My Skills - Progress Review

My Skills

Music Theory
At the start of the year since I had almost no abilities in music theory I was a bit confused as to what to do. I could just about read music and understood time signatures but I was yet to learn more skills. To date I know how to play a lot more scales, I know how to play majors and minors and I know a lot more about sharps and flats. In addition I also know how more about the alto clef. Although I was struggling at the beginning of the first term, I find now I'm doing a lot better and it's no longer a struggle to keep up. A lot of the chords I've learnt to play in music theory lessons I am able to add to my producing work in logic.

Composing

At the beginning of the first term I knew little about composing, I didn't know much about chords or a lot of the reverb we learnt in those lessons however, I was eager to learn. Now in composing I use a lot more chords, synthesizers and I usually leave the drumbeat until the first two are done. In addition I also use bass hits and bass guitar together which I didn't do before hand. In composing lessons using synthesizers we're very new to me whereas now I use them a lot more frequently.     

Logic

I knew most of the basics in logic when we first started, like quantizing, a few effects, a few short-cuts, and how to edit audio, however now I know a lot more about midi effects like transposing, how to thoroughly edit audio, more short-cuts and different ways to produce using logic. I apply this to my work by using the midi effects a lot more I find that it can be helpful if you have less knowledge about chords and other theory stuff.

Djing  

At the start of the year I had very little experience in Djing, I had a rough idea on what to do and I knew how to work the equipment but the skills to DJ I was yet to discover. To date I can use the Djing equipment a lot better and I have picked up skills from the Dj's we have researched over the time we've been here. I will apply this to my Djing work by adding more of the skills the Dj's we've researched use and learning when it's best to use them. 

Studio Techniques

At the beginning of the first term i had a rough idea about studio techniques as that was something i studied in school. I had learnt how to ensure a recording studio was safe, how to set up the equipment properly and how to ensure the sound was getting through the audio interface. I have learnt how to wrap cables up correctly, ensure sound is coming through multiple inputs/outputs and how to mix a project correctly. When i add audio from instruments and vocals the skills i learn in this lesson will come in handy.

Recording Vocals

At the start of the year I knew how to record vocals and which were the best type of microphones for the different scenarios of vocals to be recorded which for solo vocals is a dynamic microphone and for multiple vocals a condensing microphone. I knew how to set up the microphone stand and the microphone. I knew how make it possible so the artist could hear the music they were doing the vocals to through headphones and connect it to logic properly. I have learnt in depth the different types of microphones and how to wrap wires when finished with recording vocals, when i add vocals to my work this will be an important aspect.

Hardware (Equipment)

At the beginning of the first term my knowledge of equipment could have been better. I knew of the different types of equipment but not the names of individual ones in their category. Since joining i learnt about a lot more different types of microphones such as the "SM57" the "Titan" and the "Audix D6" in addition i have learnt about how the microphones work eg the diaphragm vibrating. In addition we learnt a lot more about the mixer we use in college and the piece of equipment used so the vocalist/ instrument player can hear the music.

Instruments

At the start of the year i couldn't play any instruments apart from guitar which i hadn't practiced in a fairly long time. Since joining i've become a lot better at playing keyboard, i'm not at a stage where i'm confident but i am a lot better than I was before. I will apply this to my work by adding chords and melodies to my pieces of music.

Attendance&Punctuality

My attendance from the start of the year has been fairly good and i plan to keep it that way, with my recent move it should be easier to make sure i stay on time to lesson.

 Organisation

In the first term my organisation wasn't as good as it should have been. If i had been better organised i wouldn't have missed the first deadline for the Decades Project. I have improved this by ensuring I complete my work is able to be published a week before the deadline is set and make any minor changes from then onwards.

Motivation

My motivation at the start of the year could have been better because then i would have booked rooms more in the first term, although now i'm booking rooms frequently and going to more of the access time we've been giving on Fridays and i will continue to do this.

Working Independently

At the start of the year working independently was not a problem and i plan to keep it that way, i'll just concentrate on my work and ensure i do well to make sure i keep this up.

Teamwork/Collaboration 

At the beginning of the year we didn't do much to show our teamwork however with the current project we're doing i think i will be able to portray my teamwork and see where i am at. However so far i would say my teamwork is going well so far as we are organising together quite well.

Music Business

At the beginning of the year i knew quite a bit about music industry, for example the different roles in the industry and what these individual roles do. In addition i feel i have learnt quite a bit more about the music industry, since I started in September.