Tim Bern 9818204 EDCURSEC 645 ASSIGNMENT ONE MUSICAL ELEMENTS AND FEATURES OF THE CHECKS This Listening

Unit is set at Curriculum Level Five Year 10 Music. Outcomes: Students will compare and contrast musical characteristics of The Checks in relation to their social and situational context. Students will investigate and discuss how music serves a variety of functions in their lives Students will apply knowledge of the Elements of music, and learn about Stylistic conventions through integrating aural, practical and theoretical Skills Students will reflect on recorded music of The Checks, The White Stripes, AC/DC and Chet Baker The Checks are a band from Devonport, North Shore City. Soon after their formation at Takapuna Grammar in 2003, BFM picked them up due to their outrageous performances, reminiscent of The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, David Bowie etc and threw them into the public eye. This led to subsequent tours with Oasis, Muse, JET, The Hives, REM, multiple headline tours in the UK and the release of their album Hunting Whales in 2007. A number of popular Auckland bands appeared from within their social group including The Electric Confectionaires, White Birds and Lemons, and Brain Slaves providing an energetic social climate for musical development. I interviewed Sven Pettersen, (lead guitarist, composer) and Ed Knowles (lead singer, composer) of The Checks to hear their thoughts on Rock n Roll. I asked them about their music, influences, and the role music plays in their lives and society. I used parts of the interview to create the following listening exercises. TASK: Listen to, and investigate The Checks music by Comparing and Contrasting Elements and Features in the following tracks. Reflect on the influence life experiences (i.e. the social and situational context of music) have on musical expression and composition.

TRACK 1 - WHAT YOU HEARD, The Checks A Look at Melody through Call and Response, Dynamics and the Timbre of Guitar effects. What you Heard is melodically simple based on one guitar riff (a short melody or motif) and one vocal melodic theme. Both the guitar and vocal themes are examples of call and response. Knowles repeats every line twice, the first CALLS with a descending melody; the second RESPONDS with an ascending melody, like a question and answer. The Guitar Ed Knowles summarizes What you Heard Lyrics: Feel like a motor police parade - (I feel great, energized, feel powerful) Sitting slim in the summer shade - (Young enjoying life) Warm tooth in a bloody cage - (the consequence of the arrogance from previous lines) Small shark in a muddy bay - (cant see whats in the water the shark represents hidden power, the power of youth) Drunk Mans word is What you heard. What you heard is a commentary on life as a teenager, partying hard and feeling great, but also being aware of the consequences of taking it too far.

FOLLOW UP 1: A) Compose five short examples of call and response melodies using your voice. B) Practice singing these examples with a partner (one call, the other respond). C) Try to improvise new responses to their calls. D) Discuss how this could encourage group interaction during a performance?
TRACK ONE: WHAT YOU HEARD, THE CHECKS YEEEAAAAAAAHHHHH 4 bars INTRO RIFF 8 Verse 1 (Feel like a Motor Police parade, Sit slim in the summer shade 8 CHORUS 8 Verse 2 (Warm Tooth in a bloody cage, small shark in a muddy bay) 8 INTERLUDE TO GUITAR SOLO 16 GUITAR SOLO 8 CHORUS 4 OUTRO

TRACK 2 - SEVEN NATION ARMY, The White Stripes Reinforcing Repetition and Minimalism Released in 2003 on The White Stripes album: Elephant just as The Checks were composing their first songs. Jack White has been a powerful influence on Pettersen who has written numerous tracks based on a single riff. Im a sucker for a real good riff. The Simple sparse production in Jack Whites newer stuff, Chet Baker, Miles Davis Seven Nation Army is built on one short guitar riff (motif, short melody). Generally, this simplicity and space is known as Minimalism - less is more, the point is made. Pettersen: A Minimalist approach allows me to communicate my ideas more directly, and in focus.

FOLLOWUP 2: Find three recordings of Minimalist Music (in your opinion) then compare and contrast them to Seven Nation Army, and What You Heard.

TRACK TWO: SEVEN NATION ARMY, THE WHITE STRIPES 8 bars 16 2 8 2 8 16 2 16 2 8 16 2 8 INTRO RIFF Verse 1 (Im gonna) CATCH (and the message coming from my eyes says leave it alone) CHORUS (INSTRUMENTAL) CATCH Interlude RIFF Verse 2 (Dont want to hear about it) CATCH (and the feeling coming from my bones says find a home) GUITARSOLO (variation of theme) CATCH (instrumental to end Guitar solo) Interlude RIFF VERSE 3 (Im going to Wichita) CATCH (and the stains coming from my blood tell me go back home) OUTRO RIFF

TRACK 3 - MERCEDES CHILDREN, The Checks A look at Harmonic/Melodic Rhythm, and Musical Influences Mercedes Children shows very strong Rhythm and Blues roots. The time signature is in 6/8. The Guitar Riff produces its momentum rhythmically: one long note followed by two short propels it around to the beginning again (Try clapping it). Listen to how the rhythm Guitar comps (accompanies) the lyrics. Callum plays a long chord snaps back with a short sharp one on the back-beat (Beats 2 and 4 of the bar). In the second verse, both guitars emphasis the back-beat. What age were you when you first started writing music? Pettersen: I wrote my first song age 11, always writing riffs because I was better at that than learning other peoples music, always wrote bluesy. I was trying to replicate what I was listening to. Once in The Checks circumstances changed quickly The Creek was picked up by the radio, all sorts of gigs were offered but we had no music to play, we were forced to write. This is an example of music written within a context. It was easier for Pettersen to write his own melodies than learn from other musicians; when he wrote, not surprisingly, he produced the same style of music he listened to most of his life. FOLLOW UP 3: What kind of music have you been surrounded by throughout your life? Do you listen to the same music as your friends? If you write music, does it resemble the same style that you listen to? Write a list of musicians and albums that you feel have influenced and provided a musical backdrop to your life.

