Week Fourteen 13/01/2015

Critical Evaluation

 

Within this essay, the production of my individual study composing task will be critically evaluated considering both positive and negative aspects. As I was not confident enough to incorporate my piano skills, the main instrument used was my voice.
 

The main positive aspect of my performance is that I was able to discover my own voice; I did not imitate how other singers sound, I was myself. Borch discusses the importance for vocalists to find their own distinctive style 'if you want to stand out as an artist. This means that you want to embrace your personal sound as well as your own inspiration to combine this with certain musical qualities.' (Borch 2015) I managed to meet this target by listening to artists that inspire me vocally such as Ellie Goulding; her unique sound had a very positive impact on me during the creative process. As well as this, writing my own lyrics helped as there was nothing to copy or hide behind. If I had arranged an already existing song, I would not of showcased my vocal abilities due to simply imitating. It is vital to have your own individual voice so this was a huge achievement for me. In terms of my future works, I think I could develop this further by using improvisation techniques to see exactly what my voice is capable of.
 

Another positive attribute of my performance links to my personal progression in terms of harmonies. Bankhead (2014) explains why 'melody is the most important part of the music. It is the tune of the song. But harmony can add so much depth and meaning!' (Bankhead 2014) Within my previous group performance, I feel like I had improved a lot but I had only used already existing songs where the harmonies are easier to pick out by ear. I was proud that I was able to identify unfamiliar harmonies within my own track using improvisation enabling me to perform with confidence.
 

Although numerous harmonies were included within the final track, I think I could of improved by including lower harmonies and 'oo' sounds to add more texture thus creating a more professional sounding track which would be more appealing for my listening audience 'because of the positive impact that vocal harmonies have on a finished song, I like to think of creating them as part of the writing process, not just something you add to a song to “make it pretty.”' (Ewer 2015)
 

The main negative within my track was the quality of the recording. Due to me being unable to control the dynamics, my track was on the same level from throughout; there was a lack of light and shade. To improve, a crescendo affect with the introduction quieter and the chorus sections louder would make the piece more interesting for the listener. Audacity simply did not fit the professional requirements I needed and I should of used 'something more full-featured than Audacity. It's just not geared towards audio production, professional or even amateur' (Cavalcade 2015) I think I should of developed my skills on more advanced technology such as Garage Band as I would of been provided with more control.
 

Overall, I think I have found my own style as both a song writer and a vocalist and although my track is not perfect, I am extremely pleased with the progress I have made throughout the creative process.

 

 

Bibliography

Bankhead, D (2014). Understanding Harmony: Part 1. 31/01/2014. tuts [online]. [Accessed 13/01/2015]. Available from: <http://music.tutsplus.com/tutorials/understanding-harmony-part-1--audio-23066>.

 

Borch,D (2015). Find Your Unique Sound. 20/06/2012. voice council [online]. [Accessed 13/01/2015]. Available from: http://voicecouncil.com/find-your-unique-sound/.

 

Cavalcade (2015). Recording With Audacity Or Not. 01/10/2013. ultimateguitar.com [online]. [Accessed 15/01/2015]. Available from: <http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/columns/the_guide_to/recording_with_audacity_or_not.html>.

 

Ewer,G (2015). The Essential Secrets of Songwriting [online]. Available from: <https://garyewer.wordpress.com/2012/02/29/tips-and-tricks-adding-vocal-harmonies-to-a-song/>. [Accessed 13/01/2015].

 

Pattison, P (2012). Songwriting Without Boundaries: Lyric Writing Exercises for Finding Your Voice. 1st. ed. England: Writer's Digest Books.

 

Songwriting Business [online]. (2015). Available from: <http://www.songwritingbusiness.com/the-biggest-secret-to-becoming-a-great-songwriter>. [Accessed 13/01/2015].

 

Thompson, J (2004). Find Your Voice: A Self-Help Manual for Singers. 1st. ed. United States: Artemis Editions.