I started playing bass in 8th grade, my friend decided to start a band for fun. He was the only one in our group with any real musical experience, so he naturally took on the role of lead guitarist. I, on the other hand, began learning the bass from scratch, without any formal lessons or knowledge of musical theory. So when I came to this school, I figured that choosing band as my AS is a great opportunity to extend my skills and knowledge. This decision was pivotal in helping me transition from a beginner to a more confident player.

LO 1: Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth

Reflecting on my musical journey, I’ve come to recognize both my strengths and the areas where I need to grow. One of my strengths lies in my passion for learning and adapting quickly to new challenges. Despite not having a formal music education, I was able to teach myself the basics of the bass guitar and participate in band rehearsals effectively. Still I had many things to master: like scales and rhythm patterns, to become a more versatile and skilled bassist. This self-assessment drove my desire to push beyond my comfort zone and strive for continuous improvement.

LO 2: Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process

Throughout this experience, I encountered numerous challenges that required me to develop new skills. Since I had only scratched the surface of bass playing before, I had to start from the basics, tackling more advanced drills and techniques that were unfamiliar to me. I sought advice from more experienced guitarists and musicians, asking them for exercises and routines that could help me improve. With their guidance, I learned new techniques like fingerpicking, playing with better tempo, and understanding more complex chord progressions.

LO 3: Initiating and Planning a CAS Experience

As before I new bass only on a surface level, I had to develop a plan on how I’m going to approach mastering the instrument. I asked other guitarist for drill exercises and started. Moreover we had to plan out schedules for rehearsals for competitions, such as the Kalakriti Interschool Competition, where we could showcase our progress.

LO 4: Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences

The path to mastering the bass wasn’t easy, and there were many moments where frustration could have easily set in. However, I stayed committed to my practice routine and pushed through the difficult times, knowing that consistent effort would lead to improvement. Our rehearsals were often long and intensive, especially as we prepared for the competition, but I never wavered in my dedication. This experience taught me the value of resilience and persistence, qualities that are essential in both music and other areas of life.

LO 5: Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively

If not the teamwork, help of other members of the band, and collaboration during rehearsals, we wouldn’t be able to deliver such staggering performance at the Kalakriti Interschool Competition as we did. Thanks to our teamwork we were able to beat 16 other bands and get a first place in the competition