John Edwards

Graded Unit Evaluation

1. I have been preparing for a presentation/interview for a

position as a session musician at the Langside studios, the
project will give me the opportunity to show off my ability by
first giving a presentation on PowerPoint, giving the
interviewers a short performance of my playing and finally
there will be an interview where I will be asked relevant
questions like something that could potentially happen and
what I would do in that particular situation.

2. Mostly successful because I followed my action plan and

I used a diary to keep myself organized. I believe that the diary
was what made me meet my original objectives in the action
plan so well.

3. I changed one of my pieces, as the length of my

presentation would be too long. This plan worked out well. I
also reorganized the slides on my presentation to be more
effective in my delivery with the different aspects of it.

4. I thought to include other points to my presentation but

decided to remove them, as they didn’t have the impact I wanted. I
gave a preview of a video to show my expertise instead.

5. The multimedia seemed to work towards my favor as it proved

my effectiveness in playing live. Research through coursework and
my action plan was effective as it helped me to keep organized and
keep track of my progress to give the presentation. I planned on
looking up some questions that may be asked in the interview to
give me a heads up so I would be more prepared. I also looked up
relevant questions to the role I was going for which was session
musician. I found many questions and I chose 2 questions to ask the
interviewers, as the information I would be getting from them is
important to me. My portfolio was arranged quickly as I have a
previous one that I used and all I had to do was add some extra
information and tailoring the portfolio to best suit the job
description to let the interviewers know what I am capable of. I was
very pleased with my completed portfolio as I kept on track with my
action plan and ensured it contained my best achievements, work
and relevant information.
John Edwards

6. My time management could have been improved by focusing

more on rehearsal times and research time. This would have allowed
me to give an overall better quality presentation. The interview part
could have been prepared more as the research could have been
more thorough.

7. The practical aspects of my action plan were mostly effective

as I work better with others practically. Theoretically on my own I
find it difficult without help from others. I have found a solution; I
have found that if I ask my colleagues they will give me their best
efforts to help out. Researching for resources was a weakness for
me because I found I could only do it for short periods and then I
would have to take a break or I would get uninterested. This was
giving me less time to work but was effective in constant learning
about the role, copyright, musicians union etc.

8. I inserted clips to my PowerPoint presentation to show my

abilities in live playing. I double-checked the quality of the files to
showcase the best of my performance. My strength in designing my
portfolio to the specified role, I was effective in gathering
certificates, music works, and marketing materials to impress the
interviewers.

9. I need to learn to give a presentation without a script, as it is

a weakness in confidence. I think It would show the interviewers I
am capable of handling more difficult situations. I should have put in
more information about the copyright side of things in the
presentation like other contracts, fully understanding the musicians
union and what it is. This would have improved my presentation by
adding more relevant information showing I understand more about
the music industry.

10. Any queries I had went to Alan and Moira and they gave me
useful answers that helped me understand. I considered the
answers and discussed with my fellow colleagues.

11. I need to improve my social skills as I fell this is my biggest

weakness. I have improved a lot from the past years I still feel as if
it could get better. I need to rehearse as much as I can as I feel I
could have performed better than I did. Being confident and
speaking clearly has been improving over the past but I feel like I
need to boost my confidence even more, this will make me a better
speaker and seem more professional
John Edwards

12. I think I should research more information by visiting libraries

or using online services. I would make sure and rehearse as much as
I could to give a much better quality performance.

Action plan updates Highlighted in yellow*

Graded Unit 2 Action plan

1. Higher National Diploma Graded Unit

2. I will be applying for a job as a freelance session musician at

Glasgow Clyde College, which requires me to prepare a 25-minute
presentation and interview for Mr. A Craig and Dr. M Harris. The interview
and presentation will take place in the week beginning 21st May 2018.

3. The brief will require me to show a level of high technical skill in

performing, very good knowledge in music theory and be able to adapt to
different genres of music and come up with own ideas on the spot. High
motivation is required. Good communication skills. Requires excellent
understanding of the music industry.

4. I will be applying for the freelance session musician position at

Glasgow Clyde College, this will give me the opportunity to play in any
session that arises; first refusal of all sessions will be given. Chance to
work on productions as an arranger or copyist with strong literacy skills.

