PERP Journal

A Diploma in Music and Audio Technology student. Currently on a journey to better myself in music perfomance. A place where imagination turns into inspiration.

[perpadventure-blog]

PERP Week 12

1Question for the week:

Have I improved much since week 1?

My Music Development:

I have been trying to listen more attentively to the pitch that I produce when I play, to be more sensitive to the correct pitch. Also ever since the introduction of improvisations and the techniques involved, I have been able to improvise and I am getting slightly better at it. My finger dexterity is getting better as well, been targetting the weaker fingers.

Description:

Playing more songs, songs that I am familiar with, were able to make me be more sensitive towards the pitch as I already know the tune of the songs. For improvisations, I am trying to include the technique of playing notes from different scales into the improv. Instead of playing just chord tones only.

Reflections:

Well I would say that honestly I don't think I am doing enough of all these practices. So I really have to focus more on my instrument playing.

[perpadventure-blog]

PERP Performance (Showcase 5)

Reflection

My reflections for this performance. I have proven myself once again that I can come up with pretty good arrangements, at least that is what I truly feel. Another thing that I felt that I have achieved is my ability to include different performance roles with my instrument into the performance. Erica told me about this during our 2nd showcase, that with my instrument the different roles I could play are, Melody, Bass function, Comping function, Fluid(drone/pads function. 

For this 5th round of performance, I have managed to include all 4 roles into the performance. Started the performance by playing the comping function, providing the main rhythm of the 1st song. Played an entire verse solo, melody for 2nd song. Bass function, was played during build up towards the chorus of the 1st song. Pads function/drone, was played during the bridge of the 2nd song. 

Also I have learnt more about how to do up a band chart, and to make it easy to follow. This performance has really taught me alot of new things about working in a band, because many a times I do not have to do much as there are musically stronger bandmates who does everything. However this time round, things were not like always, so I decided to step up and as such I managed to get experiences and learnt alot more through this.

[perpadventure-blog]

PERP Performance (Showcase 5)

This particular week's performance was one of the most memorable performance along side the performance with Pua's Mansionette.

At the beginning it looks as tho the performance is set to turn out bad. Everyone was clueless and felt very helpless as to what should we do for our performance.

Then I realised that it is not going to go anywhere if I'm going to just sit there and let that one classmate of mine to do all the work. As such I decided to take charge and help distribute the workload to everyone in the band.

On my own part, I helped to do the band chart as well as the arrangement of the performance. In the end we manage to pull everything together and we manage to put up a decent performance, which to me was honestly very satisfying.

[perpadventure-blog]

PERP 1718 - Sem2: Week 1

1. 1Question for the week: 

How can I further improve on my intonation/finger dexterity and time keeping?

2. My Music Development:

To be honest, I haven’t been able to practice on my instrument for quite awhile now. Because I have been really busy preparing for my dance production, resulting in me not having the time to actually practice on my instrument. Since the end of my production is nearing, I would be trying to fork out more time to get back on track with my instrument playing and music development.  3. Description:

So as of now to get myself back on track, I am reasearching on ways and exercises that I can work on to further improve on the skills that I want to achieve. I will be searching for proper technical exercises such that I make the practices effective. 

I will be practicing more of the different scales and get it to be sequenced in logic and play it back the same time as I play the scales on my instrument. I can ensure that I am playing each notes accurately. At the same time I am able to keep time with my playing, improve on my control as well. Finger dexterity training, I will be going back to my regular exercises.

4. Reflection: 

I think that for me I have to take my exercises one step at a time and not rush to get everything settled quickly. Because by doing so, the practices would normally be ineffective. Therefore, by practicing a step at a time will allow myself to be able to benefit better from the practice routines.

[perpadventure-blog]

12/7/17 - 2nd Combined Rehearsal for Pua’s Mansionette. This was our last rehearsal together. We did it over at Jabez’s place. This rehearsal included more brainstorming in the arrangement and proper piecing up of each and every single one of our parts together. Got some help from the rest in modifying my parts. It was truly a fruitful practice for me, as it was honestly my first time putting more of my input in the arrangement of a song. I learnt that I could actually come up with pretty good arrangements after that day. 

[perpadventure-blog]

5/7/2017 - First combine practice with the Term2 Week3 PERP Band, Pua’s Massionette. The arrangement was done in such a way that, I was the Intro player, playing some strings line, played 2nd verse of the song, solo at the end. In the 4 key function, I have taken up the Melody, Rhythm, Pads function in this performance. It was challenging for me to think of how to make my instrument useful and standout in the arrangement, such that the instrument is necessary in the band and not redundant. Time to spend some time into considering making my part as important!

[perpadventure-blog]

31/05/2017. After 6 weeks, I presented what I have been doing to the class. These are the feedback that I had recieved from my classmates. From the feedback, I realised where I can work from next, e.g. timing, finger dexterity and variating the rhythm when playing of scales. These feedbacks are very useful, as I am able to figure out what I should work on next. So with that, on to more improvements! 

[perpadventure-blog]

For the past 6 weeks, I have been trying to work on my intonation. As I realised that the biggest challenge i face with my instrument is nailing the intonation. So I decided that improving my intonation was what I am going to focus on for now. 

I did some researches on how to improve on intonations and I figured the best method that could help me is to audiate the piece first. After that I would play parts that I can’t really get the intonation right, on my keyboard. 

As for my practice routine, I would always start with a warm-up scale. I chose to do G Major scale in 3 octaves as I am able to cover all 4 strings on the violin. After which I would go straight to my study pieces, the books shown in the picture above. I would spend an hour or two going through my practices, whenever I am able to find the time to.

[perpadventure-blog]

My long-term and short-term goals as a violinist. Definitely have much to work on, but I believe with the right amount of discipline, perseverance and motivation, I would be able to see progress and improvements overtime.

[perpadventure-blog]

16/5/17 - Preparing for second round of PERP performance. This time round we had 2 songs to play, one which is a song chosen by ourselves and another is an assignment given by Erica (lecturer). Erica came and sit in during one of our rehearsals to listen to how we were doing as a band. The above picture is briefly what she told me that I can work on when performing in a band. 

So basically melody role is playing front line, the lead of a song. Bass function is to play the tonic note of the chords of a song, and also rhythmic pattern like how an actual bass would. Comping function would be to play for example arpeggiating lines. Lastly drones/pad function is to play chord tones which last throughout the particular chord. 

I need to work on my comping function more as thats the function that I least have when arranging performace pieces. It is rather an important function as with this particular technique, I’m able to add more variations into the arrangement of a song and have a better accompany.

[perpadventure-blog]

2/5/17. That day was the first time I ever performed solo violin on stage. Never had a clip on mic being attached to my violin before and never performed in a band settings before. It was truly a great experience. Initially I was not very sure if I could perform and fit myself into the band, thinking that the violin is never a band instrument. 

However, after trying it out with the band, I realised that it was actually so much fun to perform in a band. That is when I had more confidence in myself. 

Since I have no experience in performing in a band, I was lost. I did not know when should I enter and/or what should I play.

Finally, after some guidance by my lecturer, I managed to figure out together with the band when to come in and what to play. So I played drone notes (chord tones), pizzicato, as well as playing the chorus. Also having a violin solo as the bridge section of the song.

Looking forward to the next performance. Hope the new band members and I will have more time to rehearse together. Hope that I can stay calm and play without making mistakes on the day of the performance.