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During this term, I've recorded a fair amount of my solo, and band practise's. Despite being very large and a lot to watch over, I have added my google drive practise diary to show my progress, and documentation along the way.

It is mainly for personal use as physical evidence of progress, and to watch over and analyse.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Ie5sXBBmLKi29M4cqMQVOR73MQj4BBTO?usp=share_link

Band Drive -

I have also made a shared drive which the whole band has access to.
This contains practise footage, as well as past gigs, graphics photos and more.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1dWyAQujh48C-6nf8ERsch7ym2-TSN1MY?usp=share_link

I have only linked our performance videos, as I do not want to publicise all details within our drive.

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The string sample in Toxic is a very iconic part of the track. This is the first distinguishable part, in which allows everyone to recognise the song. By adding this at the start of our version, it creates an instant sense of familiarity.

The lyrics talk about Britney wanting her lover to notice, rather it quickly ascends to her lovers attraction being compared to a drug, because it is Toxic.

The song is in 4/4, and it 144bpm. We stick the original time signature, similar tempo, and the structure of intro, verse, pre-chorus, chorus, verse, pre-chorus, chorus. But we have added our own ending, which flips genre, consisting of repeated chorus vocals instead of the original outro, and a guitar solo.

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Original -
Ideas for a new song have been put down, and we are currently writing parts.

Cover -
As of yet I am undecided on a track to do. As a band we are writing a new reharmonisation, but as it is not developed yet I may consider an original cover as a back up plan.

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Luckily, a few friends and I have already formed a band together at WaterBear.

Named 'Elephant Camber', we already have material written, and gig experience together, helping us with this module.

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Soldering Iron is approximately 120bpm, in the time signature of 4/4, but it also includes a bar of 7 in the second verse.

The chorus groove is yet to be decided, but currently plays along with the guitar accents.

The ending of the song has changed to a bar of 5, then three bars of 4, which consistently loops whilst having quintuplet accents over the top.

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Here is my project proposal so far.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QZwEP01kZWq90J_KT6PLGkqQuZAH7zsGKuvp1WIWzwQ/edit?usp=share_link

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Innovation -

An initial area of innovation is that a song is in the works, which originated from a drum groove, rather than a guitar part

Another idea of innovation is to reharmonize a song in our own style.

Influence -

Our band has been an initial influence, as a I bounce back ideas off of each member.

Another goes back to last term, with drummers like Yussef Dayes, Steve Gadd and more.

I new influence is from a YouTuber called DrumHub, who teaches interesting songs, grooves and ideas. He has put me onto grooves such as 'The World Is Yours' by Ashley Henry.

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I have decided to write a warm-up routine.

This will allow for my hand movement to get tighter and faster, as well as getting my hands ready for a practise session.

It will be adapted over time, with more warm-ups and rudiments being added

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Techniques:

- I have been doing a lot of listening, and practising from youtubers such as DrumHub, which has allowed me to increase my repertoire of grooves, and fills.

- I have also decreased the bpms I practise to drastically, to allow for me to really knuckle down on how tight I am.

Performance:

To innovate our final performance, we have been working on a few techniques:

- Choreographing a basic performance act, in which we can all follow to give us a band feel, and to excel our look on stage

- We also recently had a photoshoot, which we all considered different outfits to wear, which we can then wear when we perform.

- I have also been working on my own movement when on the drums, a bit like Steve Gadd, I have started to move my body a lot more rather than looking quite stale.

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I have wrote a new practise routine that applies to this module, and my current interests.

Over time it will change and be adapted.

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It is called Soldering Iron temporarily as that is what has been written on the paper.

The chorus groove in this take changes a lot. Currently I am unsure of what to play in the chorus, and am waiting for lyrics to find space.

I the 2nd verse, the groove picks up, with more ghost notes and accents.

To finish, we have removed the heavy 'prog sounding' part, along with the funk breakdown. The song felt like too much with these, and it took away from the space in the verse.

We are trialing a quintuplet groove over 5/4 and 4/4. This could take the track in another direction, but it innovates the track with the rhythm itself.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QVukHbWNtlSX9IdxPBUau2E_djzdyl4g/view?usp=share_link

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Yet again we have decided to make a change to the structure. Having had feedback that time could be taken off the song, and it could still be as impactful. Therefore, we have decided to cut the pre-chorus in half. A new shorter pre-chorus is in the works, which still bridges verse-chorus whilst telling the story.

Now having lyrics, call and response is being written for the chorus, which Pedro may sing. This fits the 'guilty conscience' storyline of right verse wrong.

The drums for the end are yet to be fully finished but an idea is laid and being worked on.

