Tuesday, 28 February 2023

Solo 1 Final performance and reflection

 

Final Solo 1 Performance

Link is here:- https://web.microsoftstream.com/channel/1e32baac-638c-4e4f-903d-76fe448d4b51

My Solo performance link - https://web.microsoftstream.com/video/3d641c6f-0351-4ae2-bd46-fc016f87ab8e?channelId=1e32baac-638c-4e4f-903d-76fe448d4b51

What went well?

I feel like I gained a lot more confidence in this performance. I feel like I gained this confidence because I wasn't using a microphone. In all my other performances that were recorded I used a microphone so I didn't come along as confident because I was scared of those high notes screeching and not coming out properly. So on the performance day I changed and asked the technician if I could try sing it without a microphone and he said yes whatever you feel comfortable with. Then when the time came to sing it, I wanted to go all out and since I could hear myself and my voice I felt like I had more control. As well as this I feel like I demonstrated the emotional connection with the song and how I acted out my part, which was strong and thoughtful.

What didn't go well?

Unfortunately, at the beginning of the performance I didn't make my intro correct and I said my name at the end and walked away having my head hanging in shame, which you can see in the video. I feel like next time I should get the intro right but if it goes wrong walk away like nothing happened ready and confident to begin my solo. Additionally, during the solo in the second half of the piece I tried to hit that high note but missed what I was going for and sang it in a different way. I did this on the line "Everything we see".

How have you improved since your mock performance?

I feel like I have improved because in my mock solo performance, I was off tune and my timing wasn't good on some of the key lyrics. But this time I learnt how to sing it another way, which tested my limit but tested in a way where it didn't sound bad or screechy. I also feel like I had a lot of confident in the first mock performance but I didn't put my all into the performance where as in the final performance I put everything in and got a better result.

What have you worked on to make those improvements?

I worked hard on getting all the lines in the right time and getting all my notes on tune. I practised singing my song acapella with no backing track so I could really here myself singing. I also tried many different ways of changing my voice and tune and the way I sang certain lines. I went over the Broadway 'they live in you' performance many times and tried to sing it like he did and with the passion and the emotion.

How have you improved on the two targets you set yourself?

Emotional Engagement - With emotional engagement from my very first performance to the class in the live room, I didn't use any emotion and I used a very few range of hand and arm actions. Now after all these different performances and the targets/research I have found a way to actually connect with the music and flow with it while putting real emotions into the performance and song. Using facial expressions, different tone and dynamics within my voice. This also connects with my other target that I set myself. (Stage Presence)

Stage Presence - With stage presence, in the first performance in the live room, I did few actions and I stood still and took a few steps backwards and forth but a powerful character would be showing dominance and eye contact. After lots of performances and practice. In the last performance I demonstrated power a lot. I used my whole body to create big shapes and represent power. I stared a lot, all over the room, at the camera and at the audience. I got the technicians to place a block so I can stand up and have higher status over everyone else in the room to also the dominance that my character has.


Friday, 10 February 2023

Mock solo video in performance space Reflections + Feedback

 

Solo Mock Performance Review

I was ready for my performance, and I was excited as well. All the lights were on me, and I knew what I was doing. But I was quite disappointed with my overall performance. I felt like everything was going well at the start and I had my costume and had my microphone and was acting out my character. I was in tune for the majority of the performance but when it came up to my powerful high pitch part of the song, I found myself going off tune and I knew I went off tune and my friends said I pulled a face like I knew that I went off tune, but I carried on and found my place in the end.

Feedback from Lois

"You need to make sure that you're on tune throughout the song. The overall performance was good but try and listen to yourself, so you know when your off tune. You also need to get the (In your reflection) on time. "

My views after watching my performance

Watching my performance back I can see that I managed to do the majority of the performance the way I wanted it. I held on to some good strong notes and I kept my characterisation strong. I also used the performance space very well, was pacing and showing my strength. Which means I did well in trying to go for my targets. At exactly, 2:18 is the point where i messed up the timing on my words because I kept the note on the word "Star" going on for quite a long time.  At 2:43, this is the point where i start to go off tune, but I mend it once I hear myself and carry on with finishing the performance strongly. The feedback that I got from Lois is above. I am going to try and practise hard to work on this by coming in extra days to practise the solo with the microphone, I am going to be learning to hold on notes and come off in time and in tune. So far, I am progressing very well with my targets but one that I am going to set for myself is to focus on staying on tune and timing. 

Target 1 - Emotional Engagement

I feel like I could have added more emotional engagement to my piece but from my first live room performance I feel like I have really demonstrated my emotions and feelings for this song.

Target 2 - Stage Presence

In this performance I had a stage given to me so I could finally see how I could use the space. I was moving around using my body a lot more and I included an original Lion King, lion movement.

Targets Research

Targets 

Breathing YouTube Links:







Videos of me Singing Over my TV to practice projection and getting the correct tone:




All the videos of Lion King They live in you [Mufasa]:






Pictures of myself posing in Mufasa's poses from key moments in they live in you:

Talk about the overall differences for what I need to improve on:

I have watched back my mock solo performance and my first attempt at my solo and it is clear to see that I need to focus on embodying my character. In the videos that I have seen I have been singing the song correctly but there isn't the amount of power there should be. Mufasa is the King and I need to make my character bigger and more powerful. To portray Mufasa's character I need to be more confident and so when there are long pauses, I need to be acting out and having a strong posture.




Video of Live Room Technical Rehearsal Reflections + Feedback

 

Responding Back to Lois's feedback on my mock performance in the live room
All The Solos Link: 
https://web.microsoftstream.com/channel/a15210d9-1486-4f46-9e6e-4b39dd9d93e6
My solo Link:
https://web.microsoftstream.com/video/1da48a49-474f-49c0-bd13-a6eaba45609d?channelId=a15210d9-1486-4f46-9e6e-4b39dd9d93e6

Lois's feedback - You need to try and embody the character of Mufasa. He is a strong powerful character. Show dominance also, go out your comfort zone and try not to show your nerves.

What am I going to do for the final performance?

I am going to try and keep eye contact with the audience, think about my character as Mufasa more and show dominance by moving around and lowering my voice just a little bit to bring out the power in it. My targets were to show emotional engagement to the song and to make use of the space. In the final performance I am going to have costume and I think that it will bring out my character more.

Final Blog Post Evaluation

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