Rehearsal Skills.

Rehearsal Skills: Demonstrate the skills to rehearse effectively for a specific music performance and identify strengths and areas for development.

You will begin this unit by completing a whole class performance of 'Counting Stars' by One Republic. This should help you to identify strengths and weaknesses with your performance skills and allow you to set personal goals and create a plan for your Rehearsal Skills unit. The live music event will be a concert at the end of the course (April 2017) but you will have other live performance opportunities during the course that you can work towards in order to increase your performing confidence. You must also complete a full dress rehearsal on stage that is videoed before your final performance of the set. 

1.1 Your Goals: What are your personal goals, in relation to the effective rehearsal of your fifteen minute set? Describe your goals. You must include in your goals consideration of:

methods for effective preparation for each rehearsal;

I will use the following methods to make sure I am prepared for every rehearsal. Firstly I will ensure that I am fully organised so when it comes to the performance I know what I am doing as soon as I get onto the stage. I also need to make sure that I am working through my set in my free time to build up my confidence when actually performance. Lastly I need to work on my set as much as I can with Miss Colligan as she can give me both good and critical feedback.



methods for ongoing refinement of personal instrumental and/or vocal part(s) throughout the process; 

I will progress with my vocal technique by consistently working on the feedback both Miss Rochelle give me and also Miss Colligan as the feedback I get will help to boost my vocals so my projection gets as good as it can. Also I need to work on my breathing technique, Miss Colligan helps me with this by practicing exorcises with me on the piano in our lessons.



refinement of own image as an artist/ performer;
I need to work on my body language when I perform, also eye contact is more of a struggle for me as I tend to get overly nervous when I actually get up on stage to sing so that is a main goal I need to work on.

impact of consistent punctuality and attendance;
It is important that I attend every lesson and am organised by writing sessions in my planner and leaving reminders on my phone to ensure that I don't miss any as they are very important and will help me to better my performance.

impact of active engagement with other musicians or peers.
I will get other students to listen to me perform because then they can give me feedback about not only how I am sounding but also my stage presence.


A summary of my goals is:

1)Organisation
2)Confidence
3)Stage presence




NOT WRITTEN

1.1

HERE.... Write a “SWOT Analysis” page (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) for your music skills when you started Year 10.

Write a “Personal Goals & Musical Experience” page as if you were at the start of Year 10. Write what your goals were when you started the course and what your musical experience was up to the start of Year 10.

1.1 DISTINCTION: Define and take ownership of a set of realistic and achievable personal goals in relation to their aspirations and expectations of the rehearsal process, having identified their reasons for undertaking the rehearsal process. There will be little or no tutor input into this undertaking.

MERIT: Define a set of realistic and achievable personal goals in relation to their aspirations and expectations of the rehearsal process, having identified their reasons for undertaking the rehearsal process. There will be nominal tutor input into this undertaking. 

PASS: Define a set of personal goals in relation to their aspirations and expectations of the rehearsal process, having identified their reasons for undertaking the rehearsal process. There will be some tutor input into this undertaking.

1.2. The Plan - In your booklet or on your blog answer the following questions about your rehearsal plan (you may wish to type your notes from your booklet onto your blog to keep all your evidence in one place): 

a. What is the purpose of your rehearsal process? (rationale)
The purpose of my rehearsal process is to make more and more progress every time I rehearse and so I can see what I need to work on each time. 

b. Describe the repertoire that you will use in rehearsal and why you have chosen this repertoire....
I have chose a variety of acoustic pieces that all run really well when sung one after another. I made sure that the songs that I chose were quite well know so that the audience can see what changes I have made to make it more of my own original performance.  

c. How will you record your developments and document ideas? e.g. recording; why will you use this method? what impact might it have? Each time I go to rehearse I record it on an ipad so that i can listen to it and see what I need to work on next time or I will perform in front of someone so that they can then give me critical and positive feedback.

d. How will you ensure and collect peer/tutor feedback along the way? What impact will this have on the rehearsal process? By performing my songs in front of others this then allows me to get feedback and then I can then work on whatever I need to for the final performance.

e. What are the Health & Safety implications of rehearsing your chosen repertoire in your rehearsal space? You must show an understanding of Health & Safety Implication associated with rehearsing music. Think about the following: How can you protect your hearing during rehearsals? How can a mixture of repertoire (quiet and loud songs) help protect your hearing? Should you rehearse with loud or quiet sound levels? Why? How much time out (silent time) should you have during your rehearsals? Why? Describe a suitable venue for rehearsals, why is it suitable? In the rehearsal I will protect me hearing by doing an audio check before I do my performance to make sure that the sound is not too loud, There could be younger children with more sensitive ears around so the audio needs to be double checked. The hall is big and spacious so when the music is played through the speakers this means it will be a bit louder anyway due to the acoustics in the hall. 

