I’m glad you are enjoying the log. A little encouragement from time to time is all I need to keep writing. ![]()
That’s bad language to me! ![]()
I’m glad you are enjoying the log. A little encouragement from time to time is all I need to keep writing. ![]()
That’s bad language to me! ![]()
Two small events this week have had an influence on my guitar learning.
First, I read Molly Gebrian’s book, Learn Faster, Perform Better. In essence, she says much the same as Justin about practice, playing and performance. The difference is that in a 250 pace academic textbook she has the time and space to explain why techniques like taking breaks or practicing perfectly are so important and how they cause the changes in the brain that we call learning. I like to know the why and how of things on a training course. So that was useful and encouraging and should enable me to learn more in less time in any field, not only music.
The other thing was watching a YouTube video called 25 Hard Truths About Guitar, which was posted by Brandon D’Eon, a young music tutor. He didn’t say anything that I didn’t already know but he said his piece in a funny and straightforward way, without sugar-coating and with a lot of swearing. He was being deliberately sensational and sometimes a bit silly but watching his vid was useful to me. He helped me revise my reasons for learning guitar.
I’ve decided to stop taking it so awfully seriously.
It’s only a hobby to me. There are no goals, no deadlines. It’s merely a way to pass my time, have a little fun. So I don’t have to rush. In fact the only reason to make progress at all is to keep things interesting when I get bored with whatever stage I’m at. Having managed to choke down this gobstopper of a chill pill, I’m relaxed. I’ve shed all my anxiety about guitar. I now have no intention of confronting my fears about performing - nobody wants to hear me anyway
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I’ve hardly practiced at all this week and that’s OK. I’ve been very busy with one or two of my other hobbies and had no time or enthusiasm for anything else. A week ago I’d have been stressing about not ticking off the sessions on my calendar but today, I just don’t care.
I’m not giving up guitar. I’m just giving up thinking that it’s important TO ME, and of course, you may well have different priorities.
I’m also going to stop making weekly posts here.