Practice makes perfect. You all have heard this since you were born. Hey, it's true. The hard work that we (Magpies) did over past couple of weeks to prepare for the audition for the Heart of the City Festival paid off. We did our 3 songs and the panelist said play some more until the other musicians show up. Guess getting there early helped too.
This is what we heard today. "Wow! you guys are playing a different kind of music this year". "You are playing with a lot more passion." "I liked you music, I could listen to you guys all day" We asked them what genre they think we fit into. Answer: "clever".
Our music has grown over the past year. Part of that is that we, well more so Don and Brian, are experimenting with more and different instruments. Songs that we would have played in a more 'roots' style in the past are now taking on a new and even unique sound. It is truly becoming 'our' sound.
After our audition we were interviewed by CJSR about our music and the Heart of the City Festival. That was pretty cool. Our first media interview.
Showing posts with label audition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label audition. Show all posts
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
I'm Pumped!
We, as in the Magpies, decided that we are going to work on our song and bear down and truly practice. Practicing is something we don't really do that much. We get together a lot and we play a lot, but we really don't practice and analyze our songs and how we play them. When we do some really amazing things happen. We find more interesting ways to present the song. What it comes down to is that it is really about the song. What's the best way to play it to be interesting to the listener and still be fun to play.
We got together last night, made some song selections to work on so we will be ready for our upcoming audition for the Heart of the City Festival. So, songs selected, we got together again tonight to really work out the songs. How should the vocals be sung? Where do you put the emphasis? What instruments? What doesn't belong? How do we start the song? How do we end it? Do we need an instrumental break? how long should it be and how should it be played? Do we need backing vocals and where? All of these things are important to give the best presentation of the song. Again, it is really about the song.
Well, what happened tonight is we worked out these things on four songs tonight. We've played them enough before that we've evolved the song close to where we like them, but we were really fine tuning them. I really enjoy that part of taking a song from the writing, to arrangement, to presentation. To me it is and exciting process to live through the growth of our music. Tonight our songs were not just sounding good, but sounding great. That is what a little practice and hard work can do.
I think in our case, it is one of the sweet pleasures in life where a song that whoever wrote the song, Don, Brian, Me becomes a "Magpies" song. It becomes 'our' song and not 'my' song.
Well, we have these four song worked out and now we just need to keep 'practising' until audition day. Our goal is to impress the 'judges' enough that they give us a higher billing at the Festival than in past. I think we are well on the way.
So what songs did we pick. One of the great things this year that is a big change from past years - we have a lot of our own songs to choose from. It is getting to be a bigger challenge for us to choose songs for an audition or a festival performance, but that is a positive thing. Oh, and the songs we did pick? I'll keep that to myself until after the audition.
I'm pumped!
We got together last night, made some song selections to work on so we will be ready for our upcoming audition for the Heart of the City Festival. So, songs selected, we got together again tonight to really work out the songs. How should the vocals be sung? Where do you put the emphasis? What instruments? What doesn't belong? How do we start the song? How do we end it? Do we need an instrumental break? how long should it be and how should it be played? Do we need backing vocals and where? All of these things are important to give the best presentation of the song. Again, it is really about the song.
Well, what happened tonight is we worked out these things on four songs tonight. We've played them enough before that we've evolved the song close to where we like them, but we were really fine tuning them. I really enjoy that part of taking a song from the writing, to arrangement, to presentation. To me it is and exciting process to live through the growth of our music. Tonight our songs were not just sounding good, but sounding great. That is what a little practice and hard work can do.
I think in our case, it is one of the sweet pleasures in life where a song that whoever wrote the song, Don, Brian, Me becomes a "Magpies" song. It becomes 'our' song and not 'my' song.
Well, we have these four song worked out and now we just need to keep 'practising' until audition day. Our goal is to impress the 'judges' enough that they give us a higher billing at the Festival than in past. I think we are well on the way.
So what songs did we pick. One of the great things this year that is a big change from past years - we have a lot of our own songs to choose from. It is getting to be a bigger challenge for us to choose songs for an audition or a festival performance, but that is a positive thing. Oh, and the songs we did pick? I'll keep that to myself until after the audition.
I'm pumped!
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Heart of the City Festival
Edmonton is sometimes called "Festival City" because starting in June, there are festivals all summer long. The more famous ones are the Street Performers Festival, Edmonton Folk Festival, Fringe, Heritage Festival, International Blues Festival, and Jazz Festival. The first festival of the year is the Heart of the City Festival. The HOTC offers the opportunity for local musicians and artists to show their talents over a two day week-end. The music ranges all across all genres and must be all original compositions. Entertainers must work, live, or volunteer in the downtown area of Edmonton. You can come and listen in to the Festival for free. All the organizers, entertainers, and artists volunteer their time and it is a great venue to entertain folks who may not have the opportunity to attend the more famous festivals in the City.
Each year, the organizers hold an audition for musicians. Just the other day we, the Magpies, were invited to audition. Hopefully we get accepted to play. If so, this will be the 3rd consecutive year we play at this festival.
Over the next two weeks, we'll be working hard to prepare for the audition and then even harder after that to prepare for the Festival. The Festival takes place on June 4th and 5th in Giovanni Caboto Park, which is located in Little Italy at the corner of 95th St. and 108 Ave
Here's a poor quality sound track with photos from our performance last year. Song is called Sittin' Here. One that I wrote a couple of years ago and has a bit of a ragtime feel to it.
Each year, the organizers hold an audition for musicians. Just the other day we, the Magpies, were invited to audition. Hopefully we get accepted to play. If so, this will be the 3rd consecutive year we play at this festival.
Over the next two weeks, we'll be working hard to prepare for the audition and then even harder after that to prepare for the Festival. The Festival takes place on June 4th and 5th in Giovanni Caboto Park, which is located in Little Italy at the corner of 95th St. and 108 Ave
Here's a poor quality sound track with photos from our performance last year. Song is called Sittin' Here. One that I wrote a couple of years ago and has a bit of a ragtime feel to it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)