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Techniques:
I need to learn how the voice uses techniques instead of accidentally using them.

Production:
Record and create a DAW track using GarageBand.

Performance:
Chose live track that compliments my auhenticity.

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WHAT WILL SUCCESS LOOK LIKE TO ME THIS TERM?

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WHAT WILL SUCCESS LOOK LIKE TO ME THIS TERM?

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After the second term of this course, it is important to me that my SMART targets are met. I have hopes to excel in production and performance skills. In vocal technical development my goal is to apply techniques learnt in lectures to my CPW.

By the end of this term, I have high hopes to perform in more gigs and future performances. I also have set a goal of taking part in more opportunities to build my confidence to a higher level.

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At this stage, do you think the tracks chosen to showcase the above skills and techniques for this module will be original, cover tracks or a mixture? If you're working with covers, will they be authentic recreations or creative and stylistic arrangements of covers?

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At this stage, do you think the tracks chosen to showcase the above skills and techniques for this module will be original, cover tracks or a mixture? If you're working with covers, will they be authentic recreations or creative and stylistic arrangements of covers?

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I am planning on doing a mixture of covers that represent two different meanings within the lyrics. For my music career, writing original songs will be good experience to apply for my future. The plan is to have a slow/contemporary DAW and contrast it to a slightly more upbeat song. Contrast in my two chosen tracks will more than likely come from the lyrics, as I prefer to sing a certain style of music with certain techniques and skills, the contrast of lyrics will be my main highlight for my chosen tracks.

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Which key skills and techniques are you looking to develop and showcase in this module?

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Which key skills and techniques are you looking to develop and showcase in this module?

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In this module my plan is to apply techniques such as using the creak I often use to create a unique sound as well as vibrato. These skills are usually things I apply naturally however, I am eager to learn why and how I apply it. When I bring emotion into my performance and songs, usually I’m not sure where it comes from. I have always been quite emotional in the delivery of my performances, and if I knew where it came from then I could apply it when it is necessary and take it away from the performance when it’s not. This means that I will have a more versatile music approach.

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Reflecting on my SWOT analysis, I have learnt what I might and might not need to work in more throughout this module. I have considered threats that might come out of my weaknesses and opportunities that might come from my strengths.

In regards to threats I have cautiously thought out the risks and am actively finding ways to avoid these and turn my weaknesses into strengths.

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Week one in VOCAL TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT, it was all about us as an artist. Our voice and learning ways to pinpoint the weaknesses and strengths.

It was all about analysing techniques used in our first choice of song, and deciding wha techniques we want to use and learn throughout this module.

Although I didn’t get a video of the song I decided to sing, I did get some feedback and analysed which techniques I want my voice to use moving further.

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The second week of vocal technical development, we were learning how the voice is used in different ways. We were all deciphering how the voice uses techniques to create sounds.

As we were listening to people sing their chosen tracks for the week, we listened with our eyes closed. This was because it’s easy to listen to what the voice is doing and easier to pin point how the voice performs rather than the person. The correct terminology when using feedback would be “the voice used” rather than:”your voice” and “you used”. I believe this is because the way the techniques are used are all apart of the anatomy of the voice not the person.

After singing ‘creep’, I was told what techniques were being used. Which surprised me, as I only knew of a few techniques being used. When closing your eyes you can really hear what is being interpreted throughout the music rather than how the performer is singing.

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ANALYSIS OF OUR IDOLS AMD THE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES.

Within this lecture we were told to choose a song from different eras that we connected to. We had to interpret the patterns found throughout the artists.

We focused on the three I’s: Inspiration, Imitation and Integration.

We talked about how unfortunately as much as you might think so most voices are not unique, as hard as it is to accept most of the time we have learnt to sing through listening to other people and have found what we love to sing and how the voice uses techniques whilst singing just by listening to other people. We were inspired by certain music and imitated it. The main focus here was to grasp an idea of where we learnt it and what techniques are used when singing because of the inspirations throughout the years.

We chose songs from when we were a kid, teen and now and analysed what and how the songs are creatively performed to break down what is used in the songs we sing.

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My conclusion from the three songs that I chose from different eras were that most of them were sang with emotion behind it. I connected to all of them for this reason and unknowingly it is something I have pushed on to my own music style. My plan for this is to learn where the emotion comes from and how it is used to avoid putting a lot of emotion into songs when it’s not needed.

