Product and Pictorial Log Draft

Date & Time Activity Commentary Pictures with Captions

Wednesday, Today I worked on I wrote the song for
June 7, 2017 composing my piano despite that I want
2:30 – 3:30 song. I picked a key the melody of the piece
1 hour and experimented to be on clarinet. This is
with different fine and made the
possible melody composition stage easy;
lines. I eventually however, later I will
decided on the first need to transpose the
few measures of the piece, so it will sound
melody, though I the same when played
recognize I will on clarinet. I ran into a
need to add much couple issues with how
more to the melody. exactly to dictate the
I have most of the melody I wanted
middle of the song accurately like not being
complete and need exactly sure what
to continue to work rhythm I played.
on the intro portion However, I was
of my project at eventually able to
another time. dictate what I needed.

This is me notating my song in my Finale

Notepad Notation software. I added the
melody, the intro and outro. The notation is still
incomplete; however, I have made good
progress.

Wednesday, Today, I met with The meeting with my

June 21, 2017 my project facilitator went well and
11:00-11:15 facilitator. We I feel I am in a good
15 minutes discussed the place to stay on top of
beginnings of my my project and complete
project and what I it in time. I anticipate
need to do to stay that the composition
on track. She stage will not take too
recommended I try much longer and that I
to finish my will be able to begin
melody line and practicing and recording
make the intro less with enough time to
repetitive. She have a polished product.
offered help on
how to do this,
saying that an intro
This is my project facilitator looking at my
can be as simple as
work and giving me feedback as to what I did
just putting a few
well and what I should improve. I plan to revise
chords at the
my intro to make it less repetitive, based on her
beginning to set up
feedback that the chords should vary more.
the tone of the
piece.
Saturday, Today, I worked on I ran into the problem of
August 12, 2017 composition and the melody not sounding
12:00 – 3:30 established an intro right once I put it into
3 ½ hours and an outro the software. I may have
portion to my song. forgotten to transpose it
I made it somewhat or transposed it
along the lines of incorrectly. I need to fix
the melody, but a this issue for the song to
little more subdued sound correct. I also ran
and relaxing. I into the problem of
intend to keep the accidentally writing
intro on piano and things in the piano or
move the melody to clarinet parts that were
clarinet. I also not supposed to go
began inputting my there. I need to be
handwritten mindful of where
notations into my exactly each part I am
computer software, writing should go. I am
adding the melody, excited to finish the
the intro and outro composition of the
parts. I also worked supporting piano part
on transposing the and to get the finished
song correctly, composition ready to be
which fixed most of practiced and recorded
the pitch issues I as soon as possible! This is me continuing to notate in my software.
was having before. I managed to fix the transposition and added
the revised intro chords and the outro.

Monday, Today, I worked on I realized that adding

October 9, 2017 adding the piano chords to a song is hard
4:50 – 5:20 harmony and to do without adding in
½ hour countermelody part too much dissonance. It
to the piece. I have took me a long time to
about half of the get my first chord right
melody with basic because I was unclear as
chord ideas and to what I really wanted
began to brainstorm it to sound like and how
some possible much dissonance I was
section(s) where I willing to accept. I
can add in discovered that
contrasting motion countermelody is also
to add interest to quite difficult to do.
the piece. Even the simple
changing of a chord
from major to minor or
vice-versa becomes
more difficult when you
give yourself the
parameters of going for
a certain kind of sound.
Despite these
challenges, I feel my
project is really coming
This is me adding piano chords as
along and I am making
accompaniment to the clarinet melody. I have
good progress to having
about half of the basic chording done and have
the full composition
 completed by mid- a couple ideas as to what I can add for a
November at the latest. countermelody.
Then I can move on to
practicing, recording,
and editing.
PICTORIAL LOG 2
Monday, Today, I worked on I finished the
November 13, composing the composition portion of
2017 6:00 – 7:00 piano section of my my project, which is
and 7:45 – 9:45 song. I added extremely helpful. I am
3 hours chords to excited to be done with
accompany the the basic writing of my
melody on clarinet song. I am glad I can
and a counter- focus more on
melody to add practicing what I wrote,
interest to my making any necessary
piece. In sections changes and I am
where the clarinet looking forward to
melody is mainly improving my skills on
long tones, I added piano through this
more motion in the project. I hope to meet
piano part to with my project
improve the overall facilitator soon, so she
quality of the piece can look over the
and to help add product, help fix any
interest. I also issues and give me some
added dynamics constructive criticism.
(markings for
volume) to make This is me editing my song to add chords and a
the piece more secondary part for piano. Though this took a
musical and draw while at first, the result was pleasing and makes
attention to certain the future of my project look promising. The
parts. screenshot shows some of the chording and
countermelody, as well as the added dynamics.
Tuesday, Today, I read After reading through
November 14, through some of the some of the piece, I
2017 4:00 – 5:00 song on piano and realize that, like any
1 hour added additional piece I play, there are
fingerings for some easy and hard sections.
of the piano chords. However, the hard
I also “proofread” sections of this piece
some of it for seem to require a lot
errors. In addition, I more motion on the left
practiced the hand than I am typically
beginning section used to. I recognize that
on piano and tried this is something I will
to get a feel for need to practice a lot to
some of the chord become accustomed to
progressions. the motion. Despite the
challenges this poses, I
am looking forward to
pushing my ability to a
new level and hopefully
getting much better at
piano.

