| Name | Oliver Wright |
| Candidate Number | 10656512 |
| Pathway | Level 3 Extended Music Performance & Production |
| Project Title | Building a Custom Guitar: The Prince Regent |
| Section 1: Context (approx. 300 words) |
| Over the course of the past eleven units, I have become a much improved musician, gaining instrumental skills as a guitarist and bassist, as well as building my confidence as a performer. This evolution can is evidenced by comparing my first performance to the final showcase last year, where I performed solo, playing multiple instruments. A great leap when considering that, prior to attending this course, I was only able to play a few guitar chords. I have also developed in many other ways, becoming much more acquainted with such technical skills as how to set-up a live sound system, appropriate recording techniques, and an understanding of the mixing process. Successfully engaging with these new concepts and techniques demonstrates my ability to learn new skills, and I will put this to practice when undertaking my final project. I believe this is one of my greatest strengths, alongside my confidence and problem-solving. My project aim is to research, design, and construct a fully-functioning guitar from scratch, whilst documenting this process via filming, editing, and releasing a YouTube documentary. The first reason for choosing this project is to pay tribute to Prince – one of my favourite artists – whilst expanding my knowledge of the instruments I play; prior to this project I have never altered my instruments and I wish to understand their inner workings in far greater detail. The second reason is that I wish to expand my skillset in anticipation of attending university. The thorough planning will hone my time management and organisational skills whilst the documentary side of the project will help me to become more proficient in video/audio editing, adding another element to my work as a creative. |
| Section 2: Research (approx. 50 words) |
| Research conducted will cover resources and hardware required, however most attention will be given to the processes necessary to build a guitar as I enter the practical stage of my project. As I research, I will look to a variety of sources, including (but not limited to) articles, YouTube videos, books, documentaries, and first-hand accounts. All sources are to be Harvard referenced in a bibliography. The academic essay completed in Project 3 has also contributed to my research in the design stage. |
| Section 3: Problem solving (approx. 100 words) |
| In preparation, I have created a document detailing plans at all stages of the project with their associated risks and challenges. This document includes guidance on how to mitigate risks as well as what backup plans I can follow, should my mitigation not succeed. I will face many unfamiliar problems, meaning I will have to think creatively to find solutions and ask peers/tutors for assistance when needed. One issue I may face is time management, I must remain aware of deadlines to ensure I complete the project. This will be done by planning my weeks down to the session, and adjusting plans based on time remaining. |
| Section 4: Planning and production (approx. 50 words) |
| Much work has been completed prior to the project’s start, allowing more time for practical work in the coming months. I will be creating and following a realistic, comprehensive action plan throughout the project, which is open to adaptation as variables change. I will prioritise practical work where possible and editing footage in downtime, such as when waiting for a lacquer to dry. |
| Section 5: Practical skills (approx. 100 words) |
| This project will require me to develop many skills as yet untested, including basic-intermediate woodworking techniques (e.g., cutting, sanding, application of finishes) and an understanding of how to create a documentary. I will be spending a great deal of time in the workshop, engaging in physical tasks, as well as using video editing software (as used in industry) on an iMac. In past projects I have displayed an aptitude for learning new technology, for example: becoming well acquainted with an Ableton Push 2 during last year’s final project. |
| Section 6: Evaluation and reflection (approx. 100 words) |
| Regarding more theoretical work (e.g., decision-making and evolution of ideas), I will be writing reflections and evaluations. Evaluation of practical work will be produced as videos to be uploaded to YouTube and accessed via my DigitalSpace website. These critical evaluations will objectively cover the past week’s progress, focusing on three main questions: “What went well?”, “What challenges did I face?”, “What knowledge can I learn and apply?”. After the fifth week, I shall record a more in-depth evaluation which looks at the entire project up to that point. Then, upon reaching the conclusion, I will record a final evaluation asking myself those same questions as before, but in the context of the complete project, as opposed to just one week of work. |
| Section 7: Presentation (approx. 100 words) |
| I shall be filming the process and editing the footage into a cohesive and engaging short documentary to be released on my YouTube channel, as I believe a visual medium is most appropriate for this project. This video will include footage of the building process, some parts with voice-over explaining what I am doing and why I am doing it, as well as more direct sections spoken to the camera. The documentary will culminate in a display of the finished guitar and a demo in which the instrument is being played. For the final showcase, I will create an abridged version of the full documentary. |
| Proposed Research Sources and Bibliography (Harvard Format) |
| Angove, B. (2012). Brad Angove – YouTube. [online] www.youtube.com. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/@BradAngove [Accessed 20 Feb. 2023]. Bailey, M. (2015). Guitar Making – YouTube. [online] www.youtube.com. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/@GuitarMaking [Accessed 20 Feb. 2023]. Bloor, T. and Wright, D. (2006). Wood Machine Guide. Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes. Guitar Gear Finder (n.d.). Guitar Gear Finder. [online] www.guitargearfinder.com. Available at: https://guitargearfinder.com. Meier, E. (n.d.). The Wood Database. [online] www.wood-database.com. Available at: https://www.wood-database.com. Robinson, S. (n.d.). Steve Robinson: Guitar lacquer, repair, upgrade and setup. [online] www.manchesterguitartech.co.uk. Available at: https://manchesterguitartech.co.uk [Accessed 20 Feb. 2023]. StewMac (n.d.). Everything for building and repairing stringed instruments! – StewMac. [online] www.stewmac.com. Available at: https://www.stewmac.com [Accessed 20 Feb. 2023]. |