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Speeches through the ages

Throughout the unit I have improved my bass, guitar, accuracy, technique - use of scales and voicings on the guitar. I have improved my stage confidence and performance ability - I have also learned ways in which to communicate and interact with fellow musicians to allow a concise rehearsal. My knowledge of music and its intricacies has greatly developed, I’ve started to make my own songs and lyrics, whilst coming up with parts for guitar and bass, and seeing how other instruments could be included. College has also helped me in the sense that it challenges me to learn songs on guitar and bass that I wouldn’t normally learn, expanding my music knowledge and technical ability, improving dexterity and finger strength.

Context My personal concept for the show includes many ideas, contributing to the main concept of backing up visuals and spoken word with a more atmospheric soundtrack. One idea I would like to start with is taking certain parts of an instrumentation from a song, say the main synth line, then playing that on guitar, and then adding in the drum beat from one song and adding in other instruments - changing keys when necessary. I will also experiment with time signatures with this idea. Coming up with complete originals is another part of my concept; less of a direct song, using pre existing spoken word/poems, famous speeches and minimalist lyrics that would fit over the theme of the show. I would also like the idea of the gig to be more indirectly political, about great injustices like war, slavery, and the vapidity of modern society in a semi-chronological order. The performances would have to captivate and keep the audience interested for the message to be properly conveyed. Having live interpretive dance is something that I would include. The stage design I will be solid and monolithic, using predominantly dark layers of blocks, also allowing musicians to be dispersed amongst the set in an unobstructive way and the musicians would have emphasis on their performing when need be.

Research For my concept, I looked into more theatrical approaches to how present my idea. Bands like Godspeed, you black emperor have a set and stage design that I would like to emulate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHdSN4XjKIo I would use the projector to show various imagery backing up the instrumentation. would like to sample the “The Great Dictator” speech, and Martin Luther’s “I have a dream” speech, as they are recognisable and powerful, among more; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7GY1Xg6X20 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vDWWy4CMhE

Problem Solving Problems that I could encounter with this concept include; lack of motivation of performers, this can be doctored by having weekly meetings with the performers so they can get their input, and talk about and resolve any interpersonal issues and gain an ongoing clarity to the point, purpose and execution of the FMP. Another is broken equipment, remedied by performers bringing spares with them when needed e.g. spare set of strings for a snapped guitar strings and to ensure their instruments are well maintained to perform. Overall organization could also be an issue, which is dealt with by having a concise timetable of when everything needs to be done, and communication as to how to execute certain ideas.

Planning & Production

Practical Skills

The personal practical skills needed to undertake my concept are

I would need to lead the idea with a certain confidence, being able to convey my ideas and messages to not only the performers, but to the audience as well. Another would be timekeeping, and that would have to be strong to fully realise any concept, having everyone where they need to be at a given time will allow things to run far smoother

Musical intuition would be needed as relying on the originality of the performers would be something I’d like to explore, along with being able to approach their instruments from an original place, using non-standard tones and so on.

Evaluation and Reflections

My goals were met with varying degrees of success

I feel that timekeeping and motivation were a big problem despite efforts to counter them. It brought down the overall quality of the show as people weren’t fully committed with the concept, I feel why this happened was down to personality clashes and stress.

The live performance suffered some issues, we couldn’t get dancers in on the idea, so specific things could not be done with the source material - but it didn’t ruin the concept by any means. the ways lighting and the visuals worked together were well rehearsed and thus really sold the show, with the lighting reacting dynamically with what was going on on stage and up on the projector.

Presentation

My concept for the show is called speeches throughout the ages, and its aim is to highlight and emphasise the lessons and teachings that have been told to us through various media and how they can be made more impactful in a performance setting.

The main idea is to find specific important speeches from history and soundtrack them with emphasis as not to distract from their overall message. I would employ strong visuals, for example, Winston Churchill’s war speeches inter spliced with various war propaganda and perhaps interpretive dance acting out some form of warring scene whilst having a reactive and dynamic original soundtrack.

Avoiding covering popular songs and instead using original nonstandard instrumentation and using instruments in avante-garde ways to create more of a ‘mood peice’ than a pop song.

