Fatigued but not Sore

The past few days I was on a choir retreat in the mountains.  We left Thursday afternoon and returned two days later.  It was interesting as my voice is not as tired as I thought it would be.  And here are the reasons why:

1) I sing differently with Chamber Choir.  I sing healthier.  I don't need to push and I can use my healthiest sound.

2) When my voice was tired, I allowed myself to mark.

3) My teacher did a good job of balancing.  Although we practiced for 12 hours total, we interspersed it with other things that were not singing.

Overall, when I left yesterday my voice was fatigued but not sore.

It was a good lesson for me to see this balance.

I was also told to learn the Argento "I Hate and I Love."  Not something I was expecting to have to learn how to conduct, but it will be fine.

I had my first real lesson last Wednesday.  My teacher was very complimentary of my progress and said I was very clear.  I am conducting Chichester Psalms in my lessons and made it through about half of the first movement.  The biggest thing is allowing myself to be bigger in my gesture.  I have small down, but if it's took big I feel as if I am flapping.  My teacher assured me that I don't look like I am flapping, but in a piece where dynamics are marked "fff", I can take a chance and be as large as I can control.  At any rate, good first lesson.