This work will help give you a head start and get to grips with some of the key concepts involved in this course and the music industry and stand you in good stead when you begin your course in September.
Start by selecting a band of your choosing. Watch a live performance of theirs. This course requires you to become very good at analysing and evaluating live performance, so start now. Whilst you are watching, in a notebook start jotting down using the following headings:
• Pitching during the performance
• Instrumental tuning
• Tightness
• Tempo
• Handling of section changes
• Beginnings and endings
• Technical proficiency
• Critical listening by the players to sensitivity, balance, and dynamics
Next, write a brief account (approx. 200 words) about how you got into music, what or who has inspired you, and where you would like to see yourself in the future.
Compile a 10-song playlist that best describes you.
• Rate the following skill sets/areas of understanding you have from 1 – 10, 1 being “I have very little experience/skill” and 10 being “This is a really strong skill/area for me”. Don’t worry about giving yourself a low score, it won’t affect your place on the course.
• How do you rate your Performance/Technical/Production skills?
• If any, how do you rate your understanding of music theory?
• How would you rate your composition skills?
• Problem solving – if you get stuck with something, how well do you cope with solving the problem?
• How do you rate your skill sets with technology such as music equipment and software? Do you create music at home on a DAW? If yes, please explain what software you use and the genres of music you create.
Take a look at the below:
• Electronic Sound music online magazine
• Sound on Sound online magazine
• Music Radar Blog Site
• BBC Music Introducing
Head over to some of the sites below and watch/listen to some documentaries/interviews:
