Some of you are presenting physical paper artefacts such as lyric books, poetry anthologies etc. Bespoke, limited edition and handmade merch can be interesting, creative and lucrative.
A cheap and very doable way to present paper based work is to bind sheets together. In college, I would have brought in all the equipment for you to use and run a workshop face to face but we are in lockdown so here is an alternative!
What you need:
The sheets of paper you want to bind
Thread of some sort (wool, string, cotton...)
A pokey thing to make holes (needle, screwdriver, awl....) and something to protect whatever surface you are using like a wad of newspaper or a piece of wood.
A needle (a thick embroidery needle is ideal but you can just feed the thread through if the holes are big enough and your eyesight is good!)
Have fun, don't injure yourself and I look forward to seeing some results! Email me if you get stuck.
Field recordings are not necessarily recordings in a field (although they can be!). In this context, 'field' means in situ or on location, out of the recording studio, just like you may have been on a field trip with a science class to look at things outside the science lab.
Field recordings are of the natural environment and are not 'musical'. They can provide a unique texture to your work. In the current political and social climate they can be very useful if you want to make a statement or create texture with limited resources as you can use your phone to record.
ACTIVITY 1) listen to my podcast on headphones. It's under 6 mins. Please note, this is a resource from last summer so the task at the end is going to be slightly modified. I say in the podcast that this is an optional workshop - not this year! I'd like you all to do it as it is a valuable exercise in active listening. I will explain the modified task when we come back together in 10 mins.
a) Go into an empty room in your home and simply record 30 seconds of sound b) Go into a room with someone in (the kitchen is a good one for this) and record 30 seconds of what ever is happening
c) Go outside and record 30 seconds of the sound outside, wherever you are and whatever it is
2) listen back to your recordings with headphones and briefly note your findings using this sheet (open and make a copy to be able to edit) - we will discuss your findings when we come back in 30 mins.
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OPTIONAL EXTENSION TASK:
Find some objects around your home (or garden!) and record them carefully with silence before and after. Suggestions are things like turning a tap on and off, the boiler starting up, the cutlery drawer, a door opening or closing..... Please record at least three and save them in your drive - you will be using them in the next workshop.
Tape Op is a free digital music magazine with loads of articles about recording & production techniques. Do subscribe if you're interested in that kind of thing.
Thanks to Grant for finding this....a nice little example of how instruments sound using the natural reverb of the space in which they are being recorded:
David Attenborough has released an album of field recordings he made whilst filming for the BBC - you can hear it on spotify
David Fanshawe used his field recordings as an instrument when he composed African Sanctus - its scored for tapes, choir, operatic soloists, percussion, drum kit and piano.
Find some objects around your home (or garden!) and record them carefully with silence before and after. Suggestions are things like turning a tap on and off, the boiler starting up, the cutlery drawer, a door opening or closing..... Please record at least three and save them in your drive - you will be using them in the next workshop.
It's a good idea to collate a lot of your academic research at the start of your project so you can be prepared to refer to it as you go along. By now, you should have completed the 5 literature reviews and at least one case study. This is academic research.
TASK:
Check that you have created a myBib project for your EXP.
Look over all your research so far - have you added it to my Bib?
Have you got enough research for your first case study?
Whilst your research can take many forms, SOME of it must be academic.
We have compiled some potentially useful academic sources on the Academic Writing blog. You can search for more by using site:.ac.uk or site:.edu eg 'synaesthesia' site:.ac.uk Another search engine is google scholar. The LRC can also offer help with accessing academic journals online.
Please ensure that you have created and shared your exp work in progress folder on classroom!!!!
Soundcloud is a very useful way for you to present work in progress and get feedback as people can comment on the tracks. If you make a playlist private then only those with the link can see it. You can also embed the playlist into your blog - whenever anyone (teaching staff or exam board) look at your blog, it will automatically show the comments from soundcloud as it is embedded and will update. All in one place. Cunning, no?!
First you need to have a soundcloud account (you can use your existing one as they playlist will be private or create a new college one using your google credentials). Click 'upload' and make sure you have selected 'private'.
You can save time by adding multiple files and ticking the 'make a playlist' box.
Add your tracks and any info such as what it is and what you want feedback on.
Click 'save', go to your playlist and click the share button. Choose 'Embed'. You can even choose your colour scheme at this point if you want to. Copy the code in the box:
In your blog post, select HTML view mode...
Then paste the code (don't panic by what you see!) then change back to 'compose view'. Et voila! You will see a grey box but can check it's working by selecting preview (or publishing the post and going to view blog).
