Due date le. shit..

WA SHIT! WHERE I PUT MY REPORT!
MY SOFT COPY!!!!!

Finally finalized "mastering" for both POD1 & 2.
Didn't have the chance to master in a studio.. so I mastered in Logic with my headphones.
Thanks Leon for help the help too!

REPORT TIME!

Well.. I thought this was interesting and should share.. haha.

Thanks Leon for mixing and mastering my Pod1 too! :)

谢了冬瓜！帮了我很多 ：）

Thanks Leon for helping me mix! :)

OMG. JC I'M SO SORRY!
ARGH :(

Thanks KC for helping me play guitar!

I need people to help me mix & master leh..

who ah..

really abit random.. but need to take a break from work also!

Recorded piano today.. but not very successful..
how ah.
real piano really sounded nicer. but very hard to play :(

I guess I have to make do with midi piano.
Really no choice..
SORRY REN JIE!

THANKS MINDY SO MUCH. omg..
太神了！
真的。

Geoffrey say my POD 1 snare should be louder. and for the final chorus should add

WHY STUDIO B STILL MAINTENANCE?!!@$!$!@$

I NEED TO RECORD MY DRUMS LEH.

SIAN MAX.

Aside from work for an hour..

This variety show is really very funny!
Everyone should WATCH! haha

I just msg Weiliang to play for my POD1 and he said yes.

THANKS MAN. YOU'RE A LIFESAVER!
haha

JC played for my POD1 drums before, but I didnt use it because the recording wasn't very good. That time was recorded in a rush.

This time, JC agreed to help me again! So touched. Everybody is willing to help each other now.

YAY :')

Hmm. what should I do next after I record Alvin..

RECORDED ALTO SAXOPHONE TODAY FOR MY POD2!

Alvin is too pro! He just improvises on the spot!
Even though I got give him some melody lines, he didn't even use it.
He only need the chords and BOOM, super jazz saxophone sound come out!

He took like 50+ takes for my to choose from..
and now I'm having a hard time choosing which fills and solos to use
BECAUSE IT'S ALL SO NICE!

Kudos to Alvin. Without him, I have to fall back on midi saxophone again..
which I dont have to now!
YAY!

Alvin replied to my email alr!

He is gonna help me record on the 27th!

Ok, I shall go and research on what mic to use and how to place the mic!

Heard from forums that U87 might be a good choice.
Perhaps the QTC30 might work too.

Shall I use the NEVE preamp? Hmm.
Excited much. 

Oh ya, and when did Studio C has a dustbin inside?!

So as my "mission" to improve my POD2 is to record REAL Alto Saxophone, I went to ask Alvin for help during today's Arranging lesson.

and he said..

YES!
haha! so happy now! there is HOPE!   

Waaa, the comments about my MIDI saxophone cmi.. sian.
I think no choice have to ask Alvin to record for me!
That shall be one of my improvement for POD2!!! (MUST!)

Other comments were Alicia's voice dam nice (clap clap clap clap!)
and also the mix was not bad! haha yay...................

Geoff ask me to record a violin and layer on top of the string interlude leh..
HOW AH OTTOKEYO?!

MOLLAYO FIRST.

YAY!

It is over.

At least the submission is.

So many sleep-less nights (got sleep, but not long), still not yet done.
EARS HEAR UNTIL ALSO TIRED -.-

shall take a break..

*edit*found this song while taking a break.
simple and nice arrangement.
THAI BOSSA NOVA!

Well, I should make a checklist of what I'm left to do!

- Minor improvements from last consultation
- Report
- Finish Scoring
- Lead Sheet
- Scansion & Rhyme for Lyrics
- Mixing
- Submit
- Rest?

And this was shown in arranging class yesterday.
The tune is simple yet super!

My sixth consultation was with Michael Spicer.

After he finished hearing my song, the first suggestion was to record with live players.
I wanted to.. but I guess I could only made that improvement for my final pod now.
He commented saying that my piece now sounds like a backing track, a good demo for the sessionist to record and play. He also suggests me to start "recruiting" people for my track.
Find the best players available, not just friend players!

As for my seventh consultation, which is also my last consultation, was Erica.

Her thoughts were same as Spicer, where she also thought that it would be best if I had live players.
However, beside that, she also gave me some last touch ups where I could make during the weekends before submitting, such as the bass and piano could do some "attacks" together in the piece. I also managed to clear my scoring doubts.

Wow, two days left before submission!
SIX TO PRESENTATION!!!!

4th consultation! One more one more!

This time round, I went to consult Gerald about my songwriting lyrics.
It was my first time writing english lyrics, as I always write chinese lyrics.
Gerald talked about the lyrics on how could I improve,
from example, "your smile, feels like I'm in heaven"
to "your smile, (insert drum break) feels like I'm in heaven"
as if there isn't an emphasis on the comma, the english will be wrong.

Also, Gerald told me to ask my vocalist to more expressive with my lyrics, where my chorus line should be much more powerful than my verse.

