Music Reflection: Term 3

I have enjoyed the subject "Music" so far, it has been a great experience being able to look at new tunes through the term. I have improved in my ability to improvise music and use the main tune in different structures. I have looked at creating new rhythms from chords and created a "guideline" in my "compositions". The term has been great with not only learning skills but also sharing said skills, as I've performed in front of the class. My love for music is big and so have decided to take the subject again for the next year--focusing on piano as my instrument.

Keyboard Reflection

I learn some forms of playing the piano/keyboard such as how the start of "Un Sospiro by Liszt" was, the constant hitting of the keys falling and rising. Though I've learnt such types it was challenging to create a tune/piece that fits in with the key that is done. I've always enjoyed playing the piano, it is an extremely expressive instrument and quite complex in several ways. There are two instruments that I would like to learn next, guitar and violin. The guitar is the more probable choice. I enjoy listening to guitar and violin, fortunately, I have a guitar though not used.

 

What does Music mean to me?

I have studied music before--specifically piano--, though I have had to stop for a couple of years before, I resumed learning music around 2018--present. I have had my fair share of liking different varies of music, ranging from rock, pop, k-pop, jazz as well as classic, I usually do not have any music genre that I don't specifically like--hard metal is not my preference but there are times that I do enjoy it them as well. I terms of singers one of my favourite singers is a woman named "Regine Velasquez"; she is a fierce singer and belts astonishing notes. Band-wise, I love Queen the variety of songs and genres that they have created were amazing, with Freddie Mercury having published 'opera' singles. Moving onto classical music I enjoy the art of conducting, one of my most loved conductors is Sergiu Celibidache-- his Bruckner pieces are of a very high standard. 

I have chosen this subject for the reasons of learning more about music theory, also it increases the time that I am able to play music.

Guitars

This week we return to our music hurumanu, for these periods of our hurumanu we happen to have a very special guest. That being Mr Mitchell, Mr Mitchell [a teacher here in our school] knows quite a bit about music, he happens to be a guitarist and so he now helped us to learn more about guitars. He brought with him several kinds of guitars, an electric, two acoustic guitars and a backpack guitar. Mr Mitchell played several pieces, he also gave us knowledge about several chords and different ways to play the guitars as well.

Acoustic Guitar - Dreadnought - the dreadnaught is one of the most common guitars that you might see, it doesn't need an amplifier, though amplifiers can be used as well. The sizes differentiate according to teh size of the person playing it, however, most are just in the average size just right for the average-sized person. Normally acoustics can be used for country, bluegrass and rock/pop.

Electric Guitar - There are many different styles of electric guitars, but most are designed for style; as stated in the name, electric guitars are meant to be plugged in an amplifier. Though could be used without, playing an electric guitar without an amplifier would sound quite quiet; as there is no soundhole like as of the acoustics. They produce a 'crisp' sound a more rock on sound, ironically it is commonly used in rock, heavy metal as well as pop.

Acoustic -  Backpack -  Cutaway - Backpack and Cutaway guitars are both from the family of Acoustics; Cutaways are slightly different from a Dreadnought as the design allows players of Cutaway guitars to go down the guitar easier than the Dreadnought. Backpack guitars look quite different from the common guitars as it is meant to be carried easier as it is smaller than the more common sized guitars.

Musical Indrustries: Music Suite

At the same day that we continued on our songwriting, we also went to the music suite. While we were in the music suite, several activities were set for us to do. In those activities, we had some challenges to complete so that we would finish the list. One of the challenges was playing "Havana - Camila Cabello" on the keyboards; quite simple, it wasn't too challenging as it was only set for the right hand. There were several instruments, around the music suite, each with their own complexity of playing. Drums both classic and electric, saxophone,  flute, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, piano, ukulele and as mentioned before a keyboard. 

The experience that we had been able to play quite a range of instruments was really enjoyable; I would very much like to try more instruments and see how each varies from each other.