Bibliography

Godspeed! You Black Emperor live https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHdSN4XjKIo

The Great Dictator speech https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7GY1Xg6X20

“I have a dream” speech https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vDWWy4CMhE

FNP Idea notes

Harry Dicks Rock and roll hall of fame, little introduction, brief history of the band, then a performance 6/10

Jayden The expenience Light displays, poppy, songs you love, getting into character - playing as the artists, dress up. Emphasis on lighting - authentic recreations of performances and artists 7/10 - B-Sides and rarities 7/10

Jack Paintings, with hidden meanings and other things - light and design yet open ended. Visuals, lighting and music dictated by the paintings. Well thought out 10/10

Ivo Really good fucking show :^) Covers and original, as well as dancers and actors. High budget stage design, and sets. Incorperate "music videos" recorded and live action 5/10

Billy Through the ages of time (chronological genres gig) Jaydens Idea, get specific themed outfits, really cool lights again! Originals, playing to be authentic, Moodlighting 7/10

Caroline Comparing musicals to film Lighting, theatrical. Visual based, use of actors, panto - playing the songs 8/10

Zak Cities idea Satire element, perspective of a protagonist, playings song as the character travels to different cities 8/10

Brandon A view from the bridge big opening, news clips, brief political history of the world Picking songs from a feel, covers of existing songs Lots of room for emotional explaination 8/10

Ediz Insight into perfornance, emotion through songs Experience? Motifs and meanings to songs, use of covers and what not - eplains meanings of the songs before going on stage, then play them - and visually Videos of the performers going on stage Music in general, emphasis on the students playing songs they create 9/10

Manny Covers of any song, good idea of stage design, employing screens Showreel 7/10

Olly. C Beauty of history, speehes throught the ages Interesting song creation method Orchestral song instrumentation Speehes used thoughout, as intro - or as a sample, as lyrics/possibly news as clips too Sporadic backgrounds, songs represent the mood 8/10

Oli. H Colours gig, feel good smiley faces Using colours to manipulate and control the audience's mood More of a lighting concept 6/10

Ollie. F First world problems/contrasted with real world issues Satirical, yet truthful Actors, minimalist Lighting impactful Use of imagery, slide reels of things relevant Covers, and originals Coherent plot, they develop and downtrod 8/10 - Tribute to musicians that died in 2016, becoming convincing cover band 8/10

Jordan Euphoria Festival based Base the room/set off of the most memorable aspects of festival scenery/activity Wants a complex festival-esque set supplimented by a projector. He wants lanterns on the ceiling, have beach balls hung over the audience - with confetti Cover bands, varied festival setlist; open to originals 6/10

Kaylee Lion King, musical based - actual production, famous songs from actual stage performances, more orhestral with the music 8/10

Connor Recreating festival idea; cycle through the genres, cover bands doing songs of their choice, so they perform empassioned - with dress styles Showing the actual bands that we're covering getting ready as the bands come on to play Stace design, stacked circular stage lights in the gaps of the cilinder 6/10

Johnny A group of people go and do a thing Tenacious D esque story, comedy musical. Essentially a rock opera Originals, made to make people laugh whilst furthering the story With dancers and actors taking lead roles Transition with dialouge 8/10

Proposal

My personal concept for the show includes many ideas, contributing to the main concept of backing up visuals and spoken word with a more atmospheric soundtrack. One idea I would like to start with is taking certain parts of an instrumentation from a song, say the main synth line, then playing that on guitar, and then adding in the drum beat from one song and adding in other instruments - changing keys when necessary. I will also experiment with time signatures with this idea. Coming up with complete originals is another part of my concept; less of a direct song, using pre existing spoken word/poems, famous speeches and minimalist lyrics that would fit over the theme of the show. I would also like the idea of the gig to be more indirectly political, about great injustices like war, slavery, and the vapidity of modern society in a semi-chronological order. The performances would have to captivate and keep the audience interested for the message to be properly conveyed. Having live interpretive dance is something that I would include. The stage design I will be solid and monolithic, using predominantly dark layers of blocks, also allowing musicians to be dispersed amongst the set in an unobstructive way and the musicians would have emphasis on their performing when need be.

Research

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrZOi2ATlx8 Effective use of interpretive dance, I propose the dancers to be in a lain black uniform in the production

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7GY1Xg6X20

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vDWWy4CMhE I would like to sample the the Great Dictator speech, and Martin Luther’s I have a dream speech, as they are recognisable and powerful, among more

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMqPlQgHww8 Godspeed you Black Emperor live is how I would like the visuals and performance be.

