Music Learning

I used to try to learn songs on the piano by going right to playing the songs, taking little to no time to get the chord names into my brain outside of what was necessary to play the songs. The result was that I could play songs that sounded quite nice. The drawback was that if I didn't play the songs regularly, I forgot them.

I'm wondering about that as I think of learning chord melody on the guitar. I bet I could memorize some nice stuff, but am I really learning anything other than how to play a particular song? 

I suppose if I learn to play a ton of songs, eventually it will get easier and faster to play other songs. But the problem is that my brain simply cannot keep in my muscle memory more than about two songs at any given time. So I learn two, and I have to keep on repeating them to keep them in my memory, and as I try to learn another song, and another, things get very time consuming (keeping the older songs in memory while adding new songs).

So I brought this up to my online jazz teacher who got back to me that he'll respond with his answer soon when he has a live Q & A. 

I'm wondering if the answer is to learn chords (on piano or guitar) in isolation as well as in the context of learning songs?

Piano Guitar

Yea I was tempted to go back to the Sudnow Piano Method. Then I was actually a bit inspired to go back to guitar by (believe it or not) watching some of my videos. Tempted to learn chord melody guitar using a different method. Liking Charlie Christian swing guitar. Yes, all over the place!

Brain

Two muscles ...the part that's in charge of fight, flight, freeze...... other part in charge of problem solving and other things.....abused/neglected kids have the one in charge of fight, flight or freeze overworked and too ready to use.....the other muscle doesn't get practiced enough.....therefore it's not used......abused and neglected kids need those other skills but their brains don't have the connections needed on that weaker muscle.

Kids need attentiveness....if not received then it further prevents that other part of the brain from developing. Implications: teach skills while being attentive

Drawing Board

Went ahead of myself in my Jazz guitar lessons and tried to learn chord melody. Perhaps I have just follow the lessons In The Correct Order.

Thinking of trading my Les Paul for a Martin.

Learned some very cool information about the brain today.

Behind!

I am behind in my guitar practicing! Did manage to learn the single note melody to "Take the A Train." Must push on! 

College

College, Day 1, 2016:

College, Day 1, 2017:

Zoey Was Born April 10, 2009

"April come she will ...

...August, die she must."

- Paul Simon

Haiku

Dog and me with vet
Blue sky rain windy sunbeam
Me with vet alone

Friday

Got a great deal on a really cool Epiphone Dot today. I really like the sound of it too:

Sad news to announce today. I'll be taking our dog Zoey to be euthanized tomorrow morning at 9:00 AM. Tough decision. Her picture as a puppy can be seen on the right-hand side of this blog if you scroll down. 

Here are two pictures taken today; one of me and Zoey and another of my youngest child and Zoey:

College Move-In Day, 2017

A good day. My wife and I left this morning and made the drive to drop off my son at college. Didn't get home until about 9:45 PM. Looks like he's going to be alone there for a couple of days because the students on the floor of his dorm usually will be arriving later. 

It's a nice campus, and we are hoping for the best for him! 

My wife drove, and I had a chance to memorize some chord degrees that are utilized in the guitar chords C6/9 (two versions), C6, and Cmaj7.

Here are some pictures from Move-In-Day, 2017:

Guitar Lesson

Had an enjoyable guitar lesson over the internet tonight with the teacher of the online jazz guitar club that I'm in. Talked about learning the degrees of the scale regarding chords, and trying to increase my chord knowledge by building on the core basic shapes. However, we also talked about playing the music in different ways than what the band might be doing, and not getting too analytical. A good talk!

Start the "A" Train

Day one of the new Jazz Guitar Club (part 2 of the Jazz Improvisation course). 

I like it.

First tune will be "Take the 'A' Train." Started learning the melody today. Also started reviewing some material from the first course.

Wish I didn't take time off between earning my "yellow belt" and now; I could have continued to learn from the first course but I took too much time off! 

Back at it!

Solar Eclipse, 2017

A friend let me use his glasses which were made to make it safe to look at today's eclipse. This is the best picture I got, with one side of the glasses between my phone camera and the sun:

Sunday

A lazy Sunday, but not lazy enough to take a nap. Watched the old TV version of Stephen King's "It." I guess it has something to do with childhood demons that get resurrected. Also, I'm almost embarrassed to say it, watched the movie "Child's Play" which was the first of a number of "Chuckie" the doll movies. 

Started a new book recommended to me by my son who read it: "House of Leaves" by Mark Z Danielewski. It seems to be written in a very nonconventional way. Speaking of my son, we are getting ready to make the trip soon to take him back to college. He transferred from a rural type university to a very urban one. He'll be starting his second year, and he'll be majoring in his dad's major.

Speaking of his dad's major, the person who said the funeral mass for my friend's deceased father, turned out to be the priest who influenced me to choose the profession that I am in.

