Date Skill Description What I learned
18.10.23 Starting My EPQ I have handed in all the N/A
appropriate forms to begin my
EPQ, but the desired project is
still uncertain
24.10.23 A talk was given by an Mrs Buckton arranged an How to use the Harvard
external member hour-and-a-half interactive Referencing system
about what successful lecture for us to teach us how What a successful EPQ
EPQ looks like. to use the Harvard should look like
referencing system effectively How to create a project
to prevent plagiarism. The talk journal
also emphasized the
importance of recording the
work that we do for our EPQ.
27.10.23 First EPQ lesson with Investigated what a successful I learned that an EPQ can be
Mr Coates. EPQ title/project involves. He an artefact or a dissertation.
explained how an EPQ must I learned that an EPQ that is
be something that you can worthy of an A* must have a
investigate over a long period title that is focused on a
of time, and it must be a specific topic and is a
project that allows you to question that you can
develop and build new skills. investigate
30.10.23 Began choosing a I’ve decided to do an Artefact The importance of choosing
topic area for my EPQ. as I believe that will suit my an EPQ topic that you are
skill set compared to a passionate about. Therefore,
dissertation. it will maintain focus and
I’ve been playing guitar since I interest.
was 9 so I would like to either
investigate some of the theory
behind that, or my other
passion is sport so I may do a
project on the importance of
sport in modern life.
4.11.23 Decided on a Topic My Project will be ‘The An artefact can be on
and a Title for my difficulties of writing a anything you like, with a
EPQ. successful modern song?’ This 1000-word dissertation to
will allow me to investigate explain your research and a
some of the theory behind completed and worthy
modern music, I have never project attached.
written a song of my own
before, so I will inevitably
learn plenty of new skills along
the way.
6.11.23 Researched how to The importance of referencing Referencing must include the
effectively use the throughout this project can author's surname and initial,
Harvard referencing not be overlooked due to the the year the source was
system increasing levels of plagiarism published, the title of the
article, the title of the
journal in italics, the volume
number and the issue
1
, Date Skill Description What I learned
number.
8.11.23 First lesson with guitar Flynn (teacher) advised that I A successful modern song is
teacher on Writing a need to choose a style of almost always in a verse-
song music based on current chorus structure.
influences in the music 3-4 Chord progressions are
industry, then choose a key used for each of the different
that is comfortable to sing in parts of the song e.g. verse,
and research which chords chorus, intro, outro,
sound good in each key, then bridge/middle 8
write 3 Chord progressions in
that key.
10.11.23 Researched what In a Key each chord is assigned The importance of Harmony
chord work well a number, for example in the in a song.
together and which key of C, the chord C is Chord How all chord progressions
Key each chord is in. 1, and the chord D is Chord 2. revolve around a key.
100s of modern pop songs use Songwriters use the same
the same pattern of chords successful patterns all the
just in different keys. The most time instead of coming up
common is Chord 1 followed with completely new ideas.
by Chord 5 then Chord 6 then
Chord 4.
12.11.23 Researched the theory I enjoy listening to acoustic Keeping a song simple is not
behind the music of singer-songwriter music such a bad idea.
artists I like. as Ed Sheeran or Shawn Many successful songs in the
Mendes. Both artists only use past only used one or two-
2-3 chord progressions in each chord progressions with a
song, with little variation catchy singable melody.
between the verse and the
chorus. Ed Sheeran also uses
the key of D in almost every
one of his successful songs
including Castle on the Hill,
Shivers, and Bad Habits
15.11.23 Practiced playing By playing lots of songs in The Importance of
many songs in different keys I was able to understanding an
different keys to find find that I could sing songs individual’s voice range
which Key sounded between the range of G, A, B, because there would be no
best and was within and C and D. However, when point writing a whole song,
my vocal range. in the Key of C few interesting then getting to the end of it
chords are available compared and realizing that you are
to keys such as B minor or G. unable to sing it.
