GRADE 2 CONSOLIDATION PLAN - FEEDBACK REQUESTED
I’m approaching the end of Module 14 and would appreciate any feedback on my proposed routine and any pointers on when you know you’re ready to move on. Is Grade 2 consolidation more just about time spent or are there specific criteria that I should be looking at? For those that have been through Grade 2, what would you do differently if you had to do it again?
There seems to be more flexibility, and the expectation seems to be that we start to ‘self-direct’ our practice from this point forward. Given the suggestions of how to structure a 60-minute routine my first shot at my specific 90-minute routine, based on Justin’s guidance, is as follows:
2 x 5 min slots for each of Chords, Scales, Strumming, and Technique
3 x 10 min slots for Repertoire (3 songs to be worked on in any given week)
2 x 10 min slots for ‘Other’, for me this will notes on the neck and starting blues guitar
For the 5 min slots I’ve listed out the various subject areas highlighted by Justin and intend to rotate through these, changing up at each practice session and just keep cycling through them. For Repertoire I will work on 3 songs for a week before changing them up. I will have at least 1x 60-minute session per week for recording my repertoire in Garageband. I may also start to look at the transcribing lessons if I have time.
My intention is to start consolidation from 1st September and continue until at least the end of the year, 4 months of work. I will assess where I am in December and extend consolidation if there are still areas not quite right.
There isn’t a formal ‘passing grade’ as such so I made my own. These are the things I think I should be competent in before moving on to Grade 3.
- Can comfortably play Grade 1&2 chords and change quickly between them
- Major scale pattern 1, alternate picked at 160 bpm for 2 minutes, no errors
- Minor pentatonic scale pattern 1, alternate picked at 160 bpm for 2 minutes, no errors
- ‘Old Faithfull’ strumming is clean and consistent, no muted strings, with accents
- Blues shuffle strumming is clean and consistent at a good tempo in at least 3 keys, in standard, quick and slow change patterns
- Can employ string muting during scales and strumming, as required
- Have recorded my song repertoire into Garageband
- Can play at least 5 ‘easy’ songs from memory and without looking at hands. Post in AVOYP.
- Can play 2 more complex (Grade 2 level) ‘open mic’ songs from memory
- Can play a 10 song ‘set’ along with the recordings, from memory (play with a Tidal playlist)
- Can play comfortably standing up and sitting down
- Complete Practical Music Theory Grade 2
- Complete Ear Training 1 & 2