Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Final Project Timeline

I think I have a plan that will allow me to get this all done in two weeks. I just need to put in the work. I need to use all my class and lunch time to make sure I get at least one good song recorded that can be used as an example in the final product. I recorded a drumline and outro today, and I'm super stoked about it. After school I can get the interviews I need from random people around town. I should take just one day to get some words from people here at school. It might be a good idea to get some words from Sugano and the band teacher. I might even ask Sugano to let me capture portions of his guitar class and music production class on video. The blog can be created and designed in two hours' time, probably less. I might do that after posting this to my course blog. I can take 15 minutes after this to think out some good questions to ask at school and on the road tomorrow. Once I have all that, I can finish editing the presentation together. That can be done in a night. I might need to spend an hour tonight planning text for the presentation and figuring out what music to use. "Pick up a Guitar! Save the Music!" is a sort of movement against the awful "music" being played on our radio stations, and against the diminishing number of music and all art programs in schools. When pirate radio tells me they play all the greatest classic rock hits, I do NOT want to hear Taylor Swift. Unfortunately, that's the world we live in. I think if I can show people how easy it is to pick up a guitar and start learning on their own, it might encourage people to make music and stomp out the noise pollution. It's just something fun to do, and it stimulates the mind in a way that formal education doesn't. It makes people happier; I've seen it. I think I'm rambling a bit now. I'll leave the rest to be seen. =P

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Final Project Progress

My project is coming along nicely so far. I've decided to title it, "Pick Up a Guitar. Save the Music". I've already shot some footage for the final presentation, and written three songs since last week, hopefully one of which will be recorded in time to make it onto the final presentation. I still have some footage to shoot, and I have to get at least one of my songs recorded. Then, I have to put the presentation together, and that's a one night job. I can get the footage I need in two days. I should use all my class time to work on recording my song, since I won't have access to the recording equipment after the two weeks is up. I'm sure I can do it. I'm also considering creating a blog to go along with this...movement? Depending on how well the rest of the shooting process goes, and if I can get other people to follow through. I just want to show people how easy it can be to just pick up a guitar or whatever it may be and start learning. I think music is extremely important, and learning to play an instrument can be beneficial. Then there's the increasing number of art programs being cut in schools to make more room for remedial learning classes. Not to mention the awful music being produced these days. That's my opinion anyways. I thought it would be a nice idea to encourage people that share my opinion to do a little something about it. Learn to play, and make music that you like to listen to. I thought if people took it seriously, and after I show them how easy it can be after teaching a few chord progressions to a few different people, it would be cool to have a place where we could share our progress and keep in touch. That's something I'm really excited about. =D

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Project Plan

So, during this last month of school, I'll mostly be focusing on my music and lyrics, preparing to start recording as soon as I move to Arizona. I just love doing it, and my only real goal is to create music I like that's representative of who I am. It would be a bonus if along the way, I could make someone smile or laugh or just think differenly. Eventually I'm going to need more than the equipment I have now. I still need an amp, my own mic, a pedal or two, ya know, things to record with. For now, I'm getting by with Vera, a pencil and some paper, and the equipment i use at school. As of now, I have one recorded song, and seven written songs all with chord progressions under my belt. I would like to have two songs written by the end of every week at least, and by the end of the year, have at least two more songs recorded. Not quite sure how I'll be able to present the finished product. The obvious answer would be some sort of multi-media presentation. Maybe a quick look at the creative process and footage of the work that goes into the recording process, and if I can figure it out, maybe a sample of my work. Oh, this is going to be fun. ^^