TRACK THREE: MERCEDES CHILDREN, THE CHECKS 8 bars 8 16 8 16 8 16 16 8 Drum Intro GUITAR RIFF Verse 1 (I see, Mercedes Children) GUITAR RIFF Verse 2 (Well Ive seen these robotic founders) GUITAR RIFF Interlude GUITAR SOLO GUITAR RIFF OUT

TRACK 4 - BIG GUNS, AC/DC Guitar Solos, a Common Chord Progression and Rock drumming AC/DC formed in 1973 in Sydney Australia, I asked Sven what inspired him from this track: Solid simple stomping rhythms. Screeched out vocals over simple guitar riff backing. I was always trying to replicate the cutting guitar sound if you play a club or party with a lousy PA system you need to cut through with your guitar sound. Ed needed to sing really loud to cut too. (He is known for his extremely powerful voice). This is another great example of music developing in a situational context, - the party was loud, the band played louder, certain sounds (timbres) cut through, and others do not. Some singers have quiet voices, and need to learn how to sing louder if they want to compete in that environment. FOLLOW UP 4: Discuss the following in a group: Regarding music in a Film, does the situation provide the context to the music? Or does the music provide a context for the situation? Choose a few real examples to prove your argument. Find another song you know that has a similar chord progression.

TRACK FOUR: BIG GUNS, AC/DC 8 bars 8 20 8 4 20 8 4 16 4 8 16 8 Guitar (Chorus Riff) Intro Band RIFF Verse 1 (theyre playing it on the radio) CHORUS (Big Guns) Interlude Verse 2 (Terminators) CHORUS (Big Guns) Interlude GUITAR SOLO CHOUS (Big Guns) Call and Response Vocal with Guitar CHORUS IMPROVISED BAND JAM Outro Band Riff

TRACK 5 - TERRIBLY EASY, The Checks A look at Minor Harmony, Texture and Timbre Ed Knowles about the origins of Terribly Easy: We wanted to write big long songs that would go on for ages and slowly evolve to tell a story We were thinking about how to develop our sound, and some of the riffs we had been working on came together to make Terribly Easy. The original guitar riff was from an epic track called the castle Pettersen: The chord changes have developed into more complex progressions. You are more inclined to find these harmonies in Jazz Terribly Easy is yet another example of music created due to its situation. While exploring new creative avenues for their album Hunting Whales The Checks created this track. The walking bass line (a major feature of Jazz music), creates a noticeable textural change, winding a counter melody underneath the vocals this gives s polyphonic texture to sections of Terribly Easy

FOLLOW UP 5: Find some Cool Jazz from the 1950s. Gerry Mulligans famous Quartet with Chet Baker is a good place to start. Listen to the intertwining polyphonic melodies. Choose one song, make a notes as you listen stating when the texture changes. What instruments create this change? How does it affect the energy/intensity at that point?

TRACK FIVE: TERRIBLY EASY, THE CHECKS 4 bars 16 4 8 8 8 16 8 16 8 8 8 Guitar Riff intro Verse 1 (I dont find it terribly easy) Guitar RiFF Verse 2 (I think that Thursday) CHORUS (Ill save my fields) Verse 3 (Oh each though she has) CHORUS (extended) (Ill save my fields) INTERLUDE GUITAR SOLO Guitar RIFF Verse 4 (I dont find it terribly easy) CHORUS

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CHORUS EXTENDED (Just Ed) Guitar Riff Outro

TRACK 6 (&7) - MY FUNNY VALENTINE, Chet Baker Harmony in a minor key, and more space. Pettersen Again another sparse track, simple melodic ideas that Chet plays I think I get my lazy sense of time from Chet. His graceful melodic ideas are what I try to get from hi The attractiveness of a swinging beat is exciting; rock musicians are too straight sometimes. My Funny Valentine is a famous Jazz tune; it is either sung or played as an instrumental track. Focus on the melody, and how space left by the accompanying musicians centres your attention on Chet Baker. For further investigation, I have included an instrumental version on track seven with Chet Baker on Trumpet, and Stan Getz on Saxophone.

FOLLOW UP 6: Discuss in Groups how you feel Jazz has influenced the music of the Checks, what other songs have they written that have a pronounced jazz influence? What other Jazz musicians have you heard that you think have influenced Rock n Roll?

TRACK SIX: MY FUNNY VALENTINE, CHET BAKER A My Funny Valentine Sweet comic valentine You make me smile with my heart Your looks are laughable Un-photographable Yet, you are my favourite work of art Is your figure less than Greek? Is your mouth a little weak? When you open it to speak Are you smart? But Dont Change your hair for me Not if you care for me Stay little valentine, Stay, Each day is Valentines Day.