5. My strengths relating to the job description are that I am very

creative, can suggest original ideas in numerous genres of music that may
be of interest, use unorthodox ways of getting a distinctive sound for
recording. Very capable of handling a lot of things at once for example
would be able to learn several parts for a session if asked. Adaptable to
change, if piece were to be put in a different key or if a new part were to
be inserted without planning, it would be dealt with swiftly and
performed with no problems, also able to transpose for other
instruments. I have a good understanding of playing in different styles on
piano so any that come up I will be able to adapt to that style. I have very
good understanding in music theory through NC and HNC course studies,
also have passed grade 5 theory and plan on further developing to grade 8
in time to show my understanding of music harmonization and literature.
Can play standard of up to grade 8 works. I have developed good
technique in playing piano. Excellent knowledge of studio equipment, I
use studio equipment on a daily basis, I have a good amount of experience
John Edwards

working with recording equipment (microphones, amplifiers, speakers,

sound desks, cabling, computer software).

Overthinking is one of my weaknesses because something simple could

become more difficult than it really is. Sight reading needs improvement,
if given difficult parts to sight read wouldn’t be played as well as it should
be. Development needed in understanding more production techniques,
as they are quite limited.

6. I have developed an understanding of working in the creative

industries from coursework we learned things about Networking and self-
promoting. For example I created my own website to advertise myself as a
session musician using skills I had learned. In networking the more events
you go to and hand out business cards or just name and number to keep in
touch will help you get more opportunities for session work. Every
session I do evolves me so I might do something I haven’t done before.
From short sessions I have already completed I know what to expect when
I am in a session, to be able to play from sheet music as the artist wants or
if they look for ideas I will offer mine. My studying in music theory and
literacy skills have helped me understand more about the harmonization
of chords and what would go well together broadening my list of ideas for
a recording this was attained from coursework and ABRSM grade 5 theory
study. Copyright issues were covered from the Digital communication
block of learning, this is how I understand copyright in the creative
industries so I can explain what issues may arise as a session musician
and how to resolve problems if they come up. Although I have a fair
amount of sound engineering experience, my skills were improved and
new techniques were learned, this can help me understand more about
recordings in sessions. My music study pieces are a depiction of my
capabilities on piano and will be performed as best can, I will be
performing 2 contrasting pieces. I am aware of health and safety issues
through professional practice, which focuses on health and safety in the
workplace. I have written numerous risk assessments and understood any
precautions and steps to take when working as a professional to prevent
health and safety laws from being broken

7. Glasgow Clyde College HND Music Coursework

https://www.musiciansunion.org.uk/Home/News/2015/Oct/Starting-
Out-as-a-Session-Musician

https://www.ucas.com/ucas/after-gcses/find-career-ideas/explore-
jobs/job-profile/musician

https://musicindustryinsideout.com.au/session-musicians-know-rights/

https://gb.abrsm.org/en/home
John Edwards

8. The presentation and interview will include 3 parts to apply for the
job – a presentation lasting 10 minutes, a performance lasting 7-8 minutes
and an interview lasting 10 minutes. Each part will be carefully thought
out and prepared for the due date.

Presentation:

I will be giving a 10-minute presentation discussing my understanding of

the job post and why I am best suited to fill that position. I will prepare a
PowerPoint presentation containing a range of all the topics relevant to
the role. The first topic would be the instrument study (piano). I will talk
about my relevant technical abilities and skills.

Working in the creative industries is the next topic in my presentation. I

will talk about The infrastructure, roles and responsibilities and
experience. I will also insert a video giving evidence of me performing live
to an audience.

I will explain in the next topic on PowerPoint that music theory helped me
understand more about chords and chord progressions and how this
readied me for performing in sessions developing my knowledge on
extended chords and cadences etc. Things that would be on sheet music
for a session musician like performance directions or form/structure
would be covered through development in theory. I will talk about how
transposing plays another major part in session musician skills, as parts
of melodies and chord progressions may need to be transposed in major
2nd minor 3rds and perfect 5ths and I am able to do that. I will also
mention my use of Sibelius and how I have created arrangements myself
for a range of instruments. Also on this slide I will play a short preview of
my own song to show my creative ability.

In this slide I will show my marketing materials like business card,

website, YouTube page and I will also talk about networking skills.

The next topic I will discuss that in professional practice I can comply
with health and safety measures appropriate to the session musician
work, I will prove this by giving examples of past risk assessments that I
have completed. I will summarize things about personal, third party
health and safety that may arise in the session musician position.

