2026 GUITAR GOALS
- DEVELOP MY EAR
- CONSOLIDATE MY REPERTOIRE
- IMPROVE TECHNIQUES
- FOLLOW THE PATH ON THE JG INTERMEDIATE METHOD BOOK
- BEING ABLE TO USE AN AMP EFFECTIVELY
DEVELOP MY EAR
→ HOW: I’ll resume in January with all the good exercises I invented by myself and keep on in February with a more methodical approach using the book L’orecchio Tonale (The Tonal Ear) which is adopted by many italian Conservatories for Jazz, Popular and Classical Music.
→ WHEN: Mondays and Tuesdays 7.15 – 7.45pm, all year and probably more
→ THOUGHTS: It’ ll be challenging, I’ll have to perserve and just follow the progress I’ll be able to make – no goals or deadlines , just being able to do the exercises; there are video lessons on YT on how to do the exercises, in case what is written on the book is not clear enough…I’m able to read after all.
CONSOLIDATE MY REPERTOIRE
→ HOW: distiguishing and making lists of songs/pieces I want to be able to play anywhere/anytime there’s a guitar available, for my ownself enjoyment or because someone else asks “play something/let’s sing something”.
➢ Classical Pieces
- Vals, Op. 241, N° 1 – F. Carulli
- Allegretto in C major, Op. 59 – M. Carcassi
- Canzone d’Amore – M. Linnemann
- Dee – R. Rhodes (learn from scratch)
- Siciliano, Op.59, n°22 – M. Carcassi (learn from scratch)
➢ Chord Melodies
- Can’t help falling in love – E. Presley
- Happy Birthday - Traditional
- Ti amo – U.Tozzi
- I will – The Beatles
- Steady Thumb Blues Primer – J. Sandercoe
- Bravo – Pupo (arrangement to be completed)
➢ Sing- along Songs
- La gatta – G. Paoli
- Piero e Cinzia – A. Venditti-
- La canzone del sole – L. Battisti
- Gianna – R. Gaetano
- Ti amo – U. Tozzi
- Sapore di sale – G. Paoli
- Tu sei l’unica donna per me – A. Sorrenti
- Trilli Trilli – I Trilli
- Olidin Olidena – I Trilli
- Ma se ghe pensu – M. Cappello, A.Margutti
- L’italiano – T. Cutugno
- Ma che freddo fa – Nada
- Il ballo del mattone – R. Pavone
- Con il nastro rosa – Lucio Battisti
- Generale – F. De Gregori
- Buona notte fiorellino – F. De Gregori
- Il tempo se ne va – A. Celentano
- Il ragazzo della Via Gluck – A. Celentano
- Beppeanna - Bandabardò
- Io vagabondo – Nomadi
- Strada facendo – C. Baglioni
- Che sarà - Ricchi e poveri
- Mamma Maria – Ricchi e poveri
- Sotto il segno dei pesci – A. Venditti
- Margherita – R. Cocciante
- Hallelujah – L. Cohen
- Let it be – The Beatles
- Angels – R. Williams
- Proud Mary – CCR
- I have a dream – Abba
- Baby one more time – B. Spears
- Wind of change – The Scorpions
- Moonlight shadow – M. Oldfield
- For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow
➢ Children Songs
- The list is too long here, I can play really many short or longer tunes now, that are all tidily printed out and collected in 3 different Songs Books (italian nursery rhymes and songs/english nursery rhymes/christmas and parties longer songs); most of them I play both on the
guitar and on the Ukulele, usually keeping the musicsheet as reference – what to keep in mind here in order to improve my musicianship is to keep on trying to play from memory; I actually have e strategy which I apply already – in the meanwhile I should be supposed to look after the class as well (no emoji allowed in this document).
→ WHEN:
Classical Pieces, Chord Melodies: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays afternoons
Sing-along Songs: Mondays afternoons, Wednesdays and Thursdays mornings, Fridays morning or at 13.00
Children Songs: anytime it’s singing time with the children – Wednesdays and Thursdays afternoon at 3.15pm will make 2 perfect 15 minutes singing sessions with the Acoustic Guitar, after tiding and while we wait for the Schoolbus.
→ THOUGHTS:
- I need to make a new Practice Routines Chart where it’s clear what I practice/when.- I think I don’t need to go much deep in the description of my items of practice: I’m able to identify my needs relatevely to the songs/pieces, and just practice according to them.
- I might introduce some more structure if I see I’m wandering and nevertheless I can use a timer whenever I need it (which is often the case).
- I have in my mind how I prioritize the songs and pieces in the list – just a few of them will be learnt from scratch.
- I need to keep in mind to always make my simplified arrangement of the sing-along songs and keep the original recordings just as reference.
- I need to keep in mind which song is Campfire and which is Developer – I will add layers through the years – there are no Dreamers at the moment in the list…while I dream to be able to sing them all properly!
- I need to keep in mind not to start learning new techniques, but keep on improving or consolidates those I already have under my belt (apart from the 16th notes strumming, on which I have to work methodically.
IMPROVE TECHNIQUES
→ HOW: Through songs and pieces – while revisiting a song/piece I need to observe my hands, listen with my ears and identify the technical aspects that need improvement, write them down and choose a single one to work on.
→ WHEN: every single practice session.
→ THOUGHTS: I need to work a lot on the fretting hand, especially on the accuracy of changes and the position of the fingers on the fretboard when I play melodies. For the right hand I need to keep on refining the fingers strumming techniques and the muted hit; the fingerpicking is good enough at the moment compared to the other skills, the time will come when I’ll feel the need to refine it as well, it’s not a priority now.
FOLLOW THE PATH ON THE JG INTERMEDIATE METHOD BOOK
→ HOW: I still need to plan all this
→ WHEN: I might start later, say June or even July
→ THOUGHTS: on one hand I know I still have Beginner holes, especially with timing and accuracy of chords, on the other hand I can already play a few barre chords and relatively to fingerpicking I’m appronching more intermediate things, I learnt the Steady Thumb Blues which is grade 4 and I’m now approching Dee at Grade 5 having a clear idea on how to approach it. Also I
need to methodically work on the 16th notes strumming because I need it for loads of songs and I know I’m still much “wild” with it. I think June might be a good time to start off with the
Intermediate Method. I still have 6 months to improve my Beginner skills; plus I love having a book as reference for my path.
BEING ABLE TO USE AN AMP EFFECTIVELY
→ HOW: I will call the Liuther in January as there is certainly something which is not working well, either on the guitar amplification system or on the little cheap Amp I use for the school parties; there’s a general problem with the volume, but also the E bass string is much louder than the other strings. I only use the amp for the two parties, in December and in June; I need to practice more with the amp.
→ WHEN: I’m planning to do my regular practice but adding the Amp 4 months/year: April and May and November and December.
→ THOUGHTS: I think practicing with the Amp might also help me to be more accurate on the guitar. This can change if I see I become an Amp and effects enthusiast…mmm? I’d love to try out a looper too. One thing at the time.
NOTES: _____________________________________
And follows the Monthly Blank Chart for the Practice Routines
