This will be the first from last entry to this blog as I look to wrap up what seems to be a successful year. After a big week at college I now look to wrap up some of the smaller tasks I need to complete to finish my HND year and hopefully look forward to the final year of BA Popular Music Performance.
I have since completed my DAW work and been signed off and also took the time to help half the class with their work which gave me a comparative view as life as a tutor which seems a lot simpler than being a student, more money and less responsibility.
This week was quite empty for me as I only had composition rehearsals and also my first study lesson which is all set for next weeks assessment where I aim to show off some of the vocal talents I have been developing throughout the year and through different projects. If all else fails I will have a glowing career as an impressionist or a manager in Lidl!
Today I made the journey to Perth to submit my analysis project which consisted of a full score, a critical analysis and also a graphical representation. I had a small technology emergency this morning as my work was cleared as my computer crashed however I managed to start a new score which surpassed the criteria of the assessment although was not as impressive as my original effort. I was quite surprised how much I enjoyed creating the graphical representation and have been occupied with the thought of music in different audio and visual forms. This method of metaphorming has always been helpful to me however I did not place it in my creative works too much but now see there can be a benefit from doing so.
Only this evening I have completed my evaluation for my graded unit and also my research report on the Monterey Pop Festival 1967 which leaves me with 2 very small but important tasks to finish off the year. We have a performance of our original compositions next Friday and have been rehearsing each others songs with only 2 rehearsals left before the performance. I have also taken the time to assist other students with their lyrics and vocal melody as these are my strengths and also something I have always done with ease. The other task is simply to complete my first study assessment where I need to perform 4 of the songs I have been practising which include O Gin I Were A Barons Heir, Pilate's Dream, A World Without You and also my favourite Mi Mancherai. I am confident about this assessment as I have done well all year however I will still take caution with my voice and also rehearse enough to be in fine tune on the day.
To close I am now playing in Tonic again on June 13th 2010 and am looking forward to this as I have enjoyed the performances I have done already. It's a nice setting and a lovely host who is also very talented. I will also be looking to persuade the venue to let my new band play a small acoustic set so we can showcase some of the songs we have composed recently.
I am almost saddened by the thought that next week is my last entry to this logbook of progression and development and will miss the opportunity to channel my thoughts in this way. Life does go on however and I have many other projects I must begin, fulfil and complete as I look to spread a true message of hope and love to all those souls that came before and all those who will come again.
I will sign of on Thursday 3rd June 2010 with my final entry and thank you all for your following so far.
Until then and maybe some other time,
I am Daniel.
Friday 28 May 2010
Friday 21 May 2010
The Week That Was
Well I managed to get through the biggest week of college so far this year and have came out smiling!
The biggest event of the week was Rocky: The Musical which went really well on the night of the show despite an abysmal practice routine in the afternoon. It was slightly understandable given that this was our first rehearsal with stage direction and props however lack of focus among the cast left the directors worried for the evening performance. I was confident that we would improve once placed in front of a crowd however I do realise that the producers and directors of any show need to have that confidence beforehand. The show went well and everyone played their part well in front of over 100 people and even though some sneaky gypsy hid Apollo Creed's boxing gloves for the final fight I did manage to get them back and on Apollo before the main fight scene at the end. Overall I am happy that this experience has helped me better understand the roles within musical shows.
The next day was sort of an anti-climax as it was the day of our band performance and with only 4 out of 6 members present in previous weeks a contingency plan was needed. This was slightly changed also as our drummer turned up on the day and managed to keep time through the songs we agreed to play. We were meant to play 7 however only managed 5 but in hindsight I should of just jammed out another 2 songs but was unsure of the band's confidence in doing so!
The day after this was the big interview for the role of a west end singer! Firstly I was there almost a half hour before my appointment which gave me time to refresh before being ready 10 minutes before the appointment. I was asked to complete my presentation which was designed to showcase my abilities and talents and then take part in a short interview for the position. I was quite happy with my performance on the day however I would have been better pleased if the conditions allowed for better display of video and audio information throughout my presentation. I did include plenty of evidence within my portfolio so hopefully this compensates for any problem with my presentation. The interview seemed to go well as I had the opportunity to discuss my passions and also turned a negative into a positive regarding my lack of experience.
Friday was simply the submission of my music history essay on the views of thoughtful and logical Theodor W. Adorno. I was shocked at my 44% grade in the Fabbri essay and did take the criticism from my tutor to improve my Adorno essay, however if I don't pass this one I will find it hard to believe that he truly read either of them!
After this mountain of a week I am now left with the tasks of an evaluation of my graded unit, a report on Monterey Pop Festival 1967, some small tasks in DAW, my final first study assessment and the performances of our original compositions. Not much!
Until next Friday, I'm me and you are all you!