Continue to read "Seymour An Introduction" by J.D. Salinger. I continue to find myself really liking it. And understanding it, even if I sometimes do not.

New on line Jazz guitar lessons start tomorrow. Should have practiced today but just couldn't harness the motivation.

The Salinger stuff makes me want to write.

Oldest Daughter & Friend:

Youngest Daughter & Friend:

Friday

Well I did sign up for the second installment regarding jazz guitar. Each month the teacher will present a new jazz standard. He'll teach how to play the melody in chord melody style, comping, and soloing ideas.

I guess I like the structure that taking lessons offers. It's only $25 per month, and I can opt out at any time. 

Another bonus is that I'll have continued access to the lessons taught in the first course. 

I'm looking forward mostly to the chord melody aspect. I'm looking to see how he will teach this skill, as it will not be just a 'here's the chord melody tabs' type of thing, but rather a 'here's how you do chord melody.' 

Of course I can not in any seriousness say that I'm giving up on piano!

An older picture of my youngest daughter on the left and my oldest daughter:

piano guitar piano guitar

1) Trying out a piano learning program that looks cool.

2) Signed up for the second part of the Jazz Guitar program.

Will see what happens.

Still remain interested in the Garrison Fewell book. 

Weighing Options

1) Jazz Guitar? Self-teach or use the online lessons?

2) Piano? Use a book I have or get another program that looks good?

A reoccurring theme here is the conflict I have choosing between piano vs guitar.

My guitar skills are passable. My piano skills are not. I tend to be more emotionally moved by the piano. Therein is the conflict in three sentences!

Back at It

Restarted the Fewell book, and I'm liking it. Went over some Gm (the ii chord) melodic extensions. Interestingly enough, I read a review of the book in which the reviewer said that these same extensions can be played over the V chord. Grabbed my guitar, recorded a C7 chord and that was correct! As per yesterday's post, getting into this book again after having more knowledge about chord progressions is very helpful. The next part of the book will be looking at a sample imprivisation using the Gm extensions. I'm a bit concerned where the other notes will come from other than the Gm extensions, but we'll see...

Started again for the billionth time trying to be more healthy. Yesterday was my 23rd wedding anniversary, and my wife and I as well as two of my kids went out to eat. Yep, I overate. Hopefully I can get back on track with being healthy, and stay on track. Interestingly, I did great during vacation, but messed up the week I returned. Today I ate better, took care of myself better, and walked over 10,000 steps as measured by my Fitbit.

Wanting another guitar. Something not too expensive, but something electric that I can play other than my Gibson. It's a hassle playing the Gibson because it's such a valuable instrument that I feel that I have to take extra care of it. I didn't have this issue when I had my Epiphone Casino that I miss. Another part of me wants another guitar, but for it to be an exceptional electric jazz guitar. 

Things would be so much easier if I therefore get two more guitars!

Weighing Options

Well it looks like I may go back to a book I used awhile back: "Jazz Improvisation For Guitar: A Melodic Approach," by the late Garrison Fewell. We had some email correspondence in the past.

My knowledge of music theory is limited. That may be a reason why I did not continue with the book in the past. It was out of my league, over my head, etc. But I didn't know it at the time. At the time, the book just wasn't working for me. 

Since that time, though, I've gotten to know more about theory (especially chord progressions, solos based on progressions, no need to just play the notes of a given framework only). So I think I'm going to try the book again. 

There was a book I had that teaches Swing Guitar, but I don't think it will give what I'm looking for. The Fewell book will be very challenging (for me, anyway).  Looks like I will need to be patient! 

I would still like to use the chord melody book that I have. 

Now, all these plans will be tossed if I decide to enroll in the followup course offered by my teacher of my Jazz Guitar course which I completed. I'm feeling like I want to have "a go" on my own, at this point, though.

I signed up for a short lesson via computer technology with the teacher, and that will happen on August 22. I think the idea is that he will be giving me ideas on how I could improve (from what he's heard me play). I think it'll be a good idea to bring a list of questions for him. 

Straightened out a part of my home so it could be used as a place for me to feel more comfortable reading and practicing. 

Nostalgic Pictures

Discipline

The guitar course that I just took forced me to be disciplined. I spent money on it, and it also had me submit assignments.

For me to go on in my musical learning, I need to keep up the discipline. I think I can spend time on both the Charlie Christian book as well as the chord melody book and the material in the jazz improvisation course if I stay disciplined!

We rehearsed with the band today, and it was fun. Will soon be playing for a charity.

Friday

Saw a horror movie today: something about Annabelle the Evil Begins, or something like that. It was ok. Not fantastic or anything. 

Looked at my piano fakebook learning book today, and I was really seeming to like it. Who knows. Listened to some beautiful piano music today. "It Never Entered My Mind" played by George Sheering is just so sad and moving. For some reason it reminds me of the older days when I was a kid, and my parents...Also looked at some guitar learning books of mine, and the plan that I wrote in a previous post still seems to be the plan that I'll put into place. 

