Becoming a term one music student

 It's one thing to succeed at the audition and have certain expectations but, of course, reality may be somewhat different. Each student brings their own motivations and values and it is also necessary to fit into the campus 'culture'. I'm still trying to work out what that is.

The music department (former Jazz School) building is set well apart from others though the corner of Madras and St Asaph shares Hairdressing as well as Beauty Therapy 'schools'. It is therefore rather isolated  and music students are less likely to mix with others or take advantage of services provided by Ara. Never mind, I stick to my music building and don't wander off. I generally arrive at 7.40am in order to get a paying park that is less expensive than a parking building, and I use the opportunity to plug my phone into an ensemble room PA system to practice with YouTube videos and do my bass homework. I'm a morning person.

There are 5 parts to my studies: Music theory and aural skills, music history, bass lessons, performing in a band, songwriting and music technology. Most of these courses are challenging for me. Anything involving past career skills is comfy.

One of the main reasons I decided to study at Ara was to play in a band. So far that has been a stressful and disappointing experience as far too many 'younger students' seem to lack commitment, self-discipline, ambition or teamwork, especially the latter. 

Students are put into bands to teach themselves 'cover' versions. You are assessed for competence, stage presence and band interaction etc. Students are not taught how to attack a new piece so most of us scramble for  YouTube versions, download backing tracks and guitar/bass tablature, in fact anything to give us an idea of how it goes. I do a bit of everything, including listening for basslines, which are not always easy to hear, and are performed by professionals often outside my level of competency. I'm probably the least experienced musician in the building as I have only been playing a few months, not years, and have never been part of a band. 

As part of my bass competence development I have to learn all the places on my fretboard (still a work in progress); memorise how to play major scales, minor pentatonics, triads; then work out how to put all that together. My bass lessons end up being only 20 minutes a week if you take out unpacking and packing up. I have discovered my brain just doesn't memorise as well as it once did. Things won't stick and I put in a huge amount of practice for little gain. I average 19-20 hours of private practice per week on top of lectures, ensemble work, assignments and significant commuting. My lifestyle is music, music, music. There is no time for anything else.

I don't mind this too much as I want to maximise  this opportunity which will only last a few months. Time later for gardening and conscientious house-cleaning. I like being part of something with others, doing study that is stimulating and maybe could be fun down the track, if I am ever put in a band where the other band members actually turn up instead of leaving me standing forlornly on a stage with two vocalists wondering how to perform with only a bassist to accompany them. Not cool! Meeting others is good for me socially though I don't get to mix outside of class times, alas.

The most challenging learning tasks are those involving technology assignments for songwriting. What would I know about songwriting? Zip! On top of that I have no knowledge of drumkits and drumming. 

Everything must be composed on a dreadfully complicated software called Logic Pro X. It is only suitable for Mac computers so unlike many of the young folks, I have no access to that at home so that I can familiarise myself with it. Bugger! I passed my first assignment on songwriting but it will only get more difficult as we progress. Well, I was open to an adventure. They don't often come gift-wrapped.

This week is exam week so prep is my priority. I have no idea what will happen when it comes time for my non-existent band to perform with me. That's out of my control but I certainly feel disadvantaged compared to other groups, because if we get ring-ins I will have no experience of working with them and their versions will be different. It's all rather fraught but watch this space. Will report on what does or doesn't go down for that performance, next post.