Daniel
The biggest event of the week was Rocky: The Musical which went really well on the night of the show despite an abysmal practice routine in the afternoon. It was slightly understandable given that this was our first rehearsal with stage direction and props however lack of focus among the cast left the directors worried for the evening performance. I was confident that we would improve once placed in front of a crowd however I do realise that the producers and directors of any show need to have that confidence beforehand. The show went well and everyone played their part well in front of over 100 people and even though some sneaky gypsy hid Apollo Creed's boxing gloves for the final fight I did manage to get them back and on Apollo before the main fight scene at the end. Overall I am happy that this experience has helped me better understand the roles within musical shows.
The next day was sort of an anti-climax as it was the day of our band performance and with only 4 out of 6 members present in previous weeks a contingency plan was needed. This was slightly changed also as our drummer turned up on the day and managed to keep time through the songs we agreed to play. We were meant to play 7 however only managed 5 but in hindsight I should of just jammed out another 2 songs but was unsure of the band's confidence in doing so!
The day after this was the big interview for the role of a west end singer! Firstly I was there almost a half hour before my appointment which gave me time to refresh before being ready 10 minutes before the appointment. I was asked to complete my presentation which was designed to showcase my abilities and talents and then take part in a short interview for the position. I was quite happy with my performance on the day however I would have been better pleased if the conditions allowed for better display of video and audio information throughout my presentation. I did include plenty of evidence within my portfolio so hopefully this compensates for any problem with my presentation. The interview seemed to go well as I had the opportunity to discuss my passions and also turned a negative into a positive regarding my lack of experience.
Friday was simply the submission of my music history essay on the views of thoughtful and logical Theodor W. Adorno. I was shocked at my 44% grade in the Fabbri essay and did take the criticism from my tutor to improve my Adorno essay, however if I don't pass this one I will find it hard to believe that he truly read either of them!
After this mountain of a week I am now left with the tasks of an evaluation of my graded unit, a report on Monterey Pop Festival 1967, some small tasks in DAW, my final first study assessment and the performances of our original compositions. Not much!
Until next Friday, I'm me and you are all you!
Daniel
Friday 14 May 2010
The Week Before The Week That Was.
The sands in my timer are falling short in quantity and it's time to dance for the people. In other words, I've got a lot to do before the grand set of assessments next week.
Firstly I start the week with Rocky: The Musical which has it's show night on Tuesday night and despite being a little nervous about this production I am confident enough in my abilities to produce an impressive performance. Rehearsals of late have been improving and I'm sure that once all these performers and musicians are placed before an audience then their level of performance will be raised significantly.
Wednesday brings a live performance from our college band "Bad Acid" in the Homespun 2010 festival where we are performing our selection of songs from the Monetery Pop Festival 1967. This weeks practice was dismal and I hope that we can all get together next Wednesday and improve our understanding of the songs.
On Thursday I have my presentation and interview for the position of West End singer with the Really Useful Group musical theatre company where I will also be presenting a portfolio which will showcase the highlights of my musical expeditions over the past 2 years. I am happy with the material I have but also feel that with more time and resources I could do a much better job than I have.
Quite a big week and this week has brought some negativity in as band practice was terrible, I almost failed my Fabbri Essay and also Rocky rehearsals didn't go to smooth. Despite feeling down for an hour or two I enforced a change of mood that has made me highly motivated for that tasks that lie ahead and as I realise I can't lose focus in these closing stages.
With regards to the music analysis class we have I am well organised with the transcription and critical analysis of my song choice which is the Elton John classic " I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues". I am now left with the tricky task of producing a graphical representation of the piece which is not too intimidating as artistic freedom is permitted.
Overall not the best week of progress I can remember however I am more than confident now that I will push on and get over the mammoth task list that next week brings.
Tune in next Friday to hear how I ended my college year with what I hope is a successful week of impressive and memorable performances.
Until then I'll be Tony as I attempt to stay in character until Rocky: The Musical is complete.
Love, Daniel
Firstly I start the week with Rocky: The Musical which has it's show night on Tuesday night and despite being a little nervous about this production I am confident enough in my abilities to produce an impressive performance. Rehearsals of late have been improving and I'm sure that once all these performers and musicians are placed before an audience then their level of performance will be raised significantly.
Wednesday brings a live performance from our college band "Bad Acid" in the Homespun 2010 festival where we are performing our selection of songs from the Monetery Pop Festival 1967. This weeks practice was dismal and I hope that we can all get together next Wednesday and improve our understanding of the songs.
On Thursday I have my presentation and interview for the position of West End singer with the Really Useful Group musical theatre company where I will also be presenting a portfolio which will showcase the highlights of my musical expeditions over the past 2 years. I am happy with the material I have but also feel that with more time and resources I could do a much better job than I have.
Quite a big week and this week has brought some negativity in as band practice was terrible, I almost failed my Fabbri Essay and also Rocky rehearsals didn't go to smooth. Despite feeling down for an hour or two I enforced a change of mood that has made me highly motivated for that tasks that lie ahead and as I realise I can't lose focus in these closing stages.
With regards to the music analysis class we have I am well organised with the transcription and critical analysis of my song choice which is the Elton John classic " I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues". I am now left with the tricky task of producing a graphical representation of the piece which is not too intimidating as artistic freedom is permitted.