If you would like people from the class to see this playlist, post a link on classroom or email it to me and I will post it. You can also now link to it in the chat in classes.
You have a college YouTube account from your classroom login already, same as blogger as it's all google. When you create a video in YouTube, make sure it's 'unlisted'. This means it's not public but people with the link can see it. In exactly the same way, when you go to share from YouTube, select 'embed' then paste that code into your blog in HTML view mode as with soundcloud.
I hope that by now, you have identified some pieces of academic research as sources - remember that you found 3 when we did the class about planning research and using MyBib! If you are struggling to find any, try https://westkingmusicacademic.blogspot.com/ or ask me if still stuck. A top tip is looking at the bottom of a Wikipedia article to find the original sources.
A literature review should be a reflection upon a smallish piece of writing/source, not a whole book. It could be an academic article, a piece of music journalism, a chapter of a book, a podcast, a web resource...
You should do 5 literature reviews for your EXP and doing them at the start of the project will help you decide what is useful early on. You can then delve further into the sources later.
For each review, please read the source and then reflect using the following:
Where is the source from and what is it about?
Is it primary or secondary? How reliable is it?
What information from the source might be useful for your project (if any)?
Has it given you any further ideas that you might like to investigate/research further?
ADD IT TO MYBIB!!!!!!!!!!!
Please complete at least one of the literature reviews and submit to classroom so I can check you are on the right track and guide you if needs be.
The written elements of your projects are likely to include:
Literature reviews
Case Studies
Progress logs
Evaluation
If you are going to have audio, video or visual elements then you need to think how you will present them.
Some ways to choose from:
A blog - you can create a new blog using your current college blogger account. A blog allows you to organise your work by labels, embed video from YouTube and sound from soundcloud.
A google drive folder - you can keep it all together as documents and individual files. You can organise written working using text types on a google doc and link to other files.
A website - you can create a free one using something like WIX if you want to be more creative with your presentation.
How else might you present it?
Whichever method you choose, you need to be consistent and make sure that you regularly update and allow me to see it in progress so I can help you.
As part of your EXP research, you should produce at least two case studies to help you pace your own work in context, analyse the work of others/techniques/ideas and learn things that will help/inform your own work. You completed case studies last year as part of your Collaborative project and the technique is the same but they need to be more detailed this year.
When approaching a case study, it's is useful to clarify your aims before you start-
Why am I doing this case study? What is the context? What am I looking at specifically? How does it relate to my project?
You then need to decide what you have got from it- What was of particular interest? What have I learnt/taken away from this?
Things you may like to focus on are-
Aesthetic (the sound, look, vibe... of something) ie lofi production sounds, use of panning, branding, sonic identity
Technique (techniques used in performing/creating music) ie looping, collaborative writing online...
Content (lyrics, music, subject matter....) ie poetry in grime lyrics,
Presentation (how something is is presented to the intended audience via performance, video, packaging, merch, digital distribution, visual style...) ie streaming to wide audiences, video styles, bespoke merch...
Your case studies will help you reach criteria such as:
Yr2 EXP
1.1 Use critical and contextual perspectives to initiate a performing and production arts project proposal. (you can analyse critiques of the work you are doing a case study on)
1.2 Use analysis and evaluation to clarify and develop ideas for a performing and production arts project proposal. (your case studies will include analysis)
2.1 Use research to support the development of a performing and production arts project. (your case studies count as research - remember to refer back to them throughout your work)
2.2 Use analytical and evaluative skills to develop creative solutions to realise a performing and production arts project. (Did you learn anything about how other artists have approached their work that can help you?)
5.1 Demonstrate the exploration, adaptation and application of practical methods and skills in the realisation of a performing and production arts project. (Show how your case studies have impacted on your own work)
You should choose to do your case study on something relevant to your own work, perhaps that help place your own work onto a context or that contains some ideas that you are particularly interested in.
Here are some examples of previous work....
EXP - Pass
Case Study #3
This week I've decided to take a look at some other professional podcasts in order to make a comparison of my product to a higher standard product. I took 3 different ones and decided to analyse it.
I am going to split my analysis into categories.
Structure
Heldeep Radio and Hexagon are having an introduction jingles and introduction speech. LVNDSCAPE starts with music playing straight up. My product has intro speech but no intro jingle. I think that I should've make no introduction speech if I have no jingle so comparing to those professional podcasts I think LVNDSCAPE's format would be more appropriate in my case.
All three podcasts including mine are approximately 1 hour long which is considered as a 'golden standard' of the electronic music podcasting.
