Lights by Ellie Goulding Tutorial

Hey guys! Was finally able to upload the Ellie Goulding 'Lights' tutorial, hope it's not too confusing, I explained it and left a bit of room for creative input on your part so you can improvise a bit but hopefully that doesn't make it too confusing. It's a bit longer as I explain the details and the main chords,

Piano tutorial of 'Lights' by Ellie Goulding

Update you soon,

K.A.M

xox

Tip of the Week #3

Hey guys so it's THAT time of the week, this week's tip is about vocal performance, and that is as simple as WARM UP! You must warm up. If you don't (and this often happens in the morning) then it can be difficult to control your breath and the length and timbre of the notes you sing. Warm ups can be done as scales (Google search) or they can be done by singing through a few parts, gently of a number of songs in different keys. But regardless of how you do it, take at least 20 minutes to warm up before playing, remember your vocal chords are muscles and just like an athlete they require training! Happy playing ^_^

K.A.M

xox

Artist #2 Ellie Goulding -'Lights'

Here's my cover:

'Lights' by Ellie Goulding

Tutorial will be posted soon! Enjoy ^_^

K.A.M

xox

Exams are over! Yusss!

Hello my lovelies, exams are over and I have SLAVED over my weekend for you just to have this cover and tutorial done in time, plus another TWO this week in order to make our quote for 4 artists for our month of the 'POP' genre. Who will the other two be? 

You shall wait and find out, anyway I am editing videos now and will be up by tonight! A cover and tutorial of our artist of the week (last week). Now, unfortunately my CD has disappeared so I can't Vlog about her just yet :( I will do though when I find it! I'll keep you posted.

Cover- Ellie Goulding Week #2

 K.A.M

xox

Study Freak Out!

OK So before anyone freaks out and thinks I have disappeard, I haven't! Its exam time atm, and I hoped to fit in my Ellie Goulding song last week, but couldn't :(

Instead, I will fit it in this week for ya. Tomorrow is my last exam and then I am back onto it!

REALLY excited so keep up and I will talk to you soon, it's so freaking freezing too atm in my room my fingers are like ice as I type, I'm in slo mo... hopefully I don't freeze to death playing for y'all ^_^ 

KK Last exam, ALMOST DONE!

Oh, and for those of you who don't know, Vanessa C. just released her own video clip for 'Hear the Bells'

It's just lovely, all old video clips of her dancing and childhood footage <3

Something to entertain you for now...

 

K.A.M

xox

Pop - Artist #2

Hey guys!

Okay so time for an announcement of which artist I will cover this week...

She is a talented songwriter and singer, from the UK and I am a huge fan. I have her album 'Lights'

Ellie Goulding!

Okay, so the album lights is not brand new but I have to mix it up a bit, and plus she has some AWESOME other songs on her album which I will do a more detailed review of, including 'The Writer' and 'Your Biggest Mistake' They are like electronic candy for your ears! 

Bet you can't guess what song of hers I will do ^_^ 

As usual there will be a cover & tutorial, and I would love to do some more of her songs in the future.

You should ALSO definitely check out her beautiful rendition of the song 'Black and Gold'

I hated the original, but this is just beautiful. One of my favs <3

'Ellie Goulding - Black and Gold'

Talk soon! xox

K.A.M

Tip of the Week #2

Hey guys! So this week's tip is Little Finger Training!

The little finger, or your pinky finger is the one that often lags behind the rest and can make your playing sloppy and reduce your ability to play faster. The solution? Practice your scales!

Or, play songs with intricate arpeggios and most importantly OCTAVES! These will give your little finger more strength and agility. 

Have fun practicing! ^_^

K.A.M

xox

Links!

Tumblr: www.katherineannmarie.tumblr.com

Like my Style? Jewelry? You can buy it! Check out my original collections and pieces at www.thewardrobe.co.nz + www.insidethewardrobe.blogspot.com

John Mayer - Born and Raised Album Review

Okay, so I have been listening to J.M's album now for about  a week on repeat... I have played through a couple of songs that I really like, and at this stage I'm not sure which song to cover! 

At first 'Something like Olivia' was the song I really fell in love with, the beat is awesome, and the lyrics are so very John. In terms of the 'country' feel to his new music, I can understand the many objections to it, as I don't really think it's him either. Most likely the pressures of the commercial record industry and their expectations has led him to try different things and adopt different 'vibes' for his music over time. But underneath the random layers of harmonica and organ synth, the songs have a soul that is uniquely and genuinely his, and that's what still makes his music beautiful. Songs like 'Face to Call Home' resonated with me so much, likewise 'Born and Raised' was very profound, reminded me very much of 'Don't Stop this Train' and 'The Heart of Life'. 

His song, 'The Age of Worry' also has echoes of his song 'Belief' from Continuum, it has a lovely lull, and this album he has really refined his craft. Lyrics are succinct, and cohesive, all sections of the song have a lot of thought and unlike his first two albums, every song has a unique vibe with a strong sense of clarity. Each song is different from the next, and like a great smorgasbord of thoughts and feelings he captures many elements within this album. It really is like a life narrative and it deserves a number of listens to appreciate all his songs.

I am still working on 'Whiskey, Whiskey, Whiskey' 'Speak for Me' and 'Shadow Days' as I feel they are a little diluted in terms of 'Soul' but I think it is just lost in translation. I don't approve of the production (although the vocals are superb in this album) but you can still hear John shine through, and who knows- the country theme might grow on me! ^_^

COMPETITION! Okay so I was thinking of doing a competition but then I realized most of you live overseas :\ 

So, I will have a think about this and get back to you when I have an idea!

