Forum - Week 6 - Metallica and ACDC

Improvisation Practice (1) continued its wave of contradiction, this week however
involved a couple of synthesisers being persuaded into Hell. Jake filled out his
drum-loopage some more, which is sounding good, and I am still exploring the
nuances of my effects pedal. I honestly believe the performances should be scored
individually on how well you work as a team player, not just on showing up. Even
if you were just playing the spoons, practice and teamwork would be perceivable.
All the other music degrees have grading on performances, how about we use this
opportunity to pretend we are actually members of the Conservatorium? It’s
obvious who in the groups gives a shit and who is there for the face-time, and all
of us are scored the same regardless. I would like this degree to stay as far away
from the “Bachelor of Attendance” cliché as possible, especially while we are still
trying to concréte ourselves as a viable music study area. We all get the sideways
glances from the ‘real’ degree students, and every step we take towards
musicianship makes us a little more reputable and respected. Either that or we sit
in our little niche and use our anonymity as a tool in our eventual ‘worldwide
takeover’, to quote Stephen Whittington in Week 1 Semester 1. How is that going,
by the way? Perhaps the plan was lost with our Semester 1 blog scores.

Tyrell, Poppi, Albert and Josh gave their presentations this week. I have heard some
of Tyrell’s computer game compositions before and enjoyed them, however the
pieces he presented were more child oriented to fit the game style. Despite this
they remained interesting and suitably ‘happy’. I would like to start composing
again, but any spare time I have generally goes to actual Uni work, which is
disappointing considering the equipment that is available to us. Poppi’s presentation
involved excerpts from short films she has made. I have seen some of her work
previously as well, in this case in the ‘Asylum’ during the ACMC (ACDC), and was as
impressed now as I was then. Her rapping could use a some ‘gangsterisation’,
although it was little Hilltop Hoods-esque. Which is a good thing. I do agree with
Weimerhead with his perception of ‘typical Uni student’, however this is to be
expected from a Uni student. Isn’t that what we all wish to achieve? Uni student level
work? In any case, success at surpassing ‘Uni student level’ would be a paradox in
itself, as any level of excellence that you reach will consequently become ‘Uni student
level’. I suppose there’s nothing wrong with being great though, as I would know.
Josh played us his Musique Concrete composition of which was centred around
‘metallicism’, which he didn’t say but is what he meant. It would have been a good
name for the piece, but I don’t think he would have cared. Nonetheless, the outcome
was quite interesting and I believe it certainly lived up to its metallic ideal. Albert’s
recording of a Jazz band had high production values, and whatever microphones were
used really captured the feel of the band.

1. Stephen Whittington. "Music Technology Workshop: Improvisation" At the Electronic
Music Unit, University of Adelaide, 31/08/2006.