Performance Arts

This year, we had a lot of music projects in Mrs Beer's class. All of them are my favourite, but if I were to choose one, I'd pick the 'Composing My Own'. With this project, I can express reality. Showing the real world, the real feelings, the real you, is very uncommon because we, people, are afraid of prejudice, judgement and comparisons.

What I found challenging this year is being consistent on your work and passion for music. So to incoming year 10 music students, here are some words for you

Music lets us express the real us. Just be yourself, don't be afraid to get out of the shadows. Take one step at a time. Erase those negative thoughts of 'maybe I'll make a mistake', 'they will laugh at me', 'I'm no good at this', 'I'm shy'. Fighting!

My goals for 2019

I'd improve my piano and guitar skills. Maybe in the future, I can write an inspiring song for everyone!

Performance Evaluation

Last week, Alyana and I performed 'The Only Exception' in front of the class and Mrs Beer. Actually, Alyana suggested the song to me and I thought it's fine because I kinda know the song. We had lots of options to choose from and we ended up with this song that was not on the list. Because I'm not familiar with the song very well, Alyana helped me a lot (thanks for your patience) to play the acoustic guitar while singing. The lyrics are telling a story wherein some parts I can relate to. This song made me get out of my comfort zone, by trying a bass guitar (of course with Alyana's help), and also using a capo for the first time :) Though our performance is not perfectly fine, I'm happy with it because we finally finished our last assessment; the audience liked it; and lastly, I made myself proud!

If we could perform again, we could change the bass guitar into an acoustic bass guitar to match with my acoustic guitar. And more practice, seriously. But overall, I'm happy with it. Thanks to Mrs Beer <3

Composition Techniques

Composing different types of music is what we are currently doing in Music this term. I have learned about identifying genres, instruments, tempo, dynamics and other elements of music. Music is used for advertising, films, or just a song. So far, we created a short piece of songs for films, Christmas and advertisements.

Arranging the tempo is my favourite one, the emotion of music relates to the tempo. If it's fast, it gives an exciting, happy or amazing feeling. If it's slow, it is more like a sad, thrilling, and anxious piece. I love creating music for films, music creates the mood and attracts the viewers, it makes the film more memorable. Christmas jingles are more like a happy and exciting piece, the audience should feel the excitement of Christmas and make them dance to the song.

I might try making my own style of music for my assessment wherein it will show the composer's feelings and story or thoughts.

The Snowman and the Snowdog

This is a short animated movie clip without any dialogue, all you can hear are orchestra-like instruments, more of string and aero-instruments. This film shows a lot of emotions to the audience and the music contributed a lot by setting the mood and drawing the emotions and feelings.

I still did understand the story without dialogue because I saw what happened in the video. The music impacted the emotions and feelings of the viewers. For example, in sad moments, the instruments played slower and in high-pitch, the violin holds the note for a long time to draw it to the hearts of the audience. In happy and exciting moments, the instruments play in a fast beat, imitating a heartbeat when one is happy!

I enjoyed the flying scene a lot, especially when the second voices started to sing, it should be a happy scene but for a particular reason, it made my heart ache it almost made me cry for some time.


Watch the clip yourself and share what you think on the comment box below.

NZ Music Research Assessment

This is a research I made the New Zealand Artist Brooke Fraser who's widely known for winning a Grammy's Award in their song "What A Beautiful Name" as the lead vocalist and songwriter. To learn more about her, open the slide below. 

Performance Evaluation

Aotearoa

1. Were you happy with your performance? Why? Describe?

YES! Cause I know to myself that we all enjoyed the song and that we received a big applause from the audience.

2. How did you feel performing in front of an audience? Explain!

A bit nervous but feels so good. Performing in a small crowd made me tremble though I'm used in performing in front of many people, at first  I felt like I'm going to ruin the stage and everything but when I started singing and playing the piano I felt the excitement and just go with the melody of the song.

3. What was your final grade and were you happy with?

Excellence- and yes I'm very happy with it but I have this kind of feeling that our performance should be in the middle of merit and excellence cause we're not that very good but not so bad also.

4. How could you have improved your performance?

We might communicate more as a group and share our ideas to improve our performance. We should also build more confidence as a group and encourage each other.

Maori Music for a Modern Audience

Aotearoa

"Aotearoa" is a POP song by New Zealand recording artist Stan Walker featuring Ria Hall, Troy Kingi and Maisey Rika.

To celebrate Māori Language Week, Walker decided to release his first song completely in Māori, alongside other Kiwi artists

Inspired by the 1984 song "Poi E" by the Patea Māori Club.

The music is so catchy to my ears. Since I heard it it's really hard to put it aside for a moment or not sing it in your mind. Though at first, I have no idea what the song is about, all I know is Aotearoa which is New Zealand.

The music video is so fun and very informative, it shows the maori culture in which generally shows how Maori act and move together, the bond between them. When you don't know anything about New Zealand or Aotearoa by seeing this video you can learn a lot of things including how the country looks like and how beautiful it is. It also shows the products like wools, you can see the canoe they use for voyage, and the art.

No matter if you're near or far
We come from the land of God
No matter where you belong
We'll fight for your freedom

These 4 lines are often said in the song. It is about between Aotearoa and the people in it, that they are one, they believe in God, and protecting their land.

