For part of Module 4 I made a radio programme. This was 28 minutes long and mirrored a BBC Radio 4 radio doc.

I really enjoyed this project and was confidence building.

Firstly I had to identify the subject. Well, it had to be within the country dance sphere, and I decided to look at the development of tunes on recordings between 1915 and 1974. The first country dance recording was made in 1915 in New Jersey by the Victor Band under the supervision of Elizabeth Burchenal. Elizabeth used Cecil Sharp’s arrangements and I used the dance Goddesses. Compared to modern speed, this is fast and goes along at 126 beats a minute.

Next I used recordings by George Remain who was a traditional melodeon player from Yorkshire. His playing is great, and compared to standards today still fast. Next up was the Country Dance Band under the leadership of Nan Fleming-Williams. The Country Dance Band, along with The Haymakers, Jolly Wagoners etc recorded for the EFDS in the 1950s. Lastly, I used the Waves of Tory recorded by Ashley Hutchings and the Sawdust Band in 1973.

The programme was interspersed with interviews from various experts and practitioners. Interviewing was great, having identified prospective interviewees they were contact via the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library in London who were very helpful. I had to identify their particular area of expertise and made sure it fitted into my programme subject.

I used a ‘home-made’ studio in my living room to record my links, and VinylStudio to cut my interviewees contributions to a basic length. Vinyl Studio is a programme for recording records to digital format. It is possible to import audio files in .WAV format and too edit them in a basic form. I then booked the radio studio at the University of Brighton for real editing. Using the multi-channel editing software, Adobe Audition I put together my programme. Using my newly honed techniques including fading each segment in and out, double tracking, precise editing of my selected tracks and interviewees contributions I made my programme. Using compression and other effects, I think I made a good attempt: it didn’t even sound like me! Almost professional and truly inspiring.

As well as all that I described able, I wrote the script and did all the recording. Recording my links was interesting. I lost count at the number of takes I did. Fumbling or mis-pronouncing words, breathing in the wrong place, a loud noise.

I found the whole project inspiring and grew in confidence throughout.