After consulting Gerald, I went to consult Faith for my arrangement.
She gave me suggestions where I could make my interlude shorter, as I am currently having a hard time coming up with a 20 bars long string interlude.

She also gave me ideas like a saxophone solo, or even a muted trumpet solo, instead of 20 bars of string interlude. I took her suggestion into consideration, and I've decided to have a saxophone solo in my piece.

Oh well, dam nice this song.

Oh no, more and more assignments coming up.
First is arranging, next REMT also have, NOW MUMI ALSO HAVE!!!@!$!@%@!$%!$
Still got final pod leh.. shit..

Every second also precious now. So hard to come up with nice melody fills in.
Somebody save me!
Sometimes I wonder how long did it take to arrange a jazz piece.
An hour, one day?
I think I need one year to finish..

Third consultation third consultation!

I still went to consult Erica, to show her how I could further improve on my arrangement.
Currently, I already got the "skeleton arrangement" of my piece.
However, I still thought that it could be improve.

What Erica commented was that I could use better chord extensions, like more (ii-V-I)s, V7(b9)(b13), etc. Indeed, it gives my song more "excitement" now.

Besides that, Erica also taught me how to improve my piano comping, which is to emphasis on the chord change, and add in fills in when possible. As for the bass, I could make the line more busier when it comes to the chorus.

I guess I should start scoring now.. Before it gets too late!

Exactly one more week left, which is good news and bad news.
Good news first..
ONE MORE WEEK LEFT OF TORTURE!!
Bad news..
My progression isn't very healthy..

STILL TRYING TO ARRANGE MY SONG!!@$!%!$^%!$
HOPEFULLY ALL THINGS GO SMOOTHLY.
NEED MORE CONSULTATION ON ARRANGING.
REALLY NO CLUE ON HOW TO PROGRESS...

Sleep is for the weak!!! 

My second consultation today!

So far away from my last consultation..
Had been so busy from doing the remix of Maia - Free from you.
Well, at least I am finally free from her. YAY.

Anyway, I showed Erica my improvements from my previous demo.
What she commented was that I could add in a string section and also to give this string section an interlude, instead of piano solo or guitar solo.

Erica then asked me to listen to how "Charlie Parker & Strings" arrange their strings section so perfectly.

Currently listening to it now. Amazing.

FEEL SO FREE NOW.
As I just handed in my remix assignment! (yay!)
Finally free from Maia! haha

Oh wait, still got pod!
Shall continue working on my arrangement before it gets even more LATE!
I shall reward myself first by listening to this!

Cool song ending not with I, but with a bIII major. Can I even think of that for my song?!

I'm mastering now, I guess.
I need studio A/B/C like right now?

I'm like dumping Pod completely aside for this.
Will I regret it?
Hopefully not..

LAST SP CONCERT IS OVER. BAND LIFE ALSO OVER..
I guess I have more time to do POD now..

But next week is REMT remix submission! NEED TO WRITE REPORTTTTTT!!!
Shall complete that first now NOW NOW NOW.

Made my first consultation today!

Consulted Erica about my arrangement as my skill-sets are arranging and songwriting.
It was about how to further development my current ideas, (currently 16bars) to a completed song.
She also gave me song references for me to listen as a guide, to give me more ideas on how to arrange my piece.

FASTER DO!

So confused on how to continue. Clueless about this genre.
Regrets and regrets on not listening more..
Don't even know the bass should play what rhythm, neither for the drums.
I think my song now sounds more like a pop song than jazz.
Can't even differentiate myself too..
My life is over. < Renjie's favourite line. HAHA

Quite accomplished today!
Oh yeah!
Came out with some nice chord progressions that feel still quite "jazzy".
Hope this continue and not just stop at that 8bars..

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. *clap clap*

Well, I guess I'm recovered.
Even though the doctor don't approve of me exercising yet, (which I already went to play basketball)
I went to take nafpa today!

Even though I did not pass, (failed my 2.4km),
but I guess I can say I'm healthy now.

I'm NORMAL AGAIN.

So my POD2 is going to be a jazz ballad. But, I really have no clue how to start! I guess I need a reference song to start off with. Maybe this?

SP MD concert in just two weeks time..
Yet I still cannot play my trumpet due to the operation.
I tried playing, but I get giddy very easily.

Everyday when I reach home, even though my heart wants to do work, my body cannot take it.
I have to take good care of the wound and have ample rest.
At least that's what the doctor says.

I have to work doubly hard than others when I've recovered then! 

Still went to school for lessons!
Despite strong objection from my parents..

Thanks for all the concern! I'm still alive.
And I need to start doing work. 

I went for an operation today, which was dragged for very long. It was suppose to be scheduled on September, however, it was my ITP period, thus I dragged it to October 17th.

The operation was a removal of sebaceous cyst at the back of my head.
Until now, I still don't know the cause of the cyst.
But at least, it's taken out now. It's dam pain and disgusting -.-
Feeling so weak now.
Losing blood every second.

Argh, my assignments!!!