Here is a link to the pre-chorus, as well as a DI recording of the guitar parts and solo for context.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ayTuhZHuFMY9u1rrdL-RCaCbRkpcycUl/view?usp=share_link

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JAtGgnU2BcODx0yPBgneVuoHt3RRZbNs/view?usp=share_link

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We have now added a shuffle "heavier" part at the end of the song, where Charlie will take a distorted guitar solo.

This creates contrast between the first half and the second half of the song.

My arm is also not up to tempo for the jazz swing. To work on this, I have been practising my swing a comfortable bpm, then raising the tempo.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Xxb-N8IdTei4uO3SD3fQBg5LdaILttY6/view?usp=share_link

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Copy of Toxic Shuffle Me (harry) coming in a bit late 

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Having had Chris look at my routine in mentoring, he mentioned that -

My routine was very broad, and not specific enough

I need to create three time-specific goals

Not to practise things twice a week for a while, as

He also mentioned some videos and books to watch/read, which can help with my practise and understanding of it.

Books -

John Rileys The Art of Bop Drumming.

This will help me practise my swing independence, which will help with Toxic.

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- To complete writing our original track, having all locked in with each other, and writing the best parts possible for the song.

- To complete our reharmonisation of Toxic (Britney Spears), having all wrote suitable parts for the reharmonized guitar line which Charlie wrote.

- To innovate our performance aspect and look on stage, to create more of a brand/band feel.

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Charlie having reharmonized the whole the song. He sent an audio of the new version of the song.
Having all wrote some parts, this is our first piecing of Toxic without vocals.

The drums play 16th note semiquaver groove on the hi-hats during the verse, as well as a ride swing pattern which appears predominantly. The chorus also use jazz swing.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zwEYKYwgN5cXkd0L5eypwvXrZtEmhIo7/view?usp=share_link

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Original -

One form of innovation is that the groove was inspired by "Killing In the Names" bass line. Taking the dotted 8ths, I placed this over a drum groove, having the hi-hat follow the kit.

Another form of innovation is that the drums were written first, which differs form every other song of ours, as the guitar is usually written first.

Creative Cover -

One area of innovation is that the song is reharmonized in our own unique style. This has allowed for us take to a familiar song, and push our own style, and the influence of jazz onto an audience.

Another area of innovation is in the ending of the sing. Despite not being too out there, this differs incredibly from all of our other music, and has created a new challenged of playing to a genre none of us usually practise to.

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Considering we have multiple gigs coming up, and due to our feedback from our Great Escape audition, as a band we need to focus on what we really want our aesthetic to.

Therefore, I have made a questionnaire for our google drive, which has allowed for all of us to really describe what it is we want out of the band.

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Having changed this song many, many times, we finally feel that what we have now does justice to the rest of the track.

Charlie plays a guitar solo, whilst Pedros the staccato syncopated stabs. I then play the verse groove over the top, building the fills and busyness whilst Charlies solo intensifies.

Finding a groove for this last part was complicated, but took a lot of trial and error to realise what I had already wrote fits perfectly over the top.

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- Less potential but more current, as I am currently struggling to figure out a drum part for the chorus of our original track, as nothing seems to be satisfying me. This will come with time, and more listening to gather ideas.

- A potential challenge could be keeping up with the written work as I often fall behind.

- Another potential challenge could be coming up with areas of innovation for both our writing and our performance, which we all agree with or like.

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- To write technical drum parts which fills the pocket in our original song.

- To write suitable drum parts for our reharmonisation of Toxic (Britney Spears).

- To keep up with the weekly work, and not fall behind leaving myself overcrowded with work.

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- Upping our stage presence/performance aspect by creating a brand and look for ourselves whilst on stage.

- Writing more "out there" and "unexpected" parts within our songs, i.e stabs, chords, grooves, time signatures.

- Reharmonizing existing songs, giving them our own feel and twist.

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Original Track:

- This will be a live performance, as we want to show ourselves performing together as a band, and how we blend with each other whilst on stage.

Reharmonisation:

- Currently unsure, but am yet again looking at a live performance, to show off our performance aspect as a band.

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Personally, I feel that this take is not one of my best and that I done better at the gig the same evening, however it must be uploaded, as the gig videos are not recorded properly for assessing.

Points I have picked out:

- When coming the breakdown, my playing is slightly off
- There is a fill in the breakdown (single stroke 6ths)

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Goals -

1. To be able to play both chops within 1 and a half months - 02/05/23

2. To be comfortable with one arm semi-quavers on the hi-hat, jazz swing, and the soldering iron groove at fast tempos within 1 month. - 18th April

3. To write a soldering iron solo within three months. -18th June

Basis -

Rather than having something to played on a certain day, I have allowed myself to choose each day. I will reduce my practise time to 15/20 minutes per topic, and then switch to another, which allow for me to keep refreshed on what I am playing.