Received sad news that has hit me a bit today. It looks like the father of an old friend may soon die. I was never close to the man, except that I hear that when I was small, he was the only one who I permitted to cut my my toenails! Nonetheless, it's quite sad. A part of my childhood. My friend is understandably upset.... I don't think I'll let my father know. It will only upset him, and I don't see the point of that. Was going to tell him, but my brother suggested that we don't, and I can see my brother's point. 

It's just so melancholy....

...terrible.

Next Steps

Just kind of thinking out loud. I think it's more fun to learn how to solo than it is learning chord melody. So here's a preliminary plan:

Concentrate On:

1) Start using the new Charlie Christian book and really try to work through it.

2) Continue to learn from the material in the Jazz Improvisation course.

3) Learn the pentatonic scale all over the fretboard

When I Get Bored With the Above, Take a Break, and:

1) Get into the chord melody book.

2) Get into the piano by using my book that teaches how to play from a fakebook.

Jazz Guitar Improvisation Course

Congratulations to me! I earned my Yellow Belt in the course, which is the last task in the course. Receiving my White Belt was easy in that it involved simply doing introductory activities. But earning the bronze, silver, and gold badges, as well as the Yellow Belt, involved posting guitar related activities and our teacher giving them a passing grade. 

Was tempted to stop the course a couple of times but I'm really glad I went the distance (as Rocky Balboa might say!). 

Will be signing up soon for a 20 minute interactive video get together with the teacher where he can suggest how I might further improve. 

Letter

Here's a note that my son wrote to me and my wife when he was 8 years old. (He's now 20 years old):

August 8

So in my Guitar Improvisation course, I have a white belt, a bronze bandge, a silver badge, and gold badge. Waiting to see if my two recent submissions earned me a yellow belt (the final commendation possible to earn in the course). It's cool that I finished the course and did not drop out.

So what's next is the question. 

A sad day in that we lost Glen Campbell. I am glad that I got to see him in concert a few years or so ago. Although he had Alzymers when I saw him, he could really play that guitar! He has some songs that really touch the heart....

Vacation, Day 9

Vacation, Day 9

A big guitar day. Recorded my two solos for the Final Concert for my guitar improvisation course. 

        Here is "Summertime":

https://youtu.be/PjUVNxeaOys

         Here is "Autumn Leaves":

https://youtu.be/j-E54nkF2xk

I'm pretty satisfied with both, though I do realize that there's a lot from the course that I can still learn from the parts of the course that I haven't used yet.

I like how these two turned out!

It felt great that a listener of my "Autumn Leaves" said it had  "... much from within."

Another person liked my "Summertime" and said it was like, I think, Wes Montgomery's second phase. I'm not sure what that means (maybe it means Montgomery's more commercial phase), but I'll take it!

Tempted to switch gears completely with piano, but there's so much more I can do with guitar: A course on how to play in the style of Charlie Christian, as stated earlier - the current course material, chord melody material I have, and reading music. 

Vacation, Day 8

Arrived home safely from vacation with the family. I'm still counting these days as my vacation because I do not return back to work until Tuesday.

I now have a gold badge in my guitar improvisation course as a result of performing a solo to "Blue Bossa" successfully using the elements that my instructor was looking for. During the long ride home from our vacation today, I practiced guitar while my wife drove. I reviewed the two songs that I'm hopefully recording tomorrow: "Summertime," and "Autumn Leaves." Tried learning a new lick, also.

Tomorrow I'll hopefully record my final assignment for the course. I'm planning on recording "Summertime" and "Autumn Leaves." More about that will be in a post here tomorrow....

Also during the ride home, I continued to read "Seymour: An Introduction" by J.D. Salinger. Really great stuff. Interesting to me how it ties in with the first part of the book: "Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters." The book is renewing an old interest I used to have in poetry, and I may revisit that topic.

Vacation, Day 7

Our last day here. Planning on leaving for home early tomorrow morning. Started reading J.D. Salinger's "Seymour: An Introduction," and I like it. Yesterday, at a used bookstore, I also picked up an old favorite of mine "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole. The cashier at the bookstore said that she met someone who had John Kennedy Toole as a teacher.

Vacation, Day 7

Rainy day. My guitar teacher asked me to redo my improvisation for "Blue Bossa." I'm not surprised because I knew I made an error in my original submission. Here is my redo (improvisation only; no melody):

https://youtu.be/sHtaUf-YqMo

Vacation, Day 6

Got my Fitbit steps in. Went to the pool with my oldest and youngest children, and it was fun. Yesterday I ate too much, but kind of made up for that today. 

Vacation, Day 5

Finished J.D. Salinger's "Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters," and really liked it. Also made a recording on the beach:

https://youtu.be/URZMaApEKfc

Got to get back to practicing my two jazz tunes.

The kids on the beach: