One of the workshops we attended during Nashville Connection was with vocal coach Dave Brooks from Dave Brooks Artist Development. Jeremy scored a free evaluation while we were there and in the short 10min we had with him all I can say is AMAZING! I have had many vocal lessons and training over the years but I loved his technique. He's an in your face, tell it straight kinda guy who challenged everyone right where they were in their vocal ability. This moment is categorized in my jealous emotion. Would have love to have him evaluate me.
He praised Jeremy and built him up like you wouldn't believe. Now whether is was honest or he's just a great salesmen I'm not sure. But we left planning to work extra hard to see to it that Jeremy got at least 1 lesson.
Instead Jeremy won 5! 5 free lessons with Dave and I have to admit I will be hiding behind the computer screen for each lesson as we skype him into our living room.
Last night I had a dream featuring Mr. Dave Brooks himself. When I woke up all I could remember was that we were in a bar, much like Smileys Downtown Greenville, and He and my father-in-law were asking me theory questions. When I couldn't answer them Dave's response to me was, "I thought you knew music?" "But I haven't played for years!" I replied. "I have just leaned on my ear and less on my knowledge." Dave them locked eyes with me and using hand gestures that included a lot of pointing back and forth between the sheet music and me said "If you can't play, you're out of the game before you ever get started. Nashville doesn't have room for just singers anymore you need to dig back in and stand out."
Now, is that something Dave would say? Who knows. Is it a true statement? I don't think there is a rhyme or reason, other than God, that someone makes it in the music industry. So what does this mean for me? My interpretation is that it is time for me to brush up, suck up and play the piano again.
I think it's something I have needed to do for a while. It's hard as a vocalist, especially leading a team of musicians, to gain respect when you can't talk their language. I battle with this every Tuesday and Sunday. I love what I do and I know that I am called to do it. Granted leading a worship team and leading a band are two totally different things, all musicians speak the same language when it comes to the theory and charts of a song. How can I rise to new levels without the knowledge to keep me there? I can't.
So I am breaking out my theory book buried in the bottom of my piano bench, cleaning the dust off the keys, pulling up some tutorials on YouTube and picking up where I left off. My mom will be thrilled! She always said I had a gift. I have too many songs in me that need to come out and God has given me the talent and understanding to do it.
Thanks for the kick in the butt Dave. lol
Brad, continue to challenge me. You have and always do.
My husband and I have always know we were built for bigger things. Both raised with Faith that can move mountains and a relationship with God that rings strong in all we do, we believe that there is a plan and it includes the talents we have been blessed with and the joy that comes from singing. This is our journey to the spotlight. And once we stand in it, to God be all the Glory.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
The Open Door
Two weeks ago our lives changed dramatically. Well our lives not so much but the direction for our lives. My husband came in second place in the Nashville Connection Heroes Salute Competition. Are we heading to Nashville with a record deal in hand? No, but the journey has begun.
It's in us. It always has been. I believe God placed it there. The desire to do BIG things.
A week before the competition I asked my husband, "Jeremy, are you happy with where you are?" He seemed restless. I could feel it. I had felt it for weeks. My husband is great at what he does and I believe that one day he will settle into a church and follow in his daddy's foot steps but I could feel his uneasiness to settle in that just yet. So I did what great wives do and challenged my husband on his dreams.
I gave him 3 weeks to make a decision and proceeded to tell him I would follow him and never look back once he decided in his heart of hearts which path to take. Does it require sacrifice on my part, of course, it always will, but I know that God will honor me in the end for supporting the head of our home in fulfill his God given dream.
One week later we were signed up for Nashville Connection and heading to the Workshop event here in Greenville.We didn't make the finals for the competition on Thursday. Honestly I can't say with the songs we sent in that we should have. God had bigger plans. We got registered early enough to participate in a LIVE wild card performance on Wednesday night.
That night I watched a man already beaten and one who had given up on the talent so many saw and see in him, step onto a stage and blow the entire room away. He did what he was created to do and won! My husband kicked butt. I didn't do so bad myself.
He went on to compete the next day and beat out 32 other finalist coming in 2nd place! And yet he had favor and was treated as if first was written beside his name. We made God connections that week and God did something I could never do; He show my Husband that He still had plenty for him to do and plenty of time to do it.
