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Here is the 3rd: Feel Good Strumming Riff//Mini Lesson: 010 by Andrew Hardel
When Matt plays this he looks so serene and happy….the feeling of this piece is reflected in his face….he embodies the experience. I literally tell myself to try to smile, but usually I revert to intense concentration🤪….All these components of performing are reflected in the recording…I do agree with @The_Bumble_Bard the better I know the piece, when it becomes muscle memory…all the other components begin to fall into place.
Sometimes, the recording shows me things that I don’t necessarily hear while practicing….like the hesitations…..so sometimes recording becomes a tool for practicing. I hear myself differently.
Here is the second one: Harmonizing Chords//Mini Lesson: 007 by Andrew Hardel
I don’t know how to do the split screen that some people are doing…is this an app? @gi_gi_ and @bunny2311 How do you do that?
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I am enjoying the mini-lessons challenge, thanks Rock Class 101! So far, I have been able to record 3 mini-lessons, as I focus on the actual experience of recording. The first 2 (Harmonizing Chords and One Finger Etude) only took about 1/2 hr each. The 3rd one (Feel Good Strumming) not only took many recordings, but also multiple seatings because I would run out of time. For all three – I didn’t get anything on the first take. None of the recordings are perfect….there is still room for improvement in all of them.
@The_Bumble_Bard, I had to laugh when you mentioned “the set-up” and changing your shirt/fixing your hair…..I don’t know how many times the recording might have been decent, but my shirt was awful…and yup…I would change it! Thanks for the recording pointers……spot on. Specifically, trying to tap into the emotion of the piece/redirecting the anxiety for something useful – Yes!
For me, it’s also remembering to take some breaths and relaxing into the experience…trying to release the tension that you can literally see in the recordings. As you said, it’s all okay!
@jbmills07 and @gi_gi_ thanks for reminding me, I’m not in this alone…this is a shared experience.Here is the first one: One Finger Etude//Mini Lesson: 009 by Andrew Hardel – This was a great one to practice channeling the anxiety into emotion….relaxing into the feeling of the piece.
@muzikmama beautiful entry….I tried playing this yesterday….I found it to be mesmerizing and haunting. @leb397 I love these mini-lessons, because each one offers something else to learn, and I want to play all of them. I think I have decided to at least do more than one, so that I can also practice relaxing when recording. Of course, life is happening at the same time, so we will see how far I am able to get….plus, I know even the mini-lessons can be quite challenging.
Just recording a piece has been a huge commitment, let alone preparing it to be “performance-ready…”. Sometimes, it is obvious that a month was not enough time. As @The_Bumble_Bard so bravely showed us in last months challenge….The struggle is real! I could soooo relate…I thought…that’s me too!!! Thanks Bumble Bard!😁
Yet, I also see others that have totally crushed the challenge, and I wonder how many times did they attempt recording before it sounded that good!?! (I also wonder how many people played guitar before playing the uke)….for me they are inspiring (also a bit intimidating)….I find the other students are also my teachers….as I listen to see how someone else approached a piece….
It seems I am rambling a bit here…..just putting it out there as I approach another challenge…thanks everyone (Uke Friends) and good-luck as we begin another month of practicing, preparing and recording.
Dianna@jgillard…I have thought of that too, the amount of work it takes to listen to all of these submissions….and I know, the critiques that I have received are on point. Not only that, we have access to multiple, talented teachers…..Thanks Rockclass 101♥️
Thanks @stephen for the feedback…..always appreciated!
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I can’t believe it is the end of May already! This month flew by……I started with Cissy Strut, but decided around 23 May to focus on Etude 10 instead. I enjoyed practicing both of them. The Rhythmic Variations was a great exercise, and Cissy Strut was quite the challenge. I’m posting Etude 10 with a few glitches…..I dream of someday getting that perfect recording!🤪.Also, I’m playing my new Ohana Tenor uke….Wow! Do I love it. Thank-you so much to Rock Class 101 and Uke Republic.
@Andrew thank-you for the critique! Yes, I see I was elongating that accented strum….it did sound off….(actually it sounded crass to me)…but I didn’t realize what the problem was….thanks!
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Just finished going thru recent submissions from other Rock Class 101 members…..I wish this platform had an easier way to “like” and even “absolutely love” them. I’m impressed with all of the hard work and commitment everyone puts into them. @karenj my heart goes out to you and your father. Thank-you for sharing….so beautiful♥️
So this month I worked on Etude 19, because I wanted to improve my Barring and especially my reach. I think the Barring went pretty well….the stretch is a whole other story….obviously, I still need work. Loved this piece though, and especially loved the dissonance in the 4th theme. Andrew you are developing an impressive body of work for the ukulele…..you are like the Francisco Tarrega for the ukulele….creating a whole new respect for the instrument.
@marianne – that’s clever!
Hi @marianne, beautiful…great job!… and loved the deep voice of the baritone…It looked like your chording was the same as the smaller ukuleles….I don’t see a capo…are you tuning your baritone like the smaller ukes? