I haven't thought about song writing in 2 days." and I go, "Till now...thanks!" It was funny...and so true. We had a totally free weekend!

Now we are back and in the full swing of things...However it has been kinda fun around here because Monday morning we were greeted with a lovely blanket of 4 in of snow. So though it has been cold, it's been pretty.

Thank you all for your sweet messages on my birthday as well as cards and such. I love you all so much! I can't wait to show you all what I am learning and the many pictures that I do not have posted up here...if you want though you can see more pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/kelsduf so be sure to check that out! I love you all!!!

smile before bed...you'll sleep better,
~Kels

quote of the week: (not meant in a bad way...but totally funny taken out of context)
"She really needs to start doing drugs." ~Jake the Snake!
...10 minutes later...
Jake and I were sick and about to go to bed so in saying good night I said I might want to shoot something if I woke up with chills again and he said he would shoot something if he woke up coughing and then he turned to me and said...very seriously...
"I know, you want to just shoot each other?" ~Jake the Snake

I love this place!!! haha!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Won't you be mine?







How is everyone? It's kinda funny to think that I have friends snowed out of school, other friends in nice warm places, others that are getting covered with ice and others with rain. We are all so separated...but still connected..? haha I'm being too serious for my own good I think. Basically what I am trying to say is that I miss you all very much, I love you, and I thank you for the place you have had in my life. Thank you for your love, care, thoughts, encouragement, and prayer. I seriously wouldn't be on this cold, frozen, beautiful island if it were not for you. Thank you.


So, to answer the many questions...last week went well. I had an issue with on stage movement during my sound check on Thursday...basically my prof told me that I stood like a stiff church girl and I needed to move more. He told me to not be so stiff like. He made the comment that I am afraid to move from the hips down...so I looked silly singing a rock song. He said don't be such a "church performer" (in a not mean or bad way...just the fact that I looked like I was singing for a church congregation...) I was shocked for a few minutes(okay hours) but I snapped out of it and came through in the performance that night. I sang, walked, moved, and loved it all! No mom, I was not inappropriate...I simply moved to the beat of the song...so don't worry...you don't need to fly out here.

Wednesday in class we did "The Real School of Rock" (pictured above...). My prof picked 4 girls that don't play instruments and taught us how to play something kinda okay...basically I played 2 guitar chord progressions: "Wild Thing" and the other had something to do with rock and roll... It was funny really. But I had a good time. I'll be a metal rockstar soon mom, don't you worry!!!

The weekend was fun. We had a girls and guys night on Saturday night. All the girls went over to our prof's (Warren's) house at 4:30 in the afternoon for a 2 movie+dinner Jane Austin special. We watched "Emma" and "Pride and Prejudice." It was tons of fun just to chill with the girls...we even started a game of MASH...yes, that silly game we all played in the back of the bus to figure out our destiny. Needless to say we were very girly...haha!

It is such a relief to not have to perform this week. After 2 weeks of full blown stress I am a bit more relaxed...I'm working on 2 songs and then the lyrics of a few others. Song writing is hard and yet fun at times. It lets you get things out in a way you don't usually get to say them. I am excited to see where I am at after my 100 bad writes! haha (they say it takes 100 bad to get 1 good...I'm starting to feel like it will be 1000 bad...)

I am still loving the classes and the people. It is just strange to me that I "have to" watch movies and then I "have to" sit and listen to people sing for class. In the long run we will have a final that will take some time and be very thick...but we are told it can be done. The effort to put together a solid song and set for a performance is very draining and sometimes more exhausting than my classes at Taylor, but I am loving this.

The people never stop amazing me. I come closer and closer with them each and every day. It is so amazing to think that we are all here at this time...we are supposed to be here...I am learning so much from them and so much about myself. It is so great to know that I may be far away from home, but I am not far from those who care about me.

Next weekend (the 24-25) we will be in Boston. We are all ready to get off the island, so we are looking forward to that. It will be fun to get away. My friend Liz keeps asking me what food I want...yeah, we are antsy. I'm excited to go hang out in a city for a change of pace. We all can't wait!

Some of the CMC Alum came and performed a concert for us last night. It was really fun. I enjoyed listening to people who were in my shoes a year ago and are now touring throughout the east coast! Crazy!

Beyond that nothing much is happening around here...getting ready for another CMC Live on Thursday and writing more songs is the usual buzz around this place. I continue to learn "Kelsey Lessons" and miss my friends and family...but this place is becoming more and more like home for me. I told my mom last night it's kinda like Alaska for me...I can't simply go once...I'm sure I will be back here at some point, I'm slightly attached! haha!