I think Jeremy had given up. Filled his mind with excuses: I'm to old. I have a family and can't give what I need to make it into the music business. I missed my time. It's a season for new dreams. But I have learned through this experience that with talent, prayer, favor and people that believe in you, God will make a way when there seems to be no way. He can open doors that no man can shut. When he plants a desire and dream in you, He will see it completed. And He has done that for my family.
Jeremy's voice has been heard.
And a dream has been reignited in my husband. A journey for us has begun.
Where it leads I don't know. Maybe no where or maybe he is picked up and carried into this new world (music industry is it's own world) on Eagles wings. Hey, why not, God is that big!
So over the next weeks, months, however long it may be, I will write. I'll talk about the balance between reality and dreams. I'll open my book and share with you our journey to the spotlight. How it's done with family and roots. How we stay grounded in our faith and supported by our church. How we hold on to the promises of the word and give thanks and praise only to God. How easy it has been and hard it will be. I don't know if the CMA spotlight will be reached. I'm scared but so excited. Nervous and a little uneasy. Overwhelmed and a little jealous. But thankful to see my husband walking in God's plan and resting in the peace that God's got this. "Jesus, keep us humble."
Check out our handle bar Wildcard performances:
Jeremy McCall- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF0zjhn9sJE
Lauren McCall- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r79rot4ml9A
Thanks you: Sherry and Earl, Joan and all at the Nashville Connection, our parents, our babies and everyone who pushes us to be better than we are everyday. To those that pray for us, don't stop!
It's in us. It always has been. I believe God placed it there. The desire to do BIG things.
A week before the competition I asked my husband, "Jeremy, are you happy with where you are?" He seemed restless. I could feel it. I had felt it for weeks. My husband is great at what he does and I believe that one day he will settle into a church and follow in his daddy's foot steps but I could feel his uneasiness to settle in that just yet. So I did what great wives do and challenged my husband on his dreams.
I gave him 3 weeks to make a decision and proceeded to tell him I would follow him and never look back once he decided in his heart of hearts which path to take. Does it require sacrifice on my part, of course, it always will, but I know that God will honor me in the end for supporting the head of our home in fulfill his God given dream.
That night I watched a man already beaten and one who had given up on the talent so many saw and see in him, step onto a stage and blow the entire room away. He did what he was created to do and won! My husband kicked butt. I didn't do so bad myself.
He went on to compete the next day and beat out 32 other finalist coming in 2nd place! And yet he had favor and was treated as if first was written beside his name. We made God connections that week and God did something I could never do; He show my Husband that He still had plenty for him to do and plenty of time to do it.
I think Jeremy had given up. Filled his mind with excuses: I'm to old. I have a family and can't give what I need to make it into the music business. I missed my time. It's a season for new dreams. But I have learned through this experience that with talent, prayer, favor and people that believe in you, God will make a way when there seems to be no way. He can open doors that no man can shut. When he plants a desire and dream in you, He will see it completed. And He has done that for my family.
Jeremy's voice has been heard.
And a dream has been reignited in my husband. A journey for us has begun.
Where it leads I don't know. Maybe no where or maybe he is picked up and carried into this new world (music industry is it's own world) on Eagles wings. Hey, why not, God is that big!
So over the next weeks, months, however long it may be, I will write. I'll talk about the balance between reality and dreams. I'll open my book and share with you our journey to the spotlight. How it's done with family and roots. How we stay grounded in our faith and supported by our church. How we hold on to the promises of the word and give thanks and praise only to God. How easy it has been and hard it will be. I don't know if the CMA spotlight will be reached. I'm scared but so excited. Nervous and a little uneasy. Overwhelmed and a little jealous. But thankful to see my husband walking in God's plan and resting in the peace that God's got this. "Jesus, keep us humble."
Check out our handle bar Wildcard performances:
Jeremy McCall- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF0zjhn9sJE
Lauren McCall- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r79rot4ml9A
Thanks you: Sherry and Earl, Joan and all at the Nashville Connection, our parents, our babies and everyone who pushes us to be better than we are everyday. To those that pray for us, don't stop!
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