Week 1:
On Monday, I started with my orchestral research. I started with the general knowledge of composing, and then moved onto the harmonies and styles of composing, and lastly I looked at string articulation and the different instruments range. I found the research really informing actually and I found different ways to create more fuller and richer sounds whilst avoiding the muddiness of having too many instruments playing at once. I then moved onto Logic to start developing some string ideas whilst the research was fresh in my mind. I started by playing in the piano part and then bass, added in the violin’s 1 or 2 and lastly the viola. I started with the bass so I had a basses to build from and started developing different ideas in the violin and viola’s, using my knowledge from research. Millie wasn’t in so it gave me more time to play around with my orchestral research by putting it to practice.
WWW: Researching so I have more ideas to work with, sound wise and technique wise. Already developing ideas, puts me ahead.
EBI: Rehearse with Millie.
On Tuesday, I recorded a rough draft of my first piano piece and my Latin influenced piece so I could work solely on the string ideas. I did this because yesterday I ate into a lot of my string creating because I had no piano as a reference to work with.
WWW: Learning from my mistake of not having a rough piano demo to work from for the strings. Already started working on my second piece, the Latin piece, and strings so I’m way ahead already.
EBI: Record the piano properly.
Wednesday, we didn’t have a full session so I didn’t start my percussive research and I, instead, developed another orchestral idea. I’ve developed a lot of the cello so I’ve got some confident ideas but I need to work on developing some violin and viola ideas too.
WWW: Experimenting with different string ideas and finding the sounds I like.
EBI: Start research on the percussion.
Thursday, I’m starting my percussive research and trying to document as much as I can so I can try the ideas out at home. As well as my research, I’m going to try to analyse some compositions that use orchestral string and percussion to help me get a better idea of how to work with them.
WWW: Started my percussion research. Looking for inspiration to develop my own ideas.
EBI: Whilst researching, try out the sounds so you don’t forget them.
Friday, I finished my string, percussion and promotional research so on Monday, I can just start to develop the piano and record it before I start working with composing the string and percussion. I’ve also set up my link tree to all my personal social medias as well as the Dandelion’s accounts, mine and Millie’s band accounts.
WWW: Finished researching so I can move onto practical. On target.
EBI: Finish the piano section to record on Monday.
Week 2:
Monday, I simplified my piano more as I developed the piece. I simplified it so that I had more parts repeating, like more motifs, so it’s memorable but also because I wanted to leave more parts open for strings to develop.
WWW:Found the piano sound I liked.
EBI: Start properly composing for the strings. Record the piece.
Tuesday, I started my promotional work! I uploaded a video I edited together onto Instagram, Twitter and Tik Tok. I used hashtags to push the viewers and I used footage from different rehearsals so you could see snippets of the different things I’m doing, like there was a snippet of me playing guitar, piano, bongos etc. I also uploaded the Dandelions promotional footage, which was just a video of us rehearsing.
WWW: Started promotion and the research came allowed it to reach more people.
EBI: Get friends to reshare the post to boost it even more.
Overall, this week, my main focus was to finish my first piano composition. I completed my research this week on Latin Percussion history and the best promotional techniques.
WWW: Finished my research and finished writing my piano piece.
EBI: Record the piano.
Week 3:
This week, I focused on completing my recordings. I’ve recorded my first piano piece and my collaborative piece in the studio using an acoustic piano. It took around 6-8 takes to get the best take but I think that’s pretty well to say we didn’t have much time to rehearse because of other projects. It was mostly the timing that was challenging but when we just listened to each other play, we seemed to follow each other a lot better. We set up a mic behind the piano and to the left and right of the open lid piano. We set up a mic to be pointed at the neck on the guitar and in the guitar hole. It only took about an hour to record these two pieces.
As well as recording, I managed to complete my story board ideas for my canvas’ and then my graphics teacher managed to create a basic idea of what the final product will look like.
I didn’t really manage to get any further with my Latin piece yet so next week, that’ll have to be the main focus.
WWW: Recorded both my solo piano piece and my collaborative piece. Completed all my storyboards for my canvas’. Managed to get a basic idea of a canvas down.
EBI: Develop canvas idea into the full idea and work on composing the accompaniments for the two completed tracks.
Week 4:
This week, I began brainstorming EP and track names (see separate tab underneath “Artwork” titled “Title’s Brainstorm”). I have around 10 different ideas to chose from but I don’t want to pick a title until I compose for the accompanying strings because the track might change directions. However, the title’s gave me some ideas as to how I want the strings to sound. I began composing for the string accompaniments on my solo piano track.
WWW: Began composing my accompaniments for my solo piece and brainstorming track titles/ep names.
EBI: Choose titles/name and keep developing my string accompaniment.
Week 5:
Whilst in Italy, I worked on developing the string accompaniment for my solo piano pieced. I focused solely on the solo piano piece because the collab track has a different vibe to my solo piece so I didn’t want to get confused and over lap them. (See “Development of Solo Piece” under “Evaluations and Reflections” page to see the development.
WWW: Working on my accompaniments for my solo piece.
EBI: Complete the string accompaniments for solo piece so I can develop the ideas for the collab.
Week 6:
This week, my focus is to develop the string accompaniment for the collaboration piece. I’ve currently finished my solo piano piece and I’m catching up on my written work, mainly the context page.