This is me adding notes to my music. I wanted

to mark piano fingerings in order to make it
easier for myself to remember what fingerings
to use in future to more smoothly transition
between the chords.

Wednesday, Today I finished Although I am pleased

November 15, “proofreading” the that I made significant
2017 music and found progress throughout the
4:50 – 5:50 more errors / hard course of my practice
1 hour sections that I need session, I am a bit
to rework and nervous about the
marked them in my difficulty of the piano
music. I also added part, specifically the left
more piano hand, since I am less
fingerings. I skilled with my left
practiced the piece hand than my right. I
all the way through, became a lot quicker
one hand at a time with major chord
to make it easier. I transitions and began to
also put the put the parts (right and
corrections I made left hand) together.
into my computer Though I am still
version of my song concerned with the
so that I can print it difficulty, I think I will
out again later with practice more and see if
the corrections I can improve enough, if
already made. I no not, then I will rework
longer like the the piece to be a bit
name I originally easier to fit the amount
gave my piece, so I of time I have until I This is me practicing the piano part. Once I got
brainstormed new must turn in my product. a little more comfortable with the bass part, I
ideas. decided to try and play the beginning with both
 hands together. This was difficult, but I began
to get the hang of it.

PICTORIAL LOG 3
Monday, Today, I sent a I was frustrated with
November 27, draft to my project myself that I’d made the
2017 5:00 – 5:30 facilitator. She told piano part harder than I
½ hour me she liked how needed to. I am pretty
the piece sounded, concerned at this point
but agreed that the that I will not be able to
piano part moves pull this together in time
around quite a bit, and if I do, it may
and this could pose require much more time
a challenge to me than originally
when trying to anticipated. Despite this
practice and record frustration, I am very
it. Luckily, she grateful that my project
offered to help me facilitator is willing to
revise it which help me re-work some
should allow me to of my song to make it a
easily prepare my little easier. I am
product and in the hopeful with practice I
allotted time! should be able to get it.
Sunday, My project I am pleased that my
December 17, facilitator sent me project facilitator liked
2017 12:30 – 1:00 her suggestions as the chords enough to
and to how to rearrange keep them for the most
Monday, some of the piano part, only rearranging
December 18, chords to make it them. However, this
2017 easier on myself. does not look too much
10:50 – 11:10 and The next day, I easier from what it was.
11:20 – 12:30 looked over the Therefore, I am still
2 hours suggestions to concerned for the
judge what I want difficulty of the piece
to keep or change. I and if I will be able to
liked most of her accomplish the task in
suggestions. She the allotted time. I may
just changed the have to figure
order of some of something else out to
the notes, so my still get a recording of
left hand did not my song. I am still
have to keep struggling with the
jumping over lots fluidity of the music
of keys. However, when I change chords
the composition of and can already foresee
the chords was the getting very frustrated
same. It consisted with trying to play the
of the same notes, left and right-hand
just in different portions together.
octaves. I also
practiced the music
with the rearranged
chords.
Tuesday, Today I met with I am surprised that my
December 19, my project hand naturally goes to
3:30 – 4:30 facilitator and she some of the chords the
1 hour advised me that way I had them written
when she sent me before the suggestions
her suggested from my project
changes that in her facilitator. This shows
rearranging of my that maybe I am better
chord structure, I at getting the chord
could often lose the progressions than I
low note because it thought. I am hopeful
would be moved up that with the new
higher. And since I suggestions I should be
had practiced the able to learn it and start
piano part prior to recording soon.
getting the However, I am still
suggestions, my concerned that I will not
hand is now be able to put both
accustomed to hands together. I am
going to the chords considering recording
as originally the hands separately and
written. Therefore, melding the recordings
it may cause more together in order to
work for me if I ensure quality of my
keep all of the final product. I certainly
suggestions. feel more comfortable
Together we with that method, as it This is me discussing my composition with my
worked on which of will probably sound project facilitator. She showed me how she
the chords to keep much better if I focus on rearranged the chords yet kept all the same
and what changes only one hand at a time. notes. She just moved some notes into different
to make to the As the time to record octaves to hopefully help the piano part be less
structure to keep my project nears, I am choppy.
the low sounding also extremely worried
note and the about the quality of my
integrity of the project if I do not get
piece as I originally my piano tuned. If it
intended. does not get tuned and I
record as it is, it will
sound very dissonant
when put with the
clarinet, which has the
potential to ruin my
project. I may need to
rent a keyboard in order
to have a quality
recording.
Wednesday, Today, my parents I am very pleased with
December 20, surprised me with a my progress and with
2017 keyboard as an the fact that I can record
10:30 – 11:30 early Christmas the piano part right on
1 hour present! I plan to the keyboard. Playing
use this in my the hands separately
project, as this is definitely makes it a bit
the perfect thing for easier; however, it
me to record my makes me pay more
project without it attention to staying on
sounding out of tempo in order to have it
tune. I decided I all line up correctly.
