Section 1: Rationale (100 words)
Q1. How much progress have you made since September 2020?
In my opinion, I have made an enormous amount of progress since September 2020. I’ve massively improved my skills as a performer/drummer, working on my confidence and playing. I am now able to perform in college without feeling too anxious or shy to be seen on stage. Also, my skills and techniques used whilst playing have been worked on during the last few months and I can already see the benefits it has given me as a musician. During my time on the course, I have also gained a huge amount of knowledge from music business, live sound, history/context, and even music theory, which I found incredibly difficult. Overall this course has already improved my talent and educational skills so much, I cannot wait to lean even more in Year 2 of college.
Q2. Specifically, what have you learned during units 1-7?
In Unit 1, I leant many drum techniques that I can use to work on specific skills I need to improve on. For example I needed to improve my sticking technique, so I found out how to do this and then filmed and evaluated myself working on this for a number of weeks. It has improved my stamina a lot as a drummer and I have gained confidence when playing from this. In Unit 2, we studied theory. Before September 2020, I had very little knowledge on the subject, but I was soon taught how to understand the way music is written and how to study and then play any song, just from listening to it. Now, when I listen to music, although I still don’t entirely understand it, I am able to work out the structure of any song I listen to and why they made the choice of chords/grooves they have used. In Unit 3 I learnt music business. Due to already studying it in secondary school, I was quite aware of about most of the lessons we were taught. However, I was unaware of the legal/contract parts of the industry, and now have full knowledge on what to look out for during my career/in the future. I was made aware of what is a scam and what isn’t, which will definitely benefit me in the future. In Unit 4 (my favourite unit) we studied decades and the music that was produced and released during them times. We looked at the decades 1920-2020, and I learnt about how music has changed and developed overtime, and also understanding how todays music has been inspired by music from the 1920s, which I find so interesting and how music and artists from back then, have impacted so much on today. In Unit 5 we were taught Live Sound which involved a lot of information. Setting up the correct mics for instruments, amps, mic placement and also setting up instruments. Also how to draw a stage plan, which I enjoyed doing as that will definitely help me in the future as I will most likely have to draw one for somebody, or be on the receiving end of it and have to set up a stage from a plan I have been given. In Unit 6, I covered physical, technical and communication challenges. This involved me finding what challenged me, and then performing three songs that enable me to face them head on and attempt to overcome them. This unit was a great confidence booster as I soon filmed the videos, and then realised that I was able to get over these hurdles that I had set for myself, therefore improving, and gaining more confidence in myself. For the final one, Unit 7, it was almost similar to Unit 6 as I had to basically improve on techniques/challenges and evidence it. However here I showed my progress over 3 weeks doing 3 different videos per week. I found this challenging, but very enjoyable.
Q3. What does this mean to/for you?
This means that, now having an incredible amount more of knowledge then before I joined college, I am a few steps closer to being able to hopefully have a career in the music industry as a musician. Learning all these skills and information has really helped and I can already guarantee that it’ll benefit me in the future. Overall, it has put into perspective, how difficult the industry really is. It’s made me understand how hard I need to work on musicianship skills and also my confidence as a person. I’m hoping the second year of college will just improve that even more, and also my project for Unit 8.
Q4. How has your learning/experiences during Units 1 to 7 influenced your choices for Unit 8?
Although I found the Units 1-7 quite challenging, they improved my playing skills by a huge amount in such little time, which I am amazed. For my project, it’s only right that I put these to the test so I am going to play/perform in my project. Units 1/6 and 7 were the specific units that have influenced me to do this as they involved mainly improving skills and performing.
Section 2: Project Concept (200 words)
Q5. What is the concept behind your project?
My main aim, is to show you two good/solid performances that I can put together in a matter of weeks to the best effort I can. I’m hoping it will show performance skills, confidence, playing skills and good creativity with my drumming as I will be making my own drum part for one of the songs.
Q6. What are the sources that have inspired it and will support you developing it?
Tiny Desk has really inspired me with the performance side of things. They inspired me to want to play live, and make audiences enjoy music and learn to feel the groove. I want to have people dance or even have their foot tapping along to my music. I am genuinely just inspired by live performances! I love gigs and watching people perform. That is what got me into music so being able to perform in a gig too, would be s amazing.
Q7. What resources do you need to carry out this concept within the timescale?
College is a major resource, as I am going to need to rehearse the pieces I am going to be performing. I can of course practice at home too, but my performances involve others so it’s best to practice with them too so I am able to get the most out of it. A big resource is the people I am working with on the two songs. Good communication is a major skill and is very much needed for this.
Section 3: Evaluation (50 words)
Q8. How will you record your evaluation throughout the project?
I will do a weekly update on how I’ve been getting along with the project and where I am with rehearsing/completing the project. Also I will hopefully add some videos of me rehearsing what I am going to be performing.
Q9. How are you going to record decisions that are made during the project?
I will blog them as I said above. I will write down my thoughts on the project and will also note down if I’ve decided to change any of the ideas I originally had. I will make sure I am honest in my writing as you will then get a feel for how challenging or difficult I may find the project.
Section 4: Project action plan and timetable
Write a plan with dates of what you are going to do and when. Include all the time that goes into the project, including sourcing material, information, and independent work.
Week 1 (12th – 18th April) : Discuss and decide what I am going to do. Work with the boys and decide what song you’re going to play with them.
Week 2 (19th – 25th April) : Start to make plans with people and get ideas floating around. Talk to Emma and Sean and see if they have a song ready so I can start writing a drum part to it.
Week 3 (26th April – 2nd May): Begin deciding what to play for the song with Emma and Sean. Start learning ‘Grace’ for other performance. Start on the WordPress as need to write down what is going on.
Week 4 (3rd – 9th May): Rehearse with both groups on the songs and decide if anything needs changing. Get a teachers opinion and also friends as they will have great advice.
Week 5 (10th – 16th May): Become confident on both songs and aim to feel performance ready by the end of the week.
Week 6 (17th – 23rd May): Perform the songs and upload it all to the blog. If needs to be re-filmed, try and get it done this week as may not have anytime after this.
Week 7 (24th – 30th May): Have everything hopefully finalised and filmed. Help the others if they need anything and try and upload the videos to YouTube so it can then be added to the blog easily.
Week 8 (31st May – 6th June): Final updates on blog, hoping it has all gone to plan and get everything completed to a good level that I am satisfied with.
Fran Adams Drums 