PROJECT DIARY
Week 1: 8.11.24
Outline of recording/rehearsal session:
On Wednesdays session we changed ‘My heart will go on’ by Celine Dion into a
metal song, this was somewhat challenging when it came to attempting to match
the melody to the tempo of the song, however after several attempts we managed
to do it. During the other half of Wednesdays session we looked at punk music
looking at the Sex Pistols as artist inspiration and we transformed the song ‘Hot to
go’ by Chappell Roan into a punk song the, since ‘Hot to go’ is more upbeat I did
not struggle with matching the melody to the new tempo and as I am very familiar
with the song it was more simple for me. During Friday’s session we started
discussing what songs we could do for our genres gig we wrote down on a piece of
paper different songs one a list of songs we will try and recreate the exact same and
another list being the one that we will flip to another genre. We decided to start
with the song ‘Cosmic girl’ by Jamiroquai. Me and Steph went into a different
practice room to the band and started listening over the song several times then
splitting the lyrics and singing each part of the verse after listening over it trying to
match the melody as close as possible to the original song.
Problems and issues that appeared: Solutions:
I was unfamiliar with the song “Cosmic
Girl” by Jamiroquai. I listened over the song several times to roughly grasp the melody.
I struggled with how some of the lyrics
changed in the melody, some lyrics
ending on a higher note, extended note
etc. I listened over a lyric sang it with the track then sang it with the track to make the lyric sound as authentic as possible.
Reflection:
From these sessions I learnt that you can easily change songs to different genres
with a change of tempo and additional instruments. I also learnt that if I maintain
persistent in my practice with making songs sound as authentic as possible, I will
eventually achieve in doing so.
Targets for next week:
My personal target would be to listen over the song so I can perform it to my best
ability and memorise the lyrics.
I believe the goal for us as a band would be to pick the rest of our songs for the
Christmas gig as well as our gig in January.
​
Week 2: 15.11.24
Outline of recording/rehearsal session:
During Wednesday's lesson we were introduced to jazz music, and we changed the
pop song Wannabe by the Spice Girls into a jazz song, at first, we struggled with
the melody because it changed so drastically but we eventually got it, and it
sounded good. During the second half of the lesson, we went to do band work we
decided to focus on a song for the Christmas gig, so we started throwing around
ideas and decided to make an attempt on the song White Christmas. On Friday's
session we wanted to make a Christmas medley rather than just one Christmas
song, the introduction would be White Christmas going into “Last Christmas” by
Wham, going into “Santa Baby” we practiced the song without the band then once
we got grasp of it we tried it with the band, we also discussed doing “Merry
Christmas everyone” by Shakin’ Stevens as the last song to our medley but we are
yet to start it.
Problems and issues that appeared: Solutions:
We struggled with picking out songs. So, we all communicated well and listened to each other's opinions regarding what song we wanted to do, and all agreed.
I struggled with grasping the transition
of the two songs. After going over it a few times it was quite easy in the end.
Reflection:
From this session I have learnt that we need to communicate better as a band and
actually hear each other out instead of ignoring others' opinions and ideas and
everyone should like everyone have a say because we’re all equals.
Targets for next week:
Over the week I will be focusing on vocal warmups as well as practicing my songs
because they are equally important as each other for my voice.
I am going to try and work on the band songs and think of new suggestions for us to do that may appeal to all members of the band.
​
Week 3: 22.11.24
Outline of recording/rehearsal session:
On Wednesday's session we just went over the Christmas set multiple times in
preparation for the gig. During Friday's session we went over the Christmas set and
started working on ‘Merry Christmas everyone’ by Shakin’ Stevens which went well
we just need to blend it into our Christmas medley. We then started working on ‘R
u mine?’ by the Arctic Monkeys which is going well we managed to get the whole
song completed throughout the whole period of the session. In my singing lesson I
started working on audition pieces figuring out what songs showed off my
strengths and weaknesses we decided to start working on I’m not the only one by
Sam Smith as this shows off my range and my belt, I know I still need to improve
on this song and have a long way to go.
Problems and issues that appeared: Solutions:
Vocally we went off-key for a part of
White Christmas. We listened over the song several times to figure out where we were going wrong.
We struggled to keep up with the lyrics
in ‘R u mine?’ and the breath control
was quite challenging. We listened over the song and sang along with the lyrics several time and maintained the pace.
Reflection:
I have learnt that challenges are a good thing, I feel as though ‘R u mine?’ is a good
challenge for every individual in the band.
Targets for next week:
I will do personal practice of the songs to remember the lyrics.
I will work on my harmonies in the Christmas medley which I have somewhat
already been doing.
​
Week 4: 28.11.24
Outline of recording/rehearsal session:
On Wednesday's session I was not in as I had a university audition. However, later
in the day we had a band discussion about what songs we can do as we have a lack
of communication again, so we threw around some ideas from different genres,
voted listened to different songs and got different opinions. On Friday's session we
worked on Cosmic Girl by Jamiroquai, as Tash was struggling with some of the
lyrics and us as vocalists had not practiced all together, so we went into a separate
practice room and went over the song breaking the verses. We than rehearsed that
with the band and went over R u min by the Arctic Monkeys.
