Final External Unit

Task 1: Planning 

My candidate number: (5097). My centre number: (17343).

My name is Sebastian Jacobs . The instrument I will be playing for this performance is My voice. The brief requires me to perform a 10-15 minute show case I will be performing a show case for a local label A&Rs appropriate for the event.

Through my performance, I want to achieve the following personal goals:

1. Personal Goal 1:To sing with good accuracy of pitch to achieve a good sound.
1. +Personal Goal 2: To have a large and unique stage presence.
1. Personal Goal 3: To transition from song to song successfully.

To help achieve the above goals, I think I have the following skills that I can use:

1. Skill 1: My first good skill is my dictation and the speed at which I learn lyrics.
1. Skill 2: My second good skill is the variety of music I can perform well.
2. Skill 3: My third good skill is my ability to sound like the original artist without compromising my own style.

 I will know if I have achieved my goals at the end of the assessment because I will be able to see the audience's reaction e.g. facial expression.

The audience I am performing to is A&R representatives. Their expectations will be a clear professional sound. I will meet their expectations by making sure my diction and pronunciation is correct.

I will perform music in the following style/styles indie rock. This is because I am very familiar  with the style.

My personal image for the event will be  I will make eye contact to connect with the audience and wear school uniform for a professional vibe.

My ideas for the performance are : I will perform in centre of the stage and make sure transitions between songs are smooth. I intend to make sure the audience remains exited. I will do it by putting my own spin on any given song.

 The set list I will perform as my given repertoire will contain the following songs:

1. Song 1:  Artist/Band: David Bowie Song title: Life on Mars Estimated length of song: 4 mins. I have chosen this song because It is considered one of the greatest songs ever written and was written by one of the world's most influential musicians.
2. Song 2: Artist/Band: The Smiths Song title: There is a light and it never goes out Estimated length of song: 4 mins . I have chosen this song because It is an interesting song both lyrically/musically and contextually. This is because it has an upbeat rhythm yet it is about suicide and references the austerity that took place throughout the 80s. 
3. Song 3: Artist/Band: Pulp Song title: Razzamataz Estimated length of song: 4 mins. I have chosen this song because it is one of the most underrated songs by one of the most underrated bands, Pulp.
4. Song 4: Artist/Band: Radiohead Song title: Creep Estimated length of song: 3 mins. I have chosen this song because it lead to the popularity of one of the most popular and influential modern bands, Radiohead.

The total estimated length of my set list will therefore be 15 minutes. 

I have chosen to play these songs in this order because It shows the evolution of indie music from the 70s to the 2000s.

 I will need to involve the following people in my performance Mr Gower and Mr Flowers. This is because Mr Gower will be doing the instrumental parts of my songs and Mr Flowers will be recording.

I will need the following resources and equipment  microphone, piano. 

When performing live, I will need to consider the following health and safety issues:

Health & Safety Issue 1: tripping over wires. How I will make sure I am safe: I will make sure I look where I am going at all times so i do not trip and fall.

Health & Safety Issue 2: If the noise level is too loud people's can get damaged. How I will make sure I am safe by making sure the noise level is kept to a safe level .

Health & Safety Issue 3: Making sure I don't strain my voice. How I will make sure I am safe by keeping myself hydrated.

Health & Safety Issue 4: Making sure I don't trip on lose instruments. How I will make sure I am safe by making sure the stage/floor is clear.

I used the following website(s) to help me with my research http://www.singingandbreathing.co.uk/2015/12/01/safe-singing/.

I will need to spend 20 hours at school preparing, performing and evaluating the event. I will spend my time by doing rehearsals for my final performance so everything runs smoothly. 

I will rehearse on the following dates and I will work on the following at each rehearsal:

Week 19 Thursday 18th January 2018 (2 hours):

Plan: To rehearse Creep and focus on that one song so I can perfect it and move on to the three others..

What went well:  I was able to sing creep in an interesting yet accurate style that captures the essence and theme of the song in an interesting way.

What needs work: I need to project my voice more so that the backing track does not overshadow my voice.

Week 20 Thursday 25th January 2018 (2 hours):

Plan: I practised Creep and Life on Mars.

What went well:  I succeeded with both of them, I'm confident with how I sing them.

What needs work: I need to work on how I transition between both songs.

Week 21 Thursday 1st February 2018 (2 hours):

Plan: I practised Creep one final time.

What went well: I was able to master creep and I've made sre I can sing it in my own style and remember the words.

What needs work: Other songs in my lineup need work.

Week 22 Thursday 8th February 2018 (2 hours):

Plan: Today I practised Life on Mars.

What went well: I now think I can move on to practise new songs.

What needs work: Other songs in my lineup need work.

Week 24 Thursday 22nd February 2018 (2 hours):

Plan: I practised there is a light and it never goes out.

What went well: I managed to remember nearly all of the words.

What needs work: I need to find a backing track.

Week 25 Thursday 1st March (2 hours):

Plan:I practised there is a light and it never goes out again .

What went well: I was able to remember all the lyrics again and I now have a backing track.

What needs work: I need to make sure that I can keep this progress up in time for my dress rehersal.

Week 25 Thursday 08/03/18 Dress Rehearsal Performance (2 hours):

Plan: My Dress Rehearsal went really well.

What went well: I was able to perform all the songs in my line up to the best of my ability and in my own style.

What needs work: I need to make sure my actual performance goes as well as the dress rehearsal

Week 26 Wednesday 14/03/18 Final Live Performance (2 hours):

Plan: My actual performance was okay however it was not as good as the dress rehersal .

What went well:  I was able to remember all the lyrics and when to come in.

What needs work: I needed to communicate with the audience more .

Task 3: Evaluation 

Strengths Reflection:

- Very stylistic vocals-draws an audience.
- Coiled mic lead around mic stand, this stopped me from tripping on it. 
- Good volume level

- Nice use of glissando between words to suit the style of music.
-good use of eye contact
-Did not need to rely on lyric sheets

Improvement Reflection:

Improvement #1:

Strategy: There was good communication with the audience, however I could have show a range of emotions.

How could you make that improvement?:I could have smiled more.

Improvement #2:

Strategy: I could have slurred less words.
How could you make that improvement?:I could have practised the pitching of certain notes in the song 

Improvement #3:

Strategy: I could make sure I don't get lyrics wrong.
How could you make that improvement?: I could do this by looking at the lyrics more and listening to the tracks I'm doing. 

Feedback from others:

- Excellent song choices that suit your style
- Work on your stage presence, try to stand still and face the front, rather than fidgeting and looking down.
- Try to work on your slides so that they are more accurate, and pitch as accurate as possible. 

Conclusion:

Overall my performance went well, I knew when to come and when there was break in the song, I used stylistic vocals and I did not stop or lose track however I could have communicated with the audience more.