D8.1 - Skills and Careers

Good:

Managing a rehearsal.

Planning and reflecting/evaluation

Practical music theory application

Wix site/yt channel.

EQ and panning.

Ok at:

Blogging.

Instrumental skill

Mic type, selection, care and set up

DI boxes/pre-amps 

Mixers, gain and routing Wifi/Ethernet systems

Monitoring  

Need to improve:

Understanding music styles

Interpersonal skills.

Making a lead sheet

Live streaming 

Compression

Inserts and Outboard Rack units 

Amps (backing and power)

Speakers 

WORK IN FIVES - FIVES BITS OF INFO

I am able to manage and plan a rehearsal in order to have a productive result and efficient use of time. I'm good at producing content to upload consistently to my social media accounts as well as update my website with upcoming and past events. I have also learnt to be able to balance frequencies in recordings using EQ and giving the music more interest with panning. I'm working on improving my ability at my instruments by practising often. I also am improving my Interpersonal skills by interacting with a lot of people at public music events and collaborating with other artists. 

D8.1 Identify personal opportunities and areas for improvement related to progression:

Task One: Explore at least three different progression opportunities suitable for your interests and specialisms

The images above show the worksheets I filled out in class at college. From this work, I've concluded that my three progression opportunities I am considering are:

UNIVERSITY - Specifically to study the course "Commercial Music" at Bath Spa University with the intention of using my knowledge and connections that I get there to become a full time singer/songwriter who writes, records, produces and releases her own music 

- UNI: Bangor, Bath Spa, Cardiff, 

- link to courses normal 3 say why you picked location content open days experiences george ezra connections 

Bath Spa University - course: Commercial Music (Course here) 

    - Requirements =

 Prepared to learn a wide range of skills

 High level of performance/composing skill; assessed through MP3s or Soundcloud of your best three original tracks; music technology and performance experience submitted digitally prior audition

 Shortlisted candidates need to audition an original song (written or part-written by you); judged on music ability as well as personality (interview just as much as an audition)

    - Location = conveniently place between places with high music industries such as Bristol yet still remaining to have a calming atmosphere with a campus that has beautiful surrounding area which just feels happy. Also relatively close to home which means I have the independence of living without my parents but I have the safety net of them only being around an hour away. 

   - Content = it's versatile in that you can choose which way you want to take it whether you want to lean more into performing, writing, producing etc. whilst also teaching the ins and outs of the music industry because you can't be a part of something that you don't understand. 

  - Open days = I went there for an open day with college as well as a normal open day with my dad and I loved the area and the equipment they had was astounding with the recording studios and I also liked that the main thing they put importance on was people always having somewhere to work which is important to me because it's always frustrating when you have to 'fight' to get a space, especially

when you're a bit of a pushover like me so I like the idea of always having somewhere. This was backed up by these 'working pods' that we were shown which were small rooms, typically with some kind of equipment in them where you could just sit and get some work done. The course manager was really nice and seemed to really care about the course and the students on the course. Also, he remembered me the second time he saw me which showed that he paid attention. The studios also had very home feels to them as though they were someone's living room and not a place

of work which I found important as I've seen this talked about by people such as Jack Antonoff where he has spoken about the importance of feeling comfortable and relaxed in your work space as to be as creative and productive as you can with less stress. I also saw some of the rooms that you can book out and they have five full-band sized rehearsal rooms which provide a full PA system. There's a maximum two hour booking rule in order to make it fair for everyone to be able to book out rooms; you're also not allowed to book more than two weeks in advance for the same reason. The practise rooms are in a range of sizes for example, there is one room which is huge and typically used for lectures but can be booked out and has two steinway pianos in it and a room specifically designed so that the sound across the room is well balanced without losing the top end or having the lower end turn too 'muddy'. 

I also saw the canteen when we had lunch and although this may seem irrelevant to the course, I feel it's important to mention as the canteen is meant to be a comfortable place to relax, away from work and it was a very pleasant place to be but also had places where you could work in areas next to it so you could get something done and then eat or vice versa and it further supported the idea of everyone having somewhere to work which is just awesome. 