I also concluded how different all three artists are when performing. Where Christina is very rehearsed and choreographed on stage, James Arthur is very raw. They both have a different style of music and niche, using a lot of different lyrics and it shows throughout their performances however, it is very clear that all three artists have had excellent training and carefully practice regularly to achieve such techniques as stated above in the above three posts.

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QUALITY VS QUANTITY:
Has thinking about finer details ever prevented you from delivering creative work?

At all times i’m pretty much thinking about the finer details. Most times, i’m thinking too much about what could or couldn’t happen during the process of creating work. I’m always overthinking so 9 times out of 10 it affects what my work could end up to be.

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QUALITY VS QUANTITY:
In relation to music, how can/do you combat this?

When working on my music i usually try and block out any negatives. Most of the time the negative mindset is something I struggle to tackle. However since starting my music course, I have started to prioritise the things that I know I can do, to then benefit my mindset to deal with things I may be struggling with.

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QUALITY VS QUANTITY:
Is there value in outputting quantity in relation to your discipline/work/project/practise in order to achieve quality?
(Is it better to commit to ideas and move on or refine until it’s the best it can possibly be?)

I feel that it’s easy to say that moving on can be easy if you are struggling to find the most quality in a certain project. However in the back of your mind the fact that something is unfinished can always be a factor in other work you are trying to commit to. I think moving on and working on other projects is what’s best, however also coming back to the work you want perfect at different times will work too. Not completely leaving it behind but coming back to it whenever you feel inspired to do so.

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What is quality?

The idea of satisfaction after using/listening to the product.
Feeling impressed, inspired when thinking about music quality.

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In this chapter we will develop:

- An understanding of programming Midi

- An ear and understanding of how we can make midi organic

- An understanding of how to print VST instruments into organic stems and groups.

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This week we talked about and gained perspective on all things VOCAL HEALTH. We learned a range of different illnesses and how to treat/manage them.

Vocal illnesses that we learnt range from VOCAL FOLD OEDEMA to MUSCLE TENSION DYSPHENIA.

Each vocal problems have their own range of symptoms for example,

Vocal Fold Oedema:
- Puffy vocal folds from swelling OR buildup in tissues
- Rough breathy voice
- Can lead to hoarseness

Vocal Nodules:
- Small, callus-like growths on vocal folds due to repeated friction and trauma
- Difficulty projection voice
- Hoarseness
- Rough or breathy voice
-Pain or discomfort when singing

Vocal Polyps:
- A growth but almost always on one side
- Hoarseness
- A feeling of having a lump in he throat

Laryngitis:
- Inflames and swollen vocal folds
- Raspy
- Hoarseness
- Difficulty singing or speaking
- Temporary loss of voice

Vocal Fold Haemorrhage:
- Ruptured blood vessels
- Sudden hoarseness
- Pain and sometimes difficulty breathing

Vocal Chord Paralysis:
- Weak voice
- Breathy voice
- Difficulty swallowing
- Choking or coughing while eating or drinking

Muscle Tension Dysphenia
- Tension around the voice
- Strained or effortful voice
- Vocal fatigue
- Discomfort or pain while speaking and singing

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Articulate and identify how you aim to make your two tracks for this module contrasting and how you intend to show our musical ability:

For my recording I am choosing to sing ‘Back to black’ by Amy Winehouse. For my performance I have chosen ‘Oceans-Where my feet may fail’ by Hillsong United.
The contrast between these songs lays in the meaning of the music. The lyrics really portray different things.
Oceans is about finding God. It’s about putting trust and happiness into God. Back to black is about falling back into depression. The lyrics portray the struggles and hardships of ending relationships.

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REHAB - Amy Winehouse

This song was definitely one of my favourites to cover. I really enjoy Amy Winehouse’s music and whatever song it is I definitely love singing it.

I think we definitely didn’t want to change this song too much because we wanted to portray Amy as much as possible whilst also keeping it original to our tones.

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Don’t start now - Dua Lipa

This was the first song of the module in a brand new class. It really put it into perspective of the professional industry. Being thrown into new groups and just having to make do.

Creatively, I think the group definitely could have changed the genre a lot more. It was very hard to sway from disco when the original song itself has already set the tone.

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Chain of fools - Aretha Franklin

This cover scared me from start to finish. When rehearsing it I couldn’t hit any of the right notes, even when we went down a key. It was probably the most nerve-wracking song I sang this module.

