https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/1t0rb10eepbe en-us 2018-01-18 14:21:47 UTC 2025-11-07 19:57:26 UTC hello@padlet.com ryfairweather https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/1t0rb10eepbe/wish/222430335 This week, we decided on the song Giant Peach by Wolf Alice as part of our group performance assignment. Heather and Emmie decided on this song prior to the session as they could already play it, and then Louis and I learnt our parts for the electric guitar and bass guitar. I believe we managed to achieve a lot in these two sessions, as we worked together to learn the entire song and then perfect it. By the end of the practice sessions, the song sounded performance-ready. From this I can also gather that our group works well together in meeting the criteria we have set for ourselves, particularly as we make learning the songs a team effort.

I also developed my playing technique in these lessons where I tap or hammer on the string from open to hit the 12th fret. I think this helped show my skills better as it changed the way I play, in which I would usually just hold the string and pluck with a plectrum. To improve before the next lesson, I think I just need to practice the song to ensure my own part is to the best of my ability within the ensemble performance.]]> 2018-01-18 14:24:32 UTC https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/1t0rb10eepbe/wish/222430335 ryfairweather https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/1t0rb10eepbe/wish/222432427 In these sessions, we chose to rehearse and perfect the song Chelsea Dagger by The Fratellis. Within the week, we helped each other to learn our own parts to the song. By the end, we all knew the parts we contributed to the song very well and thus made it part of our criteria to practice and perfect further at home so it would be ready to perform by the next week. We also discussed the next song we wanted to learn as a group and consequently we might perform the song Common People by Pulp. I think this is a positive reflection of our group as we managed to decide on and learn all our parts to the song in a short session together. 

For this song in rehearsal, I had to change the way I plucked with my plectrum for parts of the song. For instance in the bridge the tempo was a lot faster, so I had to change from strumming down with a pick to strumming both up and down so it was faster. For next lesson, I need to start practising the next song, Pulp, to prepare for the practice of the ensemble performance.]]> 2018-01-18 14:28:38 UTC https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/1t0rb10eepbe/wish/222432427 ryfairweather https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/1t0rb10eepbe/wish/244946663 This week, we made it our goal to decide on another ensemble song. However, with our singer Emmie not being there that week we struggled to accomplish anything productive other than instrument-only rehearsal. Consequently, the remaining members of the group went through various songs in order to figure out what we would play in the next week when we had our singer. We also mutually decided to scrap our idea of using the song Pulp by Common People as we thought it was too similar in genre to one of our other songs. I think this is reflective of our group as it shows that we aren't entirely reliable on each other, and can still find a way to function when we are missing members to try to get things done. We also spent the whole of the second day rehearsing the two other songs we had without having vocals, these being Giant Peach by Wolf Alice and Chelsea Dagger by The Fratellis.

Next week, we will have to decide on another song to perform for our ensemble requirement that we can all do as a group. Hopefully, our singer will also be back.]]> 2018-03-22 12:25:12 UTC https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/1t0rb10eepbe/wish/244946663 ryfairweather https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/1t0rb10eepbe/wish/244949408 In this week, we decided to try out Where Is My Mind by The Pixies as our third song. To do this, we listened to the song a few times through the speaker and helped each other to develop what we were playing to match the song. By the end of the sessions, we had most of the song down but still had to work on the outro of the song to end in a way we thought would sound good. In the original, the tempo of the song slows to a finish and we didn't know whether we wanted to do that in our performance, and rather just finish at the end of a bar. I think this shows that we work successfully together and are able to help each other reach our group targets, as we managed to get the majority of our third song perfected soon after deciding to use it for our performance.

Personally I had no trouble playing this song on bass, however I did have to adjust to playing with the strange timings which just too some repeated practice as a group playing the song. By next week we just need to perfect the song and the outro, as well as Louis' solo.]]> 2018-03-22 12:31:27 UTC https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/1t0rb10eepbe/wish/244949408 ryfairweather https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/1t0rb10eepbe/wish/244951617 In these sessions we decided to try out different songs for a while so we had some differentiation from the ensembles we had put so much time into. For instance, we played Creep by Radiohead as a group practice to see how it would turn out. Considering how easy it was, I learnt my part to this song within a couple of minutes and the group had it down straight away. I think that giving ourselves time to jam as a group is good for us, as it tests our ability to work as a group to learn something and perform it right off the bat. However, we did still dedicate some time to our solo performances and brainstorming about what other songs we could play for the gig. Another consideration at the time was 20th century boy by T.Rex as we had also been playing this as a group practice. There were various song ideas, as we wanted to try and decide our final song for the gig as soon as possible.]]> 2018-03-22 12:36:37 UTC https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/1t0rb10eepbe/wish/244951617 ryfairweather https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/1t0rb10eepbe/wish/244952003 This week was more time spent on going over the two sons we had so far to play at the Maze gig. We also went through a variety of even more songs, all of which we had scrapped in the end, as ideas to play for the third song at the gig. Another important accomplishment was finishing up the outro for Where Is My Mind by The Pixies. Previously, we didn't know how we wanted to end the song due to a fade out and strange timings at the end. We did end up using this in the end though, as a sudden end to the song had been used in one of our other songs for the gig and slowing the tempo for this one made a change to the overall performance.

