Author: mccartyat

Songs to Share

What song has the most plays on your music device?

Song Title: Satellite
Artist: STARSET
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCbdQNGBw9E

What song might you listen to when you are sad?

Song Title: THIS ENDLESS ENDEAVOR
Artist: STARSET
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcL8i_895QI

What song might you listen to when you getting ready to go out with friends?

Song Title: Shy Away
Artist: Twenty One Pilots
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRlMegyr6yc

What song might you listen to when you are alone?

Song Title: Shadow With You
Artist: Downplay
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zL5aHhcJJU

What song makes you feel amazing?

Note: There are many songs that make me feel amazing but I just decided to go with this one. This one really makes me feel amazing.

Song Title: Digging It Out
Artist: Downplay
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoAkVxeUyHU

Who is your current favorite artist?

Artist: Neon Trees

January 2023 SMART Goal Project

File:Starset Budapest 2020

Note: Again, this is Dustin Bates when he is with STARSET, I could not find anything about him with Downplay in creative commons.

SUMMARY

I learned the intro to the song before I recorded but after I decided what I wanted to do.

Focus / Instrument

Guitar.

Intention (SMART Goal)

Learn the intro to Digging It Out by Downplay.

PRE-PRODUCTION – INQUIRY

Leader(s) in the Field / Exemplary Work(s)

Dustin Bates.

Training Source(s)

https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/downplay/digging-it-out-tabs-1889146

SMART Goal Schedule

December 5th, 2022-January 13th 2023.

PRODUCTION

SMART Goal Starting Point Evidence

SMART Goal Ending Point Evidence

POST-PRODUCTION – REFLECTION

21st Century Skills

Ways of Thinking (Creativity, Innovation, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving)

Ways of Working (Communication & Collaboration)

Tools for Working (Info & Media Literacy)

Ways of Living in the World (Life & Career)

Reactions to the Final Version

Self-Evaluation of Final Version

Grammar and Spelling

Editor

Song Analysis: Waiting On The Sky To Change

Summary

The song I analyzed is Waiting On The Sky To Change by Downplay. I chose this song because I think it has a really good beat and amazing guitar sounds, also because Downplay is one of my favorite bands and I plan on learning this song eventually, but overall, I think this song is excellent and could be used in almost anything, if that makes any sense.

Song Analysis

TOPICMY RESPONSES
SONG TITLEPLACE YOUR RESPONSES IN THIS COLUMN (DELETE THIS MESSAGE BEFORE YOU WRITE)
COMPOSER(S)
YEAR
COUNTRY
If you could work on this song (change it), what would you change and why?
What is the song GENRE?
What is the song KEY?
What is the song TEMPO?
What do you like about the RHYTHM?
What do you like about the ARRANGEMENT?
What do you like about the MIX?
What do you like about the TIMBRE of some or all of the instruments?
What do you like about the PITCH of some or all of the instruments or vocals?
Are there particular TRACK(S) that stand out?
Finally, what do you like about the overall COMPOSITION?

“A song is a musical composition intended to be performed by the human voice. This is often done at distinct and fixed pitches (melodies) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs contain various forms, such as those including the repetition and variation of sections.” wikipedia.org/wiki/Song

HookTheory for Learning About Song Structure

Holistic Songwriting’s Artist Analysis

  • This YouTube series dives into the songwriting web.
  • Marketing, Lighting, Music Videos, Image…

Mr. Le Duc’s Song Analysis Resources

November 2022 SMART Goal Project

File:Starset Budapest 2020

Note: This is Dustin Bates when he is in the band Starset, not Downplay, and I’m learning a song by Downplay but this is all I could find on creative commons.

SUMMARY

Role

Guitarist

Intention (SMART Goal)

Learn the rest of Hated You From Hello by Downplay.

PRE-PRODUCTION – INQUIRY

Leader(s) in the Field / Exemplary Work(s)

The video tutorial I’m using.

