Going Digital!

So when I perform - whether it is just background music, a Christmas concert, a fundraiser, or in a pub or coffee shop, I have binders filled with music. Huge binders. 

As it stands right now, I write out lyrics, I write out chords, then photocopy my written music into a binder. 

Of course, I have always *thought* about typing everything up, having digital copies of all of my music, or even at the very least, scanning all of my current hand-written copies into digital format. 

That job has always been so daunting though. I have a ton of music. So scanning would be tedious and typing would take forever. 

I am performing for a small condo Christmas concert this year, though, and the residents would like to sing along and make requests from my repertoire. So I decided that now is as good a time as any to start the project of going digital. 

It will be quite beneficial to be able to access my entire list of available music from anywhere on any device - instead of bringing these massive binders with me to every gig. I am much more keen on paper and pen, but maybe I should join this century. (I absolutely hate trying to read novels on a device, so my hesitation with my music is similar - but I think this is the best way to have my music catalogued). 

First up: my Christmas Binder. 

Typing out the lyrics hasn't been difficult, just a little time consuming (which has me brutally exhausted today after spending only an hour last night). Getting the chords written out, though, on the correct word for the chord change, with all of the special character, AND keeping most of the songs on one page, well that has been a challenge. It took me nearly half an hour to get one song done. But - I want it done. I will find some useful ways of doing this and learn how to work with Word, making it look similarly to my own writing style, and keep going. 

I am also *hoping*, as with every year, to do a Live Stream of this Christmas concert. Then, hopefully, all of my friends watching online could sing along themselves and/or with their kiddos, make requests, and enjoy the concert. 

Whether I do the live streaming concert simultaneously or at a different date, it will, again, be a fundraiser for two worthy causes. Stay tuned for more information on who the charities will be this year and how you can donate if you so wish to. 

Here is the current list of possible repertoire for the Christmas Concert coming up on December 5th. There may be songs added or removed within the coming weeks, but this is what I am starting with: 

Air on the G String (instrumental)
All You Need is Love - Beatles
Angel - Sarah McLachlan
Angels We Have Heard on High
Annie's Song - John Denver

Auld Lang Syne 
Away in a Manger
Baby, It's Cold Outside
Baby Mine - Alison Krauss
Be Be Your Love - Rachel Yamagata
Beauty and the Beast - Beauty and the Beast
Birds and Ships - Billy Bragg
Blue Christmas
Can You Feel the Love Tonight - The Lion King
Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol
Christmas in Killarney
The Christmas Song
City of Stars - La La Land
Come Away With Me - Norah Jones
The Coventry Carol
Crocus - The Dearhearts
Dancing in the Sky - Dani & Lizzi
Danny Boy
Do You Hear What I Hear
Down in the River to Pray - Alison Krauss
Edelweiss - The Sound of Music
Feels Like Home - Chantal Kreviazuk
The First Noël
Frosty the Snowman
God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen
Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen
Happy Christmas (War is Over)
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Heart's Content - Brandi Carlile
A Holly Jolly Christmas
Home - Michael Bublé
How Great Thou Art
The Huron Christmas Carol
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause
I Saw Three Ships
I See The Light - Tangled
I Wanna Hold Your Hand - Beatles
I'll Be Home for Christmas
In the Garden
In This House - The Stellas
Imagine - John Lennon
The Irish Wedding Song
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (instrumental)
Jingle Bells
Jingle Bell Rock
Lavenders Blue
Let it Go - Frozen
Let it Snow
Little Drummer Boy
A Marshmallow World
Mary, Did You Know? - The Pentatonix
My Favorite Things
O Christmas Tree
O Come, All Ye Faithful
O Holy Night
O Little Town of Bethlehem
The Old Rugged Cross
Open My Eyes
Precious Lord, Take My Hand
Please Come Home for Christmas
Rockin Around the Christmas Tree
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Santa Baby
Santa Claus is Comin to Town
Shine the Light - Sugarland
Silent Night
Silver Bells
Silver and Gold
The Skater's Waltz (instrumental)
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Songbird - Eva Cassidy
Sunrise - Norah Jones
Suzy Snowflake
That's Christmas to Me - The Pentatonix
To Make You Feel My Love - Adele
Turn Me On - Norah Jones
Up On the Housetop
We Three Kings of Orient Are
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
What Are You Doin New Year's Eve?
What Child is This?
Yellow - Coldplay
You Raise Me Up - Josh Groban

Happy Singing :) 

I love My Musical Life!