Individual improvements:
This song has a lot of barre chords in, and all the strings need to be strummed, so I need to work on my barre chord so I get a nice clean sound and no ringing, especially on the 1st string. I think my timing on the little riff, on the fourth chord, could be a little stronger.
Overall:
As a whole, I think we all stayed in time and worked together really well. The singers hit some incredible notes and the band all kept the music clean. To say we only had like 30 minutes rehearsal time, there’s only a few improvements, like my chords need to be cleaner and then maybe just some more movement in the band.
Targets:
I need to practice making my index flat on all the strings, so it eliminates that little ring that happens when I hit the 1st string. As we get more comfortable with the song, the movement will just happen. I think this song is quite lively so there should be more like smiles or just looking up from time to time.
Process:
We all listened to the song first and then got a feel for the music. Then, Abi already knew the drums so she was playing through and then Nail got taught the bass, Isaac got taught the chords and the riff and then I learnt the chords and the riff. After, we tried to play through, each time improving on the riffs etc. After like rehearsing it for a bit and working on the weaknesses, like timing, we performed it. We had about 30 minutes rehearsal so we did really good for a short space of time.
Individual Improvements:
This song is in 6/8, whereas I’m used to playing in 4/4, so it was quite difficult to stay on timing. I followed they keys more, strumming when I heard the keys hit the “2nd and 4th” beat. However, I need to get more confident in the timing so I don’t have to focus on keeping on time, and so I can look up more etc. Also, I couldn’t really hear myself on the video, it could just be bad quality but, I need to make sure I always have my levels set to where the audience can hear me. Switching between parts was difficult because I didn’t really know the timing, so, again, I need to strengthen up my timing so I don’t miss the first chord and get lost in the song.
Overall:
Overall, to say it’s quite a difficult song timing wise, we did really well. We all held up our parts pretty well. There were a few issues with levels, keys had to be turned up and I couldn’t really hear bass or guitar on the video, so those need flushing out. I think with practice, it’ll come naturally. Again, we need to look up more and engage with each other, instead of always looking down at our instruments. We could all get more familiar with the song, so we can be more confident in playing, especially for our timing and transitions. There was one part that we got wrong, when Lucy sings “love on the brain” in falsetto, we’re not supposed to be playing, so we stop abruptly, but we carried on. I think it sound better with an abrupt end on a falsetto note so we should work on the ending, alongside transitions and timing. Also, the tambourine at the start sounded really nice, so we could possibly think of actually adding that in, if we get everything else down.
Targets:
My personal targets are to improve on my timing. Overall, we should all work on our timing too but, we should really work on the transitions and ending, so it doesn’t sound messy/sloppy. This can be done in rehearsals by going over our weaknesses and flushing them out, but also in our individual times at home.
Process:
Drummer and singers already knew their parts. We started with the keys, because they play the main melody. After keys, we worked on the guitar and my timing on where it comes in, because the guitar is quite sharp in this song. Then we had bass to follow the drum. After, we tried it all together, Nic helping each of us staying in time and making sure we had the right chords. Millie’s keys were more for layers in the song, so he helped her with those as we played too, she might be doing harmonies later on, if she’s confident on the keys.
Individual Improvements:
This is a nice pop song, in 4/4, and really just using 4 chords. I think we all kept timing really well and we all looked up a little more, making more eye contact with each other etc. I think everyone really enjoys playing this song and it can felt in the atmosphere.
Overall:
Overall, this is a really strong take, with only few mistakes. We kept time well, for the most part, except for when the drummer seemed to be ending and possibly forgot that there was just one more line. However, everyone was confident in their parts so it didn’t throw anyone off. At one point, Millie was talking to Lucy and told her that she was singing the last line, so it seemed like there was a little confusion there, but it was an easy fix that probably won’t be made again. Millie seemed to forget her keys levels at one point, she kind of scrambled for the volume button, but she got it in time so maybe next time just be more confident with it. Also, Lucy seemed to be looking up lyrics, which is a quick problem solver, but it does look more professional if there’s no lyric aid in front of the singer(s).
Targets:
My personal targets are to work on barre chords more, because sometimes I get a ring that I don’t want. Overall, I think learning the structure in more detail would be beneficial, so we know when we’re ending and when keys need to be loud etc, and the singer needs to learn the lyrics by heart so it looks more professional.
