Category: Musicians Blog

I am not going into too much detail on what went on today, because to me it felt like I was exposed to the fallout when an atomic bomb was dropped a few hours earlier, and I think everyone else who was unaware of what was going on and the lectures felt the same way too I bet.

We were mean’t to start our day with a booked rehearsal which everyone apart from our singer turned up to which really tilted me early on considering I could of worked on my rehearsal diaries or my blog. So we went through our set once and just sat around for the rest of it wondering and asking where she could be.

We then had a guitar lesson which was alright, currently I have lost my interest whilst playing as I can never concentrate with the band next door playing the same tribe whilst I am trying to learn and then the guitarist from our band just plays over me and gets ahead then we move on before I actually take anything in before having a complete mental breakdown, as most of the time I feel like ripping my hair out during that hour.

Lunch was epic, I had a big old meal which consisted of a toasted baguette and chips. I got to say that was the most carbs I have consumed in a while considering that I have been trying to cut some weight within preparation for Christmas and my upcoming competitions next year. 

After consuming all that comfort food and having a nice sit down it was time for theory where it hit a downwards spiral. Chris had to go out for the whole lesson sorting out lets say, the immature half of our class that haven’t realised that they’re in college yet even though I am sure they have hit the age of 16+. 

Whilst Chris was pulling people out and speaking with them alongside his boss and Jason, a hand few of others kept talking about the situation and swearing and shouting about it all. I sat there having a amazing headache (thanks for asking, I can’t take ibuprofen as I am on Naproxen due to my early signs of carpal tunnel) trying to get my Grade 1 Theory done, but you know all I can hear is garbage so to me it felt like a solid hour wasted whilst having some head trauma. But you know what will make me sleep tonight? the fact that Chris and Jason had to tolerate with them all on a larger scale 🙂 .

At the end of it all which seemed to be World War Three, Chris and Jason soon returned at the end of the day in the mac suite, I tend to stay after to unwind which is great, they showed me some theme but I can’t remember, it was quality so I will ask Chris next week. So until then this is me signing out. 

This morning we set out to perfect the structure of ‘Black Velvet’ considering how we messed up the second half of the song during the warm-up gig yesterday.

Me and Tom drive the song considering we are the rhythm section, so no matter what if the other two mess up they have us to fall upon we gave it ago but our singer wasn’t in so we had that to work around again. Their attendance is getting frustrating for me at least, so I have to guide our band every time they’re not in and lets just say our guitarist gets a bit agitated when I boss everyone round.

I think by tomorrow we should have the song structure nailed, all that is left to work upon is getting our set down tight and treating it how we would when we performed. The other two were considering changing the song because they didn’t think we could fill out the arrangement which Jason partly came in and agreed with also, we began to look at other songs but Chris came in and told us too stick with it and perfect it.

Afterwards we watched the level 2’s perform which was great, they have worked very hard to achieve where they are at currently and they can only get better. I enjoyed each and every one of their performances, especially Reece’s band which was very entertaining for everybody.

We spent the rest of the session, which was mean’t to be composition, sitting in the mac suite organising our blogs because the UAL is coming in to check our work which is exciting to hear. So I have been spending countless hours working on mine as you can see, it is a lot of fun as I can easily look back upon everything I have done so far!

Then we had Theory with Jason which is always entertaining, this session me and Jason tried to help Tom catch up on his blog posts which both me and him struggle to do when we fall behind which is great. So Jason was joking around with what to put which was epic.

After lunch we had rehearsal in which we went through our set again, there’s nothing much to it all at the moment apart from bringing our songs up to the standard when we play ‘I Want You Back’. The day then ended with Tutorial which is always a laugh, it ended earlier this week because the college had an open evening, so I went home and went to bed early within preparation for tomorrow.

I thought what a better time than now to thank one of the key people to my life, considering that I’ve finally left Henry Cort for good, what a better time then now to thank him.

