Episode III: Return to Sensibility

Week 3 – 30.09.09 – 1.10.09

After reading other students logbooks and being told of the importance of a thoughtful, informative entry, I have decided to give an in depth analysis of the past week at Perth College. I will also be talking about last Thursday (24th September) to make this Logbook in weekly order.
Last Thursday began with my student advisor meeting with Andrew. I managed to talk to him about my feelings towards Kevin Murray and his teaching approaches. I find that Kevin plays to you rather than teaches and there is not enough emphasis on my strengths and weaknesses. To be honest, i’d be happy if he would just know my name! Andrew comforted me with the knowledge that after the Christmas break, i will be able to change my first study tutor to Stephen Murphey. Music Theory went well; i feel that i am coping well with time signature recognition. Although, i have discovered that my mind tends to work to 4/4 crotchets, which leads me to a disadvantage for the clapping exercises involving off beats and any rhythm without four crotchets in a bar! I have been downloading tracks with odd and irregular time signatures to combat this. With practice, i am confident that i will be clapping alot louder in class! In Graded unit, surrounded by what can only be described as hospital beds, we were joined by Pete Honeyman. As an experienced session player and instrumental instructor, i looked forward to what he had to say. I learned that instrumental instructors only work half days and that you do not have to be a master of your chosen instrument. There are always going to be people better than you, so learn from them rather than trying to be the best. He also talked about the flexablilty of this carreer and that it is guaranteed work. My initial choice of carear was to be a session musican, but after Pete’s talk, i have now switched to instrumental instructor. I began to think back to when i set up my own Rock Schools back in secondary school and the satisfaction i received from my ‘pupils’ performing with interest and excitement.
On Monday, i had another practice with my new band, outside of the college. The jams have been going really well and i really hope to be gigging soon! Its a whole new world for me as i am the lyricist, sole guitarist and singing of the band. I am loving every minute of playing in this band as i am discovering talents i thought i didn’t have.

But, the past few weeks at college have been quite hard for me in regards to fellow students. After being kicked out of my college band, ‘Kaboom’ things just havnt been the same. The guys that i hung out with throughtout the whole of first year now bearly talk to me. It’s such a shame because i used to love coming into college and hanging out with everyone. Now there is a feeling of unrest. It has made me doubt my abilities on the guitar as that’s the only reason i can think of that would have resulted in this. My confidence has been seriously dented and it is effecting my playing. I really hope that this situation is brief and that things will go back to the way they used to be.

Wednesday kicked off with band practice with a band i am really happy to be in. I feel that all members contribute equally and we work well as a group. We covered ‘Taxman’ and ‘Back in the USSR’ and well as our own take on ‘’Like Dreamers Do’’ which was good fun! I then walked into first study thinking that i was going to learn nothing. But Kevin surprised me by laying out to me what was required of me this year. He helped me pick out my pieces that i needed to compose and arrange with advice on how to go about it. I am creating my own versions of ‘’Back in the USSR’’ and ‘’Something’’. This got me really excited about first study and the future looks a little brighter for my lessons with Kevin Murray! Then Creative musicianship where all the bands performed their take on ‘’Like Dreamers Do’’. I found this quite interesting hearing everyones ideas and seeing students that i haven’t seen playing before!
Thursday began with me thinking i was late for Music Theory as my phone had died and had no realisation of time. I walked into the class that wasn’t mine and felt like a right prune! In the actual class, we worked on our clapping rhythms and time signatures. I feel that the practice is really paying off with my clapping rhythms. Im not at full volume yet, but i hope to be by next week! Graded Unit was invaluable this week as we looked over past Graded Unit folders. I saw what was required for a pass and took note of what some of the past students had done with their folders. I am looking forward to putting together my own folder. Session skills looked at contracts and that they are legally binding. We were also put into our ‘session’ groups for this semester. In DAW, i had so much fun creating a dance tune on Cubase, using the knowledge i have on keyboard to create a memorable melody!
All in all, a good third week at college! I think that is everything so catch you next week for Episode IV!

Alex