36%

36% done with a set of introductory lessons in the piano program.

Continue

Continue to move slowly but surely with the piano program. Continue to be make more healthy.

Started

Started the new piano course of study ... getting some fundamentals ... haven’t sat at piano with this stuff yet but it’ll happen.

Again, have been trying to be more healthy with diet, exercise, and self care.

Two Christmas gigs this weekend: one for the Make a Wish folks (three of us will play, and I’ll debut my Gibson acoustic in public), and a Breakfast with Santa event at the Church.

Sunday

Well, the Eagles are now 10 - 1.

Went back and forth to the city a number of times starting Thanksgiving Eve to help with transportation for the holiday.

Was all set to start piano stuff today, but there were issues/updates needed to download on my computer. I think I’m gonna do this piano stuff.

Going to go back to the basics that I never really had ingrained: reading music as well as utilizing correct technique. And using online learning rather than self learning. Would be really nice to spend one hour a day on piano and one hour a day on exercising.

Thanksgiving Eve, 2017

Yea so thinking of one more piano try with one more course of study. But am I too old? Am I really going to stick with it?

Junk (Third Version)

I thought Version 2 had too much reverb on some guitars. So here’s Version 3:

https://app.box.com/s/ermq2l4i686g4l75qjif4piv9p84xibm

Junk (Second Version)

Changed some things to the recording I made yesterday. Here it is:

https://app.box.com/s/xc8dq5e6ipf49dccx9wjhvbj2b7jz7dt

Junk

Had a nice time tonight recording a version of Paul McCartney’s song “Junk.” There are three vocal parts and I had to record them each separately because I couldn’t hit the correct notes in one take! This is such a beautiful McCartney melody. Here it is:

https://app.box.com/s/emc21u9l7dtc5bt0u5ykhwqr1f807pfy

Gig

Played a fun gig today, and actually made some cash from it. My electric guitar just sounds so thin..... 

During the gig, something happened that never happened to me before: while singing, my voice just stopped cooperating in a weird way. Probably just strained it a bit. 

Improvisation

Tried some Improvisation on piano using a book of licks I had. Tried to improvise a bit to “Oh Christmas Tree.” Jury is out.

Friend to lend me what may be a beautiful Fender Telecaster Deluxe for some gigs.

Improvisation

Just some thoughts....with regards to Improvisation at the piano....maybe I can use a bit of what was taught in a guitar course.....improvise using phrases, not just scales....and I have a book of something similar using piano runs.......hmmmmmm........using the “language” and not just scales!

Miscellaneous

- Trying to adapt more healthy habits, but I need to try harder.

- Had some time at the piano today. Practiced a couple of songs. But bugged with trying Improvisation. Not clicking. Hands not cooperating. Working on scale patterns is kind of getting there, but when I get to trying to use them in the context of a song, I get all flustered. 

- Son interested in getting electronic drums for Christmas. He recently jammed with an indie band and it sounds like he had a great time. It sounds like they did some improvising. 

- Still dreaming of someday translating the sounds in my head onto the piano. 

Reorganizing

Played a good gig for a Church get together yesterday. But hauling around gear for free gigs  is getting very old for me. 

Got into sone fingerpicking guitar recently. I think, though, that I want to stick to the guitar as being fun and expressive rather than “something to learn.” 

Thinking of going back to Susman style methodology of songs and putting piano Improvisation on hold. 

What Child is This

Started working on “What Child is This,” and also continued to work on Improvisation stuff in the Caruso. 

2017 - 2018 Plan

Ok so I think I have some really good tools and ideas to help me achieve some piano goals for the year.

GOALS FOR THIS YEAR REGARDING PIANO

1. The ability to play songs as well as improvise.

Practice Structure: 

A) Contunue to learn songs using Bill Susman’s chord building strategies. Maybe a couple of measures a day for 10 minutes. Continue to review old songs maybe about 10 minutes a day. 

B) Continue to work on memorizing correct  fingerings / improvisational material from the Caruso book at least 15 minutes a day. 

Piano

Found out that the secret to learning piano is hard work. Continue to play “Oh Christmas Tree,” but also trying to incorporate some of the ideas in the Caruso book. Memorizing memorizing memorizing.

Sometimes difficult to balance fun with learning.

Started to read the book “Free Play” which I never did complete before. 

E - A - G - L - E - S 

EAGLES!!

Cool Day

- Had band practice today for our Christmas gigs.

- Was ready to get into finger style guitar so I pulled out those book; can’t find the accompanying CD’s; them something cool happened....

- Ended up sitting at the piano (the instrument I was close to stop playing) and not only did I finish “Oh Christmas Tree,” but I also added a little improvisation to it. That is basically a really big desire of mine: to play a song and improvise over its chords. Figured I’m going to continue to use Susman’s method of forming chords, but I’d like to also use Caruso’s book to learn more about improvisation. Not going to focus on making arrangements with big chord forms and changes. Going to stay with the basic open chord formula for now and not playing a lot of changes.

- Here’s how it sounded today ... now there’s a whole lot of mistakes, and the Improvisation is elementary at best, but I like where this is going:

https://app.box.com/s/h6coz6rxo6i8yb0m3gb1ihh6f9vxyn4k

Miscellaneous

- Worked a little on the Christmas song (piano). Losing patience. 

- Might try some blues acoustic guitar picking.

- Bob Dylan. 

Oh Christmas Tree

Started working on Susman’s arrangement. Going ok.

Bill Susman

Frustrated at the piano. Will give Bill Susman’s materials another try.