will play the left However, I found
hand and right-hand playing along with a
parts separately in metronome definitely
order to be able to helped me line up the
get quality tracks. I do anticipate
recordings as the some trouble in putting
time when my together the piano and
project is due draws clarinet parts since the
nearer. I practiced keyboard only records
recording. I had itself not other sound This is a picture of me practicing the piano part
trouble fitting the occurring at the time. I on my keyboard and practicing recording.
tracks together will need to figure Recording was somewhat difficult because I
when I recorded the something else out for had to start over if I made a single mistake.
parts separately recording, and then Also, I had to record the left had before the
because sometimes putting both pieces of right hand or it sounded a beat or two off when
they were slightly my song together. the tracks were put together.
off in entrances,
especially since I
have different
amounts to move in
the left and right
hand parts. I had to
use a metronome
when recording to
line up the tracks.
Friday, Today, I recorded I struggled with having
December 22, the piano part of to play one part and
2017 my song. I decided record it and then listen
12:00 – 1:00 to record it on two to my recording to play
1 hour different tracks so the other. I got off from
that I could record my metronome, so I had
the left and right to basically do it by ear.
hand separately and This wasn’t as hard as I
meld the audio thought it would be and
together to ensure after a few tries I was
quality of my able to overcome this
finished product. I challenge. The hardest
tried several times part was the ending,
to complete the because when I didn’t
recordings of my change correctly it was
song and kept highly noticeable and
making minor sounded very bad but
mistakes like not after some practice, I
transitioning in aligned the tracks
 time or forgetting perfectly! I am very
which key to press. pleased with how the
However, I was piano part turned out
able to clean up my and look forward to
mistakes and get a hearing it put together
recording I am with the clarinet
pleased with. portion!
Saturday, Today, I practiced I ran into many
January 6, 2017 the clarinet part and obstacles in recording
5:00 – 6:30 began trying to the clarinet and piano
1 hour record. I am using together. The
software on my microphone in my
computer called computer was so low
Voice Recorder quality that the clarinet
which seems to portion sounded muffled
work very well. I and out of tune. I also
am planning on realized that part of the
playing my problem could have
recording of the been my own sound, so
piano part and I tuned my clarinet and
playing along with warmed up more;
it on clarinet so that however, this hardly
Voice Recorder can helped. Even after
pick up both the getting a new
sound from my microphone, my tone on
keyboard and my the recording still
clarinet. I also got a sounded worse than it
new microphone did in person. To fix
today, given that this, I had to change my
the one built into distance from the
my computer was microphone and the
not of very high volume on my This is me recording the clarinet part. It was
quality and made keyboard. My biggest hard to get the sound I wanted and eventually
the recording sound challenge was not began moving around the room to get the
pretty bad. I having the clarinet stick correct balance between the keyboard and the
eventually got a out when I entered. To clarinet. I this picture however, I was trying to
recording I liked fix this, I used a skill I play the clarinet while standing near the
with excellent was taught in band class keyboard and the microphone.
sounding musical of entering softly and
skill in both the getting louder, so the
piano part and the sound blends better with
clarinet part. the piano. After
listening to my finished
product, I am quite
pleased I can overcome
the challenges I faced to
get here and think that
the final recording
sounds good.
Monday, Today, I finished I was frustrated that I
January 8, 2018 my project by could not find the file
12:15 – 1:15 putting all the that had the last updated
1 hour changes I made to sheet music. However,
the music since I had to make a
throughout the multitude of changes
whole process into anyway, this was not the
my computer worst thing in the world.
software. I also I ran into the challenge
could not find the of my software not
file I had for sheet allowing me to notate a
music, so restarted sustained note with a
from an early stage moving part on top of it
in my notation. I in the same hand. To fix
changed any this, I printed out the
dynamics (volume) music and handwrote
I needed. For the change and scanned
instance, I it back into my
originally wrote computer, so I would
that the piano part still have a digital copy.
should get louder It frustrated me that my
on a sustained note. software could not do
However, the piano what I wanted it to.
cannot do this, and However, since I
it was a mistake on manually fixed it, it did
my part when I not pose too much of a
wrote this. I fixed it problem. At the end of
today as well as the day, I am happy that
wrote the changes I am finished with
in the chords. I also recording and fixed my
realized I do not composition!
believe you can
change the name of
a song once you
have already named
it. Though I wanted
to change it, I did
not dislike the
name too much, so
I kept it what it
was: ‘Journey Up.”

This is me finishing the sheet music for my

project. Although I did not like having to redo
work, it gave me a chance to fix my mistakes
and edit my music to fit with what is practical
and physically works. Since I have now played
through my song several times, I knew what
worked best for my music and what my
instruments could and could not handle. The
sheet music above was my final product o the
computer. I still had to make one edit by hand
because my computer program could not do
one of the functions I needed. However, this
only effected one measure of the music.