Musical Industries: Song Writing

In the previous week, we have been started making our own individual songs. However, before writing, we have first looked at song lyrics that we could take inspiration from; how each should be layered. (First verse, chorus, etc...)[Bohemian Rhapsody would be one of the exceptions to that, as it contains not, lyrics.]
When I started writing the chorus which I did first, I brainstormed what I really liked, what type of genre that I would be doing, the melody of the piece and generally the type of song that I might write. I thought of my chess set [I really love chess], from there I built on, I "named" my chess set Aurora, which is also ironic because not only is it my chess set's "name" but also my great grandmother's name, both of which and whom I love very much.
As I was writing the verses I began to think about the melody of the song, how would it sound? After finally getting the melody sorted, I continued the songwriting part. Finished with the songwriting, at home I started and is currently composing the song;  the chorus has been sorted, for the right hand at least [piano], the rest I am working on.
I really enjoyed writing the song I would love to do it again.

Here is the song:

Chorus: 

Aurora, Aurora,

Aurora I sing, this song to you.

Aurora, Aurora,

Aurora I sing, this song to you.

First verse:

Aurora...

I glee with joy, I dance with pleasure,

The ecstasy for me!

Your gaze, your look,

Your act, your moves,

All of it, for you, behoves.

Aurora, Aurora,

I sing this song to you.

Aurora, Aurora,

I sing this song to you.

2nd Verse:

The first time we meet, 

Some years ago, 

Your moves I didn’t know.

Time flew by, 

Never say die.

It was rain or shine

But I did not resign!

Aurora, Aurora,

I sing this song to you.

Aurora, Aurora,

I sing this song to you.

3rd Verse:

Your gaze, your look,

Your act, your moves,

All of it, for you, behoves.

Never say die.

It was rain or shine

But I did not resign!

Aurora, Aurora,

I sing this song to you.

Aurora, Aurora,

I sing this song to you.

4th Verse:

As we advance, as we progress

As we enhance, as we impress.

My love for you has not degrade,

My love for you has not betrayed.

Aurora, Aurora….. Aurora!!!!!!

Music Through the Decades

In our music hurumanu, we have been learning about musicians and the decades, eras of music. In this presentation we have picked 6 different decades, starting from the 1900's to the 2010's. In each of the slides, we had to write about the most popular genre or genres of that time. As well as some of the most popular musicians during that specific era; from Jazz, Rock, Soul, Rap, Hip Hop, etc.   There have been countless music legends through this century, making it almost impossible to choose one or even several just to put on a slide. It was quite surprising that from all the eras that I have chosen, I know most if not all of the musicians that were put in my slide. It was very enjoyable listening to the songs from each decade and how each one varies from each other. Each decade has a unique charm that makes me want to listen more and more...

Famous musicians:

Name: 

Adele Laurie Blue Adkins

Stage name:

Adele

Decade: 

2000's

Date of Birth: 

May 5, 1988

Genre: 

Pop, Soul, contemporary R&B, Blue-eyed soul

Famous songs: 

"Rolling in the deep", "Someone like you", "Hello"

Challenges:

Adele suffered a heomorrhage in her vocal chords, luckily her voice was brought back after a surgery.

Instrumental Industries

This week on our music hurumanu, we further looked at the instruments, but this time their "families". Specifically the four main families of music, which are percussion, brass, woodwind and strings. We looked at the instruments that are parts of those families, for example in percussion, we have piano, drums, maracas, etc. Not only that but we also looked briefly on what an orchestra is. That is what we have done in this session.
Then we created a slide to represent what we have learned in this period, and the definitions of teh families and their function.

Instrumental Industries

On the next session of our music hurumanu, we further looked at different instruments; a brief quiz in which we had to name 10 instruments. After that, we then discussed some New Zealand musicians, both solos and bands. For the solo musician, I decided to choose John Clarke [Fred Dagg], I loved his NZ folk songs, I still do, very much so. I researched some information about him as well as Split Enz which was for the band part. Split Enz had many interesting songs as well, with my personal favourite is Six Months in a Leaky Boat. We wrote the information on paper in which we then transferred on a presentation.

Here is a slide show that  I have done, as well as the information that I have gathered.

Hurumanu: Music

This week we have now moved on into our next Hurumanu which is music. In the first session of this subject we started with answering questions about what we know/our prior knowledge about music. Next thing that we then did was changing a our "Music Hurumanu title" to a more suitable as well as a more creative name for our group. There were several ideas, however "Instrumental Industries" is what we have chosen. Subsequent to changing the name of our group we then also looked at a variety of music. Not only music but as well as instruments; Ukulele and the different parts of it, such as the neck, body, head, etc. That has been most if not all of what we covered during the first session.