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@jgillard, good golly, that was good! That was your first time playing through the whole thing or your first take recording it? So good. It’s really almost perfect now. 😯
……….I’ll keep practicing……… 😂😅🥺😭😳🤯🤢😵
That was your first time playing through the whole thing or your first take recording it
It was a first attempt at recording it. I have been practicing it since the monthly challenge came out.. I still have work to do, but thanks. 😛
@jgillard – Well Done for a first attempt at recording….I’m definitely in the same boat as @The_Bumble_Bard….but not as brave as she is as far as recording and posting🤪…..
I’m guessing ‘the work’ that you still have to do is memorization and wondering if it is really necessary in your case……will it improve the performance? I’ve been wondering about memorization for awhile, because I usually memorize as I go along…….So, I do not move forward until I have sections memorized. It looks like your approach is different or opposite….you have learned the whole piece and now you will memorize.
I’m also finding that when I move onto another piece I forget what I memorized.
What I see watching you read the music is that you don’t have to look at your fingers moving on the fretboard….that was impressive! But then in verse 2 you do look down at the instrument….you have memorized this section (probably the most difficult section)…..by doing that, I sense an emotional charge….a connection and intimacy between player and instrument……
Anyway, I look forward to your next post!
One more thing…..did you play a stringed instrument before picking up the uke?
@dianna, thank you so much for your thoughts! I only have a minute to reply right now but just wanted to clarify that that was literally my first time looking at the sheet music and playing it at all. I hadn’t played through any of the song at all before that or even looked at the tabs (I’m behind). 😅 So maybe somewhat pointless to share, but I just thought it could be interesting and it has been so far. 😂 I’ll reply a bit more later but thank you so much. 😅😂😅
I’m guessing ‘the work’ that you still have to do is memorization and wondering if it is really necessary in your case……will it improve the performance?
It will definitely improve the performance, as I can concentrate on more then just paying the correct notes at the correct time. Once I have something memorized I find it much easier to concentrate on things like dynamics, tempo, tone etc.
I’ve been wondering about memorization for awhile, because I usually memorize as I go along…….So, I do not move forward until I have sections memorized. It looks like your approach is different or opposite….you have learned the whole piece and now you will memorize.
It’s not that I don’t memorize as I go along. The act of slowly repeating difficult sections over and over again is memorizing that section. What you don’t want to do (and I am guilty of this) is to play the whole song start to finish over and over again. [And never improving on the difficult sections that you have issues with) That’s not a good way to practice or memorize. I do actually have sections of the song “memorized” but not embedded enough in my memory that I can piece them together smoothly without the sheet music being my guide.
I’m also finding that when I move onto another piece I forget what I memorized.
Don’t feel bad. I do this too. That’s why you have to make a point of playing songs you don’t want to forget. (Or you will) The good thing (at least for me) is songs I’ve forgotten takes very minimal time to get back up to speed again. I keep all the tab so I can quickly re-learn something I’ve forgotten.
What I see watching you read the music is that you don’t have to look at your fingers moving on the fretboard….that was impressive! But then in verse 2 you do look down at the instrument….you have memorized this section (probably the most difficult section)…..by doing that, I sense an emotional charge….a connection and intimacy between player and instrument……
I actually have all of the sections partially memorized. The sheet music is primarily a guide to string the sections together. [And to keep my on track for bits that I may not have down 100% in memory) For the difficult section, I’m playing up the neck. So I looked at the fretboard to make sure I hit the spot. 😛 I am liable to miss it if I kept staring at the music instead.
Anyway, I look forward to your next post!
Thanks! The next one will hopefully be the whole piece played 100% from memory..
One more thing…..did you play a stringed instrument before picking up the uke?
Yes. I played some bass guitar & electric guitar in my teens. Around 2002 I started back with electric guitar. I eventually moved onto steel string acoustic guitar. (As I preferred not having to deal with pickups, pedals & amps and just concentrate on playing instead of fiddling) I “tried” to play this for many years LOL. I was ok, but never really “good”. I eventually picked up classical guitar and worked at that for a few years. (probably a low intermediate level) I enjoy classical guitar but for some reason it always hurts my left shoulder (which sucks) I then happened upon Ukulele and it has quickly become my favorite and basically only thing I play. I’ve got short, slim fingers with a crooked pinky (which makes my reach even smaller) So I really love the ukulele scale lengths. They are comfy to play, sounds good & are a tone of fun.
