Live Workshop Journals ♪ Term Two by Beth Purrington https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop This padlet was made to write about the work I do as part of an ensemble during my Live Workshop sessions. They are hosted at Magnet Rehearsal studios by Michael Wynne. en-us 2017-01-20 22:20:37 UTC 2025-11-30 06:24:00 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Rocket.png 16/01/2016 ♪ 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' bethpurrington https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop/wish/148513527 2017-01-21 13:35:27 UTC https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop/wish/148513527 Our ♪ 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' bethpurrington https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop/wish/148513700 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-eJl9G54HU&index=6&list=PLNTlmWoJVMq1kilEnZaBLN2mGDHge9XGX]]> 2017-01-21 13:41:11 UTC https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop/wish/148513700 Development of Ideas bethpurrington https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop/wish/148513870 Our main idea was to change the style of the original song - we wanted to create a version different to Eva Cassidy's. The instrumentation in her version was made up of a guitar being plucked, and the tempo was very slow making it sound a lot like a lullaby or ballad. In our version we used a ukulele instead of a guitar to give a happy, Island sound. With a bright-sounding keyboard and a faster tempo, this gave our cover an upbeat feel, but the soft vocals remained.]]> 2017-01-21 13:44:47 UTC https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop/wish/148513870 Explanation of the Group bethpurrington https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop/wish/148513874 The band that I am in during my Live Music Performance workshop sessions includes myself, Simran, Lydia and Pixie. We alternate who plays which instrument, and who is the vocalist, depending on the song that we are working on. We decided to structure our band this way as it means that each week we are improving our skills on different instruments, and we can pick a vocalist who will best suit each song. We also think that this helps vary the sound of each song we perform, which is part of the criteria for this term. This week, we chose a song off of a given list of musical material. Somewhere Over the Rainbow was our choice, performed by Eva Cassidy. I was chosen to be the vocalist, as my voice is much softer than the other's in the group, and this fits the vibe of the song that we are going for. Simran is playing the keyboard and Lydia is on the ukulele, and these two instruments' sounds contrast very nicely. The ukulele gives an authentic island vibe, whilst the keyboard adds texture and body to the song. Pixie was not a part of this performance as we did not want the texture of this song to be too full, so she was in charge of writing down the ideas and providing us with feedback on the sound of the song, and how each of us were doing.]]> 2017-01-21 13:44:54 UTC https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop/wish/148513874 Targets and Aims bethpurrington https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop/wish/148513884 Prior to this week, we had decided to cover the song Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and had chosen who would be playing which instrument and who would be singing. Our targets for the session were to practice the set-up we had decided on, give the song a few run through to see if our ideas worked well. We also aimed to figure out at least one of the other songs we were going to work on the week after, which was decided to be Put Your Records On, and the instrumentation we would use for this cover. We worked out that Simran would be singing, due her vocals having a very Jazz-like sound. Lydia and Pixie will each play guitar, and I will be on the keyboard. Another target that we set was to evaluation how many performances we would be trying to complete by the end of the assignment. We think that four different, contrasting songs will be enough to showcase our skills and show the development of our techniques. A target that we were not able to meet was to practice harmonies for a song called Dear Happy that Lydia would like to do. This is because this song choice is being reconsidered as it is a relatively new song and is similar in style and genre to Somewhere Over the Rainbow. We are currently reviewing our song choices. Next week, we must all bring the correct instruments, whilst Pixie practices barre chords on guitar and Lydia figures out which song she is going to pick. Overall, we haven't achieved all of this week's targets but we have made a lot of progress and have a solid plan on what we will do in the next session.]]