You Belong

Sometimes a task is presented and it seems exciting yet insurmountable.

Sometimes (always), it involves the future.

Sometimes it involves group work.

My studies at USYD, particularly at the Conservatorium have been absolutely littered with wonderful people. People who are talented, persistent, funny, kind, vulnerable, honest and inspiring. Knowing that we learn and work together keeps me grounded (even if we're not as productive as I assumed we would be, despite good intentions and great ideas).

Having the last 2 weeks of term focused on Project-Based Learning (PBL) has been a great reminder of how important it is to vary your approach to learning, both as a teacher and student! Back in 2011, Carl A Maida published his paper - Project-Based Learning: A Critical Pedagogy for the Twenty-First Century in which he labelled PBL as a form of ‘disruptive innovation’ within the staid model of schooling. Having impactful real world outcomes with concrete deadlines, encourages students to engage, take pride in their work but also be rewarded by responses from others members of community. Maida ends on a wonderfully optimistic passage about the positive possibilities electronic networks and communities can bring young students (well before there was even a sniff of a pandemic!). Sadly it neglects to consider that wherever people are in a community, there are always those who are outside it and made to feel that way. Cyber-bullying is a part of the digital experience too.

Rather than dwelling, below is a reflection and some elements of the project:

Designing your own Electronic Music School project

Before you start, document the tropes that you’re imitating.

For example, for the “vaporwave” project, Kuhn and Hein say:

Music from a dream about post-apocalyptic version of the future imagined from the point of view of the 1980s in which all we can remember is advertisements.

Required elements:

• Tempo between 60 & 90 BPM

• At least one smooth-sounding 1980s sample, slowed and pitched down

• At least one drum track that uses the 1980s drum samples with a gated reverb effect

• At least one MIDI clip that has been converted from a sample and cleaned up

• Sidechain compressor on all synths, triggered by the kick drum

• Sidechain gate (optional) on a synth, triggered by the hi-hat

• Sound FX one-shots to supplement

• aesthetic (a feeling that is nostalgic yet futuristic)

• At least two minutes long

Name of your project:

Enchanting Masters

Description of the style:

Please note - we used AI to create the below:

"Enchanted" by Taylor Swift is characterised by its dreamy, whimsical style, blending elements of country and pop with lush orchestration and heartfelt lyrics. Here are the key features of the song's style:

1. Lyrical Content: The lyrics are romantic and narrative, capturing the feeling of infatuation and the magical moment of meeting someone special. Swift's storytelling ability shines through, painting vivid emotional scenes.

2. Melody and Harmony: The melody is sweeping and melodic, with a strong sense of longing and wonder. Harmonies are rich, adding depth to the song’s emotional impact.

3. Instrumentation: The song features a mix of acoustic and electric guitars, piano, and strings, creating a full, orchestral sound that enhances the song's fairy-tale quality. The arrangement gradually builds, adding layers of instruments as the song progresses.

4. Vocals: Swift’s vocals are expressive and tender, conveying vulnerability and hope. Her vocal delivery enhances the song's emotional resonance.

5. Production: The production is polished and expansive, with a balance between acoustic elements and more polished pop production techniques. The use of reverb and echo effects adds to the ethereal, enchanted atmosphere of the song.

6. Overall Mood: The mood of "Enchanted" is romantic and hopeful, with a touch of nostalgia. It captures the innocence and excitement of new love, set against a backdrop of dreamy, magical soundscapes.

Overall, "Enchanted" combines Taylor Swift’s signature lyrical storytelling with lush, romantic instrumentation to create a song that feels both personal and timeless.

Required (musical) elements:

• Tempo between 80 BPM - 100 BPM 

• Acoustic Guitars

• Electric Guitar

• Synth keys

• Close mic’d vocals: start w lead melody and build to harmony, 

• Synth strings

In hindsight, do I wish I'd been more focused? Yes.

Do projects often take more time depending on the student/s and environmental constraints? YES, I would love to do this again with more than 5 hours together to write, rehearse, record, mix and film the song.

Am I proud of the song we wrote and recorded? YES, especially the bracelets! An essentially Swiftie analog percussive addition.

Do I trust the process of using checklists, instructions and guidelines to keep things on track? YES

Here's my talented group laying down tracks in our rehearsal room studio and the track that came out of it that evening:

Here is what Flat.io did with our collaborative Soundtrap studio track.

You Belong.pdf

Download PDF • 196KB

I look forward to implementing lots of PBL with students by using their existing skills and interests, extending them while encouraging collaborative equitable approaches and incorporating both analog and digital music making.

A sense of belonging has shown to make a positive impact on students, workers and humans in general. We are and always have been a social creatures, and music is one of the easiest ways to connect, whether you're listening or making it.

I'll end with a quote from a recent email from Carla Rogers, who with Aunty Munya runs Evolve Communities. Its an Indigenous business based in Dharawal Country (Shellharbour) who send out engaging newsletters, offer courses, workshops and accreditation, as well as creating many resources for allies. They have written a Guide to Reconciliation Beyond the Referendum and are recommended by the Australian Human Rights Commission as a resource for their national anti-racism campaign, It Stops With Me.

"please stay safe, stay kind, and remember: you belong.

Inyidigal Gorna (Go Well in Bardi)"

P.S Taylor Swift has played a much larger role in my studies than expected!