12-bar Blues + Improvisation #6

Reflection:
This video was also recorded days before the assessment took place. I played the composition without any mistakes but I still made some mistakes in the improvisation part. I will need to practice harder so I can play both parts without making any mistakes during the assessment.

12-bar Blues + Improvisation #5

Reflection:
This video was recorded days before the assessment took place. I played my composition part without making any mistakes, but I still made a few mistakes in the improvisation part. I need to improve on the improvisation part so I won't make any mistakes during the assessment.

Week 10: March 19 & 21

How is my understanding of blues after my performance?

After performing my 12-bar blues composition and improvisation, I realized that I have received a lot of knowledge and I know more about blues compared to at the start of this term. Now, I know that to create a blues composition and/or improvisation, we need to apply the blues scale. Then, there is a 12-bar blues composition format and syncopation, which is the displacement of the usual strong beat onto a weak beat.

On Monday, we practiced in front of the class one by one. After all of us have performed, we practiced as an ensemble for the upcoming assessment. We did it well, and I think we will do well in next class's assessment. On Wednesday the instrument period was taken for the assessment too. I think our hard work has been paid well.

12-bar Blues + Improvisation #4

Reflection:
This is my fourth video playing my 12-bar blues composition and improvisation. I can play the composition part without any mistakes, but I still make some mistakes in the improvisation part. I need to practice more so that I can play both parts with no mistakes.

12-bar Blues + Improvisation #3

Reflection:
This is my third video practicing my 12-bar blues composition and improvisation. I have no trouble in playing the composition part, but I made a few mistakes while playing the improvisation. I will do my best to avoid the mistakes on the next practices.

Week 9: March 12 & 14

How is my understanding of improvisation especially in blues?

I understood that to create improvisations, the blue notes from the blues scale are used according to the chords that are used in the song. It takes time to be able to create an improvisation piece spontaneously. On Monday we used the whole theory period to practice as an ensemble. On Wednesday each instrument practiced together as an ensemble. We used the whole period to practice for next week's practical assessment.

On Monday we played the walking base of 3 chords. I didn't practice them at home, so I didn't play them very well. On Wednesday we practiced as an ensemble to play the 12-bar blues composition with the improvisation part. We played the composition part smoothly, but we need to practice more for the improvisation part.

12-bar Blues + Improvisation #2

Reflection:
This is my second practice video on my 12-bar blues composition and improvisation. I played the composition with no mistakes, and I didn't repeat the first mistake in the first video in this practice. But I still need to practice more in the ending part, where I made a mistake in the melody. I will practice the improvisation part more so I can play it with no mistakes.

12-bar Blues + Improvisation #1

Reflection:
This is my first practice video on playing my 12-bar blues composition and improvisation. I played my composition with no mistakes, but I made a mistake in the first part of the improvisation where I forgot to change from C7 to F7. And also at the ending part where I slipped at the last chord and notes.

Week 8: March 5 & 7

How did blues influence jazz in its early development?

Blues influenced jazz in many ways, one example is the improvisation technique. The blues scale is often heard and applicable in jazz songs and melodies. In jazz music, syncopation technique is also found. On Monday my classmates and I practiced as an ensemble and we discussed the improvisation for the 12-bar blues. On Wednesday we continued to create and develop our improvisations and played them.

On Monday we learned the blues scale and the teacher gave us an example of an improvised 12-bar blues piece. Then, we were asked to create our own improvisations. On Wednesday we were taught on how to play the walking base of a chord with our left hands.

12-bar Blues Ensemble #2

Reflection:
I recorded this video at home. The practice was supposed to be in an ensemble form, but because my classmates and I cannot practice together, I recorded a video with me playing by myself. I played my composition well, but I still need to practice so I can play better and don't get confused in ensembles.

12-bar Blues Ensemble #1

Reflection:
In this video, my classmates and I played our compositions in an ensemble and recorded by my teacher. I played my full composition well, but when I must play my composition partially, I have some trouble because I am not used to it yet. I will practice at home so I will be used to playing my composition in ensembles.

Week 7: February 27 & 29

How is my progress in playing my own 12-bar blues?

I can play my own composition well. I practiced in music class and at home when I have spare time. Sometimes I made some mistakes, and I also have some trouble when playing in an ensemble with my classmates because I am not used to it yet. On Monday we practiced our 12-bar blues compositions in front of the class. On Wednesday we were introduced to playing in ensembles.

During the instrument class on both Monday and Wednesday we kept practicing our 12-bar blues compositions. My classmates and I practiced hard so we can improve and be better in playing our compositions. I will practice more often so I can play with the best of my ability.

12-bar Blues #4

Reflection:

This video was recorded by myself while practicing my 12-bar blues composition at home. I played my composition with no mistakes, just like the previous practice video recorded by my teacher. I will maintain my progress in playing my composition.

12-bar Blues #3

Reflection:

This video is recorded by my teacher when I was practicing my 12-bar blues composition at school. I played my composition well with no mistakes this time. But I think my tempo is too slow and I should make the tempo a bit faster. I will practice more of my composition at home.

Week 6: February 20 & 22

Challenges in working on my 12-bar blues Finale task.

On Monday, we discussed the drafts of our compositions. On Wednesday, we submitted our final Finale notation of the 12-bar blues composition. At first I absolutely have no idea on how to compose 12 bars of blue notes. But after some explanations and examples from the teacher, such as syncopation and blues scale, I got the idea on how to create blue melodies and I can compose good notes.

On Monday, we practiced our 12-bar blues composition. I can play my composition well, but I cannot improvise it yet. We also practiced our compositions on Wednesday, and we were told to create the improvisations for our compositions. I still don't get the idea on how to add the improvisation part.