Wednesday Night

Today I accomplished all that I set out to do (as listed in a previous post). Getting some momentum back with regards to taking charge of my health, and it feels good. 

Looks like I'll be collaborating on a song writing project with my friend from high school.

Reminder

DO NOT MESS UP DIET

Did lose 3.6 pounds since last week!

Wednesday Addendum

AND DO NOT MESS UP DIET!!!!

Wednesday Plan

1) Walk for 1/2 hour

2) Pray the rosary

3) Read Mindfulness book

4) Swing Guitar book

5) Try some of the Piano by Ear book

Tuesday's Addendum

Was able to achieve all the goals I set for myself for today (as listed in the post below). So far, so good!

Also restarted reading my Mindfulness book. Also, received my Piano by Ear book in the mail today and it looks interesting.

Looks like I'm going to use the Piano by Ear book, but I would like to focus on using it for FUN !!!

Tuesday

TODAY'S PLAN

1) Walk for about 1/2 hour total.

2) Organize music into:

     A) Religious

     B) Jazz Duet

3) Work on the Swing Jazz Book.

4) Work on an improvisation for one Jazz Duet song.

5) Do not mess up diet.

6) Pray the rosary.

Sunday

Spent most of the day in transit driving my son backache to college. 

Interesting music day: listened to "Geogaddi" by Boards of Canada, and the first two albums by The Band.

Tried playing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" on piano using The Sudnow Method. Got through the first line or so. Sounded ok. Then I took out my chord melody guitar version, and was surprised that I was able to play through the whole song (even if I had to play it slowly and with mistakes).

The bit of trouble I have is that although I like the piano sound better, it is the guitar's language that comes easier to me. So do I put off the guitar? Put off the piano? Do I really hate the guitar? No. 

Happy Day-After-Thanksgiving

 

Arrival

Saw two great movies today: "The Last Waltz," and "Arrival." Saw "Arrival" at the theatre with my son; while we were gone, my wife set up our new Christmas tree.

 

Music

I once heard an interview with Bruce Springsteen and he said, "There's more to life than what you see around." I know that. That is what I try to capture in my music. The instant I held my son for the first time. Charlie Christian knew it in his solos as did Louis Armstrong. There is more to life than iPhones, money worries, and taking out the trash. There is more joy in life than what we see in the daily rut of routines. Vince Guarldi felt it when he played the introduction to "What Child is This." Keith Richards knows it, as did Keith Moon. I think music offers that opportunity to listeners as well as creators the reminder that indeed, "there's more to life than what you see around."

Black Friday

Went over some of the reading book. Won't concentrate on how to read rhythms as much as reading where the notes are on guitar. Looking to get back into the Swing Guitar book.

Ordered a new book: by Lucinda Mackworth-Young:

"Piano by Ear: Learn to Play by Ear, Improvise, and Accompany Songs in Simple Steps"

An Older Pic

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Listened to some Barney Kessel today.....wow.....

Looked at some of a YouTube video of him giving a guitar lesson; it seems excellent.

Up to chapter 2 of the guitar reading book. Actually tried to play along with some Charlie Christian stuff. I remember when I was younger playing along with a Muddy Waters album.

12:00

12:01 AM.

Happy Thanksgiving to All.

Strawberry Fields Forever

My favorite song...