Acero Gato

This week i feel i showed my ability to learn quickly and perform under pressure. The evidence of this was on Sunday night where i was drum teching for Dante a Scottish Indie band at Kinross Community Campus. As we were setting up for the show Sean (Dante's lead singer) asked me to perform a six/eight percussive beat at the end of one of their songs, which i agreed to. Since it was only 2-3 hour before going on i sat with the drummer and went over the rhythm.

 The gig on wednesday went quite well and showed my ability of good stage craft and level of performance in front of a relatively large crowd.
 My band work on Monday again showed my ability to learn quickly as we had to learn roughly 1.30 minutes of three songs and combine them into a medley with a time period of 2 and a half hours. which, all of us achieved (and i might say with a much better result than the other bands.

 Threw last week and Tuesday just gone (22nd Nov) i went into the library to start my history essay which is due in on the 6th Dec. I think this shows my dedication and determination to get things done as soon as so that nothing is too overwhelming and i have to do it quickly and not to my best ability.

Two blogs in one..

Since i missed last weeks blog i'll include it in this one as well as the blog for this week.

Last week (week of the 31st) my band-work band worked on our set list for the gig that will happen for us a week on Friday, 18th November. The songs we all decided to play are Carry On My Wayward Son;  No Quarter;  She's So Heavy;  Don't Stop Me Now;  Heartbreak Hotel;  Dream On and Hey Jude. Most of them are really long songs so we had to find a way to reduce them slightly for the time given on stage.
All we did Monday just gone was practice all of our songs in the set list so we feel tight enough and comfortable enough to play the gig with confidence.
  Started Session Skills last week and talked about all kinds of session musicians (not just the studio and touring session musicians). Gav also talked about playing in function bands e.g. wedding bands and playing on a cruise ship for a potential job path as a session musician.
Last week we talked about how to be a good session player and Gav gave us lots of stories he'd been through to help us picture what you need to be and do to be the best session musician for hire.
  Fridays are so far the same. Last week and two weeks ago we were given a grade 7-8 drum book and were to pick 3 but choose 1 to practice now. As well as the piece i've to practice i also try to warm up my fingers and wrists every day and practice my rudiments as much as possible.

True Blood

The Lost Hounds have finished our 3rd song but with it being so close to the end date we have decided to do a cover song instead of another original. The cover we're doing is Bad Things by Jace Everett (also known as the theme to True Blood, an american HBO series).

I've now found out that i have passed all of my subjects. Daw being the final one. And all i have to do now is wait to find out whether i got a B (or higher) in my Graded Unit so that i can come back next year and study my HND Music Performance. Fingers Crossed........

Nick Young....x

So...... the Lost Hounds have now written another song and have started the beginnings of another. Both of which sound really bluesy and fun. not too 'Blues' or slightly sad in a way..... More up beat and stuff.

 In DAW i needed Nick Young to put down a guitar solo for my project and i kind of fell in love with him slightly. the combo of his playing style and clothing style is a match only Jesus could invent.... So now i'm almost finished my project and all i need to do is vocals then master it.... DONE!!

On a rudimentry note, i'm getting better and have been told by the other drummers, although i still have a hell of a lot of pracicing to do if i want to get as good as i can be.

The Lost Hounds

Started with the Lost Hounds this week and so far have one song written by the great Bob Hollis ;) called 'Lonely Road'. Sounds good and i look forward to hearing it recorded in the future.

 Just the usual is going on at home though, just rudiments and my double technique. Nothing special so far... Although i can see myself getting faster and smoother.

Doubles!! :(

So i've been working on my doubles more often now because it will (aparently) make my rudiments quicker and more smooth. so what i've been doing is sitting infront of the TV (not as procrastinating as it sounds) and slowly building up my 'better' technique of doubles. . . . . So far i feel as though i've torn a ligament in my left arm due to too much practicing.

 But i've also been rehearsing with my band back at home "Vulpe" and we'll hopefully get a few songs done before summer so we can then look for some gigs.

Wasting Light

So this week i've been given my 'rudiments to kit' sheet to complete by May. From talking to Ronnie, i now need to work harder on my left hand when playing double strokes as it isn't as fast and strong as my right hand.

And that's pretty much all i've done this week... play double strokes on a practice pad and switching to the occasional paradiddle etc...... And revised for my Creative Industries Infrastructure exam which is on Monday, although i can't say i'm feeling terribly confident about it!

A very long, long week inside... Wasting the light and sun... Ah well

Ash Wednesday

So this week i got to watch my performance from the Fat Sam's gig and the rest of the class analyzed it for the whole band so we could get some fairly decent feedback that might help me with my future gigs.... I guess it helped a wee bit... Just have to wait till the next gig to find out.

On Saturday my uncle invited me up with my snare drum and a set of brushes. He was recording his own CD and was wanting to use a brushed snare sound for one of the songs he had. I've never really used brushes for a song before so i thought it would be a good experience to actually use them (and hopefully well), So in the end we kept the recording i did and it will be on the record once it's had its final mix which should be around the summer time. And i think this experience has helped add to my range of techniques and genres which is good for my goal to become a session musician.

Forsooth!!

So last week i worked harder on my rudiments because Alan advised me to. And so far i'm getting pretty good at the 6 stroke roll, paradiddle and flam tap.

Through the rest of the week i had work as per usual and on one of the nights, i phoned my uncle (as he has asked me to drum on a CD he is recording) to set up a date for me to head u and lay down a few tracks..... a date is yet to be confirmed.

session stuff

Being a session musician requires me to be available (most of the time). Able to play most, if not every genre while able to sight read as well.

To show that i have all these requirements i'll have to provide:

                                                                                                  A Press Pack (excluding a CV)

                                                                                                  A Portfolio of my work/info

                                                                                                  A Practical Musicianship (including past                     

                                                                                                  musical projects with full notation, CD/DVD

                                                                                                  of past projects, Testimonials from past

                                                                                                  project employers or musicians, and videos

                                                                                                  footage featuring myself performing).

Look for my next blog in..... about a couple minutes cause i have to!!

First Week

Hey!! So first week of this blog and i have been practicing my rudiments a lot more since Alan said i should practice more.
 On Tuesday our song writing bands performed for an assessment of stagecraft. My band was said to have ticked every box so pretty stoked about that!!

So....yeah, that's all for now!!
Thanks.

The K.Kidd

Wassup

Hi, My name is Ruaridh (Rory) Kidd. Get the first name right or i will lay the smack down!! As i am a ninja assassin!