Semester 3

Three Twitter accounts I am following are The New York Times, Vogue Magazine, and Billboard Magazine. The biggest problem I have with Twitter is that you can se a whole bunch of random comments, whereas I like to see articles.

In Feddly I have added similar feed such as MTV News, New York Times Fashion and Style, and Rolling Stone. I really liked Feedly but I don't like that you can't post, like you can on Twitter. But I LOVE the fact that you can see articles.

On Delicious I added articles that I found interesting. 

• http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/30/fashion/Shopping-Fashion-Super-Bowl-New-York-City.html?rref=fashion&module=Ribbon&version=context&region=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Fashion%20%26%20Style&pgtype=article - This is all about how to dress for the superbowl, I thought this was so funny because who would have thought there is clothing especially designed for the Superbowl.
• http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/30/fashion/and-the-grammy-goers-go-to-parties.html?rref=fashion&module=Ribbon&version=origin&region=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Fashion%20%26%20Style&pgtype=article - This was interesting because the Grammy's is just the begging of the night for most the artists.
• http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/rutgers-university-offers-beyonce-class-20140129 - This is soo cool that they offered her a job, this alone could increase their application rates, which would be great for the college. 

Reflection

Originally I said I would have six songs recorded and up onto YouTube. In reality I decided not to use YouTube because it was alot of extra work that I did not realize. For instance, I would first have to record all of the instruments and then rerecord using YouTube. Instead I decided to upload all the songs I did onto Soundcloud, this way I only would have to record once using Logic Pro X. This gave me more time to experiment with Logic. 
Another thing I learned about my project was my original timeline was WAY off. At the beginning of my project I predicted I would do six songs! When in reality I only did two. But granted I had to work quite a bit on the KickStarter Project, which took away time from the project. Also, when I created my timeline I created it so I had no extra time which was not very smart because if I needed more time I would run into the next project. Therefore, I think in order to have enough time it is better to give more time than less. If i were to do this project again I would give 3 weeks per song just because it really is a lot of work.
Not only was my timeline too constricting I also ran into quite a few other unforeseen problems. For instance, when I did a cover of A Life That's Good I had to take multiple recordings of the guitar because in order for me to sing it needed to be realitilvly similar to the original version. For instance, the first time Aric recorded the guitar part it was not matched up with the metronome and was not in the right key. Therefore, when I went to sing it was too low and I could not use the metronome because it would not match up. Then when we recorded the second time he still didn't use the metronome but, he was in the right key so I was able to sing it. If it was lined up with the metronome the song would have been better,just because it all would have matched up and been clean cut.
Furthermore, another problem I had was with my original song, Darkness which for whatever reason I could not sing in the right key. Therefore, Mr. Gallagher had to add a melody part to help me stay on key which took me a while to get used to. This was very frustrating because it was my song I could not remember. Honestly if I still had a recording from last year I would have taken that voice recording and droped it into Logic because it would have been better.
I actually tried to do a third song but I could not finish it for the project. I thought I would be able to but, I ran into another unforeseen problem. The song I was working on was Follow Your Arrow and I asked our chorus teacher to play the piano for me and she did. But I believe using the metronome messed her up because she is not used to playing with one and it is hard to get used to. Therefore, sometimes the music was matched with the metronome and other times it wasn't. Another aspect of the song I did not realize was that it did not have a melody, therefore I really had to know the song. But when I went to record it there were errors that prevented me from being able to sing it all the way through. Therefore, I would have needed another recording and I did not have time to get one and record my voice. 
The biggest problem I faced was having to rely on other people to play all the instruments I did not know. I am greatly appreciative to all those who helped me out but it is difficult to be reliant on someone else, because that means you have to find time to meet, and give them a while to learn the song, and originally I did not anticipate that into my timeline.
Although I had a lot of problems with my project plan, I did learn a lot. For instance, I learned how to navigate Logic Pro X which took me a while. But I now know how to create various tracks and hookup the mo2 and microphones to Logic. Also, I learned how to quantize which became very helpful, I worked a little with layering, and learned how to edit the work I did. There are amazing tools Logic allows users to use which makes recording a lot easier. My favorite tool on Logic was being able to loop and cut out parts I did not need, these tools were VERY helpful and I could not have recorded without them. A really big thing I learned,as I said before is giving yourself enough time to record, because it really is quality over quantity, which took me a while to realize. At first when I did this project I wanted to do a whole bunch of songs but ending the project, I wish I could have finished one more song, other than that though I feel good about this project.
Overall, I think this class was more productive than last years songwriting class, but one of the drawbacks was the class size. Last year we got a lot more individual attention and since we have more classmates we got less (which is to be expected). Also, only having one room to record in was difficult because you had to sign it out in advance and it was usually taken, therefore a lot of us had to come in at other times. We probably could use a few more computers just so everyone can use one, but other than that this semester went pretty well. It was interesting seeing all the different projects that people made.
Lastly, you can check out my recordings below! 