1.2 DISTINCTION: Evidence clear understanding of what the rehearsal process will look and feel like and how they will engage with it. Within this there will be strong evidence of clear understanding of where potential issues may lie. Strategies for how these may be overcome effectively will be in place. Clear understanding of the relevant health and safety implications associated with rehearsing music in context will be evident, with clear understanding of where issues may occur and how they may be avoided.

MERIT: Evidence clear understanding of what the rehearsal process will look and feel like and how they will engage with it. Within this there will be evidence of some understanding of where potential issues may lie and some thought as to how these might be overcome. Clear understanding of the relevant health and safety implications associated with rehearsing music in context will be evident. 

PASS: Based on their personal goals, evidence understanding of what the rehearsal process will look and feel like and how they will engage with it in order to refine their performance effectively. Learners must also evidence understanding of health and safety implications associated with rehearsing music, relevant to the context in which the rehearsals are taking place.

1.3 Follow your plan for rehearsal that you just described in 1.2 in order to refine your 15 minute set - Keep your blog updated, include teacher and peer comments and reflect on recordings along the way. Keep looking back to the plan! Refer and your goals in your blog!

1.3DISTINCTION: Evidence excellent musical, technical, self-management, interpersonal and safe practice skills relevant to, and throughout, the rehearsal process.

MERIT: Evidence good musical, technical, self-management, interpersonal and safe practice skills relevant to, and throughout, the rehearsal process.

PASS: Evidence of competent musical, technical, self-management, interpersonal and safe practice skills relevant to, and throughout, the rehearsal process.

1.4 Evaluate - Write an evaluation outlining the success of the rehearsal process by responding to tutor comments in relation to: 

• a full dress rehearsal of the set;
• the rehearsal process as a whole;
• and explain your updated strengths and areas requiring further development in relation to developing strategies for effective rehearsing in the future 

1.4 DISTINCTION: Evidence clarity and realism in evaluating the degree of success of the rehearsal process as a whole and of their role within it. Strengths and areas for development are defined clearly. Strategies for the ongoing refinement of the rehearsal process will be in place.

MERIT: Evidence clear understanding of the degree of success of the rehearsal process as a whole and of their role within it. Strengths and areas for development are defined clearly.

PASS: Evidence understanding of the degree of success of the rehearsal process as a whole and of their role within it. As part of this, learners are expected to assess their strengths and areas for development. 

29/9/2015

I choose 'Back To Black' by Amy Winehouse for my first song. I've chosen to take an acoustic backing as it's different to the original and I want to change it slightly.

6/10/2015
In today's session I went through 'Back To Black' with the acoustic backing. Chime assessed me and gave my good feedback but also gave me things I could working.

What I set out to achieve today.
Today i set out to improve on how I can go through the song without stopping or making any faults.

How I was successful today 
I wanted to change the song so it was my own sort of style, i've taken an acoustic backing to change it but I wanted to change the way in which I sing it. I achieved both of these. 

Targets
Chime assessed my singing today, he said that I should work on not mumbling and whenever I make a mistake just to carry on. 

13/10/15
Today I decided on the songs the I want to put together for my set. I
decided on back to black- Amy Winehouse, If i ain't got you-Alicia Keys , Earned it- The Weekend and Ordinary People-John Legend.

20/10/15
In today's lesson me and chime went through Joy Division for his set , we mainly focused on chimes piano part as its quite difficult to get in time with me singing.

23/10/15
In my private singing lesson I practised Back to Black and focused on building my confidence and worked on my body language whilst singing. 

10/11/15
Today I recorded my first song (Back to Black) with Miss Rochell, I still need to practise more on the ending and make myself more fluent with the notes. I thought I could've started my second solo today but didn't have enough time so im aiming to start that next lesson and get through it without any distractions. I think my recording went well but it still has a lot of room for improvement. 

17/11/15
In today's lesson I found the last two songs that i'm putting in my 15 minute set, I worked on Back to Black some more so that I am more confident when coming to perform in front of an audience.

24/11/15
Today I started to work on my second song and need to work on this song a lot more as it is a lot harder to perform and is difficult to learn.

