Day 1:

My first day of work experience with my Dad, Dorian Kelly, at Modal Music.
First of all I was showed a brief to write some music samples for specific moods (happy, sad, hopeful,confident), and I learnt how to come up with ideas (through listening to examples) and conduct thorough research and planning. I also developed a previous composition that I had been working on (which was targeted at a wind orchestra). Later, I went to a Chapel-en-le-Frith Ladies Choir rehearsal and accompanied them on a variety of instruments.

Day 2:

Today I went to Ryburn Valley High School and observed some brass lessons, where I learnt about support from the diaphragm when playing a brass instrument and embouchure. Later I developed my wind orchestra composition further, researched about music in different moods and I completed a transcription of a song for voice and piano.

Day 3:

Today I learnt the basic midi-editing techniques you can do in a program called Cubase, including velocity, expression & volume and edited my wind orchestra composition with these techniques. I also wrote a one minute sample of action music, in response to the brief I mentioned in day 1.

Day 4:

I spent most of today editing the wind orchestra composition in Cubase 7, and have been brainstorming ideas of a name for this piece (perhaps “The Mighty Empire” or something of that nature). I also spent today finishing off the editing and mixing of the action music, which is now completed and sounding how I wanted it to. Here it is:

Day 5:

On the final day of the first week I carried on editing and mixing the sounds in the wind orchestra composition and I think it is around 80% finished, but I am allowed to complete this project out of work times to get it finished. I think it will sound great!

I also practised the instruments that I am playing in a concert tomorrow with my Dad’s choir, just to make sure everything goes well.

Here’s the wind orchestra piece:

I really enjoyed working with my Dad at Modal Music this week. Thanks Dad!