19.11.23 Decided to write a I’ve written 5 chord I learned how to calculate
song in the Key of G progressions, 3 are in the key the relative minor of a Key;
major, with regular of G major, and 2 are closer to you must use the circle of
modulations to the the key of B minor, which is fifths. I also learned about
relative minor of B the relative minor to G major, the importance of relative
minor for the chorus. so the key changes do not minors in modern music and
sound so dramatic. I’m going how they are used regularly
to end up using three chord to change the mood of a
2
18.10.23 Starting My EPQ I have handed in all the N/A
appropriate forms to begin my
EPQ, but the desired project is
still uncertain
24.10.23 A talk was given by an Mrs Buckton arranged an How to use the Harvard
external member hour-and-a-half interactive Referencing system
about what successful lecture for us to teach us how What a successful EPQ
EPQ looks like. to use the Harvard should look like
referencing system effectively How to create a project
to prevent plagiarism. The talk journal
also emphasized the
importance of recording the
work that we do for our EPQ.
27.10.23 First EPQ lesson with Investigated what a successful I learned that an EPQ can be
Mr Coates. EPQ title/project involves. He an artefact or a dissertation.
explained how an EPQ must I learned that an EPQ that is
be something that you can worthy of an A* must have a
investigate over a long period title that is focused on a
of time, and it must be a specific topic and is a
project that allows you to question that you can
develop and build new skills. investigate
30.10.23 Began choosing a I’ve decided to do an Artefact The importance of choosing
topic area for my EPQ. as I believe that will suit my an EPQ topic that you are
skill set compared to a passionate about. Therefore,
dissertation. it will maintain focus and
I’ve been playing guitar since I interest.
was 9 so I would like to either
investigate some of the theory
behind that, or my other
passion is sport so I may do a
project on the importance of
sport in modern life.
4.11.23 Decided on a Topic My Project will be ‘The An artefact can be on
and a Title for my difficulties of writing a anything you like, with a
EPQ. successful modern song?’ This 1000-word dissertation to
will allow me to investigate explain your research and a
some of the theory behind completed and worthy
modern music, I have never project attached.
written a song of my own
before, so I will inevitably
learn plenty of new skills along
the way.
6.11.23 Researched how to The importance of referencing Referencing must include the
effectively use the throughout this project can author's surname and initial,
Harvard referencing not be overlooked due to the the year the source was
system increasing levels of plagiarism published, the title of the
article, the title of the
journal in italics, the volume
number and the issue
1
, Date Skill Description What I learned
number.
8.11.23 First lesson with guitar Flynn (teacher) advised that I A successful modern song is
teacher on Writing a need to choose a style of almost always in a verse-
song music based on current chorus structure.
influences in the music 3-4 Chord progressions are
industry, then choose a key used for each of the different
that is comfortable to sing in parts of the song e.g. verse,
and research which chords chorus, intro, outro,
sound good in each key, then bridge/middle 8
write 3 Chord progressions in
that key.
10.11.23 Researched what In a Key each chord is assigned The importance of Harmony
chord work well a number, for example in the in a song.
together and which key of C, the chord C is Chord How all chord progressions
Key each chord is in. 1, and the chord D is Chord 2. revolve around a key.
100s of modern pop songs use Songwriters use the same
the same pattern of chords successful patterns all the
just in different keys. The most time instead of coming up
common is Chord 1 followed with completely new ideas.
by Chord 5 then Chord 6 then
Chord 4.
12.11.23 Researched the theory I enjoy listening to acoustic Keeping a song simple is not
behind the music of singer-songwriter music such a bad idea.
artists I like. as Ed Sheeran or Shawn Many successful songs in the
Mendes. Both artists only use past only used one or two-
2-3 chord progressions in each chord progressions with a
song, with little variation catchy singable melody.
between the verse and the
chorus. Ed Sheeran also uses
the key of D in almost every
one of his successful songs
including Castle on the Hill,
Shivers, and Bad Habits
15.11.23 Practiced playing By playing lots of songs in The Importance of
many songs in different keys I was able to understanding an
different keys to find find that I could sing songs individual’s voice range
which Key sounded between the range of G, A, B, because there would be no
best and was within and C and D. However, when point writing a whole song,
my vocal range. in the Key of C few interesting then getting to the end of it
chords are available compared and realizing that you are
to keys such as B minor or G. unable to sing it.
19.11.23 Decided to write a I’ve written 5 chord I learned how to calculate
song in the Key of G progressions, 3 are in the key the relative minor of a Key;
major, with regular of G major, and 2 are closer to you must use the circle of
modulations to the the key of B minor, which is fifths. I also learned about
relative minor of B the relative minor to G major, the importance of relative
minor for the chorus. so the key changes do not minors in modern music and
sound so dramatic. I’m going how they are used regularly
to end up using three chord to change the mood of a
2