Personally I think I worked well on this song in particular, as the timings are quite hard in parts and I did a good job at helping keeping everyone in time throughout.]]> 2018-03-22 12:37:25 UTC https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/1t0rb10eepbe/wish/244952003 ryfairweather https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/1t0rb10eepbe/wish/244952683 We spent the first of these session getting some of the other solo projects recorded for other people, so the group was split up for a while. I spent my time in this lesson rehearsing the other songs I would use as my solo performances on bass guitar. I also put some time from this lesson into practicing songs with other people, where Tyler and I played some songs on her guitar so do for her ensemble performance for example. We used the second of these sessions as a last practice run of our line up for the Maze gig too, so we could be sure we were ready as the gig was scheduled for the following week. 

At this point, I was confident that we had carried out everything successfully and were all ready for the gig as well as finishing thet padle write-up for the assignment in the coming weeks. Looking back over the last term, I thought we worked great as a group and had accomplished everything needed as a fair representation of our skill set.]]> 2018-03-22 12:38:56 UTC https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/1t0rb10eepbe/wish/244952683 ryfairweather https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/1t0rb10eepbe/wish/244953547 Our group spent this week rehearsing the songs we planned on playing at the Maze gig. In the session, we continuously practiced and perfected Where Is My Mind, Giant Peach, and the song Emmie had written and shown to us in the previous week. I believe the performance at the Maze will be a good showcase for our skills and ability to work as an ensemble, so it is wise for us to work on these songs as much as possible. By the end, we were very confident in our ability to play all these songs as a group and had them pretty much perfected as well as structured

We also recorded most of the ensemble performances and some of the solos in this week to guarantee they were all finished and out of the way so we could move on to practising for the gig and also finishing our padlets.]]> 2018-03-22 12:40:53 UTC https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/1t0rb10eepbe/wish/244953547 ryfairweather https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/1t0rb10eepbe/wish/244958211 This week, Emmie came in with a song she had written herself for us to learn and perform at the Maze gig. The song gave off a heavy grunge vibe and was written incredibly well. We spent time rehearsing and developing the song to each instrument so it would be ready to play in the coming weeks. We also tried out some backing vocals but eventually dropped this idea. We decided that this performance for the Maze could also be used as one of our ensemble performances.

The song Emmie had written only took some repeated practice and figuring out the timing alongside the drums to see what would sound best in the final performance. Next week, we will have to decide on our line-up for the Maze gig as well as ensure we have all the chosen songs practised, perfected and ready for us to perform.]]> 2018-03-22 12:50:51 UTC https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/1t0rb10eepbe/wish/244958211 ryfairweather https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/1t0rb10eepbe/wish/253363752 I in fact missed this session due to personal reasons, but I spent the time out of the session working on my padlet and expanding on the accounts I had been writing up each week.

This was the week following our Maze performance, which in my opinion went great. None of us seemed to be very nervous before or during the time we were playing, and there were no mistakes whatsoever in any of the songs. I would put this time to the effort we put into practicing and perfecting each of the songs. But also, how well we work toether and respond to each other as a group. We are all aware of the part we play and how important it is in the band, so we all put our best effort in.]]> 2018-04-19 11:34:44 UTC https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/1t0rb10eepbe/wish/253363752 ryfairweather https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/1t0rb10eepbe/wish/253999209 Something I tried to work more on this term was my stage presence, which was considerably important as I had a gig at this time. I think I have improved with this as I now think about my position in the group when playing to other people.

I am also happy with the progress I made in the group, in which we learned songs really quickly together and would help each other out without any hassle. Overall I think the group I worked in for ensembles had a great dynamic and it showed.

Finally, I think the work I did this term was a much better representation of my skill set than the previous term. The songs I had played in this time were much better for me to play as a bassist, rather than the large amount of staccato I had played for people's pop ballads in the term before.]]> 2018-04-20 21:41:50 UTC https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/1t0rb10eepbe/wish/253999209 ryfairweather https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/1t0rb10eepbe/wish/253999924 I have improved, but I think my stage presence and interaction could still be way better which is something I can work on even more next term.

I'd like to expand on the instruments I play in lessons, as it is usually bass but I tend to play genres such as shoegaze on guitar at home, which is a genre I consider myself to be highly knowledgable in. This can also involve playing a wider range of styles and using more styllistic features in my music next term.

Lastly, I want to work a lot more on my songwriting, especially in structure and lyrics. This is something we started in the first term but I'd love to out a lot more time into it as it is something I'm passionate about. This might link back to me using my guitar more often or writing songs based around shoegaze and dreampop]]> 2018-04-20 21:48:54 UTC https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/1t0rb10eepbe/wish/253999924