Being a university with multiple different courses means variety in who you meet and get to know and make connections with for example, there were impressive film studios at Bath which is mainly for the media students but the music students can use it for music videos or anything they want which helps enrich your career. 

  - Experiences = common within a lot of courses but the teachers are well versed in the industry and have done very impressive things themselves. 

BIMM - Bristol Campus - course: ?

  - A negative is from as far as I can see (which may not reflect the truth), you have to specialise into one area of music immediately. I think I remember someone mentioning you can do multiple at once but I prefer the more vague things surrounding the Bath course as it allows me to explore my options a bit more and become more versatile in capability, therefore making it easier for me to land jobs/gigs etc.

  - Location = being in Bristol means being in the heart of the music scene as Bristol is probably the closest place to home with the biggest music scene. Easy access to gigs and therefore easy to form good connections to local venues for future gigs and things. But it means it would be a very crazy environment which I would struggle to live with due to sensory issues and general habitual living in a calmer place where there aren't as many people as a city. Also, Bristol scares me...

  - Content = being an entirely musical university means that all of their facilities would be more catered to it and therefore be more specialised.

  - Open days = I visited BIMM with my college and it seemed good with good facilities although I could see the limits of some; for example, the room we spent the most time in had a pillar in it which isn't a big deal but it did mean that like 10 people (or more) couldn't see what was going on. I also didn't really like how dark it was inside the building and I don't really know why but it just sort of gave me a weird vibe and I felt slightly uncomfortable there. I didn't get the same safe/warm/comfortable feeling that I got when I visited Bath Spa. Their practise rooms and studios also didn't seem homely at all, they just seemed like working spaces and weren't all that inspiring. 

  - Connections = I do know that George Ezra was someone who went to BIMM and I have heard of him which means that he must've gone somewhere. From what I've said before this, I reckon that this could be a lot down to connections which he must've had some good ones. The music industry relies a lot on networking and knowing people to have become very successful after going somewhere is an indication that they have good networking and good connections that they can link students up to. 

Falmouth University: - course: Popular Music (Course here)

- Requirements = 

  Invited to an interview or audition to talk about and display what you're interested in and what motivates you and inspires you. Can also show a portfolio. 

  - Location = Seems like a nice campus but I'd be concerned about its location geographically as it is really far away from any of the big music scenes. The other two universities have either their own cities or cities nearby which have big music scenes but Falmouth doesn't have as big of a music scene. Being out in the rural area would be relaxing and nice and probably quite inspiring and creatively freeing but, career wise, it might be just too far away for big opportunities. 

  - Content = Range of different courses but keeps mainly performing/arts courses on one campus which means they're all together which gives the opportunity to collaborate with others which is not only an option but is encouraged to connect with those off the course. The course is more vague, like the Bath one, where you don't need to specialise (at least, not right away). 

  - Experiences = I read on their website that a recent graduate from the course got signed to a record label (see here) which means that they must have connections somewhere. Although, I've never heard of her (not a huge sign of much as I haven't heard of a lot of people) and after a quick search, she has just over 1,300 monthly listeners on Spotify which is quite small compared to the 17.8 million that George Ezra has. Monthly listeners aren't always the best to base success on but I think this shows quite a difference. It could be down to a number of factors although I think that the location of the university is a big thing.

APPRENTICESHIP - Specifically at a recording studio where I could completely learn and understand the different parts of a studio and how to use lots of different equipment as well as how to properly and effectively communicate with recording artists as well as producers and songwriters. The aim of this would be for me to become a sound engineer where I'd do the sound for live gigs as well as make and run my own studio. Studio Apprenticeship

  - Content = two year long course at a Level 4 which is the level after the course that I am currently doing. It will expand my knowledge with working in a studio which I feel is important for me as it's something I don't understand as much and so therefore it worries me and the way to conquer fear tends to be with understanding and knowledge. I'll be working as I learn which I also think is the best way to learn something - throw someone in the deep end of a swimming pool with an experienced swimmer holding them up. 