Further on is some imagery that suits my concept

Proposal

Throughout the unit I have been here I feel as though I have improved my bass, guitar, accuracy, technique - use of scales and voicings on the guitar. I have improved my stage confidence and performance ability - feeling more at ease on stage and thus opening me up to doing more and moving around on stage as the song permits, making the performance overall more interesting for the crowd. I have also learned ways in which to communicate and interact with fellow musicians to allow a concise rehearsal. Before I started this course my knowledge of music and its intricacies as I’ve started to make my own songs and lyrics, whilst coming up with parts for guitar and bass, and seeing how other band members could possibly fit into said pieces. College has also helped me in the sense that it challenges me to learn songs on guitar and bass that I wouldn’t normally learn, expanding my music knowledge and technical ability, it has also shown me the ins and outs to a live gig, and I hope to be putting on gigs with my own band - formed as a result of being in college.

Having to work with other musicians is also a great chance as I have picked up a lot of techniques and tricks on the instruments that I wouldn't’t know if I wasn’t paying attention to my peers. My understanding of different musical genres and styles have also been expanded because of this, whilst being in groups with them trying to come up with songs, it has shown me how to play in the styles that they’re most preferred to play. Now that I have “seen the insides of a song” I am now much more interested in music and all the separate parts of a song, I now find myself listening to a song, deconstructing its parts, then reworking them in some form to be considered my own instrumentation, my songwriting has greatly improved as I was not so musically inclined before starting this college - being here has taught me very helpful techniques to come up with lyrics, and my developing sense of keys and notation helps me to make instrumentation, and the techniques I have gathered from my peers have helped me develop my own playing style exponentially.

My personal concept for the show is based around a cacophony of ideas, contributing to the main concept of backing up visuals and spoken word with what could be considered, a more atmospheric soundtrack. One idea I like is taking certain parts of an instrumentation from a song, say the main synth line, then playing that on guitar, and then adding in the drum beat from one song and adding in other instruments - changing keys when necessary. I would also like to experiment with time signatures with this idea. Coming up with complete originals is another part of my concept, but they would be less of a direct song, using pre existing spoken word/poems, famous speeches or even a more minimalist type of lyric that would fit over the theme of the show. I would also like the idea of the gig to be more indirectly political, not so much it would be vague but it would mean the performances would have to captivate and keep the audience interested for the message to be properly conveyed. Having live interpretive dance is something that I would like to include. For stage design I would like a more solid, monolithic set and the musicians would have emphasis on their performing when need be.

Diary

Tues 20th Sept - decided on doing girls by the 1975 with Ediz, Zak, Brandon and Kaylee - I already know the song and its bassline so we went about playing asap - sounds fairly coherent.

Wed 21st Sept - Went to the booths and tightened up the parts to Girls, the groups work ethic seems to be eager enough to get on with songs effectively

Thurs 23rd Sept -rehearsed girls and clothes off, I already know the bassline to girls so its merely a matter of tightening the structure, for clothes off I’m still shaky on the chorus.

Fri 24th Sept - Performed Girls and Clothes Off, need to tighten up the pre-chorus and actual chorus, I’ve had to learn this song mostly by ear so its a nice challenge for me - I’ve fugured out a large part of the verse already.

---

Getting on well with all the songs, everyone in my groups gets along and also show good work ethic that’ll get us to the gig. Started doing scale runs before playing and some basic basslines as a way of warming up before playing, strengthening my hands for the gig - I will continue this practice till the gig.

--- Tues 27th Sept - Rehearsed both of my groups songs. Fairly uneventful, yet showing steady progress, I’ve decide to play Girls and Clothes off fingerstyle as it suits the songs stylistically and tonally.

Wed 28st Sept - Worked on Clothes off more than Girls as its tighter at the moment I have the pre-chorus down.

Thurs 29th Sept - Gave clothes off a few listens so I’m more structurally confident, ran through it by myself and I can play it confidently alone. Am now working on the runaway baby song, a structurally easy song - the most difficult part is the main bass lick - and I nearly have that ingrained in my mind.

Fri 30th Sept - played through girls, clothes off, runaway baby and did backing vocals for much too young in front of media. The performance went well apart from the bassline on clothes off, which is still patchy. Stage presence was lacking also. ---

Having to work out songs by ear is good development as I've never done it for a gig before - I've noticed myself becoming better at recognising tonalities of some notes but not perfectly.

