Ellie Thornton Music

First off we had rehearsal whilst our singer went to go warm up, as a band we warmed up then decided to run through Just a Girl and once we got it right a couple of times we called our singer in to get her part within place which only took a few takes, we now have to work on perfecting the ending and how smooth we look whilst playing it.

Jason came in nearing the second half of the session and helped us out with ‘Ironic’ which was great, we went through the arrangement as a band as far as we felt comfortable with the quality we were playing at. Jason helped me figure out the bass part as I had trouble the night before trying to learn it with my wrist and fingers playing up which isn’t great.

Afterwards we packed up and had a break, then we had concert and stage production with Dan which was interesting none the least. I proceeded to ask a fair few questions whilst the rest of the class chatted amongst themselves really which was very disrespectful towards Dan considering how he put time and effort in to making it a convenient thing for us.

It consisted of going through a workbook listing everything we would need as a band to go out to play a gig and or any venue in fact, we had to work out the outage all our equipment would need so we wouldn’t blow a fuse and how we would distribute power on stage which is crucial. Next week we are going to be assessed on how we set up the stage with Dan’s guidance and so forth which I am looking forward to.

In theory with Jason I did my rehearsal diaries again because I clearly lack the capability to answer questions correctly, I spent all session doing this because I have finished my Stylistic Analysis I need it to be checked and to see if I can add anything else to boost my mark and or change anywhere I may have went wrong.

After lunch we had rehearsal but our singer went home ill so we had to go out on a limb again and go through our songs as a band which we never enjoy fully, but I know that it will maker tighter as a unit. We’ve now decided on ‘Just A Girl’ by No Doubt, ‘Black Velvet’ by Alannah Myles and ‘Ironic’ by Alanis Morissette with the help from Chris and we have kept ‘I Want You Back’ by The Jackson 5 which is our go to. I need learn Black Velvet and Ironic and get my parts down in both to keep some form of efficiency within rehearsal.

Tutor was alright apart from it feeling like I was within a Guillotine with people staring at me when Chris went on about our singers attendance and how I felt about it so I kept quiet as I don’t want to seem stuck up even though I am really..

This morning we came in early to record a song to go along with our promotional video that is being filmed by a media student who was selected to with us.

As we haven’t put together an original yet because we are still trying to finish our set which should be done by this week, so we have chosen to cover ‘I Want You Back’ as it is where we all feel comfortable whilst playing without a singer.

We set our selves up within 3 separate rooms, I was in the studio with Dan playing Bass, our Guitarist was in the room to the left of us and then our Drummer was in the room in front of us. This way made it easier for us to be recorded on separate tracks and it ensured nothing would leak onto another track if we were all in the same room also, we took a handful of takes all at different tempos to try find out what best fit.

It started at the original tempo which was 98bpm then brought it up to around about 100-105bpm which was a comfortable speed for us all to play at, it took me a handful of takes to figure out how to play the bass-line quicker than usual without cutting notes which I managed in the end.

When we were finished I listened back to our take whilst the other two packed up, it was a great take for the time we were given, all that is left is for our vocalist to lay her track down on it then we only have the video left to do when our person gets in contact.

After this our first lesson was theory with Chris, today we went over how to get to the venue for our Christmas concert and the requirements we need to play there which was useful information. We then had a rehearsal session we went through ‘Just a Girl’ by No Doubt and we talked about what else we could do to improve and add to our set, considering are vocalist went home ill early on what didn’t know what to do and left it at that for the session knowing we got the structure nailed without her.

During D.I.S. I helped out with rehearsal diaries considering I have done all mine even though every time I get them checked something seems to be wrong which is excellent, after that we had a rehearsal session but about twenty minutes in we had only went through our song once so I decided to get Chris to help us choose some new songs.

We’ve got rid of all our other ideas and kept ‘Just a Girl’ and ‘I Want You Back’  for now Chris has mentioned we listen to and do ‘Ironic’ by Alanis Morissette for tomorrow when our singer is in and on that note we ended the day.

To start off the day we had rehearsal, we went through our two new songs, I picked them up pretty quickly considering I didn’t get much rest yesterday.

We went through them a couple of times then talked about how we are going to conduct our selves during our upcoming gigs which went alright, we also mentioned about doing a tune by Queen considering the sudden popularity of the hit Biopic ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.

We know as a band that we all have to work on our parts still to get them to our high standards, when I get home I will work on my bass part until it drives me insane. After that we had our instrumental lessons, well I did at least with Dan, we went over our grade 6 guitar scales and arpeggios, which is always good wholesome fun, next week we are going over the chords and then from that point on its about repetition and hardcore learning.

Lunch was fun I had the same epic meal as yesterday, this ensures me that I am always engaged within lessons and ready to destroy chord progressions, after lunch we had theory fun times with Chris.

