#firststudy

As previously mentioned, we had to write original songs for our 60′s band and have them recorded. Neil and myself wrote a song called “Run Wild and Free” and recorded it with Steven and Owen from the sound production course. We started the day with a wee practice to make sure we were happy and that everything sounded okay before heading into room M3 in the college and getting started. Neil put the piano part onto a Midi track before we added vocals, three saxophone parts, backing vocals, and finally guitar. We were both well practiced and so managed to get everything recorded in one day, and we got to have a listen to the un-mastered version which we were both really happy with. The sound producers then went on to mix it and try to add a 60′s style to it and this is Owens finished edit. 

Our band AlmostFolk are doing really well!!!

On February the 19th 2015 all the college bands from the HNC music performance course played at a gig in “MadHatters” Inverness. From Alness college to the gig you have got to take the road up to Tore roundabout then take the second turn off towards Inverness direction. Once in Inverness head towards the River ness, you can either park in church street, Rose Street or the Eastgate centre. You can then walk towards Church Street where you will find Madhatters on the same street as the music shop and next-door to the co-operative store. Transport of a mini bus was available to the music students if need be but most of us had either parents coming to the gig so got a lift with them or got the train or bus in as we all live not too far away.

Every Tuesday and Wednesday is spent in the practice rooms with the band. We have to compose five songs, it usually takes us a few weeks to get comfortable with any new songs. Most of the time songs are written by Gordon since he already had some prepared so we usually come up with songs super quick. Most of the time all band members are in college Tuesdays and Wednesdays so we have been quite lucky in getting a lot of work put into the band. If we ever miss a practice session it is covered with a day spent together out of college practicing. In college we have some monitors and amplifiers, its important that we practice with this so that the volume levels are correct and we get comfortable playing this way prior to any gigs. Feedback can be a problem sometimes with the monitors if we are playing  to close to the machine., practicing helps us know what angle to position ourselves in the band to create the best quality sound and performance. Sometimes during practice we have to adjust the songs that we write in order to fit well with the instruments. Sometimes we have to change the key as the saxophone is tuned in differently to the piano and guitar. Also maybe some words don't fit in for me to sing rhythmically so we change them about to work. All our band members remember to take in their instruments during practice and we have to make sure to take in spare strings and reeds. There are times when the strings on the guitar have broken because of intense practicing or Kirstin needs to change her reed. For me I have to take a lot of fluids before singing and take regular breaks because of all the lung work. Its important when playing that the cables are not in a hazard position, if there are a lot scattered on the floor  someone may trip and hurt themselves.  We make sure that cables are neatly plugged in and that they are in sight so that we don't miss them an fall. We take spare ones along as well just in case one stops working or we cant find any to use in the college as a lot of people need them to practice their instruments. Sockets can catch fire if they are overloaded by plugs so we've also got to be careful in that aspect. After each rehearsal in the practice rooms we switch off any equipment at the end of the day. We usually use the electrical equipment when we are playing in the studio room. This is to save energy and make sure the instruments and monitors stay in good condition for the next usage. After every rehearsal we also have to keep the room tidy. taking our instruments home, binning any rubbish, putting away cables back to there place and any monitors that were not previously in that room.

The latest Tweets from AlmostFolk (@AlmostFolk): Our band has created a twitter account.

An original song written by Gordon and performed by my band AlmostFolk at college. Vocalist-Carmen Beaton, guitarist-Gordon Morrison, pianist-Kenna Ross, saxophonist-Kirstin Mackay.💜