The next section contains information for professional practice like health
and safety laws, contractual factors, and copyright issues, I will talk about
some issues that may arise to a session musician and how I would solve
the problem. I will show that I have a target and goal setting that was
implemented through working in the creative industries.
John Edwards

Performance:

I will be performing two contrasting pieces, one is titled “The Crave” by

Jelly roll Morton which is a New Orleans jazz style piano solo. The other is
a more contemporary alternate rock song called “Explorers” by muse.

Interview:

I will present myself as professional as possible. Making sure I look

comfortable and confident with use of body language. Good eye contact
during the interview is essential to a successful interview as well as
speaking clear and steady. I will make sure I fully understand the job and
what it entails so I am ready for any questions that may be asked.
Preparation for questions on my strengths and weaknesses will be
thought out and ready. Any negativity about myself will be avoided and
any weakness will be turned in to a strength through the job as a session
musician. Questions for the interviewers will also be prepared like
specifics of the job position and the company, I will research some
relevant questions that I think would help me understand the job more.

9. I think it is the best way to show my understanding of the position

and that I am the correct person for the job. The strategies I am using will
show my abilities of organizational skills, topics on creative industries,
theory, professional practice, and digital communications. My
performance will show the studio managers the best of my abilities. The
answers I will also prepare for the interview cover all of what I think will
be asked.

10. I have used these strategies in the past and they have been
successful but they have also failed so I work it as trial and error, any
problems with my strategies I find solutions to them and this develops my
strategy in to a better plan for the future.

11. I want to prove to the interviewers that I am the top choice for the
position posted by impressing them with my skills on practical
performance showing confidence and class. I also aim to put to use my
theory knowledge on any music that is given to me or if ideas are needed
for a recording when I am in a session. If I am unfortunate and don’t get
the job it will let me know how to improve for future applications because
I’ll know what to expect. Preparation is key in showing my professionality
and how serious this position is to me. As a conclusion my aim is to be
successful and get an offer in the position of a session musician by using
the strategies to achieve this.

12. Resources I will need are access to computer and internet to

research different session musician job descriptions to give me an idea on
what more it is like and what qualities are required. To promote myself I
John Edwards

will create a website by using my home computer and dedicated time for
it. Research on session musician’s rights will be done to give me a better
understanding from their point of view, understanding contracts, moral
rights, release forms and what classes you as a session musician. For my
presentation I will be able to provide evidence from previously completed
health and safety risk assessments. For my example recording I will need
to burn a song to a CD and a working CD player will be ready during the
presentation. I can also hand out log books on previous recording sessions
I have played in. For performing I will need; an adjustable piano stool,
sheet music for both pieces. To practice these pieces and perform them to
the best of my ability I will need a piano, practice room and time to
rehearse my chosen studies, the time will be delegated equally and
efficiently giving me the best outcome possible. I have a piano at home
which helps me because I can rehearse freely at home. I will also use a
metronome to help me secure my rhythms and get good note accuracy

13. Information sources I intend to use are;

-Notes from Creative Industries infrastructure
-Notes from working in the creative industries
-Notes from professional practice
-Evidence from First study (music appreciation, history of instrument)
-Music theory evidence
-Musicians union website for various information on all above topic.

14. I have selected these sources because I think they are very reliable
and back up everything I am using for the interview/presentation. The
notes from course work prepare me for issues in the music industry and
all that entails. These sources show evidence and research that I have
gathered through the years proving to the interviewers that I am taking
the position very seriously.

Timescale

1st week of April 2018:

Research information on creative industries and working in the creative industries and
read over past notes from coursework. Revise past presentation on the history of piano
showing my knowledge of piano history. I will read through my theory grade 5 books and
order new ones to keep my mind fresh with different questions. Begin Practicing Piece 1
titled “The Crave”.

2nd week of April 2018

Research and think of questions to ask the interviewers on the job description and
company. Get notes on digital communication and gather examples for presentation. Get
together all coursework and sort them in to organized sections for each topic and read
over them. Practice more of “the Crave”, focusing on octave parts.

3rd + 4th week of April 2018

Look at 2nd piece “Explorers” and begin practicing. Look at personal development plan
and see if I have met the goals I have set for myself. Practice both pieces frequently but at
a slower pace so I can get the correct rhythms and notes and after practice with a
metronome to maintain accuracy.
John Edwards

Month of May 2018

Study all notes from organized folder, create PowerPoint presentation from revised notes
and gather any evidence required like health and safety risk assessments. Once
presentation is typed up start learning it, finish off learning both pieces and play through
as a professional musician. Make sure everything is prepared for the 21 st at least 2 days
before and all that needs done is practice runs of the full presentation.