Mixed Thoughts on my Senior Project

Thanks to my trusty alarm clock, I missed class today and was not able to present my possible senior project ideas. Yes I said ideas because I am constantly thinking of ideas because I want this project to be fun and creative, not a bland presentation on Powerpoint. So I am studying the Music Industry basically with a focus in Recording and Production. I have numerous options with this. I talked with Derek and he thought it would be cool to explore different recording techniques with one particular track that I myself will produce. This could be a historical account of recording technologies that I incorporate into my own productions, but I don't want it to be boring because it takes trained ears to hear specific differences between say analog tape and digital recordings that exist today. Thats one option. The other that I have been thinking about doing is taking my acquired knowledge of recording and production and making a full length music video. So I would incorporate video technologies and my own productions to create a project. This I think would be very interesting and would be much more creative than the first propsed topic. I am still thinking and am collecting ideas daily so who knows what I will do but this is what I have so far. Any input or suggestions would be great, so feel free to get your blog on!

review of past senior projects

i was very suprised to find some senior projects that were in line with what I am studying, but there was really only one that hit dead on with my subject. In 01' Skye McLeod wrote a paper titled, "Bouncing Around the Room: Design & Construction of an Affordable Project Studio". Having studies this material before, the information was not that new to me but the detail that Skye offered was great and very thorough. His detail was so thorough he even got down to how far certain frequencies from sounds waves travel, such as the lowest of low notes(20 Hz) travels 56.5 ft and the highest note that our ears can perceive(20kHz) travels only 0.0565ft.....interesting stuff right? I'm not going to continue with the details because it even bores me but this paper was some 30 pages long and the appendix included frequency range charts, propsed designs for studios, list of materials, and how-to-do instructions. I was thoroughly impressed.

I looked over three other papers as well; "Audio Format: The Changing of Musical Experience" by Michael Henderlite, "Live Performance in the Development of Sustainability in Indpendant Music: Success, Spontaneity, and Suggestions" by James Flynn, and "Expressions and Creativity through Music" by Kelly Earp. All of these were different in nature but dealt with some aspect of music. Michale Henderlite's paper was interesting because it explored the history of recorded music and how we attach ourselves to it. He ended his paper with a pretty dope quote, "Music links us all. Recording has just made it easier for us to find this connection"- NICENESS!

About Patrick Ferrell

So this blogging thing is new to me and will take time to adjust to the idea of expressing thoughts in the digital realm. So who is Patrick Ferrell. In terms of college, I am a 22 year old IDS Self Design with a minor in Business. I am practically studying the Hayes School of Music's Recording and Production emphasis within their Music Industry degree. I am taking classes from communications, business, and music to fulfill my self-design degree, but my focus is on recording and production, which I have completed all courses offered. I have taken courses such as Recording and Production 1, 2, and 3, courses that focus more on the music industry such as Advanced Music Business procedures and Issues in Music Promotion, as well as the boring as hell business minor courses(ACT, MKT, FIN, MNG, blah, blah, blah). Outside of school is where you the real Patrick Ferrell can be better understood. I am all about music. Every day I produce music that fits somewhere in the vein of hip-hop with influences from electronic elements, especially synthesizers. Records, vinyl that is, is something I have come to face as an addiction. I've been collected records for a few years now and that will not stop, im going to need a sepereate room in my future house for all the goods. Old records are also incorporated into my music through SAMPLING( i.e. taking bits and pieces from prerecording sources and manipulating or rearranging them into my own compositions.....just ask me if your really interested). I play the keyboards, guitar, bass, and drums, but i guess you could say that the guitar is my main axe, but as of lately percussion is what really excites me. You wanted us the mention work experience so let me hit on that because I could talk about my love for music non-stop. My first work experience was at a pool snack bar back in the 7th grade. From there I have worked for the Fresh Market, Brueggars Bagel, Wishbones resturant, Crossroads coffee store, Grapevine Music and Video, and my last work stint was my internship up in NYC last summer for two recording studios. On that note, I love NYC, especially Brooklyn( and no for all of those who think the BK is the ghetto think again...its quite nice and has a more relaxed neighborhood feel than Manhatten). I plan on moving back to Brooklyn as soon as I graduate and hopefully find employment at a studio. The last thing I'll talk about cause this is getting lenghty is traveling. I love to travel. I have traveled over the western half of Europe( i.e. The Netherlands, Belgium, Scotland, England, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, etc) and love it. For spring break this year, me and some friends are going down to Buenos Aires, Argentina. I also plan on taking an extra semester abroad over in Spain in the fall. Thats it for now, you got an idea about me now.