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May 8th marks the date when I will have the opportunity to perform a 28-minute set of songs with my band. To be ready for this date will require preparation and a process of learningship where I get to have the chance to show how much I have learnt this academic year.

This blog aims to showcase how I have prepared for and approached this performance in alignment with my goals to enhance my musical abilities. Here, I will explain the reasoning behind all the choices I have made throughout this year, supported by evidence and appendices.

My resolutions for this year were centered around becoming a better musician. By the end of the year, my objective was to have significantly improved my singing skills, enabling me to better understand and utilize my voice so I can ultimately and hopefully pursue a career as a music teacher, leveraging my voice as my primary instrument.

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For this project I was lucky to find 4 talented musicians that were more than happy to help me with my professional project and make this band possible.

Alessandro Nocella (Guitar)

Craig Robertson (Drums)

Mateo Tessore: (Bass)

Marta Martin (Vocals)

Sebastian Arango (Vocals)

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Fly me to the moon/Lucky Mashup - Rick Hale & Breea Guttery

Stop this train- John Mayer

Best part- Daniel Caesar ft. H.E.R.

All of me- John Legend

Let's fall in love for the night- Finneas

Tennessee Whiskey- Chris Stapleton

Your man- Josh Turner

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To achieve the goals set out in my pitch, I aimed to incorporate vocal flips transitioning to or from falsetto in every song I selected for my performance.

The reasoning behind my song choices was centered on exploring diverse vocal textures and styles. As an example, a song like "Your Man" exemplifies rich resonance on the chest, while "All of Me" is characterized by a higher larynx position and a focus on projecting the voice forward (often referred to as the "mask"). Although "Your Man" doesn't feature a flip to falsetto, it showcases a different vocal quality that contrasts with other selections.

When deciding which songs to include, I considered their original vocal styles and the contrast between them. This contrast allowed me to highlight the chosen vocal technique across a range of musical genres:

Country: "Your Man"

Blues: "Tennessee Whiskey"

Ballad: "All of Me"

Jazz: "Fly Me to the Moon-Lucky"

Pop: "Let's Fall in Love for the Night" and "Stop This Train"

R&B/Neo Soul: "Best Part"

Each song was strategically chosen not only for its stylistic diversity but also for its potential to showcase the specific vocal flip technique. By applying my personalized vocal mapping to each song, I aimed to adapt and emphasize the desired vocal qualities while staying true to the original spirit of each piece.

This selection process not only allowed me to demonstrate technical proficiency but also offered a dynamic and engaging performance that spans various musical genres, creating an enriching experience for both myself and the audience.

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When planning my performance, I aimed to create a set list featuring 7 different songs, each highlighting specific vocal techniques and styles.

After receiving feedback from my lecturers, I realized that I needed to be more detailed about the vocal techniques I wanted to improve. They suggested focusing on picking a couple of techniques rather than being a little bit too vague by saying that I would just like to improve my singing. Receiving these type of feedback is all part of the process, so I decided to try mastering the skill of smoothly transitioning between different vocal qualities or textures.

Throughout the academic year, I dedicated myself to improving this technique with the guidance of Taylor Wilson. Thanks to Taylor's advice and coaching, I not only became more comfortable performing these techniques but also noticed a significant improvement in my overall singing abilities. Specifically, I learned how to make cleaner transitions between different vocal sounds, which has enhanced the overall quality of my singing.

Taylor's mentorship has played a crucial role in my musical journey. It has equipped me with the skills and confidence needed to tackle a variety of vocal challenges in my performances. This experience has been instrumental in my growth as a musician, and I look forward to showcasing my progress during our upcoming performance.

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As you can hear on the audio above, I wasn't doing too well nor too bad, I was falling in doing thin to falsetto instead of thick to falsetto, which is a most optimal set up for hitting those notes under my vocal range and register. As soon as I started following Taylor's instructions I had immediate impact on the success of the result of those notes being hit accurately. However, I did not sound very comfortable even with the right set up. This audio fragment was crucial for me when it comes to analysing decision making on vocal mapping for all the songs of my set list, incitating me into thinking what set ups I should use for performing the transition from one fold to falsetto or the other way round. This thought alongside vocal training and following the exercise has improved my singing a lot since I have now not only the potential to perform the transitions smoothly but also gives me a plan to follow for every song.

