Week 6: 14 - 18 May 2012

Topic (Theory): Music Jingle and Jazz Ensemble Performance
Reflection Question: How was my jazz ensemble group progress?

I have not practiced together with my group this week because I was absent on Tuesday and I had no time to gather up with my group on Wednesday. However, I have tried to be familiar with the song by reading the notes and asking my instrument teacher to play the song using flute. After that I tried to play the first 4 bars. I realized that playing this song is more complicated than the song I have been practicing, Close to you. However, I realized that this time it is difficult for me to play because I have not communicated with my group mates and supervisor thus I do not know on which parts I have to play the melody and on which parts I have to help the guitar or piano for the accompaniment. There must be time for gather up with my group and supervisor next week so I will ask for their help so I will be able to perform the song well and get good mark.

Instrument class

I have not gathered up with my group and supervisor, however I have practiced together with my instrument teacher. Before start playing the song, I read the notes first to be familiar with the song. Then, I asked my instrument teacher to play the song using flute. After that I tried to play the first 4 bars. I was not able to play it fluently since it was the first time I played it, I pressed the wrong notes a lot and my breathing was still too rough. Thus, on the next practice I have to memorize the notes and make the breathing smoother so the voice from the flute will sound better. 

Practice videos

Playing "Close to you"

 

I once again played "Close to you". I felt some improvements on this practice compared to previous 2 practices of playing "Close to you". I did not do mistakes as many as previous practices. Moreover, I was able to control my blowing technique well so I was able to play all the melodies on the correct octave. These improvements I got are perhaps due to the good concentration I had during the practice, that I did not have in the previous practices. Thus, on the next practices I have to maintain this good concentration.

Playing "Don't Know Why"

I just found out that I had to play "Don't Know Why" for the jazz ensemble group assessment. Thus, I practiced playing the song at home. This is my first time playing the song thus I predicted that there would be many errors occurred when playing the song. However, my prediction is wrong. I was able to play it with few errors only. Nonetheless, I still have to improve my blowing technique because my blowing technique on this practice was quite poor. Moreover, since I only played the first 12 bara on this practice, I have to memorize the rest of the melodied on the next practice so I will be able to play the while song.