Diary

Final Major Project Diary – Vocalist Perspective (Solo Singing) And FMP

Songs: Emeli Sande – Clown, Dua Lipa – Homesick, Gorgeous – Taylor Swift, Speechless – Dan + Shay.

Entry 1/Session 1: I had managed to pick at least 2 songs to rehearse. The songs were Emeli Sande – Clown and Dua Lipa – Homesick. Within that time I doing rehearsal I listened to the 2 songs that I picked and played and instrumental backing track afterwards to practice singing then songs. These were my some of my favourite songs and I enjoy singing them but there is still some room for improvement. Equipment: Speaker (guitar Amp and Aux).

Within the week I also did my proposal deciding on my project idea and how I may carry it out to give a guide of what I’m doing. Within my proposal I have done a rationale, explained my project idea, added skills, targets that will be made, action plan and a timetable for my routine. For my project idea I focused on doing genres of pop/soul as I’m interested and passionate in this area.

Entry 2/Session 2: During the second time I did rehearsal I had already thought about and picked 2 more songs that I was going to record and rehearse with. The songs are Gorgeous – Taylor Swift and Speechless – Dan + Shay. I now have 4 songs for my major project and I feel that I’m able to practice with the comfort and ability as I enjoy these songs already. Within the rehearsal space I listened to each of the songs and I practiced each song. I believe it went successfully however I still need some improvement. There are 2 songs that I’m confident with and the other 2 that I’m not. Without the necessary equipment, I’m still able to use, listen and sing to backing tracks on YouTube with the speaker (Guitar Amp and Aux) provided.

With deciding my songs I have created a plan alongside to practice and recording schedules. Within my planning and development PowerPoint I did a timetable showing what I do within each week, recording schedule, health and safety risk assessment, Equipment list to know what I need when recording and a call sheet to know who will be with me when I record each session. I created a plan to guide me through recording and rehearsal.   

Entry 3/Session 3: I have practiced and listened to my 4 songs. I feel that I’m a bit more confident singing them. As well as rehearsal, I did home practice during the week. I first song I went through was ‘Clown’ when I sang through this I feel as though I was the same as last time. I feel as though I need to focus on an area when I sing my songs such as high and low range, dynamics, etc. After I sang my songs in order from Clown – Speechless and it seemed like the same pattern was occurring however I am more confident singing them.

This week I have also did research and did a PowerPoint on audience profiling to get to know who will listen to my music and who listens to my genres that I have picked, from this I have done 2 profiles, one on demographic and one on psychometric. Through this research I have conducted primary research and secondary research of how people listen to music, I also did a comparison of what was research was better explaining what i did however they are both good.

The outcome was mostly within streaming music. Through this I can allow myself to know my audience better and be able to know where I should upload my music onto. The next day I did research on 2 songs based on composition and sonic elements. There I found out key, time signature, etc.

Entry 4/Session 4: I have focused on dynamics on my songs that I have practiced. I practiced the song ‘Speechless’ as I thought I needed to improve singing it. I realised that I was singing the wrong key has the backing track didn’t suit my vocal ability, so then I changed it to a higher key and my voice suited it allowing me to be comfortable singing it. After that I continued singing the other songs that I chose. Next time in think I will continue working on dynamics and my vocal range on the songs as I need to further improve on this.

I have also done Artist research and found out about 4 artist’s background, there I have researched about the artists within the genre’s I chose to do. I have done this because as I needed to know the background’s and life about these artists. On the same week I done PowerPoint and research analysing key features of art work on a cd cover because I needed inspiration to create very my own art cover.

Entry 5/Session 5: I have rehearsed my songs and I have decided that I will now be recording a practicing 3 songs instead of 4. I will be excluding the song ‘Homesick’ by Dua Lipa as I think it will be easier for me to cope with my project. I have still focused on the dynamics of each song. Next time I will focusing on keeping in time and remembering the lyrics. However, I may change one of my songs in future to something else.

This week I have also done work and research on recording techniques in a PowerPoint. In this area I have researched and typed up about what skills and techniques I need to require before recording. Within the same day I also did research on performance and production roles. I did this so that I know what roles will be needed as if I was in the music industry as well as recording my songs.

Entry 6/Session 6: I have decided that I’m not changing one of my songs but keeping it. This is because I was thinking to change from Taylor Swift “Gorgeous” to an Adele song “Someone like you”, however I changed my mind as previously I have sang Adele songs in past projects and I would like to push myself towards singing in a wider variety of songs and artist’s. I have also sang my songs this week in spite of focusing and keeping in time when singing my lyrics, listening to the backing tracks carefully and listening how the artist’s sing their songs allowing myself to learn from going high and low when singing. Next time I will carry on focusing keeping in time and dynamics when practicing.

This week I have also done a PowerPoint on exhibition research. There I typed up and researched about listening parties and how they can help me in my project.

Entry 7/Session 7: I have practiced this session before recording as well as keeping in time with my singing with each song. I also focused on dynamics. Hopefully I’m able to record one of my songs by next week.

This week I have made a presentation showing and explaining what I have done in my listening party, what the project idea is, how I have carried out my project, explained my songs and their meanings in detail and I have shown my track list and art cover. I have made the presentation to show what I have done.

Entry 8/Session 8: This week I have practiced and recorded my first song ‘Clown’ in the recording studio. Next time I plan to record my other 2 songs and make my art cover for my CD/album.

I created my art cover for my album and made a PowerPoint recording my steps onto it. I did this as it was based from my research and creative side of the project.

I have rehearsed ‘Speechless’ one last time and recorded the song. This went according to plan and I’m happy.

I have rehearsed ‘Gorgeous’ and recorded the song. I’m happy that I recorded it well as it was the hardest song in my choices for me and it was out of my comfort zone but with a lot of practice it went well.

Songs I recorded: Emelie Sande – Clown, Dan + Shay – Speechless, Taylor Swift – Gorgeous.

Songs I left out: Dua Lipa – Homesick.