My rehearsal plan

On my level 2 course at South Thames College we have been doing live performance rehearsals, but before we actually rehearse each person in each group has to fill out a rehearsal plan or rehearsal diary, in each box we have to write what our rehearsal objectives are, what problems that could occur during our rehearsals, did we achieve our objects-how did we solve any problems and what we have to prepare for our next rehearsals.

Firstly, the reason why I am doing this is because the course that I am doing is a music course and it is primarily focused around performance and the use of instruments whilst still providing some production and tech courses.

Another reason why I am doing this performance is really two reasons, the first reason is that south thames is hosting an Oxfam event or concert (to be specific) called Ox-jam and each group in my class have to perform a song that is based around helping other people out.

Day 1:

Date: 20/9/17

Time 09:15

Rehearsal objective: Clear structure of the song

Reason for objective:  As this was the first ever live rehearsal I have done at college I had to know the structure of the whole song, this meant what chords, scales and modes I can use and when I have to change the chords I'm playing like a minor to a major chord (E.T.C).

What problems could occur?:

Another thing to think about is really the problems that could occur during each rehearsal and I think that the most common problems that I would have to face as a musician is the fact that people would not be turning up on time or not at all, it is a common factor to take into account because when this happens it messes up the structure or integrity of the song because you have to change the way the song is structured so it suits which musician or musicians are there.

Another problem that would arise would be broken equipment, now this has happened before and it won't be the last time, this could range from a kink in the wire or jack lead to a blown amp.

Did you achieve your objectives? How did you solve any problems?:

Preparations for next rehearsal?:

As a guitarist I had to find my own way to prepare for my next rehearsal so what I thought I would do would be to try and use a Jazz guitar technique called superimposing or super imposition.

Day 2:

Date: 25/9/17

Time: 09:15

Rehearsal objective: Superimpose guitar chords (possibly over piano)

What problems could occur?

A lot of problems that happened on this day was that including myself and a few other people was lateness, during this period of time lateness was a problem with me because I have to travel such a long way from my house to college, so I would leave my house at 07:30 and would end up getting to college at near enough 09:25, 10 minutes after lesson had started.

Another problem that was faced during the rehearsals was that the microphones that were used were just dodgy and what I mean is that they were near enough broke, when members or better yet the singers in my group would sing into the mic and their voice would be amplified then would automatically cut out, this was found out to be mostly the cables we were using.

Preparation for next rehearsal: My preparation was to try and think of some modes and scales that I my want to try and use and the scales that I came up with was...

. Spanish Phrygian (1,b2,b3,3,4,5,b6,b7)
. Phrygian Dominant(1,b2,3,4,5,b6,b7)
. Harmonic Minor (1,2,b3,4,5,b6,b7)
. Harmonic major ( 1,2,3,4,5,b6,7)
. Aeolian (1,2,b3,4,5,6,b7)
. Symmetrical Diminished(1,b2,b3,3, sharp 4, 5,6,b7)
. Symmetrical Major-(1,b3,3,5,b6,7)

Day 3:

Date: 27/9/17

Time: 09:15

Rehearsal Objective: Run through the song

Problems that could occur?

Lateness (already covered)

preparation for next rehearsal: keep going through scales.


Day 4:

Date: 28/9/17

Time: 09:15

Rehearsal objective: Fair understanding of the song structure

Problems that could occur: Lateness


Day 5:

Date: 2/10/17

Time: 09:15

Rehearsal objectives: Run through of song/ few adjustments

Problems during rehearsals: Forgetting chord progression

During my rehearsals so far there have been many changes ranging from people leaving then coming back, lateness, broken equipment etc. But the main concern from my perspective is that I was struggling to remember the chord progression that I was doing, this was due to the fact I was taking medication to combat my mental health problems that I am still currently going through.

Preparations for next rehearsal: Practice improvising.