Ugh...

January sucked. I was so focused on looking for a job (and reading on cold winter days, plus writing a childrens' book) that I only practiced seven or eight times. It's amazing how low a priority practice becomes when one doesn't have an instructor to show progress to, or performance isn't an all-encompassing drive like it is for a few of my friends...

Back to the grind. By choice, of course! I want to perfect the songs I've learned, and pick up a few more, both fun & goofy for my nieces & nephews to enjoy, and recognizable for public performances. And I've been trying to write a song as well...

In-Blog Play:

Under The Milky Way - Sia

Less Formal

I am so used to sitting up in a sturdy chair and running through all of my lessons (and the songs that Erik gave me last semester) in a professional manner, that it never occurred to me to just play in my Big Leather Chair while I watched tv...

...which I did today. It's very cool to me that playing is becoming more natural, and less like a scheduled activity!

In-Blog Play:

Better Times - Beach House

Family Fun

I was at my sister's house on Tuesday night for dinner, and to make homemade postcards with my nieces & nephew to send to their cousins' house in California. I finally felt comfortable enough to play in front of someone other than my instructor, and it was amazing. The kids loved it, and I got a lot of encouragement from the adults (my sis, bro-in-law, and especially my brother, who was doing some painting for our li'l sis).

Plus, it felt fantastic.

It was so bizarre! I barely know ten songs, and none of them at a professional level, but I had SO much fun playing for them, and hearing feedback. My first 'public' performance was a success, and I am glad I was able to do it in front of such a favorably-disposed crowd. I am going to work my ASS off so I can put on a respectable show for my musically-inclined friends at the music festival I am producing this summer...

BOOO Economy!

Unfortunately, with my personal finances being what they are (unemployed since last December), I can't afford to return to The Real School this spring. I'm disappointed, but I will persevere on my own with steady and frequent practice, so that when I jump back onto the classroom circuit, I will have measurable improvement.

In the meantime, I am going to see if my friend Jay will either spend some time with me to help me learn some useful stuff, or even pay him for the occasional lesson.

Recommendations (music I am into at the moment):

• Minus Pilots
• The Tumbled Sea
• R.E.M.'s "Live at The Olympia" double disc - especially "On the Fly" and the older material
• The Mamas & the Papas - I watched their doc on the Biography Channel this morning.
  

Music New & Old

I was online this morning checking out some local Massachusetts bands that appeared on a top ten list somewhere, and I felt my guitar's pull unusually strongly. So off & on all day (between bands), I have been practicing both the usual stuff in my pile and the Christmas songs Erik gave me. It's pretty much been an all music day except for meal breaks, coffee making, and a few chapters of Craig Ferguson's autobiography "American on Purpose" (very funny). Plus I winterized my office (studio? - haha) window.

I've been trying to speed up my playing (as well as my accuracy) on "Mrs. Robinson" and "Who Will Save Your Soul". And as silly as it sounds, I just discovered that if I hum the vocals as I play whatever song I am working on, it helps a lot more than I'd expected. I've also been considering songs for my next semester. I have cds by Michelle Branch, The Sundays, Pale Saints, Travis and Pete Yorn in my stereo.

I plan on going to see a lot more local bands in 2010, to both support them, and see how 'it' is done. And hopefully by the summer (or at the very latest, next fall) I will be able to join the ranks of live performers, at least at open mic nights - a worthwhile creative project to keep me warm this winter!

Anyway, back to work...

Currently listening to:

Fine Friend - Pale Saints