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Please see the attachment for the complete guidance document we have made up for you. It may be helpful to print this out or download it.

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~My experience so far on the UAL 3 course has been positive and helped me learn a number of things, including:

-       How to sing scales and use my voice more effectively

-       How to work in a band

-       The basics of Logic Pro

Before taking the course I had little knowledge of these things so it was great to learn some new skills and improve my musicality.

Regarding the project, although I enjoy the tech side of music, performing is where my passion truly is and for that reason I would like to be assessed on my live performance rather than a tech based project.

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The aim of my project is to successfully perform a 20 minute slot at the Mash House with my college band. For me, a sucessful perfomance consists of technical accuracy with my voice and also capturing the audience with my body language and stage presence. To make this happen, our band will need to agree on an interesting, entertaining and most importantly, enjoyable set list which we are all happy to perform. Once this is done we will rehearse frequently to ensure we will all be comfortable performing the songs live and capable of doing them well.

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To learn lyrics for songs, search for lyrics on google and watch lyric videos on YouTube to hear the vocal melody. For example, one of our songs is “Hard Times” by Paramore, so I would use the links below to study that song:

Lyrics – Genius.com, [2017] "Paramore - Hard Times Lyrics | Genius Lyrics"

Available at:

https://genius.com/Paramore-hard-times-lyrics

accessed 25.04.25

Lyric video - Sunset Sounds, [2024] "Paramore - Hard Times | Lyrics"

Available at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bwah_U2C_EQ

accessed 25.04.25

As a model for stage presence for myself I will use this video of Paulo Nutini and Gerry Cinnamon from YouTube :

Paulo Nutini:

isleofwightfestival, [2015] "Paulo Nutini - Candy - Isle of Wight Festival 2015 - Live"

Available at:

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

accessed 25.04.25

Gerry Cinnamon :

GERRY CINNAMON, [2024] "Gerry Cinnamon - Canter [live at Hampden Park"

Available at:

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

accessed 25.04.25

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Today is 14.03.25 and our band has currently agreed on a set list of the following song, in no particular order we will be playing:

"Her" - The American Dawn

"I'd Love To Change The World' - Ten Years After

"Easy Way to Cry" - Sunburst (our original)

"The Night We Met' - Lord Huron

"Hard Times" - Paramore

"Mama Said" - Cat Clyde

I will make a separate post talking about each song a bit more!

It is possible this will change but as of now it looks like we have the set list!

23.05.25 we have decided to drop "Her" from our set.

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The venue we will be playing at is the Mash House located in Edinburgh's Cowgate. Here is some information about it:

The Mash House in Edinburgh is ranked #104 out of 243 nightlife spots in the city, with a 4.0 rating based on 43 reviews on TripAdvisor.

Capacity 350 club show / 230 live show

The Mash House is a former church that has been transformed into a multi-purpose venue.

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The genres of music we will be playing does vary but it can be summarised to Indie, Rock and Pop. We have some sad songs that will hopefully capture the audience and get them interested in our performance and then we have songs full of energy that will hopefully get the feet moving and the hands clapping!

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Personally, I take inspiration from fellow Scottish singers such as Paulo Nutini and Gerry Cinnamon , as mentioned in my proposal. The reason for this is they maintain their accent when singing which is something I am very passionate about. Obviously, this doesn't mean over emphasising it and making everything sound 'pure Scottish'. It just means that when it sounds good to do so, I will sing in my native accent.

I mention this because in the music industry it is somewhat frowned upon and at least uncommon to hear anybody singing in an accent that doesn't sound American or English.

This is something that I do not like as it takes away the uniqueness of ones voice and in my opinion can make a song more boring than it ought to be. Thats not to say that American or English people shouldn't use their accents, it just means that if everyone else tries to copy theirs then there is no variety and I'd argue that is a bad thing.

Here is an article on the topic of why most people don't sing with a Scottish accent:

https://lovetovisitscotland.com/why-most-scottish-people-dont-sing-with-a-scottish-accent/

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Why (most) Scottish people don't sing with a Scottish accent. Most Scottish people don't sing with a Scottish accent primarily due to the influence of popular music and the standardized accent that dominates the industry. This phenomenon, also known as linguistic accommodation, refers to the unconscious process where singers adjust their accent to match the accents they are frequently exposed to in music. Considering that the majority of popular music and influential artists are American or English, the accents used by these artists heavily influence the singing accents worldwide, including Scotland. Therefore, the Scottish accent becomes neutralized, resulting in a more 'Americanized' or 'Anglicized' accent when singing.

we're delving into a curious phenomenon that has puzzled many a listener: why do Scottish folks seem to shed their accents the moment they burst into song? Join me on this comedic quest as we unravel the mystery behind the disappearing Scottish accent in music.

