Für Elise - Jack O'Casey

Always Attract - Jack O'Casey

Clubbed To Death - Jack O'Casey

Next Rehearsal and Techniques

In todays rehearsal, I followed the guidelines I previously planned however I practiced for 1 hour instead of 30 minutes so I could repeat the procedure twice. After the second time, I realised that the 4 minute warm up for the guitar is unnecessary and wastes time that could be used practicing. It would be a lot better if I actually reduced it to 2 minutes instead of 4 and that gives me an extra 2 minutes of practice time which could accumulate to roughly half a song or it leaves room for some errors or minor mishaps.

Also during this rehearsal, I focused on the dynamics of my songs using the una corda pedal (Soft pedal) on the piano and differing between the force I use on each string whilst fingerpicking and playing chords on the guitar. I was experimenting between changing the loudness of each section of Für Elise. I decided to play the first section (A) in either a p (piano) form or mp (mezzo-piano) with the help from the una corda pedal whilst playing the second section (B) in a much louder f (forte) form without the use of the pedal. The third section (C) starts off with the una corda pedal pressed down and I slowly release it as I get further into the section. Along with this, I press down on the keys much harder to give it more of a prominent crescendo sound to it.

I also worked on the timing of the pieces by using a digital metronome with Für Elise and Clubbed to Death and for Always Attract, I played along with the original recording of the song to make sure that I was playing these pieces at the correct speed. I realised that I was playing Always Attract at a slightly faster speed than it's actually played at but now I have more of an idea of the speed at which it is played at so focusing on the timing technique was very beneficial.

Rehearsal Procedure

Rehearsal Procedure - (30 Minutes)

 

This is my first plan for my Rehearsal Procedure.

 

• 0-4: Warm up using certain techniques specified for my chosen instrument - Piano
• 4-12 Practice performing Für Elise again and again to reassure that I am fully able to perform this piece to a high standard.
• 12-19: Practice performing Clubbed to Death to such an extent that I can perform this piece without hesitation, pauses or mistakes.
• 19-23: Warm up using certain techniques specified for my chosen instrument - Guitar
• 23-30: Practice performing Always Attract with effective use of fingerpicking to improve my playing ability and also to improve the actual performance or this piece

Avoided Warm Up Techniques

 

Piano Warm Up Technique 1

 

Piano Warm Up Technique 2

Guitar Warm Up Technique

 

 

 

These 3 techniques are 3 of the warm up techniques I avoided using before my rehearsals.

The first Piano warm up technique can be used as a warm up before playing a piece of music but I, personally, think that it is too slow to be used as a warm up. Warm ups are meant to be effective, however this specific warm up is too slow to be classed as effective. Increasing the speed of this technique would improve it greatly as it would make you work harder yet not too hard for your warm ups.

The second Piano warm up technique is irrelevant to either of my Piano pieces I have chosen for my BTEC Music Performance. It may be slightly too hard for some as a warm up exercise at first but once it is mastered, it should be much easier to perform, however you would still have to spend time practicing this actual technique when you could find a much more effective technique which is actually easier therefore it doesn't waste as much valuable time.

 The Guitar warm up technique is also irrelevant to my chosen Guitar piece. Overall, I don't think that it is a good technique either because it isn't really helping you either warm up before a performance or just actually help you play a song. It is too repetitive and if overused, it may cause some strain due to the repeated movement of all fingers and thumb.

Good Warm Up Techniques

Piano Warm Up Technique 1

Piano Warm Up Technique 2

 

Guitar Fingerpicking Warm Up Technique

 

 

 

These 3 warm up techniques are really simple but effective if used regularly.

 

The first Piano warm up technique can prove useful for both hands as it exercises the hand muscles and, if played correctly, can help you memorise and play each scale if the notes are alternated. This is useful for playing pieces that have a lot of movement in either hand and for songs with a wide range

 of notes played in one hand.

 

The second Piano warm up technique is very useful to use when you are playing a piece of music that requires either a cross over with one hand or the use of a wide range of notes in quick concession with each other. This technique can be utilised effectively with both hands.

 

This Guitar fingerpicking warm up is very helpful because you are required to play a range of different strings one after the other. This helps the you become much better after time with fingerpicking using different fingers and increasing your speed and accuracy. Therefore you would be able to play the pieces much more effectively and to a better standard.

 

In my own opinion, I believe that the Piano Warm Up Technique 2 is better than the Piano Warm Up Technique 1 because you move your hands more often which is better to help prepare yourself for the piece(s) you are about to play. You are also able to do this warm up with either hand and any 3 fingers in order to it isn't only restricted to the use of 3 specific fingers on one hand.