  - Connections = the networking opportunities at this type of thing would be amazingly good as there wouldn't be as many people as in a university and you'd be actively showing people your capability to learn and work in this environment and you'd be out of the education/school environment which could help you feel more confident, independent and comfortable in your field. On the other hand, it could also cause more stress as it would be more like the real world and before you're necessarily ready for the real world. 

BAND - starting one and managing it. 

  - Content = creating a band with musicians who I work well with and who are capable at their craft. I'd be the main manager of the band and I'd write and perform the songs. This would push me straight into a job which could also help the band do well as there'd be no safety net and therefore, the fear would drive the motivation. This could also majorly backfire but that's what parents are for. I'd be self employed which takes it completely away from the life of school or education and I'd be working out the business by myself. Although, I'd be likely to include one of my friends in this band if they were willing and I know that they like finances so they could deal with all of the finances involved. 

  - Connections = I'd need to make my own connections and so networking would be more difficult with this career path compared to the other two as I'd be where I am now but older and with (hopefully) more capability. Although, much like in the apprenticeship, I'd be worried about being 'too' independent in the sense that being taken away from someone telling you what to do could result in an overwhelming feeling of pressure and struggles to be able to manage time and money and events on top of writing, recording and producing. However, I am learning these skills now in college which means that, by then, I'd hopefully be much more capable at managing my time to be able to have a sustainable way of life that could help set off my career with a band. 

Personal Statement for university:

Music has been a constant in my life, but it was not until I started college that I became less of a consumer and more of a creator. My course has allowed me the time to write my own songs and the knowledge to develop and produce my ideas. Expressing thoughts and emotions through lyrics and melodies is a passion of mine and has opened many other doors, such as learning production, collaboration and how to play the guitar. I intend to develop my ability on the guitar further in order to write more creative and unique songs. I had the opportunity to watch Nati Dredd perform which was an exhilarating experience in which I was fascinated by the live sound they created. This has inspired me to want to put together a band for my own songs to replicate the atmosphere for future audiences; I got the opportunity to do this with some peers - performing as a part of StrodeLive and I enjoyed creating a sound with other musicians. When recording, I use a DAW to my advantage in adding multiple other instruments and I’d like to hear my songs played in that same fashion but live. I look forward to the opportunity at university to play and learn alongside equally enthusiastic people. 

In the past year, I have started releasing original music onto streaming platforms. I have used trial and error on a free DAW (Bandlab) in which I’ve learnt about mixing the tracks as well as using MIDI alongside real instruments. This method of creating music makes me well-suited for studying it further, as although I now have a good understanding of producing release ready songs, there’s still so much to learn and explore. I have researched different methods of production, such as Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff’s techniques when working with artists such as Taylor Swift and since emulated certain characteristics into my own tracks. For example, I loved the use of violin pizzicato on her song “I Did Something Bad” and it inspired me to use it on my own songs, being reminiscent of my melodies. I think influences from different artists helps to further your ideas into creations and reach their full potential. Moreover, using a variety of sounds has motivated me to improve my ability at different instruments such as violin, guitar, bass, vocals and piano. To demonstrate, I have been working towards a grade 6 in piano and grade 3 in violin, which is a great opportunity to show my progress and see how far I have come. I have improved my performance skills by going to multiple open mics and local gigs a month; adapting to acoustic spaces and those with a PA system. Over this time, I have developed a setlist of my songs which is currently over an hour long. I attend weekly jamming sessions where we each play songs and others are encouraged to participate; this has developed my interpersonal skills which are essential for collaboration with other artists. I spent two days helping at Godney Gathering, where I worked at the merchandise stall, as well as setting up equipment for the bands on the main stage. I think it’s important to understand all aspects of how music is made and presented; being backstage while Embrace and others performed helped me to appreciate that. I learnt to meet deadlines and work under pressure when I played guitar for a production of Six the Musical (Teen Version) and the skill set involved when working with dancers. Networking has led me to having three of my songs played on RadioNineSprings during the Local Spotlight and I plan for my future releases to follow this path. 

