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.

Alessandro Nocella (Guitar)

Craig Robertson (Drums)

Mateo Tessore: (Bass)

Marta Martin (Vocals)

Sebastian Arango (Vocals)

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

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.)

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.

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.

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!