Part of the PCP module has a focus on practice and rehearsal technique. We were given the task of delivering a collaborative performance with only three full days of rehearsal. The performance had to have a theme and so together we decided that we would do a set of Bruce Springsteen songs with a live lounge feel. We came to this decision as Springsteen's repertoire covers a broad range of styles and we each found a song that we felt could be developed to reflect our own identity as artists.
I had chosen to lead rehearsing of "The River" and had proposed a stripped back version showing Holly, James and Liam a video of Keane's performance of the song as a starting point.
I had chosen to lead rehearsing of "The River" and had proposed a stripped back version showing Holly, James and Liam a video of Keane's performance of the song as a starting point.
We each learned and practiced our the versions of the songs shown to us before coming to rehearsal so that we could begin arranging and developing the songs right away (Tamm, 2015). In the song I led we payed close attention to dynamics and instrumentation to add variation as the song is essentially an ABAB structure. I think the project was a success because we were good at listening to each other and pitching ideas that benefitted the development of the songs. We were aware of the strengths and weaknesses within the performance and planned our rehearsals accordingly.
In my own practice for the PCP external gig I have used this experience to develop my own songs for performance. One thing I have found is that it is important to take breaks. I have found myself and the guitarist enter a 3 hour rehearsal, play the songs first time through with no issues, then second or third run through we start developing problems that didn't exist before. On the day of the performance I intend to conduct a short run through of the songs, focusing on any problem areas that were raised in previous practices.
In my own practice for the PCP external gig I have used this experience to develop my own songs for performance. One thing I have found is that it is important to take breaks. I have found myself and the guitarist enter a 3 hour rehearsal, play the songs first time through with no issues, then second or third run through we start developing problems that didn't exist before. On the day of the performance I intend to conduct a short run through of the songs, focusing on any problem areas that were raised in previous practices.