Day 231

Another Decision Day.

Here's some of a post I wrote on the Sudnow Forum:

I'm back (to the Sudnow Method) with a new perspective that includes just shutting off my evaluations of my play, stop trying to find shortcuts, and mainly just doing the Sudnow Method.

So I will be in the "learning and nonevaluative" mode with the Suds Method. Here is part of my game plan:

1. I'm not going to judge how I sound anymore. Sure, if it sounds good, I won't be able to not notice! But the emphasis is going to be on LEARNING, and not on judging each song I do as the "be all and end all." Each song, each chord cluster, is going to be seen as a part of learning, and not as evidence of how bad or good I play. Learning is to be emphasized, not judging. So I won't move on to a second song until the first is played cleanly and carefully even if quite slowly.

2. No more trying to figure out shortcuts. No more figuring out things using my brain. Trust the Method. Just do the Method, don't evaluate it. REALLY STOP LOOKING FOR THE HOLY GRAIL METHOD. Put all the energy that I'm wasting either evaluating this Method or looking for the perfect method into just DOING THIS Method. Did I say, "Trust the Method? Play at the piano!

3:
A) Voice songs, one at a time.
B) Practice playing them carefully. Look at each cluster. Play each song on time. Even if its slow, play On Time. Don't memorize the song; OK to look on lead sheet as I play.
C) After I can play it On-Time, even if slowly, move on to the next song. I think one of my errors in the past is moving too quickly with accepting mistakes in songs, and then moving on to a next song.

Worked on "Over the Rainbow."