Our investigation begins with a candid confession from our intrepid guitar-wielding hero. With a twinkle in his eye and a healthy dose of self-awareness, he reveals the truth: the reason Scottish singers often sound like they hail from Anywhere-but-Scotland when they serenade us is simply because, well, it sounds a wee bit odd.

Now, before you start sharpening your pitchforks and tuning your bagpipes in protest, let's hear him out. Our brave troubadour hails from a quaint village outside Glasgow, where the local dialect dances with the wind like a kilt in a Highland breeze. And let's face it, folks - while those lilting brogues may charm us in everyday conversation, they might not quite hit the right note when set to music.

But fear not, dear readers, for our hero is not content to let this linguistic conundrum go unanswered. Armed with nothing but a guitar and a cheeky grin, he embarks on a musical odyssey to demonstrate just what a Scottish-accented rendition of "Wonderwall" might sound like. Spoiler alert: it's not pretty, but it sure is hilarious.

As our hero strums away, attempting to channel his inner Gallagher brother while keeping his Scottishness intact, we can't help but chuckle at the delightful absurdity of it all. The juxtaposition of iconic Britpop anthem meets Scottish brogue is a recipe for comedic gold, and our hero serves it up with gusto.

So why, you may ask, do Scottish folks opt for a more neutral tone when they take to the stage? Perhaps it's a matter of sonic aesthetics, a desire to let the music speak for itself without the distraction of regional accents. Or maybe, just maybe, it's because belting out "Wonderwall" in full-on Glaswegian would leave us all scratching our heads in confusion.

In the end, dear readers, the mystery remains unsolved - but the laughter rings loud and clear. So here's to our Scottish brethren, who may sing with the voice of angels but choose to leave their accents at the door when they step into the spotlight. And here's to our intrepid troubadour, whose musical musings have left us smiling and tapping our toes.

Until next time, keep singing, keep strumming, and never underestimate the power of a good laugh - even if it comes with a hint of mystery and a dash of Scottish flair. Cheers!

Do Highland Cows make good pets?
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Why (most) Scottish people don't sing with a Scottish accent

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Why (most) scottish people don't sing with a scottish accent

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[ I only began recording sessions from the date below]

26th March

We spent the majority of the session practicing the new songs we have added to our set. [ The Night We Met, Mama Said, Hard Times]

Managed to play through "The Night We Met", sounds promising.

Struggled to play through "Hard Times" so most of our time was spent on trying to work it out.

Didn't get time to look at "Mama Said" but overall a decent session.

2nd April

Played through all the songs.

I would say we now have a good understanding of all the songs and how they should sound.

None of them are perfect yet but for how much time we have left to get things sounding good it's looking exciting.

I would say that "Hard Times" is still needing the most work.

9th April

This week was a holiday but most of us still came in.

We spent this session tidying up the songs and being as efficient as possible with the numbers we had which meant just playing the songs over and over and correcting any mistakes.

Me and our other vocalist also looked at what harmonies we will be doing in the songs which will add nice texture to them.

16th April

This week was also a holiday but we pretty much had a full band so we were able to get a lot done.

We really tried to crack down on "Hard Times" as it was needing the most work, I think we made good progress with it.

We also added a little pause in the build of our original for dramatic effect.

At this point all the songs are sounding good but "Her" and "Hard Times" still need work

23rd April

We made the decision today to drop "Her" from our set as it just wasn't cutting it. We don't have enough time to get it to a performable standard so it is safer to drop it than perform it badly.

Plus, this means that we can dedicate more time to all the other songs and make them sound as good as possible, which is what we spent this session doing.

By the end of this session we had successfully played through all 5 songs to a good standard and I think we are more comfortable with the thought off performing in a few weeks.

30th April

At this point we are just running the set list over and over again.

We got some pointers from one of the lecturers on a couple of the songs so now we know what we need to focus on from now until the gig.

I think we are ready to perform now. It's not perfect but it's close and with at least one more rehearsal before the gig things are looking good.

7th May

Well today was the last proper rehearsal we will have until the gig.

Not much really happened apart from just repeatedly running the set list.

I think it's starting to set in that a week from now we have to play live and I could sense a bit of nerves in the room.

To conclude these rehearsal reviews, I would say that we have sufficiently rehearsed for this gig and I am confident we will perform well. We definitely could've been more productive at points and started a bit stronger but overall, a job well done.

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This will be our opening song and for good reason! "The Night We Met" by Lord Huron is a beauty in the key of A major with an emotional story to match it. Starting slowly and blissfully and coming in hot at the choruses, this a perfect opener.

Lord Huron, [2015], "Lord Huron - The Night We Met [Official audio]"

Available at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtlgYxa6BMU

accessed 25.04.25

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Lord Huron - The Night We Met (Official Audio)

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"Mama Said" by Cat Clyde is a bit less well-known than our opener but equally as fun to play. This song is nice and simple in the key of E major with some beautiful vocal melodies that are sure to please the crowd.