Process:
This was our second rehearsal, so we already knew our parts. We just started playing through and then went back over the parts that we felt we needed to flush out, which was the transitions and the ending.
Individual Improvements:
To say I haven’t played bass before, I did really well. I think my timing was pretty much on point for most of the performance. However, I do need to get more confident with the song because when we go into the bridge, I struggle to keep the timing because I don’t follow the guitar anymore, as that’s like a solo bit. I need to be more confident when performing too, like move around when I’m on stage and that.
Overall:
I think they levels could be altered a little, as you can’t really hear the keys that much. The keys also seemed to struggle a bit with the structure of the sold and where they were supposed to play, but the song was really well and you couldn’t really tell, apart from the way he was speaking to Nic. Overall, this song is probably one of our best and it can sort of be felt with the atmosphere. If we just improve on moving around on stage, it’ll be really good.
Targets:
I’d like to work on moving around on stage, and actually working on the performance aspect of it instead of just playing. I can do this by walking around a little more and smiling and maybe miming some of the lyrics etc.
Process:
Drums already knew their part so I just had to be given the bass part, to follow the drums. Then the guitar had to learn the verses and chorus, alongside their little solo part. After, the keys learnt their parts, which was chords coming in half way through the verses and the chorus. Whilst we learnt it, the singers were learning the lyrics. Then, we put it together and practiced about 4 times before performing in front of the other band.
Individual Improvements:
I want to improve my performance, which means I need to bring my guitar strap so I can actually move around. On the second song, my timing goes in and out, which kind of gives it a messy sound on the start, so I need to flesh out the timing and make sure I know when I’m playing, because the guitar is quite sharp so it stands out. It sounds messy again when we move into the bridges, because I don’t know when I’m changing into the next part so I play the verse and then into the bridge again, meaning there’s two sounds over the top of each other and it sounds messy. Overall, I need to bring a strap, so I can perform better, and I need to flesh out my timing.
Overall:
I think it’ll be better if the singers learn the lyrics or maybe get them printed out, so it looks a bit more professional than reading from your phone. The levels need to be changed a little, because when I moved to bass I couldn’t hear myself. Everyone needs to work on their performance and loosen up a little bit because everyone’s just looking at their instruments at the minute. When me and Niall switch over, we need to remember to roll down the volume so it doesn’t feedback. Also, the wire on the bass needs to be checked because that was also causing some feedback. The transitions into the bridge on the second song and the solo on the third song need some work because they’re very messy. We need to familiarise ourselves with the structures of each song more. In the third song, they need to remember to do harmonies on the bridge, so it sounds layered, which again is just learning the structures.
Targets:
Overall, I think we need to work on the structures, so we know exactly when we’re changing and it doesn’t sound messy. Then, we all need to be more confident in performing, instead of just looking at our instruments and making sure we play well.
Process:
We had a little discussion at first, to decide our set list, which worked around when me and Niall swapped, so the two times I’m on guitar was first and then we switch so we didn’t switch too many times. Then, we just played through them, back to back.
Process:
We tried it where we all just start together and then Millie sings to show the audience. Asking the audience if they’re ready is good interaction, as well as asking us if we’re ready. We then ran through the whole song. Overall, the song sounds great, but here we needed the strong ending that we have now. The rooms a little small to move around in but we do need to remember our performance aspect of the show.
Targets:
We needed to smoothen out the ending, allowing a drum solo etc but we have that now. Singers need to remember the charity.
Individual Improvements: On the second song, “Love on the Brain”, I need to be sharper on the guitar strums because they’re quite quick and so they need to be sharper but on time. Then, we need to bring our own straps, because when we transition, it’s quicker.
Overall: We need strengthen up the transitions between songs, especially between the swap overs. Whilst we swap over, we need the singers to speak to the audience, so the audience isn’t just looking at us. It seems like the singers are still looking up the lyrics on their phones for the second song, so they need to print off a lyric sheet or memorise the lyrics. When we’re transitioning, it’s very messy, we have everyone playing their parts in between whilst the singers speak so we need to have silence and just the singers interacting with the crowd. However, we all have our timings pretty much perfect and now we’re working on our performance aspect. We also have a good crowd interaction and we end on a really strong song.
