This was my first week where I began to work towards growing my skills for my topic as a part of this class. In my research I learned and was able to reflect on a lot. I learned how to shift my focus and organize my thought process when arranging.
Ode to the Mets
For my arrangement of Ode to the Mets by The Strokes, I did some good work using this information. Since I’m just starting out, I had based this arrangement off of a score I found of the song. This week though, I built on it by adding rhythms to the arrangement that were previously left out, especially by listening out for the bass part which seemed to have been simplified in the score I was working off of.
Carlos Salzedo
I mentioned last week wanting to read and incorporate some of the harp methods popularized and written about by the harpist Carlos Salzedo and that could be really helpful whether it be use of the soundboard on the harp for percussion or harmonics and incorporating aeolian chords or other strumming choices into my arrangement. Harmonics on the harp have a beautiful ring, so I’ll have to check myself to not overuse them due to my own personal bias towards them. Also, with the other choices I mentioned they can get messy so I should be really careful and workshop my use of them frequently for quality control.
Organization
Some of my research mentioned carrying physical manuscript paper on hand and writing out drafts of your scores and sections of your scores to be able to work quickly on multiple ideas, which I think could be useful for these ideas I have since I want to explore options until I can get a better feel of what works and what doesn’t.
Reflection
In terms of my progress in arranging itself this week, it wasn’t bad but it could have been far more efficient or substantial progress. With my main focus right now being research though, I’m actually really happy with my progress on that front. I didn’t necessarily learn a whole lot I didn’t already know, but I got many useful ideas for how to work through the process to make sure I can incorporate my personality in to my arrangements. This next week, I want to target my focus into application of what I learned this week. By even more fine tuning of my arrangement for Ode to the Mets and I’d like to begin to plan what I’d like to work on arranging next.