Let's just face it, I ain't as regular as I used to be. 23/03/2011

SLIDE GUITAR DEGREE SHOW - 26th April 19:30 - Perth College

Get to the Facebook event page and attend ! (found below)

As you can see I now have a date for my individual performance. I have also had a photo shoot since the last time I posted. Aren't I a handsome boy ? (Rhetorical) That photograph was taken by one of two very talented photographers that were supplied by Helen. They took a lot of photographs. That class has almost finished, I just have to have a few more meetings regarding material with Helen and that should be it. I am keen to see what she has conjured up.

Over the past few weeks I have been quite busy with rehearsals and college. I am in several different bands and it's starting to catch up on me now. But most importantly, I am on top of my own project. I usually have a rehearsal with the singers on a Sunday night which I think is very productive as we go over the melodies and harmonies. This is useful for me as then I know the singers know their parts when it comes to a rehearsal with the band. The band rehearsals have been very successful so far. We have went over most of the songs and nailed some of them too. The songs which I think we are struggling with the most with are The Dark End Of The Street and Dixie Chicken, but I could have told you that before I started the project ! They are pretty tricky, but I have a good feeling it'll come together soon though. I'm glad that I have been lucky enough to have such a good band behind me. As for the written part of this project... I do know what I'm doing, I just need to do it.

My dissertation has been gathering dust for a little while as I had decided to focus on the research aspect of the dissertation aka the experiment. The experiment is a very valuable part of my dissertation as it will provide many facts and figures. I am fed up of explaining what my experiment is about so I may just 'copy and paste' you some information. By the way the scale is 'patent pending'.

Here are some notes from a recent presentation:

• Listening abilities and playing abilities during different stages of intoxication.
• There are 4 tests throughout the experiment which each of the subjects must take.
• Each test is comprised of –

Ø 10 Aural questions on intervals

Ø Approximately 2 minutes of music analysis

Ø A filmed performance

• Intoxication is measured by a new scale...

Sober Drunk Completely

Intoxicated

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

¡ This scale is used to measure the level of intoxication of each subject.

¡ It works much like a pain scale at a hospital where the subject uses their own perception to judge their state. Their judgments are also monitored by a sober counterpart.

¡ This scale eliminates the need for different variables such as: weight and height of each participant, units consumed .ect.

¡ However this scale can only really be used on experienced drinkers.

This experiment has many variables which could tamper with the results, such as:

▪ The environment of the experiment.

▪ Social distractions between the subjects.

▪ Consumption of food.

▪ Faults with equipment.

▪ Competition between subjects.

▪ Other distractions.

▪ Being out of practice with the material.

▪ A misunderstanding of the questions or material.

▪ Not a large enough demographic.

¡ This experiment will be repeated with more subjects soon.

I hope you can make sense of that.

I also previously mentioned that I had a presentation. It was about my dissertation topic, which ironically was another reason that my dissertation gathered dust. I am pretty confident that my presentation went well.

I have also recently received marks back from previous classes. Remember that horrible production module ? Well it came back to bite me one final time. I was disappointed with the mark I got back for it, but I could see clearly why I received that mark. On the other hand that is that class finally over, no more strife! I also received my marks back for the ensemble performance, which was pleasing. I got a good mark for that class, which is good.

In my actual classes I have just been busy with the work. In the Digital Audio Production Multimedia class I have finally finished my contract and I have been busy editing my video and adding music. In the film and TV class I have been doing a similar thing. I have already finished one video for the class and I'm not far off a second. I seem to be the only one in the class who scores out the music first. I am cool.

The final bit if news is that I have had is that I start back at my job teaching in April.

Click the link !

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=103025686446057

Goodbye

Daryl

Weeks 4 AND 5 of semester 2 !

Hello once again. It seems that events occur on a bi-weekly basis, as one week will be uneventful and the next will be CHALK-a-BLOCK. I think I might just skip week four since that was the 'dud' week. Well actually on the Wednesday of that week I played a gig with the HNCs in Dundee's Fat Sam's. It's a great venue and some of the bands that night weren't too bad. The other highlight of that week was an ABBA show on the Saturday. As per usual it was entertaining.

So on to the past week. During my dissertation tutorial on Monday, I realised that I had not done any work for this week as I was busy, so I discussed with Marlisa my future intentions with the dissertation. My next step is to do an experiment... Mwah ha ha. But seriously, that is my next step as it will help my research for most of my dissertation. I would like to explain the experiment to you but that's all I have been doing this week with people. I mean come on give me some space. I'll maybe tell you next week. Or when I have done it. Anyway, this week I have drawn up 'test papers' and experiment parameters for the experiment, so watch this space.

Next on a Monday is DAW. This week I spoke to Mike as I wasn't sure if my project would be valid *mild panic*, but he reassured me with ways I could present it to make it valid *Score*. Afterwards I just kept on working on the video.

-Insert Monday night practices-

Tuesday brought a late start as we don't have to go to Helen's class for a while (diplomatic reasons). However I did go and see Helen as she is my designer. I feel that she knows what she is doing with the project, so I'll just go and see her next week for an update.

In film and TV we were asked to pick a video for one of our finals. I chose a clip from Pride and Prejudice as it would give me a chance to write for and orchestra. It is also a thing that I would feel comfortable writing for as I 'like' using Sibelius. It just so happens that my copy of Sibelius I have at home as buggered up, so I have to go into college and use theirs on my days off...

Tuesday night brought one of my band rehearsals. Amazing fun. It was the first time that I've had the whole band together with a singer and keys. We ran through all the material we have been working on in the rehearsals. It was sounding great, a few more and it'll be fantastic.

Other than that, it's been pretty quiet.

Sorry for the short post, I am 'quite' busy.

Cheers guys

Daryl