Term 2 - Lesson 2 - 29th April 2015

Lesson 2                                                                                                           29th April 2015


Ensemble Rehearsal
In this session we focused on our new song, choosing and adapting another song. We have decided to do 'Apparently' as the main background track by J. Cole and mixed 'American Boy' lyrics from Estelle. This is because, as a group, we decided that American Boy consisted of high notes throughout and by mixing the lyrics with 'Apparently', has aloud us to change the tune. Another thing is that both these songs are sang by different genders consisting of high and low notes: this allowed us as a group to also adapt a male song to our individual voices.


 What we achieved today:
We organised all of the harmonies within the group using 'garage'. We included the chorus of American Boy in Apparently by adding harmony 'o' in between -This decision was made to erase the rap in Apparently (We also included verses from American Boy).


Overall, we are keeping to track with deciding our songs. We have also decided who is singing which verse. However, we didn't get a chance to go through our first chosen song to make sure that we are comfortable with it.


Next week:
-Learn both songs by heart
-Run through the first song making sure that everyone know there lines and harmonies
-Also go through the second song
-Adapt a choreography to the songs to make it more of a performance

-Chose the third song and organise who is singing which verse

Ensemble Presentation:

Peet Coombes (1952- 1997) - vocal and guitarist

As illustrated on the image, Peet (who is on the left hand side) is singing with Lennox (Who is on the right hands side) with a guitar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRBTRGM4lnE

In this clip Peet is singing and playing the guitar at the front of the stage with Annie Lennox.

He is accompanying Annie in harmony on the chorus and in some verses but doesn't have a single verse vocally which shows that he isn't the main singer.

David A. Stewart - guitar

David is playing the guitar on the right hand side in this image whilst Lennox is singing.

• Annie Lennox - vocal and keyboards
• Eddie Chin - bass guitar
• Jim Toomey - drums

Term 2 - Lesson 1 - 22th April 2015

Ensemble rehearsal 

So far, we are sticking to some points of the rehearsal plan; we've printed out the lyrics and annotated each sheet with the harmonies and other adaptations. This was useful so that we can learn the lyrics by heart. However, we did not do a run through without looking at the lyrics. This means we still have to practice the singing it without lyrics. 

One issue in our group was starting the first line of the song and the first line to the choruses as it comes in at a fast pace. 

We chose another song to work on 'American Boy' British rapper and sing Estelle. This song is great in terms of adapting harmonies and different melodies, especially in the chorus. It is a more upbeat music which creates a variety in the song choice. Although, I do think that this song is hard when it comes to the rapping. I think it is long, and the possible solution is to cut down the rapping section. I knew the chorus of this song, which was good as it meant that I was more confident in singing it. However, we haven't finished choosing who is going to sing which verse. 

As a feedback of the rehearsal today, I think that we spent too long on the first song. It is important for everyone to learn their parts and the lyrics by heart. I would have began choosing the singers for each verse and worked out the harmonies so that we had the second song sorted out. 

For next week, we need to ensure that everyone knows there lines and the song by heart. Decide who is singing which verse and add the harmonies. We also need to choose another final song. 

Ensemble for Presentation

The Tourists (1977 -1980) were a British rock and pop band

• Peet Coombes (1952- 1997) - vocal and guitarist 
• David A. Stewart - guitar
• Annie Lennox - vocal and keyboards
• Eddie Chin - bass guitar
• Jim Toomey - drums

Term 2 - Lesson 7 - 25th March 2015

Lesson 7                                                                                                      25th March 2015

Ensemble

I'm in a group of 5 with Caitlin, Molly, Nenei, Agatha and myself. Being in a group of 5 means that there is more people to fit in different harmonies. I think that the members in my groups have different styles of voices and tones which makes the whole ensemble more interesting and fun to work with.