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Just as important as choosing a vocal approach for transitioning between different textures, selecting the right vocal strategy for the entire song can greatly enhance its delivery and dynamics. This makes the song easier to connect with emotionally, provided the correct setups are chosen for each part.

In the audio clip above, we're experimenting with one of the songs on my setlist, "All of Me," and trying out different approaches for each phrase. This experience has shifted my focus towards storytelling rather than solely focusing on technical aspects of singing.

I often struggle to execute Taylor's instructions correctly on the first try. She pointed out that I have a habit of sliding into notes, which can be effective in certain contexts if used intentionally. However, she made me aware of this tendency. Since then, I've been practicing certain parts of the song by hitting the notes directly from the start, without sliding, to become more mindful of my singing technique.

The moment this lesson really sank in was when I sang the words "I got my head spinning." Although you can't see it in the audio recording, Taylor stopped and repeated the chord after I sang it the first time. I then repeated the phrase, correcting my mistake. What she did on that short stop was to look at me with her eyes wide open and smiling, refering to what just happened and what she had just told me. This was a significant moment for me because it highlighted a bad habit I had developed. Now, thanks to Taylor's guidance, I'm aware of it and have had the opportunity to work on improving and eliminating some of these habits and implementing them only when I choose to.

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In the audio above, you can hear more from the same vocal mapping session with Taylor. This time, Taylor instructed me to use consonants in the words to help project the sound. It might sound a bit exaggerated in the way I pronounced words like 'Crazy' or 'Perfect imperfections'. This was because I was focusing heavily on projecting through the vowels by leveraging the consonants.

The technique involves holding the sound of the consonant 'P' and then projecting the air from inside the mouth outward. By compressing the sound, the air is projected more forcefully. When followed by a vowel, this method sets up a better projection for my singing with less effort.

As you can also hear, I am still in the habit of sliding notes when said 'Cause all of me'. As this was the same session I still didn't correct the habit.

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From this session I take on board Taylor's advice of always being alert with my body. Even when I want to look relaxed or vulnerable, still have my body ready to engage. In the audio above I sound perhaps too casual and I was not very engaging with the muscles of my upper body, having as a result a poor projection and a poor vocal technique.

I'm taking this tip seriously because my natural way of being tends to be relaxed and casual, and I realize I can't let that dominate when I'm on stage. It's crucial to maintain a level of engagement and readiness in my body for a more compelling and effective performance.

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During our first band practice, we focused on understanding the song structures, with plans to refine individual parts later either during some different rehearsals that we aim of polishing those skills to unify them or at home. The overall sound may not have been dynamically polished, and we made structural mistakes in certain song sections, along with individual errors like me forgetting lyrics, though these challenges were expected due to our limited collective practice.

In the audio above, you'll notice that we were unsure how to end the song as a band. However, after a couple more rehearsals, our proficiency improved significantly. Now that we understand the song structures better, we can shift our focus to improving other aspects as a band.

(Note: I've omitted the last part about discussing the ending as all we do is talking and I feel it might be more appropriate to keep what is said in the band to stay in the band.)

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Even though I'm not particularly skilled at dancing and my stage presence might not come across as very powerful due to my natural way of being, I believe I have the potential to deliver a compelling performance. Stagecraft is one aspect that concerns me the most not only because I struggle with it, but also because despite having performed for the past five years, I haven't quite found my comfort zone on stage.

In my previous performances, I've relied somewhat on my charm, which has worked well so far, but for certain songs, charm alone isn't sufficient. In the video featuring Finneas performing one of the songs I've chosen for this year, his stage presence and body language are perfectly aligned with every part of the song. This song has significant dynamic changes, and Finneas accordingly adjusts his movements to match the song's mood, being emotive during the slower parts and lively during the upbeat sections.

While I'm not aiming to replicate Finneas's exact movements, I aspire to do a similar sense of engagement from the audience. I want to lead them through the storyline I'm expressing through my singing and performance, ensuring they're entertained throughout. This video serves as inspiration for how I can better connect with my audience and enhance my stage presence.