For the past 3/4 years Ben has been there for me no matter what, whether it be music or something completely opposite, even though his advice may not seem practical to others but to me it means so much more.

Without him I wouldn’t have started my favourite pass time activity, which has taught me discipline and so much more.

Within the first week within January 2017 (the 5th I think) my class and I were introduced to our new substitute teacher, at first I found the whole situation weird as it takes time for me to get used to new people.

After getting to know him a lot more than I did compared to the time of him first joining, my taste in music changed to a much more heavy and to a slower pace than usual, with touches of Jazz on the side which I have grown to love to this very day.

At the beginning of this year, I began to look at myself as more of a professional musician and began to take more pride within my craft, I thought this would be more productive rather than messing around with others and getting involved with petty friendships and all that crazy jive.

With Ben alongside, I was guided within the right direction for doing such, as sad as it may sound, I preferred to spend my free time at break, lunch and after school with him talking about music, literature and film, rather than talking to other students as they were a bad influence on me from the very start. I found myself to be more mature and more open minded when I let myself do so, which has been a great attribute at college.

Nearing the end of my final academic year at Henry Cort, the creative arts department as a whole put on a production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘School of Rock’. All besides from helping out Ben and the music department where I could which I always took great pride within, the production was the best thing I had done during my time at Henry Cort. Considering that our whole pit band learned the majority of the score by ear, it went very well, it was also a good laugh amongst the band which was always fun even within rehearsal when we got occasionally fed up with it all!

At the end of the academic year, I found it very upsetting to be leaving Ben and the creative-arts department behind, but he let me know that I’m always welcome to come back and give a hand, I’ll always be there to help him out and he will always be there to help me which is nice to know.

If you are reading this Ben, I’d like to thank you again and say the following,

For the final two years or so at Henry Cort you were the driving force for me due to my major lack within confidence, even though you had only just started I trusted you with my capabilities as a student and musician, from that point onwards I saw my self grow rapidly.

Whilst I grew as a student, I watched you do such as a teacher and it makes me genuinely happy to see the impact you’ve had on the other students you’re teaching and helping them achieve to the best of their abilities.

If it wasn’t for you I’d most probably be lost on what to do with myself, leaving to goto college was daunting but I’ve settled in nicely with help from you and Chris.

I look forward to seeing you and the Music Department grow to your full potential as I know you’re the best there is! But seriously, don’t forget to GET AFTER IT.

There is nothing much installed for me at college today apart from a potential rehearsal session, a guitar lesson and a theory lesson.

We went through our set again as a three piece because our singer wasn’t in for the rehearsal, so to the rest of the band it was claimed to be pointless. It is good too work together musically and get ourselves tight so we are able to drive the song without relying upon the singer to be in rehearsals always which isn’t the truth at the moment. But anyhow we went through the rest of our set with great pace then we waited for a while for our guitar lesson which is always fun. Currently we are studying the natural minor scale within five positions which I am struggling with considering I am playing bass a lot lately thanks to Primus!

After lunch we had Theory with Chris, currently I am working through Grade 1 Music Theory which is entertaining but on the other hand insightful considering that I left some aspects out whilst I was studying alongside all of my other GCSEs. What I am saying is that it is a breather compared to the noose which is Grade 3.

Afterwards I went home early and caught up on some sleep because this evening I am going to my secondary schools Presentation Evening, my dad is staying at home looking after the rest of my siblings whilst my mum helps my brother prepare for his cooking exam for tomorrow, so Jason is tagging along with me which was very kind of him.

During this I picked up my GCSE results and my art course work. I was also nominated for the Music award amongst myself, Jack Gilder and somebody else and yours truly won it which was a very good feeling, I’ll be going to see Ben on Friday to Thank him personally. 

This morning we begun rehearsal upon our set as whole alongside starting to busk through ‘Black Velvet’ as a band, since the start of the month we have gone through our set as whole and treated the time we are at a venue every time. 