In my group, we decided to list a range of songs to choose from and narrowed it down to what the group liked. We characterized our chosen songs: slow, faster and one which we could 'MASH' (mix another song). I liked our scheme of choosing songs because it meant that we were all working together and choosing songs which we liked. For me personally, I found that most of the chosen songs were unknown to me, and it means that I need to learn the lyrics. However, it was nice to listen other types of songs.

Our first chosen song is 'FortyFiveSecond' by Rihanna. We chose this because it is slow and we can adapt different harmonies.

What I need to do: I need to practice the high harmonies in the chorus and learn the lyrics.


Plan of rehearsal from now until the performance
Wednesday 25th March
- Practice first slow song by Rihanna and decide the who is singing which lines and the different harmonies
(taking into account that everyone has to have one line on their own singing a higher melody)  

Wednesday 22nd April
- Print lyrics and practice going through the song with the harmonies
- Learn song by heart and singing it without lyrics 
- Choose another song to begin practicing 
- Add harmonies and learn lyrics

Wednesday 29th April
- Practice song without lyrics
-Choose the last song to mix
- Practice new song and share ideas on another song to mix with it
- Learn the lyrics

Wednesday 6th May
- Organize who is singing each verse and the harmonies
- Practice going through the song and singing without lyrics  

Term 2 - Lesson 8 - 25th February 2015

Lesson 8                                                                                                              25th February 2015

Today's session

I sang 'Fallen' because I felt that it was important to try and sing it with the microphone. However, because I haven't sang it in a long time, I felt that my voice was going because of how I was reaching on the high notes very often.

I should sing 'z' to the song and practice going from the low notes to the high notes making sure that I am supporting all the way through.

Exercises

• Lip trills in a scale
• Singing to a minor chord - which I find sometimes hard 
• Scales in a major going up

Practice
I feel confident playing the piano and singing 'Turning Tables' although I have to practice the last verse.  I need to practice singing 'fallen' without losing my voice.

What I need to do next before my recital is to I think it is important to think about what I would like to say during my performance; introduce my songs. And also doing a run through the program so I ensure my voice feels comfortable singing all these songs. If I feel that I am struggling, I will continue doing the breathing exercises of breathing in to 4 and singing notes out to 12. This smoothens my voice and allows me to have control when singing.

Program Update:
My recital is coming up and so far I have learnt all my lines from the chosen songs as well as the piano notes which means I followed my program very well and I have continued singing 'e' 'z' throughout my songs, which has helped me prepare for my pieces. In addition I have prepared my mini speech throughout my recital so that the audiences are aware of what I am singing.

Final program:
1st song- Turning Tables by Adele
 (which I need to practice singing during this week with the piano)

2nd song - Sacrifice by Elton John
(I need to practice the last verse into the chorus)

3rd song - Fallen by Sarah Mclahclan
(Practice the last chorus going into the last verse as I tend to re pet the first verse again)

4th song - Way Back into Love by Music and Lyrics
(Should rehearse with the piano making sure that I have different style and notes being played througout the song)

5th song -Valerie by Amy Winehouse
(Need to count and make sure how many 'valerie' should be sang)

Term 2 - Lesson 7 - 18th February 2015

Lesson 7                                                                                                           18th February 2015

Program
In terms of my programme, I have decided to change 'I'm Yours' to 'Valerie' because I feel more confident with the lyrics, style and because I have sang it before on the microphone. Personally, I believe that my voice fits well with this song and it's a perfect song to vary within my program.

Exercises

• Breathing into 4 and humming out to 12 'o' and 'a' to help with opening my vocals as well as practicing my low notes. 
• Singing the song to a 'z' has ensured I have support one the notes which I struggle with

What have I been focusing on?
I have been more focused on the songs I feel less comfortable such as 'sacrifice' and 'turning tables' with the piano. I have learnt the lyrics of 'sacrifice'. Also, I have been practicing 'turning tables' on the piano.

Term 2 - Lesson 6 - 11th February 2015

Lesson 6                                                               - 11th February 2015

My progress
I've been going through my chosen songs: starting from my first chosen song up until the last song, and this has been useful as it has allowed my voice to accustom to the different songs and not feel out of breath. 

