Worked for about 50 minutes on the new piece for the project, and a
swing tune (Since you've been gone) that Ann would like to play with me.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Monday 9/29
50 Minutes
Began with giving exercise and attention to both hands. For the right hand, working with asimple subdivision exercise looping crochets, quavers and semi-quavers on a single string, all at 80 BPM. The aim is to play rapidly and have a well-defined attack and tone, and to work up to a competent 88-94 BPM range.
For the left hand, another exercise along a single string, this one a variegated A minor scale with an open note every third note. The main focus was shifting, but I discovered a little glitch in the index finger which proved quite useful to focus on.
Finally, an attempt to combine shifting and rapid strokes, Flying Home at 80 BPM. No big insights, other than a sort of "crunch" my body undergoes while I'm playing it (an elaboration of Guitar Craft face?), and a noticable instant improvement when when I stop"digging in" with my whole body.
50 Minutes
Began with giving exercise and attention to both hands. For the right hand, working with asimple subdivision exercise looping crochets, quavers and semi-quavers on a single string, all at 80 BPM. The aim is to play rapidly and have a well-defined attack and tone, and to work up to a competent 88-94 BPM range.
For the left hand, another exercise along a single string, this one a variegated A minor scale with an open note every third note. The main focus was shifting, but I discovered a little glitch in the index finger which proved quite useful to focus on.
Finally, an attempt to combine shifting and rapid strokes, Flying Home at 80 BPM. No big insights, other than a sort of "crunch" my body undergoes while I'm playing it (an elaboration of Guitar Craft face?), and a noticable instant improvement when when I stop"digging in" with my whole body.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Saturday 9/27
50 minutes
Began with a meditation on silence. Discovered a kind of quality of attention, not lettingit get "tangled up" in distraction, but not "pushing it out". Weird feeling and difficultto maintain. Remembered a feeling exercise presented by Elan.
Primary #1 (1234), simply observing the left hand. Fingers aren't doing their work; I noticed thatthe thumb, elbow and shoulder like to pitch in in their own ways. Lost attention and becamefrustrated after about 20 minutes, so I took a break. It helped.
Three things were exremely helpful with my technique this evening:
* attention;
* beginning;
* going with the weird feeling...
"Fooled around" with Calliope. I realized: both hands need daily attention, even if I intend to focus on one. I put good work in, and lose it so easily. Maybe ten minutes to warm up both...
Emerging practice themes:
* the juice;
* tone (discerning both what sounds good and what doesn't sound good);
* foot tapping.
50 minutes
Began with a meditation on silence. Discovered a kind of quality of attention, not lettingit get "tangled up" in distraction, but not "pushing it out". Weird feeling and difficultto maintain. Remembered a feeling exercise presented by Elan.
Primary #1 (1234), simply observing the left hand. Fingers aren't doing their work; I noticed thatthe thumb, elbow and shoulder like to pitch in in their own ways. Lost attention and becamefrustrated after about 20 minutes, so I took a break. It helped.
Three things were exremely helpful with my technique this evening:
* attention;
* beginning;
* going with the weird feeling...
"Fooled around" with Calliope. I realized: both hands need daily attention, even if I intend to focus on one. I put good work in, and lose it so easily. Maybe ten minutes to warm up both...
Emerging practice themes:
* the juice;
* tone (discerning both what sounds good and what doesn't sound good);
* foot tapping.
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