Yet another week has gone by! I am amazed at how quickly it has passed.
Things at the Ulpan are moving very quickly. There is so much new material every day that I am having difficulty keeping up. This is partly because I do not have the time necessary to adequately study and do the homework in addition to the cantorial practice, which is my first priority. As a result I have to choose between completing all assignments and studying Hebrew or practicing for cantorial class. The only possible decision is to do the practicing as that is my primary reason for being here. I am wondering if a less intensive Ulpan schedule would be better and am looking into that for the next class.
Things on the cantorial side continue to move along at a brisk pace as well, but here I believe I am doing well. The summer session is nearly over and I have been learned the entire Friday night service as well as a few other pieces. I have two different versions of some of the pieces, one of which has more cantorial embellishments than the other. During the break I will be practicing what I have been taught and will also be working on additional material. One is a piece from “The Merry Widow” and another is a piece in Italian from “Fedora”. Well, my grandmother told me I should be an opera singer, so here is my chance!
I stayed at the apartment again this Shabbat, and enjoyed a nice Shabbat dinner with my flat mate. After I sang the Kiddush (Blessing over “the fruit of the vine”) he commented that it sounded different from when I got here, and was better. I was pleased to hear that as I tried to incorporate some of the cantorial techniques I have been taught. I guess they work.
It is now Sunday afternoon here and I am going to be spending the rest of the day alternately practicing and doing homework. This will be interspersed, of course, with the “usual” chores of laundry and shopping. Sounds like fun. (Well, ok, the singing part will be.)
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