Technical Aspect
Heldeep radio and Hexagon are well mixed podcast. I listened the whole length 2 times and analysed the mixing part. Because the music in those two podcasts is future house/electro house the transitions feels quite sharp comparing to LVNDSCAPE's podcast because landscape is mixing deep house and that's why it feels more relaxing and smooth. My podcast has poor quality introduction speech comparing to hex and heldeep. My mixing is at the lower level as well although I had some deep house tunes which should've in theory helped me to sound smooth. But practically no.
Visuals/Art
Hexagon radio and heldeep has a similar way they approach their visual content. They both have animated background and visual EQ going. Hexagon has an animated square flashing at the left side but heldeep has a proper eq visuals which I like more. They both have their cover pictures for soundcloud as well. LVNDSCAPE's art for youtube is just a plain picture with no animated visuals. I did just a cover picture so landscape's format is the same as my one.
Copyrights/Commercial
My podcast is uploaded on mixcloud service which gives me no royalties. If I make money out of someone's music without their permission I can get a big trouble. All those professional podcasts that I've picked are having their music sent by other DJ's and producers. So they can make money and use different services like youtube and sc.
EXP- Merit
Case Study 2
Singing With The Enemy Part 1
Bands- K-Tron and Code 5 two who are from opposing musical tribes come together and must write, record and perform a song together while living under the same roof.
K-Tron
•Loud and chaotic
•Experimental
•Sing and write alternative…
•Songs about serial killers
•Reckless
•Recklessly Independent
•Rebel against society and basic code of conduct of the time (2012, London based)
•Lead singer perhaps a strong feminist
•Opinionated
Code 5
•Stereotypical heart throb boy band
•Supported West Life on tour
•Deal with social pressure of the time to look, perform and feel a certain way
•Sing pop songs
•Tommy D is the record producer for the experiment and episode
•Theo (17) the youngest member of K-Tron claims that he is a revolution of the dark sided entertainment
•Chris the youngest of member of Code 5 states that he deals with social pressure of the time to look a certain way and grew up in a neighbourhood that had many negative views towards homosexuals and cross dressing therefor he did not see yew to eye with Theo from K-Tron at first.
•K-Tron feel that Code 5 are not real musicians because they do not write many of their own songs and feel that there is not enough meaning and passion within the songs that they perform and write.
•K-tron were disgusted when they saw the way Code 5’s dance choreographer and manager treated them i.e telling them exactly what to do on and off stage and not giving them freedom as music artists, putting them down when they made small mistakes or couldn't pick up dance choreography despite not being actual dancers.
My main opinions on the experimental TV episode as a whole.
Great social experiment
Eye opener- especially linking to the times and the increase in homophobic views/judgement and behaviour
Helped certain members of Code 5 understand that it is okay to express themselves and be who they wish
There was a great element of introspection that could be learnt from watching this episode
Taught all the musicians about how important and helpful it is to collaborate with other bands/musicians rather than just their band members.
I Believe that this experiment links very well to my own experiment due to the collaboration of young artists who are into all different aspects and genres of music in my band. Watching this TV episode helped me think of the best way to communicate well with my band and showed me some good strategies to use to help us as a team and respect each other as artists.
EXP - Distinction
Case Study #1: Aritst Sam Gellaitry
This case study is about the Scottish producer, musician and DJ Sam Gellaitry. He started posting tracks on myspace and graduated to soundcloud and bandcamp. By 17 he was accumulating hundreds of thousands of listeners all over the world. His genres range from House, stylistic Trap, Jazz, Hip-Hop and even Funk. His music is known for its high quality and colourful sonic presentation.
I had first discovered his music in 2014 through through his song "belonging". At the time his influences were easily recognised because of the way his he sequences his drum patterns and his emphasis on bass and frantic percussion which is similar to the works on LA producer Flying Lotus. Through further inspection of his soundcloud page I had found that his sonic palette stems from everywhere around the world. One massive similarity I had found was with him and Hudson Mohawke another Scottish producer and DJ from Glasgow.
I had just started producing electronic music at the time so I tried studying his music, what software he uses, what his musical background is, what instruments he plays and how to design his sounds. He use the forward thinking software called FL Studio but began with Sony ACID which both have a great emphasis on capturing ideas, sampling, groove sequencing and sound design.
In terms of timbre his sounds design is very basic because the groove/musicality and the mixing of his song speak to his listeners since people naturally pay more attention to their sense of rhythm and how the sound affects. His emphasis on bass in his music is most attractive to his listeners since it sounds solid and is hard hitting often feeling like it is trying to escape out of your headphones and his music works well live since you can feel every frequency of his music envelope your body.
