I must admit, it has been a while since I last updated this blog. However, I have plenty of gems hidden away ready to be shared. As it has almost been a year, we will be revisiting the journey it took to get to where I am now. There are so many exciting projects currently in progress, I can't wait to catch you up…!
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Some inspiration for developing creativity as an adult:
Click here for the article from Felt Magnet
A reflection from my 10th week of studying the theremin...
The history is the week 10 of my studying theremin The present is the history I revisited at Stalin's Piano this week at City Recital Hall, Angel Place. What an amazing performance…! Read more. During this mid-sem break, I was able to book a long session on Monday in the recording studio. I worked on refining my project (for sound lab), practising more looping, updating this blog and technical practice. On Wednesday we had a very exciting trio rehearsal. This involved N (projection mapping) and V (dance). Our performance concept is developing well. I decided to share some of what I've been up to on social media. I have been able to find a better setup and become faster at it. Things to do
Check out our video here: x Joy
This week led up to Good Friday. I worked on looping, and played for a video and photoshoot involving the theremin. I worked mostly on solo theremin. Monday at Sound Lab was productive. I found out on Wednesday that the gig next Friday has been postponed. It was originally going to be in a studio in Marrickville. We had a set with a VJ, dancer from Sydney Dance Company, and myself. We will likely host our own one later independently. I'm looking forward to working on our trio project next week. Watch my progress video here: Experimenting with looping, soundscapes, textures and effects.
x Joy I had a listen to some of my music again on the weekend and I am now feeling a bit more positive. There is so much that sometimes I forget what I have recorded or made. At the moment I am working on making a theremin beat (thanks N for the idea). A suggested mixing the theremin drums I made with normal drums. Things to do:
Track specific goals:
Reflections from my Wednesday session:
Friday session
Some tips from A:
x Joy
After seeing Tennyson last week @ the Hudson Ballroom, Sydney, I was left feeling so inspired and re-energised. They were absolutely amazing.
However, on Monday, at Sound Lab, I was feeling quite stuck. Perhaps this was due just having been exposed to such great music and feeling a sense of incompetence and disdain for everything that I have created so far. I felt a lack of motivation to work on my music and wanted to start over. In this tricky situation, I asked for some advice and gave my track that I had been working on a break this week, and shifted my focus.
Something interesting to note, is that I found the tuner on Guitar Rig. Previously I had mostly relied on my perfect/absolute pitch (as well as visual/spatial memory). Although it was interesting to be able to see which note I was playing, it ended up causing more anxiety than being helpful.
The theremin is so sensitive that to be able to hold the exact pitch without shifting a little is very difficult, and watching the scale made me more worried. I think I may try this again later when I have improved, in order to test my pitch accuracy and stability. Watch my progress video:
Playing with textures and effects.
Listen to the track on soundcloud here:
x Joy
On April 7, I will potentially be performing Theremin at a studio in Marrickville. Things to do before then include:
Things I am considering:
Progress this week included:
Current setup: I am now running through the PA with a DI box, instead of an Amp. This works well with the new portable effects on my laptop. Watch my progress video: x Joy
And we are making progress... This week I have been working on my face. Yes, using the reflection in the recording studio to see how I can improve the visual element of my playing. One of the great things I learnt in America whilst studying under the guidance of Dr. P in Advanced Wind Band Conducting and Rehearsal Strategies, was the importance of one's facial expressions. Nonetheless, it's very difficult (especially when I am focusing so hard on many other things). This shows a greater need for individual attention and practice in this area. I received helpful feedback from S about the effectiveness of suddenly approaching a note with confidence (rather than easing into it and sliding as I was previously doing). Some links have been drawn between the theremin and the electric guitar. I also worked on the pentatonic and whole tone scale during my practice, which sounds good with many of my original tracks. Some things to try for next time:
Current settings on the amp: Watch my progress video: x Joy
P.S. Confirmed that I will be working with a friend who is a VJ for my Sound Lab performance. Woo!! June 2nd @ 6pm Io Myers, UNSW. See you there :) Improvements are only natural over time. Slowing down, writing and reflecting on our progress, as well as evaluating is such a crucial part of learning and improvement. This is how I feel about my playing... More rigorous practice today in an attempt to develop a more stable technique.
For next time:
I'm excited to see what will happen next. Stay tuned ;) Current settings: Watch my progress videos: Developing technique// Playing with one of my original tracks// Solo - Somewhere Over the Rainbow Developing a routine for technique // Playing with two of my original tracks (sneak preview) // surprise @ the end
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