Assessment Rehearsals and Solo Assessment Prep

To progress on our pieces it was important that we booked extra rehearsals as well as using the time we have in class as this takes a lot of time. We started thinking about our second piece and how we could turn 'Reflection' from Mulan into a folk song. I researched folk singers such as First Aid Kit to get some inspiration as I would be singing the main tune of the song and I would need to adapt my voice into a folk style. I also took some inspiration from Dido who has a folk twinge to her voice. This was more difficult than I expected as I have a Musical Theatre voice. It helped to play around with my voice and see what I could do with it and I found that imitating some folk singers really allowed me to work on the folk technique. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKL4X0PZz7M(YouTube, 2014)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-fWDrZSiZs (YouTube, 2009)
In the mean time, Summer was working on the introduction of the song and trying to make it sound folky, whilst Yahya arranged a drum beat to go with it and Abi and Constantine worked on chords for the whole of the song. The song would be faster than the original with a completely different style. The idea is to not make it sound like the original at all.

We also worked on 'Man in the Mirror' again and Abi had written a rap to go after the chorus. While she was doing this, myself, Yahya and Summer were free styling with some 'oohs' and 'aahs' and some other trills which sounded really good. My favourite part of this project is that we all have an equal input to the pieces. We work in unison and depend on each other. Without the whole of the group, it just doesn't work.

I am really proud of what we have got so far and I am really excited for the assessments, as I know the rest of the group is as well.

After the holidays we have another assessment. Two solo pieces with a specific theme. After mulling over some options I have decided on the theme of Jazz. A musical theatre piece with a jazzy twist 'Life of the Party' from the musical 'The Wild Party' and a Michael Buble song, 'All I Do is Dream of You'. I have arranged an accompanist to play 'Life of the Party' and I am going to sing the other song with a backing track. I have had to research some Jazz artists to learn some jazz techniques and allow my voice to develop in that area. I also need to transpose the Michael Buble song as the song was written for a mans voice.