Bobby Fisher Teaches Chess

A long, long time ago, I completed a book called, "Bobby Fisher Teaches Chess." Now you would think after completing a book like that, my chess game would improve, correct? Well it did not. Reason? I read the book, but did not INTERNALIZE the book. I read words, and looked at diagrams, but did not study it.

Reminds me of how I do NOT want to go through "The Assembly Line" book. I could get through it faster if I just did the exercises with little attempts to integrate the material, but I really want to learn this stuff.

Worked a bit in the book today (I'm up to Lesson 10) but mostly worked on organizing my flashcard system. The book has 24 lessons, and then concludes with an arrangement of "Danny Boy." There is then more supplemental material that can be learned.

Gypsy Jazz

A fun rehearsal tonight of gypsy jazz. Me on rhythm guitar; also had a mandolin player, a viola player, and a musician who played an electronic woodwind instrument that sounded wonderfully like a clarinet and also a sax. Stand up bass player was ill; drummer had difficulty finding the rehearsal place. It was great seeing the mandolin player; I haven't seen him since January. Had fun playing tonight, especially when the woodwind player used the clarinet sound. I am a sucker for that old New Orleans Louis Armstrong music! A really nice time.

On second thought...

On second thought, maybe the flashcards are not a bad idea, but maybe how I was utilizing them can be altered to maximize their effectiveness. I may try to keep using them; however, I think using them in conjunction with learning the C, F, G7, Am7, and Dm7 chords in order as presented in the Assembly Line Book just might not be a bad idea.

Practice, practice, practice

Worked a lot today; learned the Dm7 chords, and continued to work on "Over the Rainbow." It doesn't quite sound the way I'd like it to, but it's ok, I guess. Not really sounding the way I'd like it to amplified, but it's ok, I guess. Frets on the guitar feel somewhat difficult on my fingers. Want to clean up the guitar and put new strings on it. Time to move on in the Assembly Line book.

Mother and Child Reunion

A beautiful Paul Simon song that takes on a poignant meaning for me since my mom died. 

To me, he's saying that to those who lose a mom that he doesn't want to give "false hope" or sugary advice, but there will be a reunion someday between the child and the deceased mother. He's empathizing with the person who lost the loved one: "I've never been laid so low." "Although they (the Beatles) say Let it Be," "it just don't work out that way (it isn't that easy) when you lose your mom. You will experience other deaths "in the course of a lifetime" "over and over again," but the reunion "is only a motion 

(an effort to feel their presence) away." Or, the reunion is "only a moment away 

(Life is so short, you will meet up with the loved one in person soon)."

Although he got the song title from a simple menu item at a Chinese restaurant, Simon taps into some poignant and timeless themes of love, empathy, hope, and spirituality.

Last Known Pics of Lennon & McCartney Together

I think there is one more I missed, and I think the year is 1974.

Working the Assembly Line

Mostly worked on Am7 chord group today, and continued to work on "Over the Rainbow."

Back to Basics

Went back to learning the C, F, G7, and some of the Am7 forms. It's coming along. Also continued to work a bit on "Under the Rainbow." 

Finding it somewhat easy to learn the building blocks (chord forms),  but difficult in application within the context of the song.

The expectation that a lot to do with music learning is easy (at least for me) will only lead to frustration. Need to accept the fact that its difficult, but focus on merely continuing to do the work. The book The War of Art I believe talks about this. It is not the artist's job to criticize his or her work; in fact, the artist has no business criticizing the work. The artist's job is to create. The artist's job is to provide quantity. Provide quantity, and the quality will take care of itself. In terms of where I'm at now with this stuff, this can be worthwhile. My job isn't to criticize myself for any so called lack of talent or anything else that I might put a negative spin on during this process. My job is to just practice.

Relatedly, I read a story about an old time clarinet player, I think it was Artie Shaw. A fan approached him and said that he (the fan) tried music when younger, but the talent just wasn't there. Artie Shaw replied something like: you put in all the X number of hours of practice that I put in, and then come tell me about a lack of takent!

Flashcard Fail

In playing the guitar tonight, I think I may have been wrong in thinking that flashcards would have been very helpful. I think I'll learn better by mostly following the method as described in the "Assembly Line" book. Back to the drawing board we shall go in learning the forms yet again. This time with guitar in hand. 

New Guitar Here

A bit disappointed in that the guitar has small indentations on back of neck; can sometimes feel them in play. It's ok, though, I can live with it. Worked on some flashcard stuff today; getting interested again in Gypsy Jazz. 

Just Plain Creepy

Slow Goings

Difficult to memorize those Flashcards. But after my guitar comes, it will be time to focus practice time on playing songs, continuing with the "Assembly Line" book, and seriously consider taking on the "Ticket to Improv" material again. 

Daughters

Daughters #1 and #2 a number of years ago

Some More Pics

On the butterfly bush yesterday:

Yours truly, many years ago: