developement plan

Development plan

Currently I am enrolled in Penwith College doing a level 2 BTEC course in music. This is a 1-year course and includes how to set up a recording of instruments, insert the recording into logic and add various effects to them to create a very good sounding recording. We also do a lot of sequencing work i.e. creating drumbeats, synth loops and all in all creating a full and dynamic track. A lot of time is spent using inserts such as reverb. Reverb is an effect on the selected channel strip to make it sound although it’s either being played in a hall a small room or out in a field. There are many other effects we work with and they can all add up to make a good track. Along with this I also take drum, guitar, and singing lessons. I am relatively new to guitar and singing so still need more practice to get to a good level but I have been drumming for a couple of years and can play to a relatively high standard.

Upon completing this course I will more than likely be joining Camborne College to do a 2-year course in dj’ing and sequencing electronic music. This course will go into more detail on producing, mixing and I’ll also be taught how to master tracks and get them ready to a professional standard for release to the public. I believe that this course is the best route to take at this time and hopefully will lead to a university level course. Whilst at Camborne college I am going to work a lot more on my guitar, drum and singing skills. I am aiming to get them all to a high level before I join university. Once I have completed my course at Camborne I might join university and further my education into producing and mixing or given the opportunity I might join a record label and start making music and making a name for myself.

Although I’ve only been at Penwith college for a short time, I feel I’ve learnt a lot. For example I can now set up recordings, create software loops and my skills on my chosen instruments has improved greatly. All of my music skills have improved a lot since being on this course and I’ll only get better as time goes on and I go into more in depth courses.

monitoring PDP

 

Monitoring pdp

Back in January I was more or less just starting with producing and my guitar playing. I knew only a few basic things on logic i.e. drum beats and a few inserts but still didn’t really know how to use them or when to put them in and my guitar playing was pretty bad as well, I’d just started playing and hadn’t figured out how to put my fingers on fret board. My drumming skills were relatively good but not up to a high standard.

Now at the end of March my logic skills have greatly improved and I have finished a track where in I used inserts, audio loops, drum beats, synth melodies and many other logic functions. I have also done a lot of other small projects using logic; just testing out a few things and this has help me get to grips with the programme. My guitar playing has also improved I can play a couple of different riffs and my hand placement is getting a lot better. I’ve still got a lot to learn but I’m well on the way and I will continue to practice regularly to obtain a high standard. The same goes for my singing I’m still not up to a good standard yet but I’m starting to notice improvement in my ability to carry notes and my breathing technique between words has got better and will improve with practice. My drumming has also got better I can play harder fills now, more technical pieces of music and my stamina on the kit has been greatly improved. 

political and technological factors

Political, social and cultural factors affecting the development of different genres of music

Task 1

There are many things that can factor in the evolution of a music genre. Politically genres can be affected by war, famine or censorship etc. For example war and conflict gave Bob Dylan the inspiration to write many of his songs and they have affected the way that genre has grown and the direction it has taken over the years. Masters of war was a very influential song in that it helped unite a vast group of protesters to come together and peacefully demonstrate their disgust over the Vietnam War. Another example would be hip-hop. It has been heavily affected by politics and censorship. In an attempt to prevent the so-called bad influence of hip hop on the public the government censored out all profanity included in songs played over the Internet or radio. Because of the government trying so hard to ban this kind of language it has become even more popular and the genre has grown exponentially and influences people all over the globe.

Technological factors affecting the development of different genres of music

Task 2

Technology has affected music in both positive and negative ways. On the plus side technology has advance so that music can be kept in time and equalized to perfection. This gives a more clean and contained effect to music production. For example the advances in programming have given way to genres such as dubstep, hardcore and hardstyle. They have also brought things like the electric guitar into play to give birth to rock and roll and in turn bring band such as led zeppelin, AC\DC and cream. The technology in microphones has now advanced to a stage were recordings can be made to sound exactly like the reality. Unfortunately not all advances are seen as beneficial to the music industry. For example some would say that electronically made music is not pure and too unnatural and therefore is not considered good music. Some people also feel that because this music is so popular it blocks the way for more acoustic band, electronic music is often considered to have no feeling behind it and that no passion has gone into the producing process.

Guitar short riff

Guitar short riff

recording guitar

I am going to record a short riff on guitar using a SM57 microphone. i will be using logic to record the guitar. After recording i equalized the guitar riff and added some reverb on to the guitar riff. I then added a pad synth and a drum loop. I then equalized the synth and drums and put a small reverb on them too.Guitar short riff

comparison of active near-field monitors

The two monitors i will compare are the Dynaudio acoustics BM5A an the Event electronics studio precision 6 active. The BM has a slightly bigger sub at 6.9 inches to the Events 6 inches, it also has a bigger amp built in. The events is good for high and mid range frequency's and can create good bass, were as the BM is more a bass monitor but can still preform well on high and mid range frequency's. they are both agile and ideal for small studio's but you would need multiple monitors to get full potencial out of them.