Anyone who has soldiered their way through a few of my posts probably already knows that I need some tangible evidence that I'm making progress ( and we will not discuss here the difference between 'need' and 'want'). So over the last few months I've wavered between wanting to take community college music courses (somehow fitting them in with my actual salary-paying job), getting my guitar teacher to be more demanding so that I work on pieces that will move me forward (even if I don't particularly like them), and taking an unofficial "certificate" course offered through Simon Powis' online Classical Guitar Corner site. Or a combination. I finally resolved this issue a few weeks ago with the help of my guitar teacher, deciding that I will work towards a certificate at a fairly sedate pace, while my guitar teacher will help with priorities (and obligingly be demanding too😂) It's been a few weeks... does this need tweaking? In other words, why am I exhibiting classic "displacement behavior"? (In this case watching reruns of this months' La Vuelta, the Spanish 3-week bicycle race. No I don't cycle, but watching cycle-racing is addictive. You should try it!)
Analysis is called for:
So here's what I have on my list to practice...
- Learn 3 new pieces for the certificate - I started on Carcassi 7.
- Performance practice (run through) Maria Luisa and Prelude
- 5 sets of exercises. Each has multiple new skills to learn.
- Sight reading
- Rhythm reading (this was an added bonus from my guitar teacher - I suspect it's impossible but I've been wrong before)
- My 'want to learn' piece (Promise by Yvonne Bloor)
- Duet stuff
- Trio stuff
Aha! I'm spending most of my time on the exercises (which are challenging), the Carcassi (and La Vuelta 😉 ). Everything else I only fit in occasionally. As a result I feel like I'm falling short, particularly with the sight/rhythm reading, one of my goals for this year. Plus the "want to learn' piece I chose may be a bit much on top of everything else. Fortunately the cycling will be done tomorrow....
(New plan. Triage! (at least until priorities change). Use the timer!
- Carcassi 7 (15 min increments)
- Exercises. (<45 min)
- Sight reading (15 min)
- Rhythm reading (15 min)
- Performance practice (run through) Maria Luisa and Prelude (once)
- Fun! (unlimited...)