Updated Timeline/Project Plan

Project Title: Mackenzie Gross

Teacher: Mr. Gallagher

Grade: 11th

Subject: Music Technology

Summarize the theme for this project. Why do this project?

The original theme for this project is to get my voice out there, on the web. I originally said I would post videos on YouTube but instead I used soundcloud.

Identify the content standard that students will learn in this project.

I originally said I would use YouTube and Logic Pro , but I ended up only using Logic Pro because due to lack of time it was too difficult to upload the videos. Also, I figured out the quality of recording straight into YouTube is not as good as Logic, because with Logic you can touch up the sound quality and in YouTube you cannot.

Identify key skills students will learn in this project. List only those skills you plan to asses.

I thought I would learn and tamper around with other instruments. But instead I ended up just having other people play for me because quite frankly it was easier. Also, I did not have the time to learn an instrument and learn how to compose on it, I am pretty sure that would take years.

Identify the habbits used

-Logic Pro X

-Soundcloud

-iMac Navigation

State the essential question or problem statement for the project.

The original statement: The goal of this project is to make an account on Youtube and do covers and original songs on one account so I can always have them. I also like the concept of having music out there anyone can click on.

Revised Statement: My goal is to have my music accessible for download via soundcloud. I originally thought I would use Youtube to broadcast I figured out it was a lot of work that I did not have time to do. Hopefully, there will come a time where I do broadcast on Youtube because it really is a great tool.

	Originally Thought	What I Actually Did
Early in the project	Create Youtube Account Figure out songs	I did create a YouTube account and I created a soundcloud account. I came up with some songs I would like to do in the beginning. But later on in the project I changed them.
During Project	Record using iMacs and Logic	I recorded using both the iMacs and Logic.
End of Project	have four full videos on Youtube	I have recordings but did not put them on Youtube instead I am putting them on sound cloud
Product #1	Record: A Life That’s Good Criteria: Record vocals and get Aric to play guitar	I did this!
Product #2	Record: Bones Criteria: Record vocals and figure out who can play the instruments.	I am recording a different song known as Follow Your Arrow.
Product #3	Record: Flicker Criteria: Re-record vocals and have Mr. Gallagher play the piano.	I did this!
Product #4	Record: New Material Criteria: Record vocals get Mr. Gallagher to play the piano, Peter to play the bass, and Kate to play the drums.Then record all onto Logic Pro X.	I am doing another song but it is not original it is a cover.
	Knowledge and Skills Needed: Vocals - Learn Material Logic Pro X - Learn to manuver YouTube - Make account and record music Piano - Learn more than I did before.	I learned the vocals, and I learned to maneuver Logic Pro X better. I did not use YouTube but I know how to upload videos. Honestly I did not learn anything about piano.

Timeline

Original Timeline	Actual Timeline
Tuesday 5th - Have A Life That’s Good up on YouTube. This includes learning the song and having Aric learn how to play it too this will take three days. I will record it using YouTube in two days.	November 22 Had finished recording a Life That’s Good. Aric and I recorded using Logic Pro X.
Friday 15th - Have Bones uploaded on YouTube. This includes figuring out the instruments I will need layed and finding players this will take at least four days. Also, I will have to leant the song and record on Logic Pro X this will take 5 days.	December 18 Had a recording of original Song Flicker recorded using Logic.
Friday 22nd - Have Flicker posted, This includes having Mr. Gallagher remember and play the piano and record the vocals via YouTube. This will take a few days and putting it on soundcloud will take one.	January 6th I started working on Follow Your Arrow
December 6th - Jave new material on YouTube . I need to finish wirting the song and work with Mr. Gallagher to write the piano portion. Writing the song will take a week and then writing the piano portion will take four days. Then it will be recorded in one day on YouTube. Also, I would like to put it in Sound Cloud, which will take one day.	By January 17th I hope to have another song recorded and posted to soundcloud.
January 20th - Have Can’t Help Falling in Love online. Have Anna play the song on the piano and I sing along and record on youtube. I know the song therefore, Anna will need to learn it and that will probably take her a week. Then it will take a few days to record it.
January 26th - Have love love love online. Have Aric learn to play the song on guitar. It will take a week for us to do this and then upload it.