Creatively, I think my group were just taken a back a bit by the song itself so we didn’t really know how to change it. I think most weeks we definitely lacked a strong minded MD to pt us into our places and I definitely did not have the confidence OR knowledge to do that each week so I jut went with the flow.

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UNFORTUNATELY DO TO PERSONAL REASON I WAS NOT ABLE TO SING THIS SONG THS WEEK.

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I ALSO DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THIS SONG DUE TO PERSONAL REASONS.

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Always on the run - Lenny Kravitz

We took a complete 180 with this song.
Without meaning to we as a group jammed out and just came up with a concoction completely different to the original song.
I think Cam, the guitarist, definitely took n the role as MD and it put us in such a natural position of just a flow of creativity.

My voice definitely suited this type of genre more than the other songs in this term. Without realising I was singing a gene of Rock, I really enjoyed creating my own melody.

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HARD TIME - PARAMORE

I cannot find the video to this performance, however I remember not knowing what I was doing the whole time. I took it pain myself to just improvise the whole time as finding a melody that was different to the original but also fit both me and Hope was dry difficult.

Creatively, I think once again we wanted to portray Paramore whilst also giving it our own personal tones and originality.

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After finding out I was pregnant, I decided not to perform this week.

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Personal Practise Routine.

Monday:

Vocal Warm-Up (15 mins)

Vocal Technical Development lesson

Re-Cap at home (30 minutes)

Tuesday:

Pre-Production

Practice Technique (30-45 minutes)

Wednesday:

Vocal Warm-up (10 minutes)

CPW - LIVE

Cool down (10 minutes)

Thursday:

Recap/Practise (Whatever I feel technically needs to be worked on)

WEEKEND:

REST.

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ESTABLISHING MY OWN CONNECTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH MOTIVATION AND PROCRASTINATION.

How do you find drive when feeling unmotivated?

I deal with a lot of mental health issues so once I get into the habit of feeling unmotivated it usually begins a spiral. When I get to the point of no motivation that when I know I have let myself go. Usually I will end up looking at my own work. Seeing how far I’ve come and how far I still need to go and will gain some drive from there.

Motivation is all a mental game. If you have the will power to keep going everyday and to work hard for what you want to achieve then that in itself is motivation.

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ESTABLISHING MY OWN CONNECTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH MOTIVATION AND PROCRASTINATION.

Where do you turn for inspiration and what motivates you?

My inspiration doesn’t necessarily come from a musical idol. My mum inspires me daily. Her back story to where she is now is genuinely just a reason to keep making her proud everyday.
Also as cliche as it sounds my goal is to retire my family. And make a lot of money for myself. Whether it’s realistic or not it is genuinely my reason to keep going.  Even if my goals feel to far away or I simply feel like I have nothing left, my goals are a reason to keep going.

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Is your weekly personal practise routine working for you?

I think I compare myself to others all the time, reason being is that other people have a lot more to practise for. I am happy to admit I’m not as far ahead as some of my peers meaning that I don’t have much to practise for.

However, the routine I am currently using works for me and how my life is starting to pan out.
I have enough time to focus on myself daily and be sure to give myself enough down time to ground myself.

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Is your weekly personal practise diary working for you?

I would argue that even though I spend little time practising, for me and what level I am currently working at, that my diary is perfect and suits my needs.

I think technically, I am given the opportunity to recap and practise different things I have learnt or need to work on without over stressing myself or my vocal health.

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WHAT IS PASSIVE LISTENING?

Passive listening is music being played in the background that you aren’t paying much tension too. For example, I could be writing an essay whilst also listening to music. Though I know the music is in the background paying, my attention isn’t on it. This is also when you focus is on something else whilst multitasking and you are not listening to the different values and significance of the music.

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WHAT IS ACTIVE LISTENING?

Active listening is critically listening to al parts of the music. It is giving your full attention to what you are listening to and noticing key features from doing so. Using time, quiet and focus to notice said features. This comes in handy as it is practise for when producing your own music. You will end to be able to pin point what you like and don’t like, different time signatures and melodies for the music.

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This week is all about taking the time to finish EVERYTHING. In both my free time and the week 10 Project Management lesson, I have been focusing on my reflection on my work throughout this module, how I have found the module personally and what I feel I need to improve on already for next year.

This module has been a very eye opening time for me, as well as my personal life during the module and I am excited to have all my thoughts into words!!!