Been awhile

Just getting into guitar. Going over chord melody songs: What Child is This / Over the Rainbow / White Christmas / All the Things You Are. Practicing improvising over “My Favorite Things” too. Thinking I’d like to make a tiny amount of money as well as getting a smaller acoustic, I put my Taylor up for sale. Thinking of getting another electric guitar; however, I don’t need it. Really love my Epiphone Casino Coupe, have my telecaster, and my son’s Stratocaster. 

Piano

Been thinking about getting a Fender Blues Junior guitar amplifier.

Continuing to work on “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire” Sudnow style. It’s coming along but quite slowly. “Slowly?” Or am I just underestimating how long these things take?

“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Jack Frost nipping at your nose.”    That’s about where I’m at. 

Tonight’s Sky …..

It’s been awhile

It’s been awhile since I last made an entry here. Still on guitar and piano, Been using the Sudnow Method on piano recently, working on “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.” Goin ok.

With the band, it looks like we’ll be focusing on Christmas songs; although it’s early, Christmas seems to jump up quickly.

Not doing the online piano lessons anymore. I’m 62 years old, and though I’d love to be able to play a variety of styles, I think focusing on one style for now (the Sudnow Method / cocktail music format), is the way for me to go.

Plans for Sudnow Method:

Learn songs. Even if I cannot keep them in hand. Will try not to to get what was for me bogged down into thinking through voicings too much. 

The Sudnow Method is without doubt some of the most fun I’ve had with piano. To me, it really gets the student into actually PLAYING the piano, rather than bogged down in too much theory. 

It’d be nice to have a few Christmas songs done the Sudnow way ready for Christmas this year.

Guitar / Bass / Piano

Will be playing in a trio for a wedding ceremony in a couple of weeks, and today we had a practice. Sounded nice. I’m on mostly guitar but play bass on “Ave Maria.” Another in the trio plays harp and aerophone. The other in the trio is a singer / piano player.

Actually practiced some piano, too. I think when I start struggling on piano, I too quickly want to give up. Went through Lesson 7 today, and just too a little fighting through. 

Struggle

Struggling with piano. But will keep moving on. 

Routine

Just a routine day of some practicing guitar and piano; nothing spectacular. Trying to learn a guitar solo on “My Favorite Things;” finding its needing work, but I’m getting there. Would like to use more of a variety of the pentatonic shapes than what I’m used to. 

Working on lesson 7 on the piano. Challenging trying to learn the right and left patterns when they are both doing something different. 

Good music day

Practiced some stuff related to learning “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.” Up to lesson 7 on the piano.

Ah ha

A little teachable a ha moment tonight. I’ve been having a lot of trouble learning a particular piano piece. But then I gave it a closer look … it was using a very easy pattern, when utilized, really made the piece easier to learn. Interesting how easily I saw the piece as being more daunting than it really was. 

All Over the Place -

Playing guitar at Mass next Sunday.

Jazz band still going forward. 

Pop band going forward.

Piano was off to a somewhat slow start, but going forward.

JAZZ BAND would be nice if I can map out some solos (probably will do that) and learn to play melodies in positions other than the first.

POP BAND - just have to remember the structure of tunes so we are all on the same page.

PIANO - will do this at my own pace / no rushing / no perfection in Everything. (Up to learning some stock chords).

Piano

Making slow head way in the piano learning. A bit of a learning curve involved in navigating how to course is organized, but I’m getting there.

Piano

First day of starting new piano course. Doing ok!

P I A N O

Still playing guitar. Bought a piano course today.