Hope you all are liking the new songs/covers/vlog/ideas!

Definitely gonna do a cover of one of this soon. Listen. To. John. Mayer's. Album.

K.A.M

xox

Vlog #2 Weekly Update

Vlog #2 - Marina & the Diamonds

xox 

K.A.M

Carousel Tutorial

Ok guys so the Carousel tutorial is up! Let me know how you get on:

Carousel by Vanessa Carlton Tutorial

K.A.M

xox

Here is the cover for the artist of the week: Marina & the Diamonds

This is 'Primadonna' and the tutorial is uploading at the moment...

'Electra Heart' Album from Marina & The Diamonds

This was 3 days practice, and I memorized the last of the words in the shower this morning. lol. I had to do a few takes before I got one I was happy with, this song requires quite a lot of energy!

Anyway here you go, and the rest are uploading tonight, and if not in time then tomorrow.

I might do another vid once I have listened to her album a bit more, then give you guys a review or similar on it. Not sure if that would be necessary or not...

Anyway so from now on I am going to create the 'look' of the artists I cover, just cause it's fun ^_^

I think when I do John Mayer's album I will find myself a pretty cowboy hat hahaha cause he's turned all country on us!

'Primadonna' By Marina & the Diamonds

John Mayer's New Album!

PLUS I have to announce that I just bought John Mayer's beautiful new album, 'Born and Raised'

Now I am a die-hard fan of his, and all his music.

I am already preparing a cover... 

Anyway I am going to do a competition! More details soon on Saturday night ^_^

xox

K.A.M

New vids!

So amongst the other tutorial yet to upload (carousel) I am doing it now, I also did another tutorial and cover for ya today from our artist of the week, and genre pop! And I think you guys will know which song it is...

All vids from this week will be up soon! <3 

xox

K.A.M

'Falling the Line'

New piece of a song... 

"Falling the Line" by Katherine Ann-Marie

xox

How to Play by Ear Video - Part Two Chords & Rhythms

Hey Guys! So Part two is UP! Here you go:

It was difficult explaining some things but let me know how you find it. Carousel tutorial is done too... just have to upload it... will do tomorrow as it's nearly 3 in the morning here.

Watch these tutorials as I am sure they will help with your playing, songwriting, and will make other tutorials easier to understand in general. Give me some feedback! 

Talk soon,

K.A.M

xox

"How to Play by Ear Tutorial Part Two - Chords & Rhythms"

New Vids Tonight!

Recorded some new stuff today! Just got to edit them then they will be up shortly... including tutorials. I am really committed to the new YouTube vids. Got more for ya tomorrow too.

xox

K.A.M

New Layout

New layout to match the header, final construction work underway and will be done by tomorrow.

In the mean time check out my new Tumblr (follow me!) this includes my other two tumblr blogs of photography, and fashion works. Feel free to have a look!

I called it - 'The secret Diary of Katherine Ann-Marie" named after an artwork I did for a character called Ann-Marie. Long story.

http://www.katherineannmarie.tumblr.com/

xox

K.A.M

Monthy Vlog: June

Thank you everyone for being so patient, I have finished all the plans for YouTube and the vlog and I can let you know what will be happening this week, and month ahead.

Every month from now on I will be covering a variety of artists and songs from a number of music genres. Each month I will share the particular genre (i.e. Pop, Rock, Alternative) and then each week I will do a vlog on a particular artist, their composition style, albums & music, one cover and one tutorial! That means loads of videos each week. Hopefully I will be able to keep up ^_^

For the month of June, the genre is POP! And this week, the first artist I am going to share with you is Marina & the Diamonds! I will share with you a vlog, cover and tutorial of her music this week.

Also I plan to get a recorded video version of one of my songs done for you, plus the Carousel tutorial, and I also have an excerpt for you of a song I wrote a while back...

Finally this week as hopefully some of you know, John Mayer has just released a new album! So more on that soon.

xox

K.A.M

Tip of the Week #1

As part of this vlog, every week I'll suggest a tip to help with your piano playing, song writing and arranging skills. This week's tip #1 is for piano players.

When playing difficult pieces, separate the hands! Learn each part separately and thoroughly, then once you have mastered each hand bring them together and play the section slowly from beginning to end, gradually speeding up which will maintain fluidity and detail. Do this on all sections of music that you are unsure of or are finding the rhythm difficult. Works every time!

Original DEMO Recordings: Soundcloud!

Hey guys! So I know ages ago you were asking if you could download my old recordings, and I deleted my myspace account ages ago. So here you go finally I got around to uploading the original tracks for download on SoundCloud! 

http://soundcloud.com/katherine-ann-marie/sets/original-demos-2008-09/

Feel free to listen and download away. Please keep in mind these are the very raw original recordings and were written and recorded all the way back in 2008/09.

More stuff to come! Excite ^_^

xox

K.A.M

Twitter! Tweets! Follow me ^_^

Wow 800 page views already and it hasn't been that long. You will be pleased to know the planning is DONE! Which means that this week I'll be doing regular videos, covers, and tutorials to YouTube! 

AND I have twitter! You are welcome to follow me. It's music oriented.

Twitter - www.twitter.com/nzannmarie89

Not sure yet what one is supposed to tweet on twitter but I'm sure I'll figure out something interesting.

Next post I will let you know the plan for the coming month!

xox

K.A.M