You Me At Six - Always Attract (Live)

This is a live performance by the band You Me At Six playing their Always Attract at Banquet Records. In this performance, there are two guitarists and on singer. The guitarist on the left plays the majority of the song and the second guitarist comes in towards the end of the song. This song is in the structure of A-B-A-B-C with the second guitarist joining in at around about halfway through section C; accompanying and complimenting what the first guitarist is playing. The band members seem really comfortable when performing together. The singer gets the crowd involved in the singing which shows a great deal of confidence because he is communicating with an entire audience whilst he is performing. The first guitarist seems to slightly separate from the singer and the second guitarist because most of the attention is aimed at the singer and the second guitarist who is acting in ways to make it known that he is there too. The first guitarist, however, is moving about while he is playing the song showing that he's enjoying himself and that he's confident in his own playing abilities.

Talictious - Clubbed to Death (Live)

This performance is a very artistic and creative improvisation of Clubbed To Death by Rob Dougan. The performer looked really comfortable when playing and the accuracy was very precise. The improvisation of the song is a lot more complex than the original version. The performer shows great confidence in this video. This is an important aspect of performing. I need to take this into account when performing because I need to improve my stage presence and my performance abilities.

Mitsuru Nagai - Für Elise (Live)

This performance is an excellently executed just as the actual performance of the song. This pianist has brilliant fluidity and confidence. He plays the song with a solid posture and the piece is played all in one movement showing that he has practiced this particular song so much that he has great confidence in his playing ability.

Third Solo Performance: Always Attract - You Me At Six (Guitar Cover)

This is my third and final song choice for my solo performance. I specifically chose this song because it is played on the guitar and will inevitably display contrast in my three musical choices. This piece requires more concentration than the other two due to the fact that it requires the use of fingerpicking, a technique which I have recently learned how to use correctly. However, this song is quite basic and repetitive so it isn't too hard to actually play and I'll be performing it on an acoustic guitar and be seating so I don't have to focus on moving around when performing. I just need to make sure I come across as confident when performing this particular piece.

Second Solo Performance: Clubbed to death - Rob Dougan (Piano cover)

Clubbed to Death is my second solo piece that I am performing. I chose this song because there's a lot of contrast between this piece and Für Elise. This has more of a 'legato' feeling to it throughout the entirety of the song. Despite being a relatively short song, the way it can be performed can highlight everything about the song in general. If it's played in phrases and in 'movements', along with the feeling of a confident performer, this song can sound professional with very little effort.

First Solo Performance: Für Elise - Ludwig van Beethoven

This is my first song choice for my solo performance; Für Elise (composed by Ludwig van Beethoven). I chose this song to perform because I'm very familiar with this piece and I am confident that I can play it with little to no mistakes at all. Therefore, I wouldn't feel the need to worry about the music itself so I can then focus on the actual performance of this piece.

Für Elise

Für Elise is written in A minor and is in a 3/8 time signature. Although the piece has been named a Bagatelle, it is, in fact, in the form of a Rondo due to its A-B-A-C-A-B-A structure. Episodes A and B are both played with arpeggios in the left hand alternating between A minor, E major, C major, and G major. It is then followed by the note of E over five octaves before returning back to the beginning of episode A. The piece then evolves into episode C which is in D minor and is played with diminished chords in the right hand. Episode C is in two sections, each with a crescendo lasting throughout the entire episode. After section C is finished, the piece then goes back into episodes A and B before repeating A again with the last phrase being played with the use of ritardando and an octave on the last A note played to add more depth to the note. Another A octave can be played after that an octave lower to make then ending definite. The composition makes use of the sustain pedal on each bar of episodes A and B. It is also possible to play section C with the use of the sustain pedal too, however, it is the choice of the performer as to whether he/she wishes to use it.

Scales

Over the past two weeks, I have been practicing the Blues Scale and the Minor Pentatonic Scale on Guitar with which I have improved greatly on accuracy and speed from since I first learned how to play the two. I have also been practicing major and minor scales on the Piano to try to gain a better understanding on how songs are pieced together and how the foundations of songs are formed from twelve simple notes.

Introduction

This is a blog for my BTEC Music Performance. This is going to be used as a diary of some of my three performances, two of which have already been decided. I have decided upon performing two Piano pieces and either one Guitar or Drum piece (I am currently undecided on a third song). The first Piano pieces I am performing is Bagatelle No.25 in A Minor (more commonly known as Für Elise). One of Ludwig van Beethoven's most popular compositions. The second, is the Piano instrumental from Clubbed to Death, composed by Rob Dougan. I have known how to play these two pieces for quite some time, however I have practiced these for hours upon hours in an attempt to perfect them. There's always room for improvement when it comes to performing and I hope this blog acts as proof of my improvements and abilities over the next few weeks up until Assignment 2: The Solo Performance.