Cat Clyde, [2017] "Cat Clyde - Mama Said [Official Video]"

Available at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqXdU1IK2JI

accessed on 25.04.25

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This is our original song in the key of B minor which tells the story the "right person, wrong time" dilemma so frequently experienced. From tempo changes to epic guitar solos, this a work of art.

25.04.25

I don't have any recordings of the song yet

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An oldie but a goodie! "I'd Love to Change the World" by Ten Years After, first released in 1971, is a classic rock song, with deep lyrics relating to the state of the world at the time of release, in the key of E minor.

Ten Years After, [2017] "I'd Love to Change the World"

Available at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUGE8Y07-2k

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I'd Love to Change the World (2017 Remaster)

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To ensure that each practice session gets off to a good start our band has implemented a warm up we do before every session. This warm up consists of running through one of our songs, usually "Mama Said" , including each musical element one by one to get the levels right. For example, we would start with just one guitar playing the chords then add the bass then the other guitars etc and adjust the levels as we go until the full band is playing and all the levels sound good.

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Going out with a bang. Our last song will be Hard Times by Paramore which is very hard to listen to without enjoying yourself. This song is in the key of f minor with super catchy lyrics and great energy.

Paramore, [2017] "Hard Times [OFFICIAL VIDEO]"

Available at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEB6ibtdPZc

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In preparation for the gig I have also been practising my parts in the songs we play at home. This usually consists of about an hour a week of me just singing the songs with the backing track and focusing on the parts that I find harder than others until I think they sound better. This has helped me to feel more confident in my ability to perform the songs.

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I think it would be fair to say that I have taken on somewhat of a leadership role in our band. This helps as if everyone is talking over each other all the time then things tend to not get done. But with a lone voice to direct the sessions and make sure everyone else gets their chance to speak I feel the workflow is far better. This is not to say I walk in to the practice room with the captains armband on and say "Right, this what we are doing today...", No. It simply means that I try to maximise the efficiency of the sessions, make suggestions and ask for them from the other band members. For example, " Lewis turn your bass down a bit please" or " Right, let's run the whole set again" are probably my most common announcements!

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I believe the set list is of the upmost importance when it comes to performing live. This is due to a number of factors such as:

capturing and keeping the interest of the crowd

having the correct levels of energy at the right times

making musical sense

In order to capture the crowds interest, the opening song needs to be one of the best on the set in my opinion. This is because some people really will just turn round and go to the bar if they don't like what they hear straight away. Even if they don't physically leave, they will lose interest in your performance which is why I think you must start strong. After the audience become interested , they will be far less likely to walk away and far more likely to stick around to the end. Now, once you have their attention you have to be careful not to lose it. I think one can accomplish this by building in energy each song, creating an eager expectation for more from the audience. In short, start strong and smooth, slowly build the energy and then go out with a bang. Our own set list followed this line of thinking:

1. The Night We Met - Lord Huron

2. Mama Said - Cat Clyde

3. Easy Way to Cry - Sunburst

4. I'd Love to Change the World - Ten Years after

5. Hard Times - Paramore

Regarding the correct levels of energy, this is a fairly simple concept. I don't think it wise to start a set all guns blazing with a high energy song. But rather ease the audience into the performance song by song and then end the set with the highest energy song.

Finally, making musical sense is of huge importance when making a set list. If there is too much of a contrast between the genres of songs it will confuse the audience. They won't know whether to scream the words or gently smile and bop their head. And if the audience are confused, they can get uncomfortable and leave. So when making a set list, it is important to make sure the songs transition well into each other.

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Now that the project is finished, there are a number of things I would like to reflect on.

First is the research I done. Although I touched on many topics in my research, I found the most effective to be the importance of a good set list. Applying the logic that I stated to our set list really enhanced our performance and I did not feel for a moment that the audience wasn't interested and enjoying it.

Secondly, the resources we were all given to complete this project was great. The accessibility of rehearsal rooms meant that our band never went a week without a good few hours of rehearsing which made a good performance possible. On top of this we had lecturers available to give us pointers, instruments ready to use and effective spaces to do research E.G booths in the college.

In terms of the skills and knowledge I have developed doing this project, I would have to say that I am far more confident working in a band than I previously was. Bearing in mind that I am normally a solo musician, I was apprehensive to work with such a big group. But by the end of the project that emotion vanished and I had a great time in the final performance. Also, I learned about what it takes to lead a band effectively which is a great skill for anyone to have.

Looking back, I would say the proudest moment for me definitely has to be the final performance. All the band done so well and I feel my stage presence and energy, things that I was focusing on, were on point. The crowd received our performance very well and we were showered with compliments once we got off stage. A successful night for a successful project!