WHAT I AM DOING:
For the past four or five weeks all we have been doing is performing our final piece to the class and Robin.
We are doing this because he wants us to get as much feedback as possible so we can make it close to perfect. He also wants us to get used to performing on our own, he wants us to not get nervous when we are asked to perform our pieces to the class.
MY PIECE:
As you know I have chosen and learnt 'Love Games' by Level 42. When I was performing it in front of everyone during the first couple weeks, I was quite nervous because obviously it was my first time showing anyone this song and I was worried what people thought of my slapping. It is the first song I have chosen that the majority of it is slapping.
But about the third or fourth week I was completely fine with performing. Robin told me to go first and I didn't even hesitate. I just got up and started playing.
Robin thinks the piece I have chosen is well over Distinction level! He thinks this is a HND or a Degree song! But he said I am only siting at a Merit. He thinks I am capable of a much higher grade though.
He says I'm at Merit stage for a few reasons:
1.) There are bits in the song that just hit two notes and he thinks I am popping them out of time.
To fix this - He said just to really listen to the track so I know when to hit the notes.
2.) During the chorus there isn't any slapping, it's all fingerstyle. And he thinks the rhythms for that our out of time at some points.
To fix this - Again he said just to really listen to what the track is doing, then what I am doing. I've got to start at a slow tempo and build myself up. That way I will be completely in time.
3.) The chorus again. When I'm doing slapping it's all loud and you can hear me. But when I move onto the chorus he says that the dynamics change dramatically and you can't really hear what I am doing at this point.
To fix this - For all my performances I have the neck pick-up turned right down and that's not helping with this problem. To fix this I have two options, I could either turn up the neck pick-up just before the chorus but that would be the harder option. Or I can make sure that both pick-ups are at the exact same volume so the sound is spread and sounds more 'punchy' and full.
4.) He want's me to move around a bit more and look like I'm enjoying it.
To fix this - I've just got to 'zone out' so it's just me and the bass. Basically I am just going to learn the song inside out and then I will be able to move around and look around without worrying if I am going to hit a wrong note.
HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT:
For this piece I am pretty confident I will get a Merit. But I don't want a Merit or a high Merit! I want a Distinction. It's my way of telling me I have completely got the song and I couldn't have performed it better. It's also my way of telling myself that I am progressing with my bass guitar and performance skills.
I am really focussing and trying to fix everything Robin told me to fix. I am practicing this song over and over just to get it into my head. I really want a good grade. I really need one.
For the past four or five weeks all we have been doing is performing our final piece to the class and Robin.
We are doing this because he wants us to get as much feedback as possible so we can make it close to perfect. He also wants us to get used to performing on our own, he wants us to not get nervous when we are asked to perform our pieces to the class.
MY PIECE:
As you know I have chosen and learnt 'Love Games' by Level 42. When I was performing it in front of everyone during the first couple weeks, I was quite nervous because obviously it was my first time showing anyone this song and I was worried what people thought of my slapping. It is the first song I have chosen that the majority of it is slapping.
But about the third or fourth week I was completely fine with performing. Robin told me to go first and I didn't even hesitate. I just got up and started playing.
Robin thinks the piece I have chosen is well over Distinction level! He thinks this is a HND or a Degree song! But he said I am only siting at a Merit. He thinks I am capable of a much higher grade though.
He says I'm at Merit stage for a few reasons:
1.) There are bits in the song that just hit two notes and he thinks I am popping them out of time.
To fix this - He said just to really listen to the track so I know when to hit the notes.
2.) During the chorus there isn't any slapping, it's all fingerstyle. And he thinks the rhythms for that our out of time at some points.
To fix this - Again he said just to really listen to what the track is doing, then what I am doing. I've got to start at a slow tempo and build myself up. That way I will be completely in time.
3.) The chorus again. When I'm doing slapping it's all loud and you can hear me. But when I move onto the chorus he says that the dynamics change dramatically and you can't really hear what I am doing at this point.
To fix this - For all my performances I have the neck pick-up turned right down and that's not helping with this problem. To fix this I have two options, I could either turn up the neck pick-up just before the chorus but that would be the harder option. Or I can make sure that both pick-ups are at the exact same volume so the sound is spread and sounds more 'punchy' and full.
4.) He want's me to move around a bit more and look like I'm enjoying it.
To fix this - I've just got to 'zone out' so it's just me and the bass. Basically I am just going to learn the song inside out and then I will be able to move around and look around without worrying if I am going to hit a wrong note.
HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT:
For this piece I am pretty confident I will get a Merit. But I don't want a Merit or a high Merit! I want a Distinction. It's my way of telling me I have completely got the song and I couldn't have performed it better. It's also my way of telling myself that I am progressing with my bass guitar and performance skills.
I am really focussing and trying to fix everything Robin told me to fix. I am practicing this song over and over just to get it into my head. I really want a good grade. I really need one.