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FINNEAS - Let's Fall In Love For The Night - LIVE

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In this performance of "Tennessee Whiskey" by Chris Stapleton, the synergy among him and his band members is very remarkable. They maintain a strong connection through momentary eye contact, which enhances their cohesion without putting the audience in the background. Effective communication within a band during performances is essential because unexpected things can happen, and mistakes are inevitable in live music. As musicians, we must develop problem-solving skills to cover mistakes smoothly or navigate through moments of disorientation.

I aspire to cultivate this level of communication within my band, not only to rely on them during unexpected situations but also to present ourselves as a cohesive unit that looks and sounds great together. In the video, Chris introduces his band to the audience before launching into "Tennessee Whiskey." This introduction and smooth transition into the song require synchronized communication among the band members to ensure a smooth start. (Smooth as Tennessee Whiskey)

Good communication in a band is really important. It builds trust, makes our performances better, and strengthens our friendships. When we communicate well, we can handle changes during performances smoothly, which makes the show more fun for us and the audience.

As I get ready for future performances. I am inspired by examples like Chris Stapleton's band, aiming to cultivate strong communication skills that will elevate our performances and make us a standout act on stage. Who knows, perhaps I'll even find myself introducing my band mid-song on May 8th, fueled by the synergy and connection we've developed through our shared musical journey.

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Chris Stapleton - Tennessee Whiskey (Live at Farm Aid 2018)

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Big thanks to all those that have accompanied me during this academic year.

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Big thanks to all those that have accompanied me during this academic year.

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I'm both scared and anxious as I prepare to see how much I've grown as a musician through performing. This academic year has been packed with learning across all my subjects, which has really expanded my musical skills. I've broadened my repertoire and improved my ability to arrange songs, giving me a fresh perspective on analyzing and transforming music ideas. This wouldn't have been possible if it wasn't for all those visits we had from the multiple successful people giving their thoughts on their fields, and Finlay, guiding and inspiring me to do certain decisions on my arrangements.

In addition to musical growth, I've gained valuable insights into teaching, thanks to my studies and experiences in the EIMM program. Through seminars, guidance from Rocio and Jess and placements at Liberton high school, I've learned partly what it takes to become a strong educator which is ultimately my goal.

This professional project has been a team effort involving my band, Annette and Taylor helping with the approach of the subject and the performance, and myself. I can't wait to showcase everything I've learned in our final performance. I hope you'll join us on May 8th and enjoy the show!

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John Mayer (2016) Stop This Train. 13-07-16. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UiX4dUUjWc (Accessed: 19-04-2024).

John Legend (2013) John Legend - All of Me (Official Video). 2-10-2016. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=450p7goxZqg&list=TLPQMTkwNDIwMjRYuSzWeD6fDQ&index=8 (Accessed: 19-04-2024).

FINNEAS (2020) FINNEAS - Let's Fall in Love for the Night (Official Video). 19-03-2020. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaKzNtwPQxE&list=TLPQMTkwNDIwMjRYuSzWeD6fDQ&index=6 (Accessed: 19-04-2024).

Josh Turner (2009) Josh Turner - Your Man (Official Music Video). 21-11-2009 Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nADTbWQof7Y&list=TLPQMTkwNDIwMjRYuSzWeD6fDQ&index=5 (Accessed: 19-04-2024).

Chris Stapleton (2015) Chris Stapleton - Tennessee Whiskey (Official Audio). 23-04-2015. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zAThXFOy2c (Accessed: 19-04-2024).

Daniel Caesar (2018) Daniel Caesar & H.E.R. - Best Part, a Visual. 11-04-2018. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKgl5-lkT8U (Accessed: 19-04-2024).

Rick Hale Music (2016) Fly Me to the Moon/Lucky (Sinatra/Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat MASHUP) Rick Hale & Breea Guttery. 14-06-2024. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Hf1t_BXGfk (Accessed: 19-04-2024).

Finneas (2018) FINNEAS - Let's Fall In Love For The Night - LIVE. 19-12-18. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EaJ6J_BVCk (Accessed: 19-04-2024).

Farm Aid (2018) Chris Stapleton - Tennessee Whiskey (Live at Farm Aid 2018). 25-09-18. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07tL6JahREY (Accessed: 19-04-2024).