Overall not the best week of progress I can remember however I am more than confident now that I will push on and get over the mammoth task list that next week brings.
Tune in next Friday to hear how I ended my college year with what I hope is a successful week of impressive and memorable performances.
Until then I'll be Tony as I attempt to stay in character until Rocky: The Musical is complete.
Love, Daniel
Friday 7 May 2010
Back On Track.
Another week of college has passed quickly which leaves me one less week before first study assessment, graded unit presentation & portfolio, Adorno essay, Rocky: The Musical, session skills reports, production analysis report, DAW outcomes, ICT essays, original composition submission, articulation assignment and band performance with research presentation. For anyone who maybe lost by now this is my "To Do List" for the next 3 weeks!
Although I was in a panic last week regarding all these deadlines I have managed to calm myself and gain control of the situation by creating an action plan for delivering in each area on time. I have assessed each assignment by chronological requirement as well as quantity of content and applied this logic into a time schedule that I will follow to ensure I meet all my deadlines.
With my new band I recorded some improved versions of the 5 new songs we have been composing and will now distribute them to each band member so they can use them as reference while we have a study break for the student members who are feeling the pressure of their workload just now.
I started my week at college with band rehearsal and with no drummer and no guitarist we got by on multi-tasking and working out a schedule for our set list and performance. We have only 2 opportunities to rehearse before the performance itself so we need to be punctual and ready to work hard.
My first study was cancelled due to tutor illness so I used my time to work on my graded unit portfolio and presentation. I am more confident now that I have began collating evidence for my portfolio and presentation and with my interview time being pushed back another week I have no excuses if I am not well prepared.
Rocky rehearsal was on in the evening and we have less than 2 weeks before show night and didn't really do ourselves justice with our performance. I did leave however with a better idea of how it will all run on the night and can now concentrate on my performances in the up and coming rehearsals. I have also happily agreed to come into college on my day off to take part in an extra rehearsal in aid of improving the casts performance and understanding of the show.
Thursday started at 3pm as music history was cancelled so it was straight into session skills where I helped produce the last session we were working on and also had the opportunity to record vocals on another bands track. These opportunities will give me extra evidence to provide as I look to prove my worth as a potential west end singer which will hopefully be compensation for the lack of experience I offer.
In DAW I was used as a bass player to assist the class with an outcome which requires us to record a multi-tracked live performance. We all took turns to play and record and very quickly we had completed the outcome for 7 students which shows what can be achieved with a good bit of team work.
I was not present in articulation this week due to family commitments however I have spent some time this morning working on my transcription and graphical presentation which are both now half complete and offer me no apparent issues before deadline day. I do have the troublesome task of scoring my choice of music however after completing my original composition I am back in the swing of notation.
A busy week and next week looks no different however I will find the time to update you all next Friday on the goings on and the ongoings on my wonderful journey to become a west end singer.
Until then, I'm Daniel.
Although I was in a panic last week regarding all these deadlines I have managed to calm myself and gain control of the situation by creating an action plan for delivering in each area on time. I have assessed each assignment by chronological requirement as well as quantity of content and applied this logic into a time schedule that I will follow to ensure I meet all my deadlines.
With my new band I recorded some improved versions of the 5 new songs we have been composing and will now distribute them to each band member so they can use them as reference while we have a study break for the student members who are feeling the pressure of their workload just now.
I started my week at college with band rehearsal and with no drummer and no guitarist we got by on multi-tasking and working out a schedule for our set list and performance. We have only 2 opportunities to rehearse before the performance itself so we need to be punctual and ready to work hard.
My first study was cancelled due to tutor illness so I used my time to work on my graded unit portfolio and presentation. I am more confident now that I have began collating evidence for my portfolio and presentation and with my interview time being pushed back another week I have no excuses if I am not well prepared.
Rocky rehearsal was on in the evening and we have less than 2 weeks before show night and didn't really do ourselves justice with our performance. I did leave however with a better idea of how it will all run on the night and can now concentrate on my performances in the up and coming rehearsals. I have also happily agreed to come into college on my day off to take part in an extra rehearsal in aid of improving the casts performance and understanding of the show.
Thursday started at 3pm as music history was cancelled so it was straight into session skills where I helped produce the last session we were working on and also had the opportunity to record vocals on another bands track. These opportunities will give me extra evidence to provide as I look to prove my worth as a potential west end singer which will hopefully be compensation for the lack of experience I offer.
In DAW I was used as a bass player to assist the class with an outcome which requires us to record a multi-tracked live performance. We all took turns to play and record and very quickly we had completed the outcome for 7 students which shows what can be achieved with a good bit of team work.
I was not present in articulation this week due to family commitments however I have spent some time this morning working on my transcription and graphical presentation which are both now half complete and offer me no apparent issues before deadline day. I do have the troublesome task of scoring my choice of music however after completing my original composition I am back in the swing of notation.
A busy week and next week looks no different however I will find the time to update you all next Friday on the goings on and the ongoings on my wonderful journey to become a west end singer.
Until then, I'm Daniel.
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