| CandidateName | Finlay Mactaggart | |
| Candidate Number | 10577750 | |
| Pathway | Music Performance and Production | |
| Project Title | FMT Jazz Band + Session Pianist | |
| Section 1: Context (approx. 300 words) | ||
| Over the past two years on this course, I have developed a range of skills including performance, composition, live sound, recording, video editing and academic writing. Throughout my previous projects, I have performed at a range of professional events across the country as well as exploring a variety of genres. This has allowed me to develop my confidence and skillset in working with a band at industry standard level which has included organising rehearsals, creating arrangements, directing a band and working with professional music venues. Through my personal practice, I have developed an understanding of jazz theory, jazz arrangements and jazz piano techniques.
For my final project, I want to create a jazz band to perform a range of my own compositions and covers. I have already created a few rough compositions and therefore will need to arrange them into a complete final product. These ideas have been based on ambient jazz as well as jazz funk and hip hop. I am hoping to create a structured performance that will build up throughout and will develop musically by exploring different subgenres of jazz and instrumentation. I would also like to experiment with different looks for myself and the band in the promotion of the final performance. The final performance will most likely take place in a venue in Bradford. I will be promoting in a similar way to my final project last year and will look to arrange a photoshoot and some artwork to be created. I would also like to create a promotional video. In addition to organising my own jazz band, I will be working on a range of different projects as a session pianist. The music industry requires a flexible skill set and many proffessionals work multiple different jobs at the same time, therefore this will allow me a great insight into the requirements of this process. After I complete my final project, I will most likely be going to university or looking for work as a performing musician, therefore this project will allow me to develop as a performing musician and composer which I will be able to build on in future projects. For example, by developing strong organisational skills and learning to structure my work in an efficient and progressive way, I will be able to create stronger foundations for my future career. |
||
| Section 2: Research (approx. 50 words) | ||
|
||
| Section 3: Problem solving (approx. 100 words) | ||
Frequent evaluations should allow me to address any issues that may develop over the course of the project. I plan to hold weekly meetings with the band in order to deal with any concerns and make sure that everything is on track.
|
||
| Section 4: Planning and production (approx. 50 words) | ||
| To manage my time effectively, I am going to create a detailed action plan and timetable.
I will establish a weekly band rehearsal timetable which will be documented by recording any new ideas or adjustments to a song as well as taking notes in band meetings. For the final performance, we will need to assemble a detailed equipment list. |
||
| Section 5: Practical skills (approx. 100 words) | ||
| I am continuously developing as a jazz pianist and I will be exploring new sub genres of jazz in this project. I will have to study a range of artists from these styles so as to understand the compositional and improvisational techniques required. My organisational and communication skills will be very important in the success of this project as I will be collaborating with a range of professionals in addition to staying on top of my production plan.
I will have to develop my arrangement skills in order to balance a structured performance with showcasing our improvisational capabilities. By studying similar bands performances and comparing them to ours throughout the process, I will be able to strengthen our approach for the final performance. I will be developing a strong promotional structure by researching a range of music business models. As a session pianist, I will be required to play in multiple styles and therefore I will need to create a strong practice routine in order to learn large amounts of new material and develop my skill set in new genres.
|
||
| Section 6: Evaluation and reflection (approx. 100 words) | ||
| I will be evaluating and reflecting on my project in several areas. These will include our band rehearsals and meetings, any significant developments such as a new song idea and a weekly evaluation.I will be using the Gibbs’ reflective cycle for my evaluations (Brookes.ac.uk, 2019). This method will allow me to combine my initial emotional response with a formal evaluation process which will create a balanced approach when producing an action plan.
My weekly evaluation will be summarised in the format of a short video and will be accompanied by a detailed written evaluation. Band meetings will be recorded in an audio format and meetings will be written up.
|
||
| Section 7: Presentation (approx. 100 words) | ||
| I will present my work on my digital space profile using a range of media files and written work. I hope to film all of our performances as a band and will record the audio of our band rehearsals so as to fully document our progress.I am hoping to create a promotional video and develop some artwork for the band which be promoted through social media, therefore I will need to create a strategy in order to create aesthetic and structured content.
I will be researching the development of our image as a band both when performing and promoting.
|
||
| Proposed Research Sources and Bibliography (Harvard Format) | ||
| The Universal Mind of Bill Evans. (1966). [film] Directed by L. Cavrell. USA.Levine, M. (1995). The jazz theory book. Petaluma, CA (P.O. Box 445, Petaluma, 94953): Sher Music.
Levine, M. (1989). The Jazz piano book. Petaluma (CA): Sher Music. Davis, M. and Troupe, Q. (1990). Miles, the autobiography. New York: Simon and Schuster Paperbacks. Gavin, J. (2002). Deep in a dream – the long night of chet baker. Chicago. Hancock, H. and Dickey, L. (2014). Herbie Hancock : possibilities. New York: Viking. YouTube. (2019). Herbie Hancock: Buddhism and Creativity | Mahindra Humanities Center. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSFMkJQKigk YouTube. (2019). Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles – Staying Alive. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRNGVi0gTxk Thejazzpianosite.com. (2019). The Jazz Piano Site – Free Jazz Piano Tutorials. [online] Available at: http://www.thejazzpianosite.com/ YouTube. (2019). Ólafur Arnalds – Full Performance (Live on KEXP). [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9tnLMV7m3s YouTube. (2019). GoGo Penguin: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47XlUL6sRow [Accessed 26 Feb. 2019].
|
||
Skip to content
Musician