Currently there are two major assignments to tackle!
One is REMT remix assignment and the other is of course.. POD 2 demo!@#!#!$%@!
So far.. only my remix assignment has visible progress -.- and both the assignments deadlines are coming!?
Doubting myself now if I can even finish both of them on time.
STOP PROCRASTINATING AND START WORKING.
THE SHOW MUST GO ON!

and I just remember,
I got an operation coming up in two days.

I'M BLESSED. 

Ended my ITP at RWS.
It was awesome there, really.

Throughout this whole ITP, I only managed to come up with random ideas for my POD2 and REMT assignment.
Hopefully, all this random ideas and melody can mix and match, to fit into a whole piece.

This are some real classic being played at USS everyday! Dam nice!
Having second thoughts on whether I should do this genre for POD2..

IT'S HERE FINALLY!
somehow I managed to survive the war against the assignments.
hopefully I have done well, but I sure know I've tried my best.

That aside, I'm going to RWS for internship!
oh yeah :) I can already imagine it going to be so much fun.
However, REMT assignment is out -.-
hopefully I won't procrastinate till I didn't do anything at all till the start of term again!

I need a break from assignments though..
WHO CARES! PLAY FIRST! OH YEAH!

Seriously, there isn't enough studio slots for me to record my POD!?
It is partly my fault too for not making advance booking, but argh!
Some are just booking too much! Even though they haven't even started their demo, resulting in waste of studio slots.
Desperate measures will be having to use midi drums.
Maybe I'll find a better sample drum machine than logic, try my best to sound as real as possible.

MORE STUDIO PLEASE?

It'd been quite a while since I've last posted. Finally cleared away the first round of assignments.
BUT MORE IS COMING!
Realized that I'm damn bad at writing drum and guitar parts.
Cracking my brain to come up with some interesting lines.
I CAN DO THIS!

Handed up mumi assignment.
ONE DOWN.
ANOTHER ONE COMING.

I NEED SOME REST FIRST!

Had been concentrating on the other assignments this holiday. POD MUST CONTINUE SOON! ARGH!
On a side note, found a few nice free samples online to use for mumi assignment!
OH YEA~

Ok, I've taken a one week break.
IT'S TIME TO START AGAIN!
WORK WORK WORK WORK
WORK WORK WORK WORK
WORK WORK WORK WORK
WORK WORK WORK WORK!

Currently at Penang taking a break off work :)
Hopefully can get some awesome ideas for POD.
WORK HARD PEOPLE!

Came up with a short tune, shall consult lecturer tomorrow!
Still thinking how and I am going to fuse in the rock element.
Question marks all over my head..
Other assignments are killing me, lucky DIP PLUS is over (even though I know I'll flunk),
but WHATEVER~

I NEED BETTER LYRICS, NOT THESE CHEESIES ONES.

One word: STRESS!

Going to re-record piano tmr for my REMT cover song. Realized some mistakes during the previous session.

HOPEFULLY IT WILL GO SMOOTHLY TMR.

Pod 1 hasn't been fruitful, not much progress!!!
Starting to get behind of the gantt chart.
DIE. 

So if I am following my gantt chart, I should already be halfway done with the lyrics and melody!
But so far I've only come up with the verse melody!
How?!
So many other assignments to care about too.
MST still have dip plus maths test to study on.

DIE.

Stuck at the verse melody now for quite awhile now -.-
Wondering if I should discard this and start a new one.
Not sure how to transit!!!
Other assignments are in a mess too.

I need a time extension, haha 

Busy transcribing for REMT cover and coming up with melody for POD1.
Not forgetting MUMI assignment 1 too :(
Adding on, still have GEMS presentation next week.

STRESS!!!

IT IS FINISHED!!!!!!!!!!

If you've notice, there is only 3 more days to presentation.
3 MORE DAYS~?!@!~#~~!#^&*&^%$#@!~

START. NOW. 

1)Finish transcribe drums. 

Seriously, I have to make up my mind soon.
Fickle-minded me.

Maybe not a techno, but a korean dance pop song.
Why not?

STRESS!
Seriously I wonder how our seniors cope with their work last year.
Going to go crazy listening to the same song on loop for transcription.

PROPOSALS IDEA:
Chinese Pop
Jazz Fusion
Techno
Symphonic Band piece?

Hmm, so why not I compose a symphonic band piece? A full orchestra score.
The reason because I had been in the symphonic band since I was primary two.
I play the trumpet :)
Also, I am quite familiar with the instrumentations of the symphonic band.

But what can be my skillsets?
Composing is certainly one of them.
But what's the other?
Thinking thinking..

I decided my REMT cover song alr :)

蒲公英的约定！－ 周杰伦

Can't wait to transcribe! 

Seating at the piano for the past few hours trying to come up with something.

Can totally feel the stress level coming in, even though it's only the first week of school..
POD, REMT3, MUMI, ARR, SPAZ, Dip Plus, GEMS, SP Symphonic Band!
How lucky am I not taking Diploma for Piano this year..

Now I am thinking if I should change my POD proposals idea..
In a dilemma..

STRESS!