Rehearsal log

11^th June

Was our second rehearsal. In this rehearsal, everyone came. Went through our songs and ideas. When we went through our songs and ambers song we came up with new ideas and how to do her song also Derek came into the room and talked to us about our song. that concluded the rehearsal.

Rehearsal log

4^th of June

This was our first rehearsal as a group. We went through each other’s songs to show everyone what their songs were. We showed three songs.  In this first was amber then mine then Lachlan’s. When we were going through our songs Derek came in a listened to one of the songs and told Lachlan to do something funky in the background to add to the song he talked to us about the song. while we went through everyone’s songs we came up with new ideas. We concluded the rehearsal.

Class 9 and 10

Student Presentations On Creative Practice

During this class we went through interviews. this class was to go through interviews of others and know what they did. Jesse talked about the assignment.  That concluded the lesson.

Class 8

Working Through Student Arrangements

During this lesson, we worked on our arrangements well we showed Jesse what we have been doing on our arrangements. Jesse looked at arrangements and gave feedback. That concluded the lesson. During this class, we also worked on interviews.

Class 7

Reflecting on Song Writing and Creative Practice

During class, we looked at song writing and how we do that. During this class, we were asked to do a task that was to interview each other we were put into partners. this was done by students working and asking questions about each other’s songs.

Jesse asked if we would make questions and ask questions to each other that we done together so that people knew what they were going to get. This was interesting as this showed us what to do. Jesse asked if we would watch other interviews to know what to do as well to know. That concluded the lesson.

Week 6

Consideration for orchestra

During this lesson Jesse expanded our knowledge about previous arranging concepts with a full orchestra. Jesse showed us vitamin string quartet of David Bowie –“Life on Mars” 1. he has shown us different songs that have been be done with strings and arranged them. after listening to this song Jesse talked about the arrangement and how they did this with each instrument and what techniques were used. He mentioned the other techniques like bowing, plucking and down and up bow. Jesse talked to us about how our scores are done and how for orchestras this is done in a Conventual way and they are layered in a certain way for the person to play. He goes on to mention how to set up a orchestra on stage and where to place everyone. this shows us that most song can be arranged into a string piece which is cool.

During this lesson Jesse mentioned that we would be working on doing interviews this would be he puts us in partners and we would interview each other that is interesting that he wants us to do that.

Reference List

1 Bowie, D., 2012. Life On Mars. [Sound Recording] (Vitamin Records;).

Week 5

Considerations for brass and wind instruments in arranging

During this week, we went through different instruments we could use.  Jesse also talked about how we can write for strings and information about them and what we can do.  We also went through different things we could use with this.  Jesse also talked to us with brass and wind instruments and he used other information he taught us before and discussed concepts that were taught to us before to the class this was information about the instrument and other ensembles. Jesse also talked to us to do with how we could use this and how to write for them. Jesse went through songs that used those instruments and how they used them in the songs which was cool he did talked to us about strings. Jesse went through the brass instruments and how we could use them as well. This was cool as he taught us how we could use them in a way to make. Jesse went through the assignment. That concluded the lesson.

Week 4

Melodic writing for strings, and approaching your arrangement.

During this week, we went through different things like melodic writing that we could use in our arrangements. Jesse also talked to us about arrangements and concepts that were in them to use in ours. We also got informed of how we could use different techniques . Jesse talked to us to do with dynamic change and making melodies that have a hook and that people want to listen to he talked to us on how we could do that.  He did talk to us to do with the instruments. He did show us other students work that were done in this class before and how they did this and what they could have done to do that which was cool to know. Jesse did talk to us to do with the assignment. That concluded the lesson.

Week 3

Arranging for strings (Case Studies)

During this week, we went through songs with string quartets and we analysed them as a class. We discussed what techniques they used. This was information we went through last week as Jesse taught us all information to do with this.  

Jesse through songs that were the original then the string quartet arrangement and talk to us of how they might have done this and what they did to this some songs that he went through were Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face”1 . This arrangement was really cool as they used the string quartets for this song and sounded really cool I liked both of the songs they were very cool. We went through a couple more songs. This was an interesting class as it talked about all the instruments and showed us how we could use them the piece we are doing. That concluded the lesson.

Reference List

1 Gaga, L., 2008. Poker Face. [Sound Recording] (Streamline KonLive Cherry tree Interscope).

Week 2

Introduction to writing for strings

During this week, we were introduced to the string quartet and how we can approach this.

Jesse talked to us about what we need to know to use to do this. Jesse also talked to us to about what a string quartet is and what is in this ensemble and how to incorporate them into an arrangement. The history of the string instruments Jesse talked to us all to do with that which was informative. Also, talked to us as a group to do with the instruments individually and what range they have e.g. a violin has a range of G-G and is in a treble clef. They are two violins used in a quartet the first violin usually plays the melody “Generally plays the most notes, in the highest register” 1. The first violin also occasionally accompanies other instruments in a quartet. The second violin has the same range as the first violin this instrument plays the melody plus counter melody and accompanies other instruments. The viola has a range of C-C this instrument is in a alto clef. This instrument has different roles in different eras and genera also plays the bass line. The cello has a range of C-C and is usually written in the bass clef.  The instrument accompanies other instruments in the strings arrangement plus usually plays the bass line this instrument has many different things it can play for a piece. Jesse did inform us to do with other things that we can use. That concluded the lesson.

Reference List

1 Jesse Budel, “Introduction To Writing For Strings ” (lecture presented at the course Song Writing and Performance 1A, Elder Conservatorium, University of Adelaide,2020).