Please know that I am thinking of you all often and I pray for you. Continue to keep me updated and let me know what I can be praying for. I love and miss you all so much!!! Thank you all for the continued support and encouragement.

with love,
~Kels
Prayer:
~my cousin went into brain surgery today, pray for her recovery...
~one of my friends here has just found out she has 4 small lumps of cancer in her throat...not fun for a singer to hear
~Confidence for myself...there are times I still wonder why I am here and if I am cut out to be a professional performer...I have the heart, not the confidence...
~health...everyone around here is getting sick!!!
~depression...we want sun, but get rain and sleet. Now I know that you all are dealing with 5 feet of snow...the problem is, all our songs are sounding very depressed...
~safety as we travel and as people leave and come back
THANK YOU!!!

I'M A ROCKSTAR!!!

Kyle teaching me to play the guitar.
Me singing at CMC Live.
Me and my manager Kristen.


Well, not quite...but I did play the electric guitar today! :) For our practicum we did something called "School of Rock" Where in one hour our prof had 4 of us girls who don't play an instrument up and playing some bits and pieces of songs. It was so great. I don't play any instrument, but the electric guitar is looking like a lot of fun at this point in time. :) I need to work on it a bit more though! haha

This last weekend was pretty nice. It has dropped a good 20 degrees, but we are still without snow. I found out on Friday afternoon that I am performing again this Thursday so I have been working hard on that. I am singing 2 cover songs because I haven't written enough songs...maybe by the end of the semester I will do a whole set with all original music!!! :) (plus the accordion! haha) This week I am performing "Carry Me" by Patty Griffin and "More Than You'll Ever Know" by Watermark. I am excited I really like both the songs so it should be good. I'll let you know later....

I continue to grow closer with people here. I was thinking about CRAM (Taylor's Summer Honors Program)...these first 3 weeks have felt kinda like that in a way. I mean we have been cramming a ton of information into a short time frame...the problem is, this is how it will be for the rest of the semester...INTENSE!!! As a group we have come so close in such a short period of time...amazing! I think about how one of my closest friends is someone I met at CRAM, and that was simply 3 weeks long. This semester I will be making friendships that will last forever, I feel it already. That is such a great feeling! We were saying today that we kinda feel like we are on survivor...like we have all these challenges and things we need to do in order to survive, yet we all work together to help each other with the challenges that we face each week (CMC Live).

I constantly have something I need to do...and if not that I should be writing lyrics. This week we need to write a song with a partner. I am also preparing my set and doing background vocals for one of the guys songs. I love how we all work together all the time. My friend Kyle (pictured above) is determined to turn me into a Rockstar...he was trying to teach me how to solo on an electric guitar...I think I need to practice a bit more! haha Warren (my prof) was laughing at me today when he was trying to teach me...but hey, it's my first time!!! COME ON! haha

So, needless to say I am enjoying myself. I miss my home and TU very much though. Living in a room with 4 other girls is very different from only one roommate! I hope that every one is doing well and loving this weather...right...

Thank you all for your prayers and support. I love and miss you all.

smile,
~Kels

Prayer Requests:
~our health...all the buildings are drafty and it is constantly cold...
~my cousin-in-law goes in for surgery next week to have a tumor removed
~My mind as I continue to work on songs and that I will not feel too overwhelmed with shows and things.

DONE!!!

...With the first performance...haha! I loved it! What a rush to stand before people and sing a song you wrote. It is a beautiful thing to have people clap for you after you put the hard work into putting a set together.

This week has for sure been very stressful. I had to figure out what 2 songs I was going to sing...once that was figured out then I had to sign up for practice times. I had to write lead sheets...which I found I am not very good at, and then I had to make sure I had the band I needed as well as back up singers and all. I sang an original I wrote called "Fooling the World" and then a song by Sixpence None the Richer "Kiss Me." It was so much fun to work from the ground up with people to get this together.

The crazy part was writing a chorus to my song in one afternoon. Wednesday in my song writing class I was told that I didn't have a chorus...funny, I thought I did...but Warren thought differently, so I needed to add a chorus. I wrote a chorus, came up with music for it, and had a new lead sheet for my band all in one afternoon...crazy! But we pulled it off...I only forgot a few words...(we know how I am with my own songs right Kev? hehe)

Well, I am tired and kinda on a rush from the show tonight...so I'm going to go. Sorry this is kinda silly/sporadic...

I hope you all are doing well and having a great time in school, at work, and at home! I love and miss you all so much!

Have a great weekend!!! (more updates and pics to come)

God Bless,
~Kels

p.s. smile...it's good for you