> 2017-01-21 13:45:04 UTC https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop/wish/148513884 Personal Practice bethpurrington https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop/wish/148513894 There are multiple things that each band member must work on at home as part of personal practice. This is required as there are things that are holding us back from completing our targets and having professional-sounding rehearsals. Personally, I need to work on my keyboard part for Put Your Records On, and develop it so it sounds a little more complex. I need to do this so that I am prepared for working on this song during next week's session. Since we plan to work further on Somewhere Over the Rainbow also, I need to learn the lyrics so I don't need to be reading off of a sheet, and I need to make sure I can hit the higher notes and project my voice better. Lydia has to re-consider Dear Happy as her song choice, learn the chords on ukulele to Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and practice her guitar part for Put Your Records On. She also needs to work on staying at the same tempo, whilst Simran needs to continue to develop the keyboard part she has already been working on. Her vocals for Put Your Records on already sound perfect, as she hits all of the notes and adds many runs and interesting parts to her singing. She is going to learn more about adding effects such as reverb onto her vocals through a PA system. Pixie is going to attempt to learn barrre chords on the guitar ready to play alongside Lydia.]]> 2017-01-21 13:45:19 UTC https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop/wish/148513894 Feedback Review bethpurrington https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop/wish/148513900 Our tutor Michael noted that we had made a good start to our performance, and it was clear where we were intending to go with it in regards to style. He could also tell that we knew what we were doing in regards to our aims and objectives, and informed us more about the contrast required between the four performances we intend to give. Simply, he thought we made a good start in our first rehearsal.]]> 2017-01-21 13:45:28 UTC https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop/wish/148513900 Development of Technique bethpurrington https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop/wish/148513928 Since this was our first rehearsal of the song, we have not had a chance to develop our technique yet. However, during the session our performing skills did improve. At first, Lydia was unable to play the ukulele part as she didn't know the chords and was unable to change between chords at the right speed. This caused her to change tempo often. By the end of our session, she knew more of the chords, and was able to keep a steady tempo. Since she was still missing some out though, she is going to learn them for the next session. When it comes to vocals, I did not know all of the words to the song and had to keep reading the lyrics off of my phone. There was also notes I was unable to hit, and I was not breathing properly whilst singing so I was often gasping for breath at the end of the verses. This improved during the end of our session. Simran knew all of the chords and stayed at the correct tempo but developed how she was playing them. Instead of playing each chord individually, she created a pattern, or sometimes just played each individual note of the chord in a sequence. This helped to build up texture during the song and was something she developed incredibly well.]]> 2017-01-21 13:46:08 UTC https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop/wish/148513928 Productivity bethpurrington https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop/wish/148513935 We were very productive during this session, which has been proved by managing to record part of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, plan next week's session, set targets and meet some of the ones we had already set. Those who performed this week have begun to develop their techniques already and we each are going to be completing personal practice outside of college. All in all, even though we have not met all of our targets we were will very productive during the session.]]> 2017-01-21 13:46:18 UTC https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop/wish/148513935 Somewhere Over the Rainbow ♪ Lyrics bethpurrington https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop/wish/148513951 Verse
Somewhere over the rainbow way up high
There's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby
Somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true

Chorus
Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me

Bridge
Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why, then oh why, can't I?

Chorus
Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me

Bridge
Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why, then oh why, can't I?
]]> 2017-01-21 13:46:33 UTC https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop/wish/148513951 23/01/2017 ♪ 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' and 'Put Your Records On' bethpurrington https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop/wish/148514602 2017-01-21 14:01:11 UTC https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop/wish/148514602 Chords bethpurrington https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop/wish/148514705 Verse: G, Bm, C, Cm, G, G7, C, Cm, G, Em, Am, D, G
Chorus: G, C, Cm, Em, G, F#, F#7, Bm, Am, D
Bridge: G, Bm, C, Cm, G, C, Cm, G, Em, Am, D, G]]> 2017-01-21 14:03:29 UTC https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop/wish/148514705 Eva Cassidy's ♪ 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' bethpurrington https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop/wish/148515560 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rd8VktT8xY]]> 2017-01-21 14:25:42 UTC https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop/wish/148515560 bethpurrington https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop/wish/148515862 2017-01-21 14:32:55 UTC https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop/wish/148515862 bethpurrington https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop/wish/148515878 2017-01-21 14:33:20 UTC https://padlet.com/bethpurrington/termtwoworkshop/wish/148515878