Targets: For the actual show, we need to bring our own straps that we can just swap. Then, the singers need to write a script to guide the conversation, whilst me and Niall swap and in between songs.
Process: We all already knew the songs so we were more running through to work out the crowd interactions. As we went through, you can see how we were working out the best way, and simplest way, to get the audience involved. It started off really messy but was resolved, as you’ll see when it’s practiced in the next video. This was problem solving, we came across the problem of having 2 different melodies for the audience would confuse them so we left it at just 1.
Individual Improvements:
I haven’t actually practiced this song with them so this was the first time. Due to this, I was looking at Nic to give me the ques as to when I was playing. I don’t play for much of the song so I need to figure out how to look like I’m still in the song. I need to work on being more confident on my parts, which’ll come when I’ve played more than once.
Overall:
Everyone seems to be keeping time really well and playing their parts right. Maybe, it’s time to work on the performance aspect, as we’re all pretty much just stood there in our own spaces.
Targets:
I’m going to work on my placements in the song so I’m confident to do it on my own and I can just focus on playing in my own space. I also need to move around a bit, maybe sway a bit as I’m quiet for a long time.
Process:
They’ve been practicing in rehearsals, with Nic on keys, for a few weeks and then we just performed it together today, no rehearsal pre-hand.
Individual Improvements:
For the most part, it was really good. I knew the structure and the timing was almost perfect. However, I stood in one spot for the whole time and I was really quiet, so next time I need to communicate if I can’t hear myself.
Overall:
Again, it was really good! However, this was before all the audience interaction and the big ending so it’s quite empty. Here, we needed to focus on a more suspenseful ending and actually have audience interactions. As well as interacting with the audience, we need to interact with each other, and move around more. Overall, we had good timing and we all knew the songs structure, so musically, it was on point, but the performance was really basic, we all just stood there.
Targets:
We need to work on the performance aspect! Here, we also needed to work on the ending but currently speaking, that’s sorted now.
Process:
This was just rehearsals so we just went through our song that we felt needed more practice.
Individual Improvements:
Again, I really need to research what performers do whilst they’re not playing because I’m unsure of how to still look like I’m in the song. I also need to work on the structure here because I played in a few times that I wasn’t supposed to.
Overall:
The only other thing is that the singer needs to make sure not to give the stop signal to the sound people until the band is ready. Other than that, timing was really good and the singer lead the performance, maybe some of the other band could also try and work on their performance aspect so it’s not just the singer.
Targets:
Work on my performance and memorise the structure.
Process:
This was the mock so we ran through the set as we would on the night.
Individual Improvements:
On the first song, the guitar had distortion on it so I need to know how to turn it to clean so I can sort out my own sound. Again, I need to move, but also because you can’t see me if I don’t. Then, in the swap over, we need to just swap straps because it takes too long.
Overall:
It was really good musically, pretty much everything on point! However, we all need to move more. The harmonies on the third song were so good and the break down was really good, the guitar just needs to be a little smoother. On the first song, I missed a few chords but that was just because of nerves and I pulled it back around.
Targets:
There needs to be some talking in the change over because it takes at least 2 minutes. Bring our own straps and then move more!
Process:
We just ran through our whole set list as we would on the night to see what we need to improve.
Individual Improvements:
I couldn’t really hear myself on bass so I need to ask for louder volume.
Overall:
The last song sounds great, ending with a bang! However, we needed to be cleaner with the end, we all need to shake the F, let drums solo, end on an F and then the buh dum from the drums. There was great talking in between, thanking everyone and asking for donations, as well as great crowd interactions. It was good that the singer asked if the band was all ready, nice communication. However, the singers did seem to forget some of the lyrics and it was quite a messy transition.
Targets:
The singers need to know what to do in the transitions so they’re not messy but the band needs to move more! Interacting with each other and the crowd is essential.
Process:
Again, we just ran the set as we will on the night.
Individual Improvements:
I just need to move more, and bring a strap so I can actually move.
Overall:
We all have really good timing and, musically, we did really well. I love the harmonies, especially on “Transparent soul”. Although, the main vocal mic seems quieter than the harmonies one fore some reason, but that’s not really something we, as the band, could’ve fixed.
Targets:
Bring a strap so I can move.
Process:
We actually set up the live sound first, plugging everything in etc, and then we rehearsed our last 3 songs in the set list.