Practical Skills Module Report

In this report I will summarise the practical skills module that I have completed in

the first and second semester, I will evaluate my growth and the information I have learnt

as a musician and performer. I have kept a diary of the events every week including what

we did in the session, what I learnt and what we need to do for the latter sessions.

In the first session I was presented with the diary/booklet and asked to fill out the

first set of questions. I felt that my strengths were in Jazz performance particularly within

accompanying and harmonic concepts. I wanted to increase my sight reading ability

because playing the guitar naturally notoriously awkward to sightread. I was looking

forward to experiencing new music from around the world because I wanted to broaden my

horizons. Most of all I wished to become a better performer at the end of the course.

Beginning the set of lectures we first delved into what is sound I found it interesting

how people can perceive music in so many ways, I personally think music should always

be logical. We listened to an extract of music that converted electrical signals into audible

sound waves collected from the Hubble space telescope. I learnt that music is subjective,

although this piece was aleatoric it allowed us to perceive this as music because it had

been treated in such a manner. We were asked to research ensembles that ranged from

western classical string quartets to gamelan groups, I found this interesting because I felt

that there was so many specific things to use in this area. The next session we focused on

these ensembles but mostly classical. I analysed a string quartet in conjunction with the

guides we were given from the lecturer. We switched tutors from Emilee to Sue and with

this we focussed on transcription, being a jazz performer I found that I can transfer some

of my skills to this task I was exposed to different methods of thinking of a scale where

syllables relate to the precise note and some people are able to improvise just using this
method. I am not pitch perfect so I find this difficult however if I have a reference point I

can apply this to some extent. On the 25th of October we explored compositional devices

such as dynamics, tempo, form and structure. I noted down what I already knew and also

coming from a classical trumpet background I knew many orchestral terms. We looked at

popular forms and structures this was interesting because I had not done this before with

inclusions of middle 8’s and verse chorus. From this point in the course we were split into

presentation groups and given a piece to work on and present, my group was given

Mozart’s bassoon concerto I knew this because I had played this piece in an orchestra

from earlier in my life. We analysed this thoroughly with focus on the style and form, this

was interesting in how the soloist aided the harmonic structure. I learnt valuable

presentational skills, having done public speaking and theatre work before I knew the

power of the voice and how it needs to be emphasised in order to be completely

comprehensible for the audience. I feel we could have had more structure in terms of the

group interacting with one another.

In the second semester we started the practical side of the module. I had chosen

improvisation because I feel that I wanted to experience new ways of improvising and

different genres that I could add to my repertoire. In the first session we were introduced to

the course and to the styles we would be participating in. Being one of six guitarists in the

group I found myself playing a very different style to the others many did rock, singer

songwriter and metal improvisations. We were each asked to do an improvisation

completely void of prior knowledge I started with some melody with accented chordal

voicings to compliment the tune. We later discussed the concert that we would have in the

final week and to suggest pieces to play. The next session we were introduced to some

pieces that we could start preparing and other ways to consider improvisation. We first

warmed up with free improvisation around no structure I found this very interesting the first
one we started we all naturally formed a groove. We started playing a piece called “el

Cuarto de Tula” and explored Cuban styles of accompaniment and stylistic techniques.

The 3rd week we started making a set list comprising of; Blue Monk, Night and Day, el

Cuarto de Tula, Don’t eat that cake and a blues in G. I found these easy to improvise to, I

was asked to accompany another guitar for a duet to introduce night and day. We

continued to rehearse these until the concert. It was a rewarding experience.

The second option I chose was Cuban. In this we played as a large ensemble

where I was a frontline player in the trumpet, we overviewed the course and were taught

stylistic techniques and how to employ them. I learnt that the bass anticipates the next

chord by playing on beat 4 rather than 1, and the extreme reliance on the percussion

section. In later rehearsals we were playing through arrangements of standard cuban

repertoire. We were taught stylistic improvisation such as octave leaps and using the

dominant note as an axis point to develop ideas. Unfortunately I couldn't make all the

sessions because I had glandular fever, tonsillitis and an infected liver but I was able to

return for the final performance which went well and I learnt that normally front line players

should dance in the style however I feel my moves lacked some finesse.

Overall I found this module very interesting and informative, I learnt a great deal that

I can employ into my new repertoire. Leaving this module I know I am leaving with a

greater appreciation for other music and increased knowledge of how they work.