Michael’s Learning Log

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121

Part 16 – July 25

I looked at the LL from six months ago and felt I could just about change to date and post it again as it is mostly the same, but I haven’t done that I just updated it where necessary. I am being honest with my progress and hope you don’t see it as being big headed.

OVERALL

Yes, made progress but perhaps as time goes on the rate inevitably seems to slow down as you improve, but perhaps this is just because you are working on more difficult things.

Once again spread myself over a lot of areas which actually suits me. Still in the process of working through the previous lessons making sure I am haven’t missed anything.

PERFORMING

AVOYP – I had promised myself to post some of these up and in particular fingerstyle songs but didn’t feel they were good enough at the time and then got more involved in songs for guitar club performance so just didn’t get around to doing any. I intend to correct his over the next few months.

Concerts – Two Music School and one Guitar Club Summer concerts, the first two were solo and the Guitar Club was with others. These are posted up so nothing further to add on this here*.*

TECHNIQUE

Probably spent the majority of my time on fingerstyle, Traditional and Folk/Travis, and have six or so general patterns that can be used on a lot of songs. The patterns are so automatic now if I try to think about what I am doing it will all go wrong. Have also done some patterns that are specific to particular to specific songs.

Still working on improving the sound of my strumming, Couple of things I have been working on are targeting a limited number of strings on the down strum and also playing the bass note of the chord in walking bass line type of way. Also, my ability to pick out individual strings has vastly improved, not that I am going to play lead guitar but the ability to do this as a sort of melody at the start or instrumental part of a song can be very enhance things.

Interesting my barre chords must have improved as I am quite happy to use them in fingerstyle songs, and we all know how this style really shows how well you are fretting chords.

KNOWLEDGE

I got as far as Grade 5.4 Harmonic Analysis last time but rather press on with it decided I need to do a refresher of the earlier lessons so in Grade 4 at present*.*

REPERTOIRE

Still Working on songs that I can use techniques that I am learning but in the last six months have worked on, playing and singing over twenty new songs with chord sheets as aid memoire.

LOOKING FORWARD – Next six months

I guess more of the same but must post up some AVOYP particularly finger style.

Michael

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122

Good update Michael.

There’s nothing wrong with making progress - it’s why we’re all here!
Being able to assess and recognise your own progress is all part of the journey. Keep at it! :guitar:

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123

Thanks David @BurnsRhythm
It is important to feel you are moving forward which is why the LL is good chance to assess this.
Onwards and upwards as they say.

Michael

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Michael, I personally find posting AVOYP very useful, the feedback is honest, though “over kind” sometimes…but you know, an extra pat on the shoulders won’t harm!

I’m happy to read you’re aware of your progress.

I believe that while we keep our fundamentals strong things will fall into place eventually.

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Silvia @Silvia80

I agree sometimes the feedback on AVOYP can be a little generous but I am sure it is intended to be encouraging and if we are honest with ourselves we know how we have done.

Yes not forgetting the fundamentals was why I am working through the lessons again. For instance not really into blues at present so I will be trying the songs I learnt a while ago and see how much has been retained.

Michael

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126

Part 17 – January 26

OVERALL

Looking back over the last six months, how would I describe it, I think it was basically about learning and playing songs.

Had a busy week in December –

  • Saturday morning - Music School Performance
  • Saturday evening – final practice for Guitar Club Performance
  • Wednesday evening - Guitar Club Performance
  • Saturday evening – Justing Guitar Open Mic 35

Once again have spread myself over a lot of areas which actually suits me but perhaps spent a bit too much time on fingerstyle. Still in the process of working through the previous lessons making sure I am haven’t missed anything.

PERFORMING

AVOYP – As I promised the last time, I did manage to get two posted. One under my heading and was my first posted fingerstyle song. The other was a contribution to the Christmas songs thread.

Performances – As mentioned above, one each at the Music School and the Guitar Club Christmas concert, the first one was solo, and the Guitar Club was with others. These are posted up, so nothing further to add on this here.

JG OM 35 - Did two Christmas songs as part of this event.

TECHNIQUE

Probably spent the too much of my time on fingerstyle and neglected developing my strumming.

Still working on picking out single notes, not that I am intending to play lead guitar but it more about playing a melody at the start of a song or picking out melody notes when you are strumming.

KNOWLEDGE

Still work through the music theory course and also decided I would go back through all of the lessons I had done just to make sure I had really understood it all,

For Christmas I got Justins Rhythm book and looking forward to getting into that.

I have mentioned in other posts in the Community about the singing lessons I have been taking. It has now taken a more serious turn and started on a sight singing course which means you have to be able to read sheet music on the fly. Now that’s a challenge for somebody that had never had any experience of this even at school where I never had a music lesson.

REPERTOIRE

As noted above songs has been a large part of the last six months. They have been songs that I wanted to learn, quire a few classic Bob Dylan ones. Songs at the guitar club. News ones every other week. But also working on songs that are developed and good enough to perform in front of an audience.

Working on two ‘dreamer’ fingerstyle songs, no prizes for suggesting what they are but you are welcome to guess what they are.

LOOKING FORWARD – Next six months

I guess more of the same but much more work on strumming.

Michael

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127

Good update, Michael!

You probably spent ‘too much ‘ time on fingerstyle because you enjoy it! Nothing wrong with that.

I have no idea if sight reading while singing will help or not but I assume your teacher says it will, so go for it.
It will no doubt be like everything else - the more you do it the easier it will become.
Good luck with it!

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Thanks David @BurnsRhythm

Yes I do enjoy fingerstyle, but have felt recently that my strumming wasn’t quite as good as it once was, so much so I have gone back to basics and worked through it again.

I have the feeling as you progress you get more critical but guess that is just how it is.

As for sight singing I never thought I would try to read standard notation on the fly.

Michael

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