Weekly Update

I practiced Sunday and Monday this past week. Not bad...

Also, I did a ton of work on the Music Fest today. Vanessa Kafka had seen a post I'd made about it and sent me a note, and because she has an open date she asked if she could perform! In addition to making my jaw drop, this toppled several dominoes: E-mails back & forth with her (she is going to play as a duo with her guitarist); I sent invites to Dan Blakeslee and Elizabeth Lorrey; I confirmed Christopher Anthony Cote (under his Almanac Mountain moniker); and it reallllly makes me want to have a song or three ready to go by then (July 31st). Another update next week...

Spring Fever

Over the last few days I'd been thinking about how lax I've been lately with my guitar, and today I finally turned off the TV, and picked it up for a good two hours of practice. It was like I'd never put it down, and I think the time away may have actually done me some good. My chord transitions are smoother, and I even picked up "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" with just a few practice runs. The closer my music festival gets, the more I want to play for a little bit, even if it's just a couple of songs I make up. And finally, I am going to endeavor to practice every day this week, to get a productive rhythm going again. What a good feeling it is, to have not lost any progress...

April: Just - No...

Once. Nuff said...

National Geographic

I was down at the lake yesterday doing spring cleaning, and reading the May 2010 issue of National Geographic when I was inspired by one of this month's offerings. There is an article ("The Forgotten Road" by Mark Jenkins) on the Tea Horse Road, a mountainous trade route that served between China and Tibet for many hundreds of years, and the tale of it's origins plus a chant that helped the traders and porters make the journey struck me as a fantastic idea for a song.

Seven steps up, you have to rest.
Eight steps down, you have to rest.
Eleven steps flat, you have to rest.
You are stupid, if you don't rest.

I brought my guitar with me, but I was so engrossed in the story (and with the physical labors of my self-appointed spring cleaning of the lakefront lot), that I didn't use it to help me shape the idea. That oversight aside, the words flowed in my mind, and with work and practice I think I might have something to perform at the WPMF in July. A solid goal!

In-Blog Play:

Ice Age - Pete Yorn

Hmmm...

It has become crystal clear that I most definitely do not have the inner fire, drive, or determination of a serious musician. I followed a couple of lackluster months with a dismal March. I practiced FOUR times. When I was taking lessons I practiced a minimum of 6 days every week!

I make no more vows or predictions. I will pick up the guitar when the urge or inspiration strikes me, and that will be that. If nothing else, I will update monthly, and I will post extensively about the Wyman's Pond Music Fest as it draws near. Hopefully there will be moments of brilliance, but no breath-holding, for your own safety! :Þ

In-Blog Play:

She - The Sundays