Problems and issues that appeared: Solutions:
We have a major lack of communication
and certain individuals ignore others. We discussed how we felt and how we can change it.
We had not picked all our songs. We discussed songs and genres we wanted to do, writing them down and eliminating songs as we went along.
Reflection:
We need better communication, and others need to have more respect towards
other members.
Targets for next week:
Listen to our songs alone and sing along to grasp the melody and memorise lyrics
more.
Pick our songs.
​
Week 5: 6.12.24
Outline of recording/rehearsal session:
On Wednesday's session we debated over different song we could do for the gigs
and had some trouble agreeing and some people had difficulty hearing others out
so we asked Liam for some advice he helped us pick our songs for the Christmas
gig, so we are doing our Christmas medley, Cosmic girl by Jamiroquai and Brutal
by Olivia Rodrigo. We will also be doing Cosmic girl for our genres gig as well as a
flipped version of Paranoid Android by Radiohead, the last song we just struggled
to pick out we gave each other some suggestions however tensions where still
somewhat high due to disagreements which made picking this more difficult than
it should have been. After doing a vote we agreed on doing I say now from the
musical Heathers. During Friday's session everyone in the class where in and out
of the session as we had rehearsal auditions in preparations for future auditions,
when we have spare time together, we then went over the Christmas setlist.
Problems and issues that appeared: Solutions:
We could not decide on what songs to
do for the Christmas gig. We asked Liam for advice, and he listened to us play some options then decided on Brutal by Olivia Rodrigo.
We struggled choosing another song for
our genres gig. We all suggested a song and then chosen the one we liked the most which was I say no from Heathers the musical.
Reflection:
Others still need to hear other people's opinions out and take that into
consideration, being more open to other ideas.
Targets for next week:
Make sure I know all the words to the songs for the gig even if they are not the part
of verse that I am singing.
Start thinking about my stage presence for the gigs and how I can stand out.
Week 6&7: 11.12.24-18.12.24
Outline of recording/rehearsal session:
On Wednesday's session we went over our songs and what had so far gone over
cosmic girl perfecting that to its best ability. On Friday's session me and Tash went
over Paranoid Android whilst the rest of the band were working on the
instrumentation of it, we listened over the original song breaking it down into the
different sections of the song, grasping he melody as it does not have a consistent,
regular structure to it.
Problems and issues that appeared: Solutions:
The melody of Paranoid Android was
difficult to grasp as it did not have a
standard structure to it. We kept listening over it, breaking it down to support us remembering it. I also then proceeded to listen to it at home figuring out the sections of which I would prefer to sing.
Reflection:
That separating yourself from the rest of the band to have individual practise
supports the band as well as yourself so you will achieve the best potential when
performing.
Targets for next week:
Continue working on Paranoid Android and listen along to the video of the band's
instrumentation of it so I can try and attempt the timing of the song when being
different from the original.
​
Week 8: 08.01.25
Outline of recording/rehearsal session:
On Monday we decided to change our song I say no from Heathers the musical to
Jump by Van Halen. We then started Jump on Wednesday we got up to the chorus
before the guitar solo section and as Louis was not in so we could not get up to that
section however, it sounded good so far. We went over cosmic girl as well just to
keep that up to standard for the gig. On Friday we properly started to work on
Paranoid Android, I listened over parts I struggled with but apart from that fully
had the original melody down. I then attempted to work on fitting in the melody to
the flipped song which Louis helped me with as it was harder because I was the
only singer in on that day. https://youtu.be/4_zAW3d4waw
Problems and issues that appeared: Solutions:
Louis and Kacey where absent so we
could not get up to the guitar solo
section during Jump by Van Halen. We just done it up to the chorus before the guitar solo section.
Both other singers were absent during
Friday's session when we started
paranoid android, I was not confident
when it came to singing it by myself but
after a few times I gained confidence. I went over the song several times so I could grasp the change of melody and then it was quite easy to get.
Reflection:
I have learnt from this session that there will always be situations for your
confidence to develop.
Targets for next week:
Build up my confidence for paranoid android.
Revise the melody of paranoid android.
​
Week 9: 17.01.25
Outline of recording/rehearsal session:
We had an extra rehearsal session this week on Tuesday which was very helpful for
us considering we had changed our song from I say no to Jump. So, we continued
working on Jump splitting up the entirety of the song vocally. On Wednesday's
session we worked on Paranoid Android, I helped Tash and Steph with the melody
of Paranoid Android as they were absent during the last session when we started
properly combining the vocals and instrumentation of the song which went well for
us. We also ran over the full set as an entirety discussing different orders for the
setlist. On Friday's session we worked on Paranoid Android more splitting up lyrics
so throughout the overall all performance we had an equal number of lyrics, Steph
singing more of Cosmic girl by Jamiroquai, me singing more of Jump by Van
Halen and Tash singing more of Paranoid Android by Radiohead.
Problems and issues that appeared: Solutions:
Paranoid Android sounded messy and
unprepared for the gig. We went over it several times and focused on sections that did not sound as good as other sections of the song.
Reflection:
Practising at home is key for the band to make progress as if certain induvial are
absent then we will fall behind with our work.
Targets for next week:
Keep working on Paranoid Android singing along to the rehearsal videos so I am at
my best confidence with it.
Work on my stage presence for the setlist.