Targets for next lesson
Next lesson I want to start my third song 'If i ain't got you' and get the second song sorted so that I am confident with it.

1/12/15
In this lesson I worked on my second song (Ordinary People). I listened to it many times to make it easier for me to learn it. I also went through it for the first time which was difficult as it comes in at quite an awkward low note.

Targets for next lesson
For next lesson I hope to of learned 'If I ain't got U' by going through it at home in my own time because I have no distractions around me, also I can run through my song and start to put it all together. 

8/12/15
I ran through 'If i ain't got U' with the singing so that I am confident with what I am singing so that when I sing it with just the instrumental I know what i'm doing and when I come to it.

Targets for next lesson
For next I want to make sure I have two songs that I am confident to perform.

15/12/15 
In today's lesson Chime assessed me and we recorded two of my song 'If I ain't got U' and 'Back To Black' by Amy Winehouse. I thought that both of my recording went well, and that I practised them enough. I assessed one of Chime's songs which was 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' by Joy Division. I thought that he could have got a lot more done in the time that we had and could have practised the chorus more to get it fluent. With a bit more practise he should have the first song learnt.  Chimes comments were that I should work on my breathing for 'One dance' and to stop moving around so much when singing. I can improve on these by rehearsing 

Evaluation
I felt so much more confident when singing 'Back to black' as with the help of my singing teacher I had wrapped my head around where to breath and how to project my voice even further than I was before. With 'Ordinary people' I wasn't as confident as I didn't have as much time to go through it as with 'Back to black' I had been practising it for weeks before hand. I felt that the main thing that I was successful with in both song was projecting my voice more and when singing I focused on one main spot in the room I was recording in so that I wasn't distracted and I kept my focus on the song.

Next time I need to make sure that I have a good breathing pattern throughout both songs and also I need to practise to stand more still and not fidget when performing.

Targets for next lesson
By next lesson I aim to be in the middle of learning my third song, and should know the lyrics by then. Also I need to have a backing for the song as well.

19/01/16
This lesson I started to go through my third song which is 'Earned it' by The Weekend but i'm using the acoustic instrumental to make it more original. 

Targets for next lesson 
By next lesson I would like to be more confident with my third song and know it.

26/01/16
In today's lesson I went through both of the songs i'm confident with and I rehearsed my third song some more. I also started working with Timi on one of his songs which I feature in. 

Targets for next lesson
For next lesson I want to nearly be done with my last song and be able to run through my whole set.

9/02/16
As I wasn't in last Monday and Tuesday i'm not where I want to be with 'If I ain't got you' but i'm near enough half way there. 

Targets for next lesson
By next lesson I would like to of finished all of my songs.

1/03/16
This lesson I went through all three of my songs and made sure I am confident and know the lyrics of by heart.

Targets for next lesson
Next lesson I would like to record my songs.

8/03/2016
In today's lesson I performed 'If I ain't got you' in front of Matt and Chime and they both gave me good feedback and some things that I can work on.

Targets for next lesson
Next lesson I would like to get started on the next unit as I have finished all three of my songs, timed them and recorded them.

15/03/16
In today's lesson I ran through all three of my songs and also went through my song with Timi.
I also work on my breathing for 'If I ain't got you' as I find that quite difficult when it comes to where to breathe.

Targets for next lesson
Next lesson I would like to record everything that I have done and move onto the next unit. 

22/03/16
This lesson I performed my pieces in front of Miss Rotchell and am preparing for my dress rehearsal next monday.

Targets for next lesson  
Next lesson I would like to get my rehearsal done first, then after I can move onto the next unit.

29/03/16
Due to the year 11 exams I couldn't perform my dress rehearsal, so today I just went through my whole set to make sure that I am confident with the songs that I am performing. 

Targets for next lesson 
Next lesson the first thing that I will do Is get my rehearsal recorded and then I can move onto the next unit.


19/04/16
In yesterdays lesson I performed my set on the stage with Jenny recording it, so now I can move onto the next unit. 


Blog needs more detail - link it back to your goals and plan. Move some entries down to below your recordings that you have here. 

1.3DISTINCTION: Evidence excellent musical, technical, self-management, interpersonal and safe practice skills relevant to, and throughout, the rehearsal process.

MERIT: Evidence good musical, technical, self-management, interpersonal and safe practice skills relevant to, and throughout, the rehearsal process.

PASS: Evidence of competent musical, technical, self-management, interpersonal and safe practice skills relevant to, and throughout, the rehearsal process.