Training Source(s)

SMART Goal Schedule

PRODUCTION

SMART Goal Starting Point Evidence

SMART Goal Ending Point Evidence

Note: I have only made two mistakes in the final recording, I’m sure you’ll recognize them, I normally play this song perfectly, its just that I get a little shaky when recording and also its the whole song, which is a lot to put in. Also, some of the pauses I do in this recording are in the song, the others are just from me being a little nervous. Listen to the song or watch the tutorial above and you’ll see which pauses are from me and which pauses are in the song. One more thing, I played this song a little faster in this recording due being a bit shaky.

POST-PRODUCTION – REFLECTION

21st Century Skills

Ways of Thinking (Creativity, Innovation, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving)

I just practiced a lot.

Ways of Working (Communication & Collaboration)

I didn’t really communicate with anyone.

Tools for Working (Info & Media Literacy)

Guitar and youtube tutorial.

Ways of Living in the World (Life & Career)

Right now I am just a high school student. But after high school I am going to start my own band and go on world tour.

Reactions to the Final Version

Complete and really good.

Self-Evaluation of Final Version

Complete and really good just some parts are a little faster cuz I got this in on the last day of the SMART goal.

Grammar and Spelling

Good

Editor

Ajax

October 2022 SMART Goal Project TEMPLATE

Note: The top one is the ending and the bottom one is the beginning. They got switched somehow.

SUMMARY

I have learned the first three parts so far, I’m getting there.

Role

Guitarist

Intention (SMART Goal)

Learn the solo/bridge part to You Really Got Me by The Kinks.

PRE-PRODUCTION – INQUIRY

Leader(s) in the Field / Exemplary Work(s)

Ray Davies, Austin, 1981

Training Source(s)

Youtube

SMART Goal Schedule

October 14.

PRODUCTION

SMART Goal Starting Point Evidence

SMART Goal Ending Point Evidence

POST-PRODUCTION – REFLECTION

21st Century Skills

Ways of Thinking (Creativity, Innovation, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving)

Problem solving

Ways of Working (Communication & Collaboration)

Learning from videos

Tools for Working (Info & Media Literacy)

Guitar and video tutorials

Ways of Living in the World (Life & Career)

I have no idea what this means

Reactions to the Final Version

Self-Evaluation of Final Version

Grammar and Spelling

Editor

Melody Research, Analysis, and Recording Project

Summary

My First HookTheory Melody

Notes from Howard Goodall’s Melody Video

CueNotes

Five notes work together
Music has evolved over a number of years

Summary: Summarize what you learned from the video here..

Melody Composition Terms and Definitions

  • Theme: A long, flowing melodic idea.
  • Motive: A short, rhythmic idea (Beethoven’s 5th).
  • Period: 8-12 measures or a musical sentence.
  • Phrase: Usually 4 measures.
  • Antecedent (Question) Phrase: First 4 measures of a period.
  • Consequent (Answer) Phrase: Second 4 measures of a period.
  • Scale Degrees (C Major Scale)
    • Tonic: C (1 , 8) – Stability and resolve.
    • Supertonic, Mediant, Submediant: D, E, A (2 , 3 , 6) – Moderate tension, useful for transitions and carrying on an idea.
    • Subdominant, Dominant, Leading Tone: F, G, B (4 , 5 , 7) – Causes the most tension, leads to the tonic.
  • Steps: Any movement using half or whole steps.
  • Leaps: Any movement using intervals larger than a whole step.
  • Conjunct motion: Melody is built primarily out of steps.
  • Disjunct motion: Melody is built primarily out of leaps.
  • Repetition: Repeated material (i.e. motive) used to create a link between two phrases of the period.
  • Contrast: Two phrases that contain contrasting material to create tension and interest.
  • Variation: Halfway between contrast and repetition. The two phrases include some recognizable material and some varied material (i.e. taking ideas up an octave).

One of My Favorite Melodies

My Second HookTheory Melody

I made this in HookTheory.

What I Learned & Problems I Solved

I learned that sometimes the song won’t load. I solved this problem by just going to Youtube and embedding the video from there.

Resources

Audio Recording Sound Safari

Summary

We recorded three audios. We took three pictures. The first two were me saying stuff. The third one was recording one of my teammates’ guitar sounds. The first one was in the main room. The second one was outside. The last one was in one of the sound rooms.

Audio Terms and Definitions

  • Sound Wave
    • A vibrational disturbance that involves the mechanical motion of molecules transmitting energy from one place to another.
  • Compression
    • Reducing a signal’s output level in relation to its input level to reduce dynamic range.
  • Frequency
    • The # of times per second that a sound source vibrates, is expressed in hertz (Hz).
  • Hertz
    • Unit of measurement of frequency; numerically equal to cycles per second (cps).
  • Infrasonic
    • The range below the frequencies is audible to human hearing.
  • Ultrasonic
    • The range above the frequencies of human hearing.
  • Pitch
    • The subjective perception of frequency – the highness or lowness of a sound.
  • Fundamental
    • The lowest frequency a sound source can produce. In other words, it is also called the first harmonic or primary frequency which is the lowest, or basic, pitch of a musical instrument.
  • Sound Frequency Spectrum
    • The range of frequencies audible to human hearing: about 20 to 20,000 Hz.
  • Octave
    • The interval between the two frequencies that have a tonal ratio of 2:1.
  • Bass
    • The low range of the audible frequency spectrum; is usually from 20 to 320 Hz.
  • Midrange
    • The part of the frequency spectrum to which humans are most sensitive; is the frequencies between roughly 320 Hz and 2,560 Hz.
  • Treble
    • The frequency range between roughly 5,120 Hz and 20,000 Hz, the highest two octaves audible to human hearing in the sound frequency spectrum.
  • Equalization
    • A signal-processing device that can boost, attenuate, or shelve frequencies in a sound source or sound system.
  • Amplitude
    • The magnitude of a sound wave or an electric signal is measured in decibels.
  • Decibel (dB)
    • A relative and dimensionless unit to measure the ratio of two quantities.
  • Wavelength
    • Distance between two peaks of a wave
  • Velocity
    • Speed in a given direction
  • Harmonic
    • Is a multiple of the fundamental frequency
  • Phase
    • Factor in the interaction of one wave with another, either acoustically or electronically

– Audio terms and definitions from Wikipedia

Voice Recording

Outdoor/Environment Recording

Instrument Recording

Feedback

What I Learned & Problems I Solved

Resources

DAW Audio Composition Project

Summary

I was learning how to play a section of Blood//Water by grandson.

Audio File Formats and Definitions

AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format): stores standard CD-quality audio; similar to WAV (Higher Quality)

WAV (Waveform Audio File Format): CD audio; can be saved with different sampling and bit rates; similar to AIFF (Higher Quality)

MP3 (Audio File): Used to store audiobooks and music on a hard drive; Close to CD-quality sound; the higher quality sound comes from higher bit rates which also take up more storage space

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface): music data: notes played, when notes are played, how long each note is played, and the velocity of each note played; used to be able to exchange and use information between software and hardware programs; no actual audio data

All the audio file format information is found at: fileinfo.com

Song Used As Template

I didn’t use one.

GarageBand Track

My Composition

Feedback

What I Learned & Problems I Solved

SMART Goal Project

March 2022 SMART Goal Project

SUMMARY

In this project I will learn how to play one of the guitar parts of a specific song.

Role

Guitarist.

Intention (SMART Goal)

Learn one of the guitar parts for Blood//Water by grandson.

PRE-PRODUCTION – INQUIRY

Leader(s) in the Field / Exemplary Work(s)

Me.

SMART Goal Schedule

Learn this by April.

Training Source(s)

PRODUCTION

SMART Goal Starting Point Evidence

SMART Goal Ending Point Evidence

POST-PRODUCTION – REFLECTION

21st Century Skills

Ways of Thinking (Creativity, Innovation, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving)

Ways of Working (Communication & Collaboration)

Tools for Working (Info & Media Literacy)

Ways of Living in the World (Life & Career)

Reactions to the Final Version

Self-Evaluation of Final Version

Grammar and Spelling

Editor