Guitar / Piano

Quickly put together a guitar chord melody version of "Satin Doll" that was, well, ok.

Went over some of my piano stuff and it was better.

Back to Guitar

Got back on the guitar today learning some dominant arpeggio forms from one book, and integrating that with some improv stuff I learned from a different book.

Mindfulness week 3; day 1

Started week 3 in the Mindfulness practice. Continuing to exercise; the enemy seems to be food quantity. "Satin Doll" will be my next piano song.

Somewhere

Rode the exercise bike for an hour watching The Godfather III.

Recorded my version of "Somewhere," and here it is:

https://soundcloud.com/user-860420366/somewhere-cover

Only took about a week. 

Mindfulness; week 2, day 5

Busy day. Visited a college my son might attend. Was able to ride exercise bike for an hour (while watching "The Godfather, III). Did a little song play on the piano, but heart really wasn't in it today. Guitar is calling me. 

Friday. Mindfulness; week 2 / day 4

Exercised, ate mostly healthy, said the rosary, meditaded, and practiced piano. Continue to work on "Somewhere," and though I can get though it, it needs work.

The Mass

This is what "clicked" for me recently regarding Mass:

My Maternal Grandmother (Born, 1900)

Thursday / Mindfulness week 2

- I have been saying the rosary daily. 

- Rode exercise bike for 1/2 hour.

- Continuing with mindfulness practice.

- Continued to work on "Somewhere" on piano. A friend is trying to get me out of ballad piano playing or at least get me to play piano at faster speeds. Though I might agree that my rhythm needs to be steadier, I can't say goodbye to piano ballads. Want to do the kind of music that is me, and this ballad stuff played with sophisticated voicings is an important part of who I am musically.

- Just wish there was more time to practice piano AND guitar as well as more time to just play them for fun.

Wednesday / Mindfulness week 2

Rode exercise bike for 1/2 hour and later walked for a total of 1/2 hour. Difficult to avoid food! Continuing with health and meditation.

Somewhere on Tuesday / Mindfulness week 2

Rode exercise bike for almost 37 minutes. Then another 5 minutes later...

Started working on the song "Somewhere" on piano which I knew before but will relearn.

Started week 2 in the Meditation book.

Rode exercise bike for 1/2 hour.

Starting week 2 in my Mindfulness book.

Went over my 2 piano songs but not in depth. Wish that I can hold songs in my hands longer; parts of songs are too easily forgotten and the need for regular review is obvious.

Sunday

A little while ago, I recorded friend playing "How High the Moon" bass and saxophone to a drum backing. Today I added some guitars and a little cymbal sound. Here it is:

https://soundcloud.com/user-860420366/how-high-the-moon

Interesting, consolidating ideas in different books in order to devise a solo.

Went over piano stuff a bit today, too.

Over the Rainbow / Mindfulness week 1

Another day of exercise, meditation, and prayer. Went to Mass and getting new meaning from it.

Practiced with the crew for Easter Mass; the song I'm most involved with is "Oh Mary Don't You Weep." Went to a couple of music stores with a friend and played some guitars.

Recorded "Over the Rainbow," and here it is:

https://soundcloud.com/user-860420366/over-the-rainbow-cover

Friday Rainbow

Good Day. Mindfulness, exercise, prayer, health. Ignore the extra pizza I had :)

Actually almost done "Over the Rainbow." Bought the book "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young to help with spirituality.

Practicing tomorrow with the crew for Easter Mass.

Piano is winning / Mindfulness week 1

Rode exercise bike for 1/2 hour, and took a 20 minute walk. Continuing with mindfulness work and saying the rosary.

Worked on getting my music practice space organized.

I want to play swing guitar, but I just find myself at the piano. Worked on Over the Rainbow.

Wednesday / Mindfulness week 1

Rode exercise bike for 1/2 hour.

Beautiful day; took a walk for a little over 20 minutes.

Continuing with mindfulness and prayer.

Will be playing at Easter Masses.

Played a little swing guitar stuff as well as a little of my new piano song.

Rest in Peace, George Martin.

Tuesday / Mindfulness week one

- Rode exercise bike for 1/2 hour.

- Continuing in mindfulness work, being more healthy, and prayer.

- Worked in "Over the Rainbow," Sudnow style.

- The swing guitar is calling me.

Mindfulness Monday / Mindfulness week one

- Rode exercise bike for 1/2 hour.

- Walked for a combination of about 15 minutes.

- Continuing to be more healthy.

- Restarted my mindfulness work, meditating two times.

- Praying more

- May try to learn how to read music better on the guitar; all I'm kind of comfortable with is reading in the 1st position, and that's limiting.

Sunday

- Rode exercise bike for an hour while watching The Godfather Part II. 

- A bandmate came over and we watched a DVD about Les Paul and his guitar playing partner (sorry, I forget the partner's name). Also watched "Love and Mercy" (my second viewing of it). 

- Started working on "Over the Rainbow" on piano, and fearing already losing whatever chops I had on "All the Things You Are!"

Saturday

- Rode exercise bike for more than an hour. Taking better care of myself.

- A good day. Recorded my version of "All the Things You Are," and here it is:

https://soundcloud.com/user-860420366/all-the-things-you-are-cover

- Received the sacrament of Penance and went to Mass today.

Friday

- Might receive the sacrament of Penance tomorrow trying to get back into real worship of Jesus in the Catholic Church.

- Just about done with my piano song. Sounding nice.

Thursday

Another Republican debate rolls on tonight. Anyway, I had a good practice with my piano song. Being a little more liberal with my arrangement, using some octaves in the right hand instead of chords. 

A picture of my son as a kid; he's now a senior in high school looking at colleges. A great guy:

Super Tuesday

Super Tuesday for politics in the USA today. Me, well I played my piano a bit with my song and went to see The VVitch for the second time.

My piano playing: notes are getting there but my rhythm isn't even. Thus the song falls apart. Work on rhythm!