Monday

Just played a review of my piano song once. Trying to read "The Lamb's Supper," by Scott Hahn.

Sunday

Rode exercise bike for 1/2 hour. Spent most of the day helping with college stuff for my son. Spent some peaceful time at the piano working on the same song. Hoping that Stallone wins an Oscar tonight. Goodnight; see ya tomorrow.

Saturday

Rode exercise bike for about 38 minutes. And a good day all around. Took care of some chores, and learning "All the Things You Are" on piano using the Sudnow Method.

Washington DC

Some pictures from the Washinton DC class trip I took with my youngest daughter:

VIETNAM WAR MEMORIAL

JFK's GRAVE:

RFK's GRAVE:

JOE LOUIS' GRAVE:

3:35 AM

Ready to leave with my youngest daughter on class trip to Washington DC. Had a good time with my son last night going to the movie "The VVitch" which I thought was a great film. Brought a book about the Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds" to read if possible on the school bus. Thinking of guitar improv. Recently used 12 tracks to help with a friend's original song. Sounds like the Bob Dylan guitars. of the 90's.

Angels

Went to Mass tonight at the Church I went to as a kid. It's a beautiful Church built in 1912:

On a home movie, there is footage of my Godfather carrying me down these steps on the day of my Baptism: 

The back of the Church:

As a kid, I'd lock my bike to the gate when riding my bike to Mass: 

I sent the following picture to my brother. He responded, "Angels." Maybe so. My dad and I were sitting in a pew with a plaque on it in honor of my deceased neice (his daughter). Also, my mom died three years ago to the day these pictures were taken.

Thursday Night

What can I say? I enjoy playing the piano using the Sudnow Method. Tried to play some guitar today and didn't feel it. I did add some tracks to a friend's original song, and it was fun. 

Arpeggio Sunday

Snow tomorrow?

On guitar, worked on my 3 major arpeggios, 5 minor arpeggios, a 9th arpeggio, and a 7th arpeggio.

Had a peaceful time learning "All the Things You Are" using the Sudnow Method.

Saturday

Worked on some piano stuff: discouraging.

Worked on some guitar stuff: encouraging. The Swing Guitar book is just excellent in helping me learn lead stuff. 

Many Me

There's the me that wanted to read sheet music for piano. There's the me that tried this method, then that method, then that method for piano. I have many books on piano learning and guitar learning. Today it's back to the Sudnow Method!

IFR

Continued working on the IFR book. Up to page 30. Don't know where I'm going with it but I have nothing to lose!

New Path

I am tired of trying to learn how to improvise by using traditional methods. I think that when it comes to progressing on guitar improvisation, I'm going to take a leap of faith and try again to use the book "Improvise For Real" (IFR) by David Reed. Tried it before but stopped. Started to get into it again and I like its philosophy. I won't repeat a lot of its standpoint here except to say that it seems to be a lot more about that intangible magic called "music" rather than the way it has been traditionally taught. I like it.

I think I may paradoxically keep trying to learn the piano using the method book.

I'm up to page 27 in the IFR book. 

Going to try to get back to the joy of music rather than the scales, licks, memorization, agony of music. That's what it's all about, anyway. If it is not a beautiful thing, then it's just another part of the drudgery, isn't it? Isn't music supposed to be something different? 

Maybe I'm hoping too much, but maybe the IFR book will help me get back to the joys of music making rather than the frustrations. 

When I would talk about improvising to a band member, he would sometimes tell me to forget the modes and just use "the force." Well maybe he is right. Maybe "the force" is something internal; something of a spiritual connection between me and music that can transcend modes, scales, and memorization. 

As a kid, I remember just laying on the floor playing my guitar along to "Muddy Waters Greatest Hits" or whatever it was called. It was great! I just played music and didn't try to analyze it. Now I guess there's a place for analysis and modes and scales, but maybe I've been focusing too much in that area and it's time to get the right brain more involved in me actually playing music. 

Tuesday Jazz

Rode exercise bike for 1/2 hour.

Diet not going so fantastic but won't give up.

Practiced: Piano Method book, Swing Guitar book, and Aebersold Book 1 for guitar. Surprisingly, I'm having most fun with the piano book!

Read some more from my Mindfulness book.

Waiting for the results of the New Hampshire primary. I'm antiabortion, but probably mostly liberal on other issues. In other words, no candidate is my clear cut choice. 

Getting interested again in jazz.

Waiting For the Snow

Looks like we are about to get more snow here, but not as much as the last storm.

Rode exercise bike for 1/2 hour.

Sunday: Day 1

Burned 845.7 calories on the exercise bike for one hour.

Practiced guitar using the Swing Guitar book and the Abersold book. 

Tried a little to do some original work.

Started re-reading the Mindfulness book.

Decided to go back to the Piano Method book(s). Using the Alfred All in One course. Finished Book 1 awhile ago, so will be going back to it.

Goals 2016 / Take Two

DEFINITES:

1) The Swing Guitar Book and the Aebersold Book 1 For Guitar. Daily.

2) 15 minutes per day working on building a chord melody guitar repertoire.

So far:

"Over the Rainbow"

"When You Wish Upon a Star"

"A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes"

3) At least 30 minutes per day of exercising probably on exercise bike. Eat more healthy. Be more healthy.

4) Mindfulness daily using the Mindfulness book.

5) Spiritual reading and prayer daily.

6) To write one song per month for an album of original acoustic guitar songs.

7) Work on the Alfred All in One Piano course (added February 7).

PROBABLE: 

1) The Herb Ellis Swing Blues book.

B.B. King

Limits vs Challenges

I can play the guitar and with a little practice, just about any song, chord melody style.

But I like the piano sound more. Is it a self-imposed limitation that I cannot play the piano better or is it just a reality that my hands at my age just ain't gonna get it? 

So I wonder if the piano is a challenge I can work on or if it's just out of my grasp at my age.

What about writing songs? I wonder if I'm washed up in that department.

Today, my son received an award at his school for demonstrating responsibility, dependability, personal growth, respect, initiative, and a positive attitude. Nice. Here's a picture of him accepting the award:

Getting Organized

Started to work again in the Swing Guitar book. But that book won't be enough to sustain a whole practice session. May use the Herb Ellis book or some other things too. 

Inspiration For "Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite"

Tuesday Night

I think I'll just stick to guitar. For now, anyway. A good friend changed the strings on my Epiphone and cleaned it up. It's sounding nice. I think I'll go back and try to learn some swing guitar stuff using the Paul Howard book, "Swing: The Roots of Great Guitar Playing." 

Looks like I'll be seeing Brian Wilson do his Pet Sounds show. Not 100% sure though. I saw it years ago and it was great!

Man I've just let my health slide. Need to get back on track!