I’m struggling with composing my Latin style because the idea I have for the lead brass section is something like “Familia, Lola and La Buena Vida – Camila Cabello” but I can’t seem to play what I’m hearing in my mind.
14/4/22 – I’ve been struggling with trying to compose for brass because Logic’s brass instruments don’t sound realistic so it’s kind of dimming the track a little so I’ve changed my Latin piece to a Reggaeton beat style so I can still work in a different style but create something to high standards. Piece so far:
This week, I finished composing for the accompaniments in my first two tracks, just the timing needs fixing and then I can send it off to be mixed and mastered!
WWW: Began composing for the accompaniments on the collaboration piece, finished my solo accompaniments.
EBI: Develop some brass ideas and fix the timing on the other tracks so they can be sent off to be mixed and mastered.
Week 7:
Monday: Today, I’ve finished my Reggaeton tracks basis, i.e. the drum beat, shakers and bongos, however, it still sounds like it needs some brass as a lead so I’m going to try, again, to compose for trumpets on Logic.
WWW: Started to develop some ideas for my third track.
EBI: Develop further, try get some motifs and structure in.
Tuesday: I’ve decided to scrap my Reggaeton and Latin style composition because I can’t seem to get the feel I’m wanting to create and it doesn’t really fit the other two pieces that well. I don’t really have enough time to compose another composition from scratch and then write for strings again so I’m going to look into how I can legally upload covers to Spotify. (See “Uploading Covers Legally” tab under “Research”.
WWW: Gave in an idea that was holding me back, have a back up plan already. Good problem solving skills.
EBI: Research ways to upload covers legally, a little behind time so needs to be done as soon as possible.
Wednesday: I’ve done my research and found out how to upload covers to Spotify legally so I’ve started learning “Saman – Olafur Arnalds”.
WWW: Researched how to legally upload covers.
EBI: Begin learning the cover piece.
Week 8:
This week, hopefully, I can send off my 2 tracks that I currently have, to be mixed and mastered, and I need to learn the cover, by the end of the week, and then record it next week so I can send that off to be mixed and mastered too. This weeks focus is fixing the timing on the first two tracks, learning the cover, recording the cover, sending off the first two tracks, if not all three, and hopefully starting my design work for MadMapper and the Canvas ideas too.
WWW: Laid out a list, organisation skills.
EBI: Send off tracks to be mixed and mastered. Learn the cover. Fix the timing of the two tracks I’ve completed. Start designing MadMapper and the other canvas’.
Monday: Sent off Track 1 to be mastered. I had feedback from both tracks so I just need to rerecord the guitar on my second track to make it a little brighter and have less spill. Hopefully I can do so by the end of the week. I need to mark up where I want certain parts to sound louder or quieter still though!
WWW: Sent off a track to be mixed and mastered.
EBI: Decide if I want/need the guitar rerecording and write up notes on how I want the tracks mixed and mastered.
Wednesday: I’ve set up my distributor with DistroKid so I can upload to Spotify.
WWW: Distributor and Spotify set up.
EBI: Get the tracks and canvas’ done to upload.
Thursday: Completed the first canvas design and started working on my second.
WWW: One design completely done, looks exactly like my storyboard.
EBI: Work on the other two canvas designs.
Week 9:
This week I have been focussing on rehearsals with Millie. We scrapped a couple of covers because of the time during the showcase, so we’re just doing 4 songs now. We’re working on performance and speaking in-between songs as well as getting the audience involved (all practice videos and analysis under the practice tab).
WWW: Thinking about audience engagement.
EBI: Know my parts off by heart.
I’ve finished recording all 3 tracks and 2 of my canvas’ are complete, just 1 more to go. I’ve started working on my final canvas but it’s not 100% yet as it’s too uniform. I still need to send the tracks off to Lewis to be mixed and mastered but I made notes on each track so he can do it to how I want it to sound.
WWW: Completed 2/3 canvas designs and completed producers notes. On schedule again.
EBI: Complete final canvas. Send the remaining tracks off to be mixed and mastered.
Next week, I’ll be focussing on Madmapper and practicing my showcase compositions. I rewrote track 1 as an acoustic version to perform alongside my cover of Saman – Olafur Arnalds.
Week 10:
Things to do this week: Fix canvas design 1, finish canvas design 3, work on Madmapper, upload and evaluate all rehearsals.
Monday: Rehearsing my own performance compositions and working on MadMapper. Rerecorded “Saman” on an acoustic piano so it sounds better and I’ve given Lewis all my tracks to mix and master.
Wednesday: Rehearsing with Millie, finished my final canvas idea.
Thursday: Practicing
WWW: Practicing all the tracks I’m performing and sent off all of my tracks to be mixed and mastered.
EBI: fix/work on the visuals.
Week 11:
Monday: Mock rehearsal
Wednesday: Showcase!
Thursday: Written work
WWW: All rehearsals sound amazing and the visuals are perfect.
EBI: Learn parts off by heart to help with confidence, practice breath work to help with calmness, practice so I get the parts I’m struggling with.
Week 12:
This whole week I’ll be focussing on catching up on all of my written work.
WWW: All of my tracks are back, canvas’ complete, Spotify set up and ready for the EP release this Friday, performances done.
EBI: Complete all written work, go back and add in all the footage I have and go in more detail, with Harvard referencing.