In this recording I noticed that I was a bit unsure in some parts in terms of where to come in and when to breathe, also my pitch was off at times and I didn't complete the whole of the song.
 I sounded more confident in this recording however I still noticed that sound somewhat flat in some parts and still didn't know where and when to breathe throughout some parts of the song, but I did finished the whole song which is an improvement.


In this recording I noticed that my projection is so much better in most of the song however there are some parts that I need to make sure are fully supported as they are high notes.
Evaluate these recordings - they were your work in progress. Refer back to your goals and make sure you explain what progress you have made and what still needs to be done. 


29/09/16
In today's lesson I sang my three songs in front of Timi and Jamie. They both gave me feedback on what was good and what I needed to do to improve. 

Targets for next lesson
Next lesson I'm going to act on their feedback and perform my set again. 

1/12/16
Today I spend the first 30 minutes in my music lesson practising my grade 5 music and then I went back into lesson and ran through my set again to make sure I am still confident with every song that I am performing.

Targets for next lesson
Next lesson I  want to just make sure that I have everything all done.

19/01/2017
Today I ran through my set to make sure I know exactly what I am doing and I recorded mine and Matt's song for his set.

Targets for next lesson
Next lesson I would like to record my set again to make sure I  go over any mistakes I made in previous rehearsals. 




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh2R8vIREc0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts6R2AualuM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mu7wLrSxVnU

This does not add up to 15 minutes so would you like to use one part of your Live Music Performance video?? If so... which song and we can chop it and put it on but you will need to write about it on your blog or a song you did with Matt. Or you can use your whole 15 minute set from Live Music Performance and change your blog to match that!
+Ordinary people????

MISS ROTCHELL TO ADD IN ORDINARY PEOPLE

Teacher comments

Back to Black

How could you add more impact to the final chorus.

Expressive, good projection and excellent tuning - a lovely performance, well done, I really like your soft singing.

Make your your diction is clear and all of the ends of words come across.

Think about your presentation on stage - what could you improve about the start? Try not to look down. Really make your movement deliberate, you sometimes move but it doesn't seem planned. 

Could you do more when it gets to the bridge and you repeat black - could you show off a bit here?

Ordinary People

Song 2

Diction is very important in the chorus. Lovely tuning and expression of the words.

Could you try to do it without lyrics on your phone - think about the presentation of your performance as I commented for Back to Black. 

If I Ain't Got You

Song 3

Good projection and expression.

Pitch at the start needs a little more security and support, ensure you have enough breathe and your diaphragm is engaged for the higher notes. 

The rehearsal process as a whole

Your rehearsals have been focused and productive. You were organised and prepared for rehearsals. You have made good progress in developing your vocal skills lesson on lesson and effectively learned your repertoire. Make sure you are always organised for your vocal lessons as you have missed a few. You have demonstrated excellent attention to the detail of the music working hard to give a technically secure but also musical performance. You have also shown capability with setting up the equipment promptly and safely in all rehearsal sessions. Attention should be paid to how you present your performance - use your drama experience here to improve your presentation of songs. Think about support and pitch in songs that require different technique.

EVALUATION 

Overall I think that my set has come along really well, I know two of my pieces 'Ordinary people' and 'Back to Black' off by heart however my other two songs 'Earned it' and 'If i ain't got you' still need some work in terms of fully learning the lyrics and when and where I need to breathe throughout each song. Also I need to really focus on my stage presence, for example where abouts I am looking when performing as I tend to look around a lot and play with my skirt. I also need to work on my composure because I made it quite visible when I make a mistake whereas I need to just carry on and act as if nothing had happened. I feel as if my confidence is definitely building up every time I go over each song and also my projection is really coming along as it was one of my weaknesses.  To make sure I overcome these small flaws I need to go over my set much more in my free time and start to perform in front of people e.g. friends and family who can then give me feedback both what went well and what i can improve on.

Read my comments above and then write up an evaluation now. Assess the success of the rehearsal process by responding to my comments in relation to your dress rehearsal and my comments about your rehearsal process as a whole. Make sure you also differentiate between strengths and areas requiring further development in relation to developing strategies for effective rehearsing in the future .

Distinction criteria for your evaluation - READ THIS BEFORE COMPLETING EVALUATION AND CHECK THAT YOU HAVE DONE THIS AFTERWARDS: Evidence clarity and realism in evaluating the degree of success of the rehearsal process as a whole and of their role within it. Strengths and areas for development are defined clearly. Strategies for the ongoing refinement of the rehearsal process will be in place.