We still need to figure which key signature to play within, the guitarist wants to play in E, but I began to look it in E flat so did our singer and drummer so it is up in the air at this point.

Nearing the end of the session Jason came in and gave us a hand on piece what we have together, it sort of worked but not one of us knew the structure off by heart throughout so we left it like so and agreed to pick it up again tomorrow when we looked at it in the evening.

During Composition we went through more details on our Work Experience at the 1865, Chris is still consistent on ticket sales, I have sold my starting four and then on Monday I will have sold another three. Hopefully I will be able to sell some more to promote our band further on the headline.

Within theory with Jason I sorted out my blog again and formatted my stylistic analysis on my blog and in word again, all that is left to do is to get it checked by Jason which I keep forgetting to ask but I can wait. I then spent the rest of the lesson helping out Tom with his blog which I enjoy doing alongside my own.

After lunch we had rehearsal, we continued to go through our set with a steady pace with only a few minor trip ups. The day then ended with tutorial which is always a blast, I was fairly tired by the end of the day so I wasn’t paying attention much but this week it consisted with most of the class being loud and uncontrollable.

I Want You Back by The Jackson 5 – Intro, Verse 1, Chorus, Verse 2, Chorus, Breakdown 1 (Forte), Chorus, Breakdown 2 (Piano), Chorus.

Just a Girl by No Doubt – Intro/Verse 1, Chorus, Post-Chorus, Verse 2, Chorus, Post-Chorus, Solo, Post-Chorus, Breakdown (Verse 3), Chorus x2, Outro.

Ironic by Alanis Morissette – Intro, Verse 1, Chorus, Verse 2, Chorus, Bridge, Verse 3, Chorus x2.

Black Velvet by Alannah Myles – Intro/Verse 1, Pre-Chorus, Chorus, Verse 2, Pre-Chorus, Chorus, Bridge, Solo, Chorus, Outro.

 

This morning went okay, I came in with a wrist brace this morning because of my ever growing concern for what is going on with my wrist. I have my appointment on Friday so we shall have to wait and see but take it easy until then, as I have reason to believe it is early signs of carpal tunnel which isn’t the most reassuring thing. 

We started off the day with theory with Chris, he began to talk us through how Concert Stage and Production would go down before each band went in with Dan to get assessed upon our communication as a band whilst setting up a stage, also our Health and Safety when it came to the layout and organisation.

Starting off with the back line we had the guitar amplifier on the left, drum kit within the central line and then the bass amplifier to the right. Our drummer set up the kit whilst me and the guitarist set up our respective amplifiers, we plugged in our amps to our respective power supplies then went on to help our Drummer set up the cymbals then that was the back line completed. 

Then after that, Dan talked to us about what we could have done that he would have done differently, and the only issue was the drum kit not being central upon the stage, it was a mistake on our end, but we soon countered that fact by saying we did it intentionally so our singer wouldn’t take the attention away from the drummer.

We then pressed forward to set up the front line, which consisted of the keys, a vocal monitor, and the two front of house speakers one left, and the other right. The sound desk was then placed behind the keys, for easy accessibility, once that was all up we began to running the XLR cables back to the desk.

There were 8 different channels that we used for each instrument;

• Bass
• Kick Drum
• Snare Drum
• Guitar
• Vocalist
• Keys, which required two channels
• Overhead, Cymbals

We then swiftly went over the rest of the requirements and spoke with Dan about other methods and how to make what we have done more tidy which was a very nice insider.

The rest of the day I sat out from rehearsals due to my wrist and I over looked the rehearsal, we are soon going to pick up ‘Black Velvet’, probably this week when I ease up with my wrist, Friday I will hopefully be given strong painkillers which will help a lot rather than me constantly taking ibuprofen.

We ended the day early so I was able to get some rest and to leave my wrist alone which was great, now to see what tomorrow has installed.