:arrow: Anybody interested in a SOFT online competition?

[Cheez]

OK, since our "Christmas Collaboration" didn't really pull off, let's try again with something different. What about a competition - for any instruments/combination of instruments etc? Main thing is to let musicians learn and expose their composition/arrangment skills; where we can give constructive criticisms and comments.

My suggestion is this: we come up with a melodic line that goes for a few bars (doesn't matter if it sounds wierd, unusual, atonic, or in 7/8 timing or whatever - the key is to be as challenging as possible). We post the melody here. Anyone can take them on and arrange/perform the piece based on the melody line. You can work alone or collaborate - guitarists may want to work with keyboardists etc. We have a date line. Then post the end result (each piece should not be longer than 3 minutes).

We leave the decision to a poll by SOFTies. On the closing date, all music is "released" to the public forum at the same time and anybody can post their votes. The highest vote will be the winner. The winner will not win any prize except the recognition of being a winner in SOFT and being the next person to post a melodic line he/she comes up with. He/she automatically cannot be in the next competition so as to give others a chance. We can do this once every month.

What do everybody think?

 

[DoubleBlade]

Sounds interesting considering the fact that I thought it was gonna be another SOFT jam....

 

[Cheez]

Jams can be hard to organise at times. Recording it yourself and then posting it here is easier. Also has a wider range of listeners to vote. The quality of the recording shouldn't be the determining factor; rather focus on arrangment and playing skills.

 

[crozzfire]

whooa cool!!im in for this 8)

 

[DoubleBlade]

Don't mind if I could clearify something here....

You're saying that someone post a piece not more than 3 minutes long , then another person takes it and modifies it and then the final product is posted on SOFT on the deadline?

 

[Cheez]

No, no. No one modifies it. You take on the melody and you arrange it by yourself, play it yourself, record it yourself. Of course, you can do that together with somebody else - so it becomes a collaboration of 2 or 3 people. But that piece belongs to that group. After you finish it, post it here. Each person/ each group post one piece. Then we open for all to vote which one they think is best. Winner will be the one who gets the most votes.

 

[Phil]

Cool Schzoids, but isn't it a little too troublesome for some people?

 

[DoubleBlade]

[EDITED] : Okay now I understand....

 

[ChanMin]

sounds cool ... i can rope in silencer to play keys

whats the reference melody line like?

 

[keiith]

sounds fun 8) good luck softies :wink:

 

[strats]

how bout blues? maybe 12 bars blues in A?

 

[mingguan]

Hm...
Improvisation?

Sounds interesting...

 

[Cheez]

Phil, how so?

Strats, it's totally up to you if you want to make it blues or swing or whatever - as long as it follows the melody line and doesn't change the timing too drastically. Obviously, it will be difficult to make it blues if somebody comes up with a 7/8 or inconsistent timing within each measure. Doesn't matter - the key here is creativity.

If we have enough people interested, I can come up with a melody line for the first competition - and of course I'll withdraw myself from the first competition to be fair. Are you ready?

 

[bongman]

competition is always tough...
what's the prize?
gimme the prize!

 

[bluepowder]

Interesting...

Hmm i wonder if we can do 12 bar blues in 7/8...that might be fun

 

[ShredCow]

Very cool idea man... Just don't include any cash donations.

 

[ShredCow]

Actually, I don't think the voting should go public.

The mindset of us locals is geared towards rock. So you can come up with a brilliant mix of some jazz thing, but if someone else does some shredding, you're a goner.

I think a few select people should be judges.

 

[bluepowder]

hey shredcow....though i completely agree with what u say...as to how each artists perception of playing over a mix being different...i would have to say...from my own personal point of view i would like all of soft to vote rather than a panel of judges...cos then it turns from a friendly collaboration to being "judged" if u know wha ti mean...hehe..but alls cool with me i would love to play nonetheless :lol:

 

[mingguan]

Hope the leadtime shouldn't be too short (insufficient) or too long (people may forget liao)...

Can count me in.
see how far can I go...

 

[bluepowder]

hmm...mingguan brings up an interesting point...which leads me to ask these questions...

1.How many people will be involved in this jam...
2.Do we need to find these ppl on our own or do ppl just sign up and play??