--- Tues 4th Oct - Girls sounding tight by this point, it's taken a back seat to Runaway Baby as I still need to improve how I play it be more structurally familliar with it. The randomly selected groups isn't helping with this as I feel that if I were to be playing in a more consistent band setting we would be able to run and tighten up more songs.

Wed 5th Oct - Figured out a way to play runaway baby whilst dampening the unplayed strings, it sounds much cleaner and funky - I have my tone down for it. Went through the lyrics of too much too young during lunch, the vocal delivery is easy as its half-shouted backing vocals but the rhythm of what's actually said is a challenge, and remembering which phrase ends comes after the verses.

Thurs 6th Oct - Played through "Clothes Off" feeling more confident with the bassline and have put more effort into dampening, it sounds far cleaner now and gives more room for the synth to play in.

Fri 7th Oct - Ran all the songs so far, they're all fairly standard and were easy to pick up because of their parts being well documented and covered on youtube except for "Clothes Off" and I have had to work out the song by ear which isn't something I've tried to do properly before, but this is certainly good practice.

---

I play along to the tracks in college when I can to familiarise myself with the song - I can’t do this at home so I have to make the most of this time.

---

Mon 10th Oct - Being put on One Way or Another, a well documented documented song the decending and ascending main bassline is tricky for me to play but I practiced it whilst first initially learning it and practiced when I got home when watchng a film to indent it into my muscle memory. Middle section needs some work but it's just guitar root notes and I've nearly got it down within the first few tries of it.

Tues 11th Oct - Rehearsed "Girls" still sounding tight and the vocals are good aswell. "Clothes" off still evades me - normally I would go home and listen to it over the internet but I am no longer able to do so resulting in me having poor structural awareness.

Thurs 13th Oct - "Runaway Baby" is sounding very good at this point, the only real issue with it now is the guitar stabs being inconsistent but that shouldn't be too hard to master in the coming weeks. Doing Marailyn Manson's version of "Personal Jesus" very straightforward to play - I already knew the parts however it is structured weirdly in the latter half of the song and the shape in which I use to play the main riff causes my hand undue stress - I will need to remedy this so I do not destroy my playing ability by gig-time.

Fri 14th Oct - Ran through all the songs on stage with varying degrees of success. I plan to put more effort into my pre-playing warm up as "Personal Jesus" is very tiring, and "Runaway Baby" to a lesser extent but still noticable, however I have noticed my fingers feeling stronger and more accurate.

---

Everyone seems to be less focused around gig time - probably because we feel the songs are at an acceptable level, but shorter rehearsal times seems to be a growing trend.

---

Mon 17th Oct - I've found "Personal Jesus" to put my hands under undue stress so I tune my E string up to F# sharp so I can use an open note instead of fretting the two first notes; this new way to play avoids the stressing claw-like shape. I rehearsed it like this today and found it much more enjoyable to play.

Tues 18th Oct - "Girls" is ready to gig by this point, I lock in as soon as we start playing - as with all the songs I am playing for the gig I spend time at home playing the bassline whilst watching t.v. and the like.

Wed 19th Oct - Rehearsed "Personal Jesus" and "One way or Another", they're both sounding much better and Jesus is benefitting from the new way I'm playing it. I've put emphasis on developing my pinky finger's strength so on the decending/ascending main part of One way I play it with a power-chord type shape so I don't have to move my hand at all.

Thurs 20th Oct - I've fully internalised "Runaway Baby" and it's structure by this point, it's a very straightforward, energetic song - plus it's main bassline has allowed me to improve my finger speed as I try to play all of the things I'm learning to play uptempo so I know I can play them at their original recording's pace.

Fri 21th Oct - Ran all the songs on stage in the venue - all went smoothly enough except for "Clothes off" as I forgot the structure in the intro, I will listen to it in my lunch breaks.Today I left earlier than expected as I had to get to work, unprofessional but I feel I am at a good place with the backing vocals to "Too much, too young" they fit well within my range.

---

Feeling confident for the gig - I feel the way I'm playing the songs now as to when I first started is much better, I'm employing a range of techniques such as dampening, fingerstyle, bending and using a non standard grip so I have a wider finger range on the fretboard.

---

Mon 24th Oct - Week of the gig, "Clothes Off" still needs some work structurally, I feel prepared and able for this gig - most people seem to have come down with some form of illness

Tues 25th Oct - Running the gig over the next few days, leaving with little time to practice but all the songs except for clothes off I am comfortable with playing. I've volunteered my jack lead to be in the bass amp for the entirety of the gig to ease changeovers. I've got all the tones of the songs I'm on dialled in and ready.