Hopefully this helps! 🙂
@jgillard
“That’s why you have to make a point of playing songs you don’t want to forget. (Or you will)”This is what I find something of a problem. As the song list builds, it can start to feel like a chore to have to play them regularly. Or I may get bored, learn more, making the list ever bigger. I’ve forgotten songs wholly or partially when I stopped which then feels like time wasted, and then, pointless – I suppose written music is important to reference then.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 4 months ago by
@dianna, I was confused and thought the longer part of your post was directed to me, half asleep still this morning. 😂 @jgillard made some really great points. For me, trying to change my approach and mentality towards recording has at least helped me improve being on camera, including the advice @Andrew gave last month about starting to record as you warm up to play, and for me, NOT stopping recording when I mess up, because then it’s more like it is when you’re relaxed and playing just for yourself. Also, trying to speak more on camera oddly has helped a bit. I think it’s just pushing through the initial anxiety, keep going past that, that can be helpful.
@muzikmama, IMO, only keep in complete memory, and in your regular playing routine, the songs you love to play the most. Then you’ll always want to play them. Otherwise, it will be a chore, which is the last thing anyone wants, more chores. 😅😂 Even if you forget songs, I feel like it is constructive because you learn so much on the process of learning any song that you can carry with you as you learn new songs.
I have thoughts about memorization as well but I’ll let @jgillard answer. I love these kind of discussions. 😂
@The_Bumble_Bard – Very cool to see your first try with the tune. Keep at it! I look forward to hearing your final version this month 🙂
@jgillard – Beautifully played Jeremy! I’d def be interested in hearing your final version if you post again at the end of the month 🙂I AM A PREMIUM MEMBER
Here’s my attempt at “Merry go round of life”.
I know there’s still a lot of Work to do to clean it up, but unfortunately I’m not having enough spare time the rest of the month.
I’ll continue practising it as soon as I can because I love this tune.@Andrew, thank you so much! 😀 I think next time I try posting two takes, I’ll wait until I can play through the whole thing completely first, then share the first take of that. I think that’s actually what @jbmills07 meant, lol, but that was still fun and I’m glad you thought it was cool. 😀
Side note, I already turned Path of the Wind into clawhammer… I’m not okay, lol. I was pretty proud: I figured out the right notes in the first section by ear except for one chord. That was my backup plan, but I think I’ll be pretty okay with Always With Me eventually. 🙂
@rebeca, that was so good! That’s such a tricky arrangement and you did great with it! 😀@The_Bumble_Bard that’s so cool that you did that video! It wasn’t exactly what I was thinking when I made the suggestion, but it was awesome! I think sharing those early and vulnerable moments of looking at a new song is very valuable for this group! So BIG props to you for sharing that! Also, most of my takes in the past are from right after work in “scum” mode too, lol, so I understand!
@dianna I totally agree with you! I think these movies are must see movies. I’ve been a big fan of Studio Ghibli for decades! Seen them many times, but I also rewatched them again in prep for learning these songs. Including thinking to the credits of spirited away to hear the lyrical version! Outstanding films.
@Andrew I totally agree with you about melody b. And I knew it while playing it too lol. Believe it or not I did practice with the play along with Matt, but just not as much as I should have. Not a good excuse, but I was very eager to get to work on “Always With Me” and “Path of the Wind” lol.
@leb397 thank you so much 🙂 really happy to hear you went out to watch the movie and enjoyed it!!@johanna2509 thank you as well! The cats were for sure sleeping near by lol 🙂
@jgillard thank you! Also, your performance was really amazing and I can only hope to come close to it for my own take on Always With Me!!@jbmills07, ha, thank you so much! That was a good idea, even though I took it in a slightly different direction. 😅 That’s about the speed I start out with harder songs because I want to make sure they’re right as much as possible and also obviously they’re difficult so that slows the learning a bit. For the record, I don’t always narrate or react to what I’m doing out loud, meaning I sometimes do. 😂 As far as scum mode, I swear there are times when I don’t look (as) bedraggled or like I’m at a slumber party, but that’s just how it times out with recording. 😂😅😳 Anyway, look forward to seeing your and everyone else’s Always With Me’s! 😅
@jbmills07 I think I have been living under a rock all these years!🤪 I had definitely heard of anime, but it never occurred to me to actually watch it! Thanks again to Rock Class 101!😁. This weekend we watched ‘My Neighbor Totoro’ (gorgeous!)…….We have a lot of anime catching up to do, so I foresee an anime future!
@The_Bumble_Bard …….oooooh, I want to hear the clawhammer version please! Also, I like to hear voices….it makes the video more human. Just like when @jbmills07 smiles at the end of his videos…..you get a sense of the person playing.
@jgillard. Wow! Thank-you for sharing some of your process with us, it helps me become aware of the way I approach practice and how I can improve.@Muzikmama sorry about your Uke and thanks for the warning!
To all who have already posted great work and thanks for the inspiration. @rebeca I was so intimidated by ‘The Merry Go Round of Life,” and you have made it look easy (and I know it’s not easy)…..great job!
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