29 - 31 January 2013

THEORY

On Tuesday, when we started class, Mr. John played a song for us: "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" by The Beatles. I was definitely in awe because I absolutely love that song and how Mr. John played it on the guitar sounds exactly like it does in the original song. We talked about the next assessment we're going to have: group presentation on Russian music. Mr. John asked us to group ourselves. I'm in a group with the girls.
On Wednesday, Mr. John asked us to go together with our groups and plan the outline. We have to tell everyone which composers we're going to choose and what comes first, second, third, etc. in the powerpoint presentation, so it's basically a layout/outline. We presented our ideas after lunch since it was a split session, and my group chose Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Modest Mussorgsky, and Alexander Borodin. We also discussed about the 15-page booklet we're going to have to make on a certain Russian composer.
On Thursday, Mr. John talked about the assessment we're going to have after the 15-page booklet which was arranging music for three different instruments. We have to arrange the song "Katyusha" (it's Russian) for three different instruments: guitar, piano, and violin/cello. I have ideas already, sort of, but I'm not sure of them yet. I just hope in the end, my arrangement will sound good.

INSTRUMENT

Since we heard Mr. John play "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" on Tuesday, I wanted to listen to it again. He could play so much more songs than that, and when he played "How Deep Is Your Love" by the BeeGees, me and Darren wanted to learn it, so we started learning it. It was hard for me to remember the notes because all I did was look at him play. It was a challenge for me.
On Wednesday, he decided to write the notes down and I took a picture of it so I could practice at home. I only practiced a little bit because I forgot.
On Thursday we continued with "How Deep Is Your Love" but I couldn't get anything because Mr. John played it so fast.

22 & 23 January 2013

THEORY

On Tuesday, we had to sing the song 'Dark Eyes' for our singing a Russian song assessment. I remembered asking Mr. John to lower the key because the original one was too high for me and when he lowered it, I was definitely surprised that I had to sing it in -6 of the original key. I think I did well because I wasn't nervous, as I'm used to the people I'm performing in front of (I think). I also remembered the lyrics.
On Wednesday, Mr. John gave us our singing scores. He gave me a 10 and I was really happy about that because I didn't expect it :)

INSTRUMENT

I think all I did in instrument class for both days was practicing the "Deer Hunter" song. I think I've definitely made progress, but I'm still not good at it yet.

15 & 16 January 2013

THEORY

The first music class started on the first day of school, which was on the 10th of January.
On Tuesday, he told us that we're going to have an assessment next week, which was to sing a Russian song. He gave us two choices of songs: Katyusha and Dark Eyes. I think I'm going to choose Dark Eyes because I think the lyrics are easier to remember but the notes on that song are either really low or really high for me, so I'm not sure yet.
On Wednesday we did vocal warm-ups before trying to sing Dark Eyes with Mr. Hary. I think those warm-ups really helped me. Mr. John asked the class to sing in front together while Mr. Herry records us with his iPad. I think I didn't do well in singing Dark Eyes because I couldn't reach the notes. It was too high for me to reach.

INSTRUMENT

On Tuesday we didn't have instrument class because we had to be familiar with the two Russian songs.
On Wednesday we had instrument class for about 20 minutes and Mr. John gave the guitar class a score for Deer Hunter. The positions are quite hard to pluck because every time I try, there's always a note that goes mute. I should practice during my spare time.

Term 2 -Week 6 Practice Video 2

In this video, I played my Rondo composition, but in the tempo 'Allegro'. I played it in this tempo because Mr. John thought that if it's faster it would sound better overall. It was sort of hard for me to play at first, but now it's fine.

Term 2 - Week 6 Practice Video 1

In this video, I played my Rondo composition. The performance is this week so I have to practice a lot. I think I improved than the first time I played my Rondo composition.

Term 2 - Week 5 Practice Video 2

In this video I practiced my Rondo composition. The performance assessment is due next week and I'm pretty nervous about it, so I had to practice a lot.

Term 2 - Week 5 Practice Video 1

During this week, I did whatever I wanted in instrument class, so I played this song. It's called 'Greensleeves'. It's a tradition Christian lullaby. It's not that hard to play on the guitar.