Wed 26th Oct - Took too long to run all the songs so we overrun into today, changeovers seem to be a problem but the second years should be able to do it by now.

Thurs 27th Oct - Gig night, running through leftover songs then performing in drag. Overall I feel the preparation process for the gig went smoothly, no major setbacks - the lack of wifi to learn my songs was combatted easily enough. DEBREIF Everybody seemed to tighten up during the final week and the show was good, although I feel people could of taken it more seriously and got their parts perfect. I had no wifi so I couldnt watch the songs at home at home which meant I learnt some of my basslines by working them out by ear - which was good bc i've never done that Other songs I just knew through previous plays or the apparent simplicity of the basslines. In a perfect scenario I'd like to of had access to the internet, have a greater input on song choice and have the company have a greater focus - as illnesses, absences and not being on time/ready to rehearse seemed to plague throughout. Dropped the bassline on jermaine stewart - needed more time to listen and internalise the changes in the song didn't have wifi at home as to listen to it.

Another Bomb Song (Song)

All it takes is one wrong move and smoke fills the sky One hasty move sentencing us to die

We should of given up these bombs, Relying on deterring retaliation Fuck were we wrong The rest of uss doomed to condemnation

God left us when the flash blinded the young now all the beauty is gone All the birdsong goes unsung we all have mistakes to dwell on This deadly phenomenon

We should of given up these wrongs, Resulting in the scorching of a nation Survivors'll be gone before too long Countless bodies in forced cremation

We must give up these bombs It's got to be done Out of respect of the songs So many have already sung

#Unit 34

Self Important Disease (song)

I know not of the disparate man

His stupors inspire idiocy

I do not wish for it to be who I am

A man uncaring for kin, what is he?

He is man

A common plague

A face belonging no name

I’m sure we’re all to blame

An entire civilization with no plan

The very idea, idiocy

Going about violence, shortening lifespan

Dealing with these problems hideously

They are man

A common plague

A face belonging no name

I’m sure we’re all to blame

Repeating circle, once more it happens

What is this idiocy?

Surely this is not all we should be

Making bombs and claiming territory

Oh but it doesn’t bother me

I’m just like you, see

#Unit 34

Spectral Plain(song)

I’m a terrible heir

Making noise in private

Hide me from the stares

Of the passive tyrants

Floating round the confines of my room

All the people I see through,

See through me too

Live as a spirit on the spectral plain

Dead soul viewing from another space

Nocturnal waif boy it’s such a shame

I’ll end up dying in this place

I feel I’m dying in this place

Drifting liking a phantom

Reflecting on my life

Staring into the

Perdition of my dark mind

Floating round the confines of my room

Breathing in the dust of days

Spitting at the moon

Live as a spirit on the spectral plain

Dead soul viewing from another space

Nocturnal waif boy it’s such a shame

I’ll end up dying in this place

I feel I’m dying in this place

I live as a stranger

Making noise in silence

Hide from the danger

Of all the passive tyrants

I know I’m dying in this place

I’m dying in this place

#Unit 34

Arguing Again (song)

https://soundcloud.com/juck-smoleman/arguing-again

#Unit 34

Petrichor - I’m not Your Baby

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Q1xbKC2SaTA

#Unit 34

Petrichor - Feburary

https://youtube.com/watch?v=OOfLrNKBlGQ

#Unit 34

Petrichor - Pulling me Back Boy

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Kwp1dv9ZkVs

#Unit 34

Petrichor - Settle The Score

https://youtube.com/watch?v=2xK_NMSOngo

#Unit 34

Survey Results;

1. People we asked seemed to enjoy a wide range of genres, thus influencing my group’s song creation to span a wide range of genres.

2. Based on the answers we got, we decided that £10 for adults and £7.50 for concessions as it takes the opinions of potential customers we feel this is a good average price.

3. Roughly 70% of people wanted standing as opposed to seating we decided to allocate roughly that amount of room to seating and standing sections respectively.

4. Based on the feedback from the survey it would be unwise to have the gig on for any longer than 2 hours as the audience would end up being disinterested and leaving, so we’ll make sure to not overrun.

#Unit 17

Update to the website as of 30/5/16

#Unit 17

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