Project 5 – Original Music Performance, Production & Industry

Hand out date: W/C 2nd December 2024

Assignment Brief     

Project Aim: Publishing (the exploitation of original music) has the largest monetary market share in the UK music industry. Therefore, it is vital to develop skills in original music creation, recording and production. In your groups we challenge you to write a set of engaging original music as a band demonstrating contrasting styles, which you will perform at a live showcase and develop the studio recording knowledge and skills required to produce high quality original music. You will also reflect on this experience, and start to research and consider exciting career paths within the music industry relating to your current practice. 

Project 5 is a wide ranging and integrated project, covering a number of inter-related tasks across a period of eight weeks. You must ensure that all tasks are completed as directed below and that extensive evidence of all processes and outcomes has been provided on your website, including evaluations. 

Task 1 -  Music Industry Research

Task 2 – Original Songwriting

Task 3 – Substantial Research – Music Performance and Production

Task 4 -  Plan, organise and lead a rehearsal

Task 5 – Plan and record one original song with your band

Task 6 – Edit and mix your recorded song using music software (Logic)

Task 7 -  Evaluation of project process and outcomes

Task 1: Research progression opportunities within the Music Industry 

Present your research on your website. This should include: -     

Research of a range of music industry job roles (job description, salary, locations, entry routes, training, education, skills and experience required for the job etc).  

1. Research of a range of music industry related roles and income streams (publishing & royalties, live, record, management, education etc). 

2. Demonstrate your understanding of music industry workplace practices, including Risk Assessment 

3. Devise a career plan - identifying possible music career paths you are interested in and what training, education, skills and experience you need to develop for a future in this job and what you have already started doing independently to develop these aspects.                             

Deadline: Friday 28th Feb 2025 (Week 21)  

Evidence required: Add evidence to website page Project 5, Task 1 Music Industry Research.                                                                                                           Unit 3 LO1.1        

 Task 2:  Original Songwriting                                                               

1. Write and develop a range of original band songs to perform at a Live TV Stream showcase event.  You will be given some musical stimuli to use within your songwriting. You will then complete a weekly performance vlog which will demonstrate these techniques and your songwriting progress.  

2. With your group, you will video demonstrations of your songwriting process and development of ideas (e.g. lyric writing, melody, chord progressions, rhythm, texture etc, and any devices used to create e.g. tension/resolution . You should discuss and evaluate the effectiveness of the songwriting and any devices used

Deadline: TV Studio Live stream performance, w/c Monday 24th Feb 2025 (Wk 21)              

Evidence required: video and written evidence added to songwriting blog on website   

Unit 6 LO2.2 

 Task 3: Substantial Research 

Create a Blog which demonstrates Substantial research and analysis skills in the following areas:  

1. Music Production                                                                        

(Recording equipment, guide tracks, tracking, using the studios, editing, mixing, mastering, managing a performer in the studio etc).   

2. Music Performance                                                                      

(Live sound equipment, performance styles – visual/musical, arranging, staging, songwriting for performance, working with others etc).                                  

 Task 3 Guidance: 

•  Your blog should start by analysing the performance and production skills and knowledge you will need to develop this term to complete a performance and recording project to a professional standard.   

• Your blog should demonstrate substantial research into both music performance and production.  

• Your blog should demonstrate and analyse how you have applied this knowledge and these skills; photos, videos, screenshots/capture are a great way to evidence this! 

Deadline: Friday 28th February 2025 (Week 21)    

Evidence required: Research evidence presented in your blog under subpage, Project 5, Production and Performance

Unit 5 LO1.1 and 1.2,  Unit 6 LO1.1 and 1.2 

 Task 4:  Plan, organise and lead a full rehearsal session for your band  

1. Create a Rehearsal Plan identifying the objectives of the rehearsal, structure of the rehearsal, warm up, repertoire to be covered and how, issues you want to address, how you plan to demonstrate sensitivity to individual needs etc.  

2. Create a Risk Assessment for your rehearsal, identifying potential hazards you might face and how to avoid them                                                      

3. Film your rehearsal, demonstrating you leading the rehearsal, executing your rehearsal plan and demonstrating sensitivity to individual needs.

Deadline: Friday 7th Feb 2025 (Week 19)              

Evidence required: Rehearsal plan, video of rehearsal and risk assessment added to website

Unit 3 LO 3.1 & Unit 5 LO2., Unit 3 LO2.1, Unit 3 LO3.2

Task 5:  Original Song Recording

You will learn to use the recording studios and studio equipment. You will then need to plan the recording of one of your original songs you have developed in your band. Individually design a series of sessions for recording this song, including: -    

1. Objective(s) and a timeline for the session with job roles assigned to people in your group

2. A list of recording equipment required for the session with an evaluation / justification

3. Include in your recording plan a risk assessment, identifying potential issues you might run into and how to minimise the chance of them happening

4. Record one of your original songs in the recording studio, demonstrating and documenting on your blog the recording and studio production skills and knowledge you employed

Deadline:  Friday 7th Feb 2025 (Week 19)   

Evidence required:  Evidence of understanding and application of recording techniques. Recording plan and all the processes leading to and including the recording of your track added to blog on website, Project 5 Production and Performance Blog.  

Unit 5 LO2.1, LO2.2

Task 6:  You will then edit and mix your final track using a range of post-production music software techniques on Logic. You will document this process in your blog, demonstrating the function and effect of key editing and mixing processes.

Deadline: Friday 28th February 2025 (Week 21)    

Evidence required:  Screenshots and MP3 /Wav Audio of track documenting the creation, editing and mixing of the track added to  Project 5 Production and Performance Blog

Unit 5 LO2.2

Task 7: Evaluation

Evaluate your performance and production work this term.

Add to website Project 5 Evaluation subpage                           

Deadline: Friday 28th February 2025 (Week 21)    

Evidence required: Evaluation in Blog    

Unit 5 LO3.1 & Unit 6 LO3.1