I enjoy Aural Perception as I tend to pick up everything first time, but I tend to keep what I get to myself so I don’t seem like a big Nerd which is always epic. Chris’ aim was to go through a powerpoint by the end of class but we only managed to get through one slide properly then get on to the next one, so that will definitely be a months project right there. Throughout the lesson Jason popped in and out which kept me sane considering how disengaged I can become on a Wednesday.

After the lesson we were given the tickets to sell for our Christmas Concert which Jason painfully numbered individual which made me chuckle, I should have the money for mine by Friday, I ended up the day talking to Jason to wind down which helps me out a lot.

After that I walked home with what I need to improve upon for next week on my mind!

This morning instead of rehearsal we had Peer and Self Evaluation with Jason which I enjoyed about fifty percent and for the other I felt fairly exposed. Before our band went up we watched two other bands perform a handful of songs then gave them both some pointers on where to improve and how to do so, most people found this process funny and not a serious matter which Jason found rude and so did I.

I didn’t want to say anything to the other bands that was brutally honest so I tried just laying back until it was our turn to go up, Jason eventually found me in the back and asked me what Faith could improve on as a singer and during in her performance which I did accordingly. When it was our turn to go up our singer wasn’t really feeling like singing any of the songs we have been doing up until this point of time, so we went through ‘I Want You Back’ by The Jackson 5 which was mediocre at best when she sung but she eventually forgot or just didn’t feel like going through the song when hit a certain point which was embarrassing, so I started to get the audiences attention towards me until she came back in which didn’t happen.

Then we brought our old male vocalist back on stage and then all of a sudden she felt a lot more comfortable when singing the song, so went through the song from the beginning which I thought went well as I didn’t miss any notes or play anything wrong and everyone’s parts sounded pretty tight to me so I was expecting a subtle roast. I was trying to interact with the audience but this time my wing didn’t want to acknowledge me so I ended up walking up to the front of stage for no reaction apart from Chris watching me and Tom because the groove is where it’s at for him. Whilst performing I tend to stick to what I’m playing so it’s note perfect and I don’t end up slipping on my own mistakes, and when I think I can engage with others and feel safe with playing I’ll engage with Tom mainly or jump about with the guitarist.

But when we came off I was pretty confused and agitated for the rest of the day as we were told to keep it cool as the attention should be on the lead singer but we should still interact with the crowd but not take the attention off of her so, I am going to be on the fence whilst performing next which I think will be at our warm-gig.

Afterwards we had composition which still isn’t my strong point as trying to work out stuff on keys for other instruments doesn’t feel right, I’d feel a lot better using my bass to come up with something a hell of a lot better than I am at the moment on a MIDI keyboard. So I need to improve massively because it doesn’t help my confidence going into this lesson and at the end of it having this 30 second piece of absolute tribe, which I do not feel like sharing to anyone as I know I could do better on the actual instruments.

We had to compose a 30 second piece based upon a mobile phone ringtone and well to be brutally honest nothing came to mind so I tried to come up with something that consisted with the following instruments, Bass, Cello, Drums and a Xylophone because I was feeling it. This didn’t go particularly well, but neither have any of my previous works so if I feel like I’m going down a downwards spiral I will be sure to tell Chris before I just spontaneously explode.

We then had a break which consists of the majority of the pack going to smoke, but with my select few we go sit down somewhere but going out side at this moment in time is like asking to become an ice cube willingly. When our venture had concluded we had Theory with Jason which consisted of us going through our stylistic Analysis work which I have essentially finished so I am just left to sit and tidy it all up which is alright I suppose.

Currently I am going through the songs we had touched upon and have dropped from our set to keep myself occupied and to display to the board that I am more than capable of assessing four different genres. When this is done all that is left to do is to ask Jason nicely to go through it and to ask if there is anywhere I can improve my work which will be fun to do.

After my incredible luncheon which consists of weekly sitting under the stairs and or in the Media corridor because eating in the music corridor is like a forbidden fruit, me and Tom exchange some fiery jokes whilst Reece and Jack talk amongst themselves which is epic.

During rehearsal for the first half I went through the set for the other band Chris has put me in for an extra challenge or push so to speak playing guitar which is enjoyable at times when things go to plan which I need to mention to Chris at some point to try help the band progress in a good way rather than the little giggles between the singer and drummer which is at the moment making me want to leave them to it as it seems to be the only thing on their minds.

When I came back in the room there was a special surprise and that was Chris standing there playing some tunes which he wanted us to learn for Wednesdays rehearsal slot which we had to book with Dan, so I will be sure to go over them briefly before trying to get some sleep tonight amongst my other work.

Then at the end of the day we had tutor which is always special fun times, today’s bulletin was about healthy eating which is a good reminder but by the end of a day on a Tuesday everybody is just asleep and or dying to leave which is fair enough.

Knowing what I need to work and improve upon, I went home laid everything out on my bed and tried to have a little nap but I couldn’t so fun awaits me.