For this final project, I wanted to create something instead of writing a simple

paper. Music is my greatest passion so I was excited to be able to submit a project that
was enjoyable to create and valuable to myself not only as a student but also as an artist. I
decided to explore how a song could change meaning and mood by the altering of its
essential parts. I wrote a simple song with my guitar and recorded it, and then decided to
make an instrumental version without voice. To finish up the project, I interviewed a few
people to ask for their responses on each individual song. The purpose of my project is to
explore how a song can change in meaning or how it is interpreted by the listeners
depending on how it is played.
I wrote this song with many things in mind. While not thinking about any person in
particular, I thought about space and the universe and how vast it is. In the song, while it
sounds like I’m singing to a particular person, I’m really singing to no one yet everyone.
I’m speaking about this non-physical person that is out there for me, yet at the same time
is me, but I don’t know who they are yet, but they’re there. Similar to place, they exist but
so far away from me that I haven’t experienced it yet but it’s there.
I chose the chords in the song because I felt they fit the subject well. My favorite
part is at the end of the progression when the chord goes down a half step. It is repetitive
so it is catchy. While only consisting of simple guitar and voice, I added reverb to the
guitar and made sure to make it resonate to give it a dreamy feel. I also did not keep a
steady tempo, especially with my voice, to be more expressive. Had I kept the tempo the
same throughout, there would be less of an emphasis on the beginning of the chorus of
the song, which I want to emphasize with the change in tempo since the chords don’t
change.
I decided to do an instrumental version of the song and see how the song would
change as a result the feeling of it, if at all. I decided to change the tempo and make it
slower. While this song consists of only electronic instruments, I made sure to edit as best
as I could to
I decided to do an upbeat version of the song to see if the feeling would change,
without changing the chords or the lyrics. I wanted to see how tempo and tone would
change the meaning of the song and the effect on the audience.
For the last part of my project I wanted to ask a few people for their impressions
on both pieces. I wanted to see if the emotions that were transmitted through each
individual piece varied or not. I sent out the instrumental piece first so that no lyrics could
impact how the song was listened to. In drafting my questions, I knew I wanted to focus
on how the listener interpreted the piece, what called their attention the most, and the
possible reasons for their interpretations. The questionnaire was split into three sections.
The first section about the instrumental piece, the second about the vocal piece, and the
third comparing the two. Parts one and two asked these three questions:
1. What did you first notice about this piece?
2. Did this piece make you feel anything strongly? If so, what did it make you feel,
and what parts of it do you think achieved that?
3. Did you relate this piece to anything while listening to it? Whether it be a
landscape, memory, person, a feeling, etc. If so, please describe what if
comfortable.
 4. What caught your attention most from this piece?
Part three asked questions comparing the instrumental version of the song with the vocal
version.
1. Which piece did you find more emotionally appealing? Why do you think that
is?
2. Which piece would you rather listen to?

--Person 1: Josefa Alvarez, 53

Song 1:
1. Its peaceful tones.
2. It makes me feel relaxed and in peace, especially the chorus. The voice brings me
peace.
3. It reminds me of a peaceful moment in one of my favorite places in the world:
Greece. I can see myself watching a beautiful sunset in Cape Sounion.
4. The voice captured my attention.
Song 2:
1. I feel melancholy. The first thing that I noticed was the melody. It reminds
me a blue day, with a grey sky and rain. The piano at the beginning. It
connects my feelings with the melancholy. I prefer the first one.
Melancholy can be a beautiful feeling, but also make you feel sad. The first
one give me the serenity I need very stressed.

Person 2: Evelyn Suatoni, 21

1. The first thing I noticed was that someone was writing on a piece of paper
and it was very interesting I thought. And the piece make me feel kind of
sad because the lyrics were saying there’s nothing left over and over
again.And the guitar kind of sounded melancholic and sad. I think this piece
relates to a memory of a past relationship for me and what caught my
attention most from this piece was the background noises and the mouse
clicks and the writing on the paper.
2. The first thing I noticed was that it sounded very electronic and it sounded
like the toy piano was playing. The voice was muffled and there was a lot of
echo. the piano sounded like a toy piano and it reminded me of my
childhood because I kept thinking about the toy piano. Therefore it kind of
gave me a nostalgic feeling. What caught my attention the most is that the
voice was cracking In the background.
3. I personally liked the first piece because I thought the second had too many
effects going on In the background and it took away from the lyrics and the
overall feeling of the piece. The first one you could listen to it and it was
more calm and brought out more emotion and sadness.
Person 3: Megan Hill, 20
“Synethetic Version”
1. The first thing I noticed was the use of sound to construct atmosphere. The swelling
of the initials notes along with the lighter, more delicate notes that join feel very
fairytale and detached. Coupled with the lyrics, the sounds reminded me out outer
space. The voice echoes and is almost robotic in the echo, thus further reminding
me of space. I noticed a cohesion between the elements of the song and the actual
lyrics of the piece.
2. This piece made me feel atmospheric, like I was suspended above earth, looking at
the stars with this otherworldly singer, floating through space. I think that the
alternative elements helped create that picture for me. The synthesis of different
sounds produced this effect.
3. I felt as though I was in a dramatic scene in Fault in Our Stars or something more
indie and like a Sundance film; there was something about the song that felt very
cinematographic and modern. I don’t really connect it to a memory.
4. The introductory element is what caught my attention. I enjoyed just listening to the
instrumentals that I was surprised when there was vocalization.

“Instrumental Version”
1. The first thing that I really noticed was the sounds that are coupled with the
introductory guitar, such as what sounds like the scribbling of a pen and the rustling
of something.
2. This song made me feel more melancholic but not despairing. The negative lyrics
are definitely a downward trajectory, but the guitar chords are a cheerier element to
me.
3. Once again, I don’t have a specific memory to tie to this song, but it reminded me of
a 2000s film when the protagonist feels lost and confused but is right before the
resolution of the film.
4. The lyrics caught me most; although I couldn’t distinguish fully what was being
said, I resonated with the feeling of loss and vulnerability.

Part 3:
1. I liked the more synthetic version because I like the more alternative elements and
the beat. However, the instrumental version appealed to my sensibilities in that I
related it to a love song and also found it pleasant.
2. The synthetic version is more in line with the genres that I listen to, but the
vocalization is easier to hear in the instrumental version, so I’d have to go with the
instrumental version.

Christopher Gallardo, 20

1. In both version's I noticed a tinge of pain in their intros. 2. It made me feel lonely, like I
was trudging towards a cliff, emerging from the forest after a debilitating day. As if I had
just been defeated yet there was this beautiful night sky. This effect was achieved through
the solo guitar and wonderful opening harmonies. Although simple, this combined effect
accented the mood set by the guitar that proceeded to create an exquisite thinking space
for the lyrics. The rhythm of the guitar plays a crucial role in setting up the "debilitating"
effect of defeat, as if I'm heading toward the end of a long journey, exhausted. The second
version however was a dreamscape, ethereal. Like floating through an interstellar pink
dust cloud. As if I was half asleep and someone was trying to call my name back into
reality. This effect was mostly due to the heavy synthesizers and reverb, creating a more
wave-like feel akin to a lullaby rather than a trudging march. It's much smoother. 3. Well I
explain above what I imagined but in terms of personal experience, the first version
reminds me of a harsh day in my life. Not a particular one but whenever I had waken up
and immediately had a bad day, and no matter what I did it just kept getting worse and
worse until it seemed hopeless to try to make it better. Yet right before I give up I'm
reminded that the world is a beautiful place so it's okay, one bad day doesn't mean that
everything is bad. The second version reminds me of the complete peace of mind I feel
when I dive into the ocean at dusk, alone. The momentary pause of time, the swirling
clouds of dust and sand, the silent roar of the sea, all enveloped into the minute long
song. It's a feeling like you are the only living thing in the sea, with only you and your
thoughts to keep you company. 4. In the first version it's the first harmonies, they hit so
softly yet with the impact of a gentle caress. They complete the mood. The second
version, the opening movement of the synths speaks volumes. I want to be clear its the
"movement" and not the synths notes specifically. How the sound rolls out like a circular
wave of noise and envelops the listener does more than the entire song put together. 1.
Hm, each piece has their own strengths. The first is more emotionally complicated yet
sounds a bit generic, or what you'd expect a sad song to sound like. The second version is
too edited, the use of the harp and secondary synths give it a plastic feel which takes away
from the central theme, causing the mood to dissolve. Yet the synths brought a more
attractive and imaginative space. In terms of solely emotional content, I will have to go
with the first version. The vocal harmonies are too good and profound to pass up. 2.
Hmmm, as I said before it is a little tough to decide as these songs are essentially
completely different. I will again have to with the first version simply because it is a tighter
sound that encapsulates mood and vision much clearer than the second version. However,
the first version could definitely take the second version's strengths and thus produce a
third product that combines the two, making a wonderful piece.