Humans are able to easily discern rhythm in lower frequencies than in higher frequencies (Adam Neely - 2017) and since he is a proficient musician with an advanced grasp of groove he is able to easily communicate feeling through his music that can translate into any genre he makes.
In late 2015 he started his EP series Escapism on XL recordings. Each EP has 5 tracks demonstrating the more majestic side of his music that he often didn't show since he had to present his music to a wider audience than just Soundcloud, which often becomes a hype competition to see who can make the craziest song but in this commercial project context his sound didn't seem to waver it just became more thoughtful and organised like a project should be. Unlike Soundcloud where you are encouraged to keep exploring the massive amount of tracks and be able to skip, Gellaitry focused in on making a more quality listening experience featuring an intro and outro track for the first Escapism project and his tracks also were able to blend into one another instead of just stopping and starting like a work in progress .wav file. His recent music (as of 2017) is more explorative because it sounds like he is weaving together a narrative with relatable genres such as stylistic electronic trap music. Him and his contemporary Tennyson have been highly praised of this such electronic trends tend to become static after a while when too many tracks are created.
This project was also available on more streaming sites to widen his audience but some of his content was limited to a lot of his Soundcloud audience because it was now considered premium content since it was released through a big record company such as XL recordings.
Sam Gellaitry has inspired me to make my music more interesting and to reach the extent of a single technique. I believed this evident in my Hudson Mohawke remix. He opened my ears to including pieces of ANY and ALL aspects of music that I like into my own music instead of just directly emulating an artist I like. An example of this would be having an 80s sounding chord progression on top of a a 2000s rap acapella with a vibe filled trap rhythm all at once. I still don't have a solid grasp on any one style of music but my primary mindset will now be to be thinking about fusing styles together which will eventually lead to me making some interesting music.
You need to log your progress, talk about the process and reflect regularly throughout the project. In order to do this in a helpful way and in a way that hits the high grade criteria, you may want to ask yourself these questions each week:
What did I do this week? Why did I focus on this and how has it helped my project?
What challenges did I face? How did I overcome them?
What went well?
Where there any surprises? How do I feel about the process and my project so far?
Did I achieve what I set out to this week? If not, how might this affect my project?
What is my plan for next week?
When it comes to evidencing this, you can do it however works best for you.
Audio - you can use voice memos on your phone as you go then join them up or have one session using Logic to audio record. Upload this to sound cloud or similar and embed into your project folder or blog if you have set one up for this.
Video - you can keep a video diary and embed this via YouTube each week - at the end of your project you could simply present this as a play list if you want it to be a bit neater.
Text - you can handwritten or type a more traditional log and evidence this on your project - just make sure we can read it if it's handwritten! You can start a new blog for your project if you like or keep it as a series of google docs/files. If you type notes into your phone you can export this.
If you are having to change your plans somewhat because of this blasted virus, talk about it in these reflections. Thankfully, your qualification is al about process, evaluation, adapting and creating rather than exams so it is possible to turn this to your advantage!
Thinking about your project, what might you need to research and where might you start?
Some suggestions are:
Academic articles
News/music magazines
Podcasts
Interviews
Documentaries
Surveys
Books
Music
Practical experimentation
YouTube tutorials
TASK:
Make a list of the areas you think you will need to research and select at least 4 suitable types of source. From these 4, find one example of a source.
ie.
Project - creating a multi-sensory EP
Things to research -
4D performance
How our senses work
Synaesthesia
How senses have been incorporated into music before....
Velasco, C., Balboa, D., Marmolejo-Ramos, F. and Spence, C. (2014). Crossmodal effect of music and odor pleasantness on olfactory quality perception. Frontiers in Psychology, 5.
Keith and I have started to create a new blog with a wide range of articles (industry and academic) and some specific academic skills info to help you with these big projects. Rather than labels, you can search using key words such as 'feminism', 'electronic'....
Go to https://www.mybib.com/ and create an account using your college google login. There is a chrome extension you can use if you want as well.
Please create a bibliography in Harvard Style of the sources you have been looking at with Keith.
You should start a new project for each assignment you do. If the sources you have been looking at are used in your Ethnography assignment then call this one 'Ethnography'. You can then keep adding to it and then copy and paste it to the end of your assignment when you hand it in to Keith.
Any questions?
Final task- please complete the Harvard Referencing quiz assignment on classroom (lessons) to check your understanding.