Here is a list of what my routine is -

Warm up routine (same as before), and band songs everyday

Write every weekend + when needed

Run through a topic 15/20 minutes every day (or other).

Listen to more jazz!

Topics -

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PatLSMlpJ6d-WEaUr21w6EpDtoTFXQkG/view?usp=share_link

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On the same day as our assessment, we played our first headline gig in the evening, and trialed Toxic for the first time, which went down a lot better with the audience than I expected.

My stamina with the swing at 140bpm is every so slightly behind, but probably due to all the adrenaline I was able to pull it off.

The performance felt great!

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This is the structure of our original so far. This being the first time playing the song together, it is not tight and very over the place.

The drums in the verse play 3 dotted 8ths at the start of bar, with the hats following. Im not so keen on the chorus at the moment, it feels a bit cheesy.
The end starts with a heavier breakdown, into the funk section. The idea is to put a drum solo in.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ap98ttDhXApf4ENVjQY1mKRMGWJlRjCR/view?usp=share_link

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Having all filled out the questionnaire, and then spent time together discussing what it is we really want for our look, we have come to a conclusion.

Skateboarder - Surfer - Wes Anderson - Earth Tones -

Style
Our style will be a surfer/skateboarder look, with baggy clothes, and a sort of comfy look.

Aesthetic
The aesthetic will be similar to Wes Anderson, "often described as sinuous, rhythmical, and dreamlike".

Colour Pallet
Our colour pallet will be earth tones. This will consists of any "colours containing some brownish hue that resembles the colour of earth or soil".

Not only whilst on stage, we need to transition ourselves into this persona for every day life. This will complete a concrete look for ourselves, and allow for a recognisable style for our band. We want to walk into to a room, wether all together or alone, and be recognised as Elephant Camber.

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Here is more Jazz swing practise.

I have been practising for 3 minutes at a time, but did not record long enough for this video.

Considering I am aiming for 145bpm, I aim to up the BPM every time I can play for 3 minutes comfortably.

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Yet again, I feel this was not my best take, compared to the gig.

Here are some points I have picked out:

- One of the stabs before the pre-chorus, the hi-hat stutters
- In the moment, I felt the pressure, and I felt as if my arm was not moving quick enough for the swing, wether this was technique, or just in the moment, I need to practise this more often to increase my stamina, and technique.

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This week we decided to re-write the final section of the track. We felt that the end of the track (quintuplets) didn't really fit the song, as it change the feel too much.

The guitar and bass play a cut up rhythm, with off accents (notation of accents below). The drums yet to be fully written, will become busier over time whilst the guitar solos.
I am looking at incorporating the grooves from "The World Is Yours" and "Pressure" by Ashley Henry.

I plan to take these grooves, and adapt them to the breakdown, so that they fit

Here is a video breaking down the grooves.

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

Accents -

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M5rGx522o1htpUG9Xs63clu3N10oXG3S/view?usp=share_link

Notation -

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19Zg7aPCi4JYFjeZS-8Occ2cMJpFJeW81/view?usp=share_link

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This week we decided to re-write the chorus, we felt that the existing chorus didn't do justice compared to the verse.

The new chorus now dotted 8th stabs over 4/4. The kick follows guitar and bass dotted 8ths, but the ride plays an accented 16th note pattern, with the snare landing on the 3. The chorus ends with accents on the 1and of each bar.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/14A1sMFyRmTAZW-4CeJNT8hcQISJfOxi8/view?usp=share_link

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We also trialed Soldering Iron live for the first time at our headline show.

The song also went down really well, despite a few mistakes which can always happen, it went down great with the audience.

However, the expectation of the audience was that there was a drum solo needed after Charlies guitar solo, which I now think would elevate the intensity of the performance.

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I have been working on my practise for the busy groove in soldering. I have been practising the groove slower to the tempo of the actual song, so that I can catch the snare on the 3 of each bar, along with the ghost notes on the 2 ah and 3e.

I will then speed up the bpm.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mX4xYQ3Z8H-VcJS4av-Av-H7SCEMZYqo/view?usp=share_link

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This is previous practise of me working on my jazz swing.

Since this, I have been practising both arm movements at high tempos.

I have also been aiming to play each tempo comfortably for 3 minutes before moving up the BPM.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1q74s2mzs91hymMOcgw0rKRisx7ye3TwV/view?usp=share_link