Matariki

Matariki, or Māori New Year celebrations were once popular, but stopped in the 1940s. In 2000, they were revived. Only a few people took part at first, but in just a few years thousands were honouring the ‘New Zealand Thanksgiving’. A special feature of Matariki celebrations is the flying of kites – according to ancient custom they flutter close to the stars.

Matariki signals the Māori New Year. It is a time of renewal and celebration in New Zealand that begins with the rising of the Matariki star cluster (the Pleiades or Seven Sisters).

Traditionally Matariki was celebrated by gathering with whanau (family) and reflecting on the past. The festival’s connection to the stars provided an opportunity for families to remember their whakapapa (genealogy) and those ancestors who had passed away to the heavens. Offerings were made to land-based gods who would help provide good crops, and new trees were planted to signal new beginnings.

How do communities recognise Matariki?

Matariki is a good opportunity for Maori to share their stories and culture with the wider community, and many events and activities are planned throughout the country to share and celebrate Matariki. Some common events and activities include:

• Concerts and cultural performances
• Art exhibitions
• Art and Craft Workshops
• The sharing of myths and legends
• Astronomy Workshops
• Hangi and Feasts
• Dawn Ceremonies
• Family Days
• Tree Planting in Conservation Areas
• Whakapapa (Genealogy) Workshops
• Cooking Demonstrations

Year 10 - Group Performance

1. Who is in your group and what is each person doing?
Alyana and Hillary

2. What is the song you are working on? ( add a youtube link)
What a Beautiful Name

3. Why did you choose that song?
We love this song so much, like our favourite and we want to use our voices and skill for God.

4. What is the song about?
It's about how Jesus, His name is beautiful and wonderful. It's all about praising and lifting Jesus.

5. What is going to be the challenging part of the song.
The part before the chorus
6. what are you rehearsing this week?
The whole song.

Year 10 Guitar Skills

1. What did you find challenging about Guitar skills?

It's hard for me to choose a song to play. A song that will suit my voice while playing the guitar. I practice 7 songs but only played one.

2. How did you feel about your skills test?

Nervous and scared. In terms of performing in music, I'm not really that confident to show my talent, I am always afraid that I might make mistake and people will just...

3. Which instrument would you like to focus on next term and why? ( This will be your solo instrument and your voice is your instrument if you want to sing! )

Keyboard/Piano! I love guitar and I already know how to play it since i was 13 but piano is really my dream! I thought playing piano is just a piece of cake but not, it was a difficult one but once you know it, you'll just get along with the notes. I want to develop my skills more and reach my childhood dream!!!

Guitar Skills

The guitar''s roots go way back to 15th-century Malaga in Spain. Its engineering was pioneered by a Spanish black man, who gave just four strings or ''courses'' to his guitar. Thereafter, the instrument went through the Baroque and Classical periods before evolving into the six-stringed, modern-day guitar.

The word guitar comes from the Portugese word ''guitarra'' derived from the Greek word ''kitharra'' that refers to the Greek island of love and poetry, Cythara, which was dedicated to the Roman goddess of love and beauty, Venus.

The guitar evolved from double-strings (courses) to single strings and around the same time, became a 6-string instrument (in Spain, guitars were 6 courses during the 18th century). It was made in 1801 by G.B.Fabricatore and is housed in the Vienna Museum.

The guitar (acoustic) is considered a European-invented instrument that first appeared during the medieval period. The form of the modern classical guitar is credited to Spanish guitar maker Antonio Torres circa 1850.

Keyboard Skills Performance

I chose DESPACITO to  perform in our keyboard skills test in Music because firstly, I know this song very well (as you know it's so much popular), people keep playing it on radios and singing along with it meanwhile the other songs, it's my first to see and heard them so I know if I choose them it will be difficult for me to perform. I also the "What About Us" song but I prefer "Despacito" over that because the melody of that song is too hard for me to play in keyboard and I don't know much of the song that's why.



It's a privilege to play keyboard in front of the class and my teacher, I feel so excited how I will play next week, I hope I don't make even a single tiny mistake. I want to develop more my skill, and share it to others too. I was the last student to perform so I felt pressure and nervous, knowing that it's my turn next. But as took a sit and start putting hands on the keyboard, my nervousness had gone and just smoothly play along.

Next time, I'm going to improve my tempo, I played it slightly slower than the original tempo because I'm confuse in switching chords and keys. So I should practice more and focus If I could play again.

Preparation for Keyboard Skill Test

Questions

1. which song did you chose to work on and why? Add the link to the song.

I chose DESPACITO for my keyboard practice and to play next week in front of the class on test because firstly, I know this song very well (as you know it's so much popular), people keep playing it on radios and singing along with it meanwhile the other songs, it's my first to see and heard them so I know if I choose them it will be difficult for me to perform. I also the "What About Us" song but I prefer "Despacito" over that because the melody of that song is too hard for me to play in keyboard and I don't know much of the song that's why.

2. Which parts have you found challenging?

I found it challenging in the part wherein I'm playing using both of my hands though I'm used in playing two hands but this time it's the thrill particularly the transition of chords, from Bm to G then D is easy for me, but the chord is going to A and that's the specific part where I am challenged but I kept trying till I get it right, I used my whole period of time in Music in getting it right.

3. How are you feeling about the skills test and performance?

It's a privilege to play keyboard in front of the class and my teacher, I feel so excited how I will play next week, I hope I don't make even a single tiny mistake. I want to develop more my skill, and share it to others too.