Recently, I joined the college folk group, which expanded my knowledge and technique of the violin due to working alongside skilled violinists with a variety of pieces to practise. Additionally, I acted as ensemble for a production of Beauty and the Beast and sang as a soloist throughout. Furthermore, I have run an Instagram page for my art which has contributed to the covers for my singles. 

CV:

A real job:

I'd need to have a  better understanding of using equipment and being able to set things up with confidence. I'd also need to have better social skills where I am confident talking to people as well as students and being able to communicate properly with that age group. 

I think I'd also need experience working with students and in a school as well as experience working for live sound at a festival or multiple gigs to help me with the confidence with the equipment. 

I think that it would be helpful to do this job as I'd need a way of making money after University where I still have time to write, record and release songs as well as perform at gigs and carry on with a music career in that direction. 

Different types of businesses:

Sole Trader - someone who runs their own business with no legal distinguish between the business and the owner. An example would be to travel in a van setting up PA and being a sound engineer for different events. 

Freelancer - someone who works through contracts going between different bits of work and this is most commonly short-term work. An example would be a producer finding work and going from job to job. 

Partnership - an agreement (often legal) between people to work together and normally involves a contract in order to stop confusions. This involves being in a band (a legal partnership) where you'd share responsibilities and get paid accordingly.

LTD -  a limited or private company which is similar to a sole trader but differs where the owner is legally separate from the business. Some examples include a big sound company with lots of sound engineers and employees or a record label with all the different parts and employees.

PLC - a public limited company where it is payed for by the public which holds an advantage in that it is unlikely to get into much debt if it loses money due to being based on donations from the public. An example of this would be big major companies such as Sony. 

CIC - a community interest company which exists in order to help out the public as appose to make money for the people who hold shares within the company and the profits from this type of company are normally just put back into making the company better. An example could be a community music foundation that puts on musical workshops for people in a town.

Charity - a company set up specifically to help those in need. An example could be a charity that provides musicians for kids in hospital wards. 

Short, medium and long term goals:

In the short term, I would like to finish my college course with a triple distinction as well as achieve a grade 6 in piano and grade 3 in violin. I'm also going to release an album and I want to start recording and working on a second album before I go to University. I want to get in to University. One thing that is notable is that Bath Spa specifically like students who are able on Adobe Premier Pro and Photoshop and so I think this is a skill I need to improve on as I barely understand how to use Premier Pro and this could make me a more valuable candidate for the course. I will do this by using it for promotional posts and music videos. I'd also like to become more expressive through my performance and not have such a blank expression all the time - I think that doing more performances (and watching them back) as well as the music videos will help with this. (IN THE NEXT YEAR)

For medium term goals, I'd like to form a band at University to play my songs as I produce them with much more texture than I can make with just me and a guitar. This would also help with motivation at times when I struggle with music as I'll have people to bounce off of and provide a circle of support whereas right now, I have mainly just myself for encouragement. Having to communicate with people a lot more about things in depth will also increase my interpersonal skills which is vital for the music industry. I'd also like to support bands with this band. (IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS)

For long term goals, I'd like to achieve having a full-time career in music where I can play and write originals with my band for a living. I would love for my music to inspire others and for audiences to be able to relate their own experiences with my lyrics. I'd like to have toured at least once as the main act with at least one supporting act with my band and I'd also like to have released four albums in total by this point (at least). I would like to be able to comfortably live off of my earnings as a musician. (IN THE NEXT 8 YEARS) 

References:

Daniel Shaw

Steve Henderson

Nick Parker

Contacts:

Jim Dickinson - Head of Commercial Music course at Bath Spa

Apprenticeship