Jack Petchey Glee Club Challenge – Final Bootcamp
In the vernacular of the scientific community there is a phrase that consistently floats to the top known as ‘embodied cognition’; that is, the synchronisation of the body and the mind or in a metaphysical sense of the body and the soul. It is very rare to find any such activities in this life of repetition and monotony but my experience in the Tiffin Glee Club has consistently rewarded me with such experiences.
Following our successful entry into the Glee Club Grand Final, the Tiffin Glee Club were invited to a bootcamp on Sunday the 22nd March. The primary goal here was to refine and perfect our two pieces, ‘Shut Up and Dance with Me’ and ‘Footloose’. It was an incredible experience where we were trained through vocal exercise and choreography improvements, including(but not limited to) education on improvisation and the art of tonal intonation vs tonal inflection.
Despite the day being packed, it was still deeply entertaining, and our enjoyment was clearly shown to the professionals we were working with who described us as possessing a unique ‘youth and charm’! In many ways, as a Year 13 student wading through the stressful and tiring days of an A level Student, the Glee Club has been great in reminding me of my inner younger self, and in approaching life with a sense of relaxation, fearlessness and vivacity. The days’ work was summarised by an interview that the judges took of the group to conclude the session, in which they asked each of us to describe the Glee Club experience in one word. It was interesting to see the common consensus between all of us, with the words connecting under one semantic umbrella: light. Light means of course more than just the bright stage lights during our performances, it was a symbolism connoting joy, positivity and memories that we will all cherish for the rest of our lives. We all know we have a once in a Tiffin generation talent as a group to reach heights in this challenge, but amidst all of this, it is clear that Glee Club has been the best highlight of my Tiffin history and a perfect example of how joy and success are but twins, often estranged by societal norms but yet still inextricably entangled.
Saahil (Year 13)