Also i have been recording myself constantly singing and then listening to them. And I found that I need to still work on 'Sacrifice' because I'm still not comfortable with the middle verse and also the tune. I have however, found a karaoke wih Sinead O'Connor's version - which is useful since I'meant more comfortable with the tune. I have been practising various warm ups in order to progress in my singing; such as singing to a 'z' throughout the song, breathing in to 4 and out to 12 and then 14, followed by 16. 

In addition, I have struggled with my piano playing to 'Way back into love', because one of my previous feedbacks was about adding a different style and rhythm throughout. Even though I searched for ideas on the Internet and asked a collegue of for some ideas, I still didn't feel to sure, so I decided to learn the actual piece, with all the different notes - which is what I have been practicing on lately, making sure that I'm playing at the right pace and able to sing along comfortably. I do feel that my practice is going well. 

Another adaptation to my program.  I have chosen to learn 'Turning Tables" on the piano, which has been incredibly difficult but it has come along finally and I'm extremely  proud of my progress! It was initially in my agenda to have two songs with me playing the piano, one in the beginning and another towards the end, which is why I have made this decision.  



List of questions which I should have in mind

'Turning Tables'

• What is my character?

My character is a female who has fallen out with her partner and is expressing her emotions towards him. 

• Who am I singing to?

In this song, my character is singing to herself, reflecting on what has happened

• Where am I whilst singing?

I'm in this white, dull empty room and there's a chair where I begin by sitting on it and then standing as he song goes along, as I feel that is how she's expressing her feelings 

• How is the character feeling? 

She's terribly angry at her partner and in the end, She's feeling as though she has failed herself for letting the relationship get to where it got to.

Term 2 -Lesson 5 - 4th Februrary 2015

Lesson 5 -                                                                  4th February 2015

This week
During the course of this week I have ran through my chosen songs and recorded myself singing them. This exercise enabled me to pick out what songs I need to practice and what possible exercises I can do to help improve. This exercise helped me identify the struggles as well as my tuning throughout the verses. With this, I found that I wasn't singing in the right tune to my chosen backing track to 'Sacrifice' by Elton John. I think this is because I am used to listening to Sinead O'Connor's version of the song. My aim for next week is to chose which version I am singing (Sinead O'Connor or Elton John) and listen to them and sing along. This will ensure I stick with a version and sing it in the right tune.


Another song which I feel I need to practice is 'Way Back Into Love' by Music and Lyrics, I feel that I don't have much support towards the bridge and I become tensed because I don't feel comfortable in singing high. Therefore, I have been practicing running through the song being aware of how I am supporting my voice on the high notes. I found that by relaxing my shoulders and supporting every high note towards the end I can; hold the note longer, it is clearer and I sing the right note confidently. In addition, I have been singing in front of a mirror as another exercise. This has been helping me in feeling more comfortable and less embarrassed about the emotions I portray with my hand gestures.


Today's session
In today's session I sang 'Turning Tables' by Adele. This was important so that I could practice my chosen song for my recital and to practice singing through the microphone. After this session I feel more confidence singing this song because I was afraid forgetting the lyrics of this song (even though I have learnt the song by heart) and this was because I haven't sang a song which implied showing my voice.


Feedback
I think it was a useful and important my feedback today because it has helped me think through the character I want to portray depending on the song and also, my positioning on stage- making sure that I am facing all of the audience. The feedback because whilst I was on stage, I didn't notice that I was only facing to a group of audience and not everyone. I will ensure that when I am on stage next time, that I am able to see everyone and that they can also see me.


List of questions which I should have in mind

• What is my character?
• Who am I singing to?
• Where am I whilst singing?
• How is the character feeling?

Look at the list of questions  that I showed you last week. For one of your songs, give a brief account of how you have answered/addressed those questions (NB. not every question is relevant to every song). Can you think of any other questions you should be asking yourself?