Last Day of Vacation

Worked a lot on the piano today. Fly Me to the Moon, All My Loving, and some other one using my ear that I don’t remember the name of. Continue to battle with scales (mostly playing them backwards). Piano, piano, piano. 🎹 

Home

Back from vacation. Had some issues when car battery didn’t work. Got home and later got frustrated with piano (though learned something).

Tattoo You

So here we are on vacation in MD and it was decided that we all get the same tattoo. My wife got a smaller one, though. 

Family Vacation, 2023, Maryland

First time in awhile, my wife, myself, and out three adult children are on vacation together. 

Trump

This whole thing about Donald Trump is fascinating. Here’s a guy who tried to change election results, yet he still has so many people in his corner. The GOP debate was last night, and many of the Presidential hopefuls raised their hands when asked if they would support Trump if he is convicted. Wow… his mugshot was taken today, and I was going to post it here, but I decided that I didn’t want to lessen the value of this blog my putting it here.

Piano thoughts

Came to something of a resolution today. Here are some thoughts I’m having now related to that.  I’m not going to be a famous pianist. I’m probably not going to have my ultimate goal met  which is playing piano in a restaurant gig. Having questions about how good I can get in how much time. But I think I’m finally coming close to knowing what “enjoy the PROCESS” means. Spent MUCH time learning “All My Loving” today. And I got to thinking that all this practice, and I’ll probably forget how to play this song. I’m fearful of playing “Embraceable You” now because I don’t want the experience of not being able to play a song that I recently learned! But just going back to the piano a lot today…. I guess doing what I’m doing with piano is really a good thing even if I don’t teach the “ultimate” goals I mentioned earlier. It’s simply a wonderful way of NOT WASTING time…a nice way of keeping my brain working as I am getting older.

All My Loving

Worked on that Beatles tube “All My Loving” today. Continued work on scales. 

Piano Frustrations

Worked on some frustrations I was having today regarding my piano playing. Long story short is that I was criticizing my playing; however, I think I may have figured out what was a contributing factor.

I have to work on developing more patience with my learning process. This is only the first day that I started on new material, so of course I’m not going to sound great! 

Just accept that it’s ok to take it slow…

Piano Lesson

🎹 🎹 🎹 🎹 🎹 🎹 🎹 

A really good piano lesson today. Trying to take it all in. Realized that I probably spent too much time on “Embraceable You,” and not enough time on drills, scales, that kind of stuff. Started organizing my practice time today with some time to be spent learning songs (he gave me three today!), an some time on scales, theory and ear training. Getting there.

🎹 🎹 🎹 🎹 🎹 🎹 🎹 

Wildwood Visit, 2023

Visiting an old friend in Wildwood today. Went with my brother. Really nice time. Spent some time on his boat during which I was somewhat nervous but it was quite wonderful.  Interestingly, met up with his brother who is taking piano lessons. Was really feeling good during my talking with him in that he is a guitar player too, but he used the same word I used in talking about the piano: “beautiful” I used the same word when my teacher asked me why I would want to play piano when I already play guitar. Told him the piano just sounded “beautiful” Nice to know there’s another guy out there not too far from my age learning piano. Went to Mack’s Pizza (the BEST). 

Piano

Still at it and liking it. Yep I get tempted to get back to learning the guitar deeper, but the I sit at the piano and it feels so right. 

Saw the movie Oppenheimer recently and loved it. So weird how it is true. Bought the book today.

29

Happy 29th wedding anniversary to me and my wife!

Had a cool piano day. Recently my piano teacher texted me what was a pop quiz question; luckily I got it right!

H a p p y F r I d a y

Ok seeing a little pattern perhaps. Not feeling like practicing piano … then practicing anyway (despite the feeling)… leads to positive feelings. Saw that again today. 

Forty

Was tired this evening but got in about 40 minutes of piano practice. Glad I did it. Added a few more measures to the main song I’m learning, went over maj, min, aug, sus4, and dim chords. Also worked on playing by ear to the 1-6-2-5 progression. I’m liking this routine of practicing daily.

Health wise, continuing to work on keeping my blood sugar in an acceptable range (diabetes II). 

p i a n o

Confused about thirds….  Went to the piano and started a new version of “Embraceable You,” and had some negativity. But I forged on and it turned into being something quite enjoyable. Maybe this stuff is stuff I can do.

Music Day

Played at Mass today with the Church group. Acoustic guitar. I wanted to do How Great Thou Art like gospel music; upbeat. We ended up doing it straight and boring.

I practiced piano a lot today and continue to work on Ebraceable You. Sounding better than the version below, but not by much. Recording really does help; identified in playing it back how stilted I sound; that’s ok for now! As I worked on it, there is one line that I’m finding difficult. Dealing with that by trying to memorize it. 

Update on the kids. Oldest is now 26, middle one is 23, and youngest one is 21. There is now an empty nest, except for the two doggies, Oliver and Millie. 

Dealing with diabetes now, and glucose levels. 

Embraceable You / (Take 1)

Getting there:

https://soundcloud.com/guitarjazz/my-song-48

Ok Piano

Almost didn’t practice today, but it turned out to be a productive one. Worked on two songs, scales, chords. 

IF YOU (Me) BUILD IT (Practice) IT (Piano Playing) WILL COME