Performance Assessment, Music

1. What instrument did you choose to learn and why?

I chose drums because I play them and take lessons for them.

2. What song did you choose to learn and why?

I chose Treasure by Bruno Mars because I found it very groovy and easy to play to.

3. What was challenging about this piece and how did you overcome the challenges?

One part of the song I found challenging was the drum fills, to overcome this problem I just kept practicing.

4. Were you happy with your final recording/performance? Why?

I mean, I could've done better but the final result was Ok but not the best.

5. What would you change about your performance if you could do it again?

Make it more sharp and that sloppy.

6.Were you happy with your overall grade and why?

 ??????

7. What have you enjoyed about Music this Semester?

Being able to have a lot of friends enjoy the semester with me.

Music Genre Study Reflection

Our task for Music was to pick a Genre that we were interested in, and then were set to do research about this specific Genre and find out about its history. In my group were Nate, Tiaoa, Eugene and I who decided to do Pop as our Genre. We chose to do this Genre because as you know, most well known Singers around the world are Pop Singers and wanted to find what was so special about Pop. Something I learnt that was new for me is that Pop was the Genre known for producing most's hits. Most Pop songs share a certain thing called the Pop - Music Formula, because they all have a good rhythm, a catchy melody and are always at ease to remember and sing along to. 

Slideshow Link:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1TRTM1hTwL5rqc3cGc4ZKgtBtREUMWUqu-3odtDq9J74/edit#slide=id.p

Workshop 1: Unpacking Themes and Ideas?, Coraline Film Study

Theme/Idea - Something that links throughout the story

'Looks can be deceiving' - things aren't always what they seem

Example 1: The Beldam/The other Mother - She appears to be good in the start/but is revealed to be an evil soul devouring metal spider demon - Shows theme because the other mother changes gradually over time so that Coraline & audience don't notice - Important to the story because it helps the audience understand  Coralines choice when she realises that having everything perfect won't make her happy. 

Example 2: Other World vs Real World - The other world is a perfect web/trap to catch Coraline, whereas the real world is boring but safe - Shows theme because even though the other world seems better in every way, the real world is actually better/safer because it isn't a trap - Important to help audience understand why Coraline goes back to the real world.

S - tatement - In Coraline, themes and ideas are used effectively.

E - vidence - For instance, the theme 'Looks can be deceiving' is shown through the character 'Other Mother'. The 'Other Mother' starts kind, but is revealed to be a soul devouring demon

eX - planation -  This makes the audience feel that we shouldn't trust things or people that seem perfect at first glance.

eX - planation - this was done to make the audience feel weary or develop a sense of caution towards new situations. Coinciding with this is the use of colour to show the 'Other Mother' is becoming more evil. At the start she is is surrounded by warm colours that makes us feel safe, but by the end it is dark with neon green which makes her seem dangerous.

Y - our Link - This Theme is also shown through the changes in the "other world' as it is revealed to be a spider web designer to catch Coraline. 

Film Study

Coraline Notes:


Opening scene:

. Music - sounds like a child's music box, bit creepy, repeated lyrics 'dreaming'; starts quiet.
. Perspective - Other Mother P.O.V we see from her, know its her by the needle hands.
. Use of close up - makes audience focus on doll not on creator.
. Lighting/Colour - dim, dark, green, faded - sets the mood/atmosphere that its old, abandoned, unappealing and run down.

Stetting: Pink Palace - Real Word

. Music - happy, gentle, harmony, chanting, sung by children, lyrics in a made up language. Makes calm happy atmosphere. Music changes  to increase tension - faster, louder, minor
. Coraline - Sassy, moody, stubborn, bright colours - blue hair, yellow jacket & boots, - main character - makes us focus, shows shes different from those in the real world.
. Colour/Lighting - dull, grey, boring, dark, bland, tinted, makes the 'real' house feel depressing, old crusty & cold, not a place Coraline wants to be.
.'Real' Parents - dull, workaholics, don't have time for Coraline, not happy, depressed, tired.

The 'Other' World:

. Colour/Lighting - Bright, vibrant, warm, welcoming - makes it feel inviting and safe, Coraline dosen't  stand out anymore.
. Other parents - Fun, active, show Coraline attention, energetic cooked her nice meal, they look happy & healthy unlike the real parents.
. Music - Spooky music, dosen't  match what we are seeing, slow to medium pace, minor, quiet. 

The 'Real' Neighbours

. Colour - greys, dark, mournful, sad. Colours - Pallette, foggy, faded, washed out

. Lighting - dark/gloomy - inside house cold light

. Music - bland, background, medium pace - Latin style, upbeat, movement

. Setting - Forest, looks dead, house is old, rustic, rundown, dusty, sticky, dark, poor - basement, theatre room, used to be fashionable, now is dated

. Characters - Mr Bobinsky - Russian, 'drunk', awkward, weirdo - Miss Spink & Forcible - they argue, opposites but like some thing, actress, old fashioned, confident, attention seekers - Coraline dosen't like them but better than nothing

The 'Other' Neighbours 

. Colour - Bright, light, good dark, shiny, bright, vibrant

. Lighting - Warm, light- orange/yellow, warm light - spotlights are bright

. Music - Loud, joyful, circus music, playful minor, energetic, brass

. Setting - Friendly, welcoming, garden is alive, house is painted/looks new, apartment looked colourful, theatre, grand, large, osh, good condition

. Characters - Mr Bobinsky - Clean/tidy/done up, healthy blue, nice to Coraline - gets her name right - Miss Spink & Forcible - transformed, young, thin, attractive, talented actresses/acrobatics, modern - Coraline likes them, is enthusiatic to have them as neighbours.

The Beldam:

. Colours - Dark, green, colourful, purple/pink, neons that show in the dark

. Lighting - Dark, cold, unsafe, horrific, 

. Music - slower, quiet, menacing, creepy, spooky, Other world, suspicious

. Settings - Chocolate & furniture were beetles, sinister, transformed from the perfect home to a spider web - polluted

The Guitar and Famous Guitarists

The Guitar:

What is the difference between an Acoustic Guitar and an Electric Guitar?, Acoustic Guitars have large hollow bodies with a sound hole right below the strings, also acoustic guitars are able to amplify their sound unlike Electric Guitars. They have no sound holes and have a solid built body with thinner strings, and can only be played through a speaker or in other words a Amplifier.

Find three musicians that are famous for playing the guitar?, Jimi Hendrix, Prince and David Bowie.

What kinds of musical ensembles can Guitars feature in?
Guitars feature in ensembles such as Rock and Pop, also known as Rock and Pop bands. There are normally keyboards or pianos, one or more singers, and a rhythm section made up of a Bass Guitar and a Drum Kit. Music Ensembles normally have a leader or a conductor.

Guitarists:

Below are two Guitarists famous in different ways for their skills on the Guitar. Find out three Facts about both Artist. include a picture of them.

Jimi Hendrix:

. James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American rock Guitarist, Singer and Songwriter. Although his Mainstream career only lasted four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential Musicians in history and one of the most celebrated Musicians in the 20 the Century.

. Born: 27 November 1942 in Seattle, Washington, United States.
Died: 18 September 1970 in Notting Hill, London, United kingdom.

. At age 18, Davis played lead Guitar for Hank Ballard and the Midnighters. Davis met the Teen Jimi Hendrix in 1959, in Seattle while on tour with the Midnighters, becoming a mentor for the Future Legend, teaching him everything he knew about Guitar.

Orianthi Panagaris:

. Orianthi Penny Panagaris is an Australian Musician, Singer and Songwriter who rehearsed in 2009 with Michael Jackson in preparation for his ill-Fated "This is it" concert series, and Performed with Alice Cooper's touring band.

. Orianthi Penny Panagaris was born 22 January 1985 in Adelaide, South Australia, and is of Greek descent. She first started music off with Piano at the age of 3 and went on to play the Acoustic Guitar at the age of 6. When she was Eleven she took up Electric Guitar and left her school, Mercedes College, enrolling at Cabra Dominican College.

. October 2016, Orianthi featured in the NRL Grand Final pre-game entertainment alongside Richie Sambora. Their Performance was met with mixed reviews, and Sambora defended their performance the following day on Twitter.

 

Ukulele and Famous Ukulele Players

Ukulele:

.Whats the difference between a Ukulele and a Guitar?, Guitars are bigger than Ukuleles. A standard guitar has 6 strings whereas ukulele has 4 strings. The fret board on the ukulele is a lot thinner and quite shorter than the guitar and which makes it easier to manage for people with small hands.

. Which countries are most known for using the Ukulele?, these countries have been sorted into a list
. USA - 53.1%
. UK - 27.9%
. Australia - 6.0%
. Canada - 5.1%
. Germany - 2.3%
. New Zealand - 1.5%
. Thailand - 1.3%
. France - 1.1%
. Singapore - 0.9%
. Italy - 0.7%

. What is a Ukulele Orchestra?, A Ukulele Orchestra is a musical ensemble featuring ukuleles in many different registers. They play and sing music from a variety of musical genres, all on the ukulele.

Ukulele Players: 

. Find out three facts about both artists. Include a picture of them, 

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole:

. Israel Ka'ano'i Kamakawiwo'ole, also called Bruddah Iz or IZ, was a Native Hawaiian singer- songwriter, musician, and Hawaiian sovereignty activist. He achieved commercial success outside Hawaii when his album Facing Future was released in 1993.

. In 1990, Kamakawiwo'ole released his first solo Album Ka'Ano'i, which won awards for Contemporary Album of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year from the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts (HARA).

. Birth date: 20 May 1959, Death: 26 June 1997
Born in Honolulu, Hawaii. And also died in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Taimane Gardner:

. Taimane was Born in Honolulu, Hawaii and is of Samoan, German, French and Swedish decent. Her name translates to diamond in Samoan.

. Taimane began playing Ukulele at age 5, and was discovered by a well known musician at age 13, Don Ho, and went on to graduate from the Honolulu Waldorf School before attending Kapiolani Community College.

. Taimane became a popular local musician on the Wakiki performance circuit as a Teenager. She has performed internationally in Japan and Hong Kong, Her album "We Are Made Of The Stars" was nominated for Ukulele Album of the Year at the 2016 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards 

Baking Scones

Scones

Ingredients

3 c Flour

6 t Baking Powder

1/4 t salt

75g Cold butter

1 to 1 1/2 c milk

Method

1. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into a bowl

2. Cut butter in small cubes. Rub the butter into the flour, baking powder, salt gently with fingertips until it resembles fine breadcrumbs

3. Add milk gradually. Mix quickly with a knife to form a soft dough (the amount of milk required depends on a number of factors)

4. Lightly knead the scone dough a few times on tabletop

5. Place baking paper onto an oven tray
6. Cut scone dough into 12 even sized pieces
7. Place onto the lined oven tray. Keep them close together towards the centre of the tray
8. Brush with milk
9. Bake at 180c for about 10 minutes


Last Friday me and some other students had a practical at Home Economics, and entered the kitchen to see scone ingredients and a recipe. At my table I worked with Tyson, May and Sierra, and we were instructed to Mis en place which means to prepare all the ingredients and equipment needed to cook or bake the meal.

In my opinion, my team and I worked really well together most of the time. We all helped each other out when we needed it, individually doing our own thing. But there was some disturbance from other teams that made the lesson go down hill a bit. But in the end it all worked out with a good result from every team.

So to start the process, we first had to sift the flour, baking powder and salt but in doing this we had to add height to aerate the dry ingredients so that there was no lumps or chunks of flour (etc).

Next we had to cut the butter into small cubes and add it to the mixture of dry ingredients and gently rubbed it with fingertips only to form fine bread crumbs, due to our palms being too warm for the butter where as fingertips are the coolest or coldest part of our hand.

After we grated some cheese and also added it to the mixture, but making sure to mix it in very well with a knife in circular motion, slowly heading into the middle which is called the "well". Then gradually adding milk to the mixture which brought the whole thing together. And leaving some extra milk behind to glaze the scones in before going into the oven.

Then we took the mixture out of the bowl and started kneading it for a while on a tabletop (make sure to flour the table first). Then rolling it into a fine shape, we cut the scones into 12 even pieces, (2 scones for each person). Then placing all 12 scones on a oven tray with baking paper, remembering to place them quite close together (about a centimetre apart) towards the centre of the tray, but not forgetting to brush and glaze with milk before finally placing it in the oven for about 10 minutes at 180c. Once finished, they should come out looking beautiful and golden and will know they're perfect if feeling soft. Then its all yours to enjoy with the choice of putting margarine in it.