Episode 3 - Practise and Performance

Week 3 - 20.9.10

This week i pitched to the other members of the group my ideas for the final ensemble performance. I wanted to make the performance into a rock and roll trio award ceremony, celebreating trio's throughout the ages. I would like to have an actual host for the ceremony and have a short video about each trio on the projector above. These short videos would be the memebers of our band dressed up and acting like famous musicians talking about their experiences of the trio in question. I feel that this would not only be original and different, but would allow the audience to understand each trio both musically and personally. The other members of the band loved this idea and now i will be going to work with the videos and perfecting the songs we have chosen.

We then worked on Knights of Cydonia which in my eyes, went really really well. I managed to hit the high notes of Matt Bellamy which i was very happy about. We all work really well as a band and when there was one piece that Patch couldn't play, we just 'four counted' into the next section so he could learn it later. I think that is one thing that i have learned playing in this trio, that you have to be so tight with each other and very understanding. As a trio is so bare bones and for all to see, every section of a song we play has to be tight and without mistakes. With this type of relationship between band members, improvised sections flow with ease. If everyone is on the same page and can just 'feel' when to start and stop, a sort of magic happens that only a trio can achieve.

Episode II - The Trio Begins

Week 2 - 13.9.10

This week, we all had our instruments and were ready to play through the more simple songs on our playlist. We played through 'Feeling this' by Blink 182 and 'Purple Haze' by Jimi Hendrix. As we were playing through these songs, i felt the instant pressure to get both the guitar and the vocals sounding as clean as possible. Singing and playing the sole guitar in a band at the same time is a very hard task and it makes me appreciate and respect the trio's of the past who achieve this with such finesse. What also occurred to me whilst playing these songs is the 'rawness' of a trio and how each individual instrument is easily picked out by the listener. It gives the players a spotlight to show off their talents on their chosen instruments. I was impressed by all the members of this trio as we all connected on the first song and worked through the two songs quickly and efficiently. Both Patch and Greensmith had taken the time outside of practise to learn the songs.

One thing that i must research is how each guitarist approaches the guitar in each of these trio songs that we are intending to play. With this information, i can then further the authenticity of the performance whilst gaining valuable knowledge into the minds behind the trio's.

Episode I - Three is a magic number

Week 1 - 6.9.10

For our Ensemble this year, we must place ourselves into bands and between us decide on a particular genre or band, in which we will both research and perform relevant compositions. I always had a trio in mind for my ensemble this year and I was lucky enough to get Patch Adams and John Greensmith on board with me. Patch is a fantastic bass player who i have played with in the Beatles band in the HND. He has a great knowledge of his instrument coupled with enthusiasm and dedication. Greensmith and I have worked together on a number projects, all with a great amount of success. I am glad we are doing a trio this year, as i can finally show people that I can play guitar.

When we first got together, we brainstormed the idea of the trio and what artists work well in this format. After much discussion on the subject, we decided that we would base our entire project on the evolution of the trio throughout popular music! This lead us to a rough set list consisting of:

60's - Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix Experience

70's - Crossroads - Cream

80's - Roxanne - The Police

90's - Rape Me - Nirvana (I disagreed with this song choice)

00's - Knights of Cydonia - Muse

- Glitter and Trauma - Biffy Clyro (I suggested John Mayer)

As patch did not have his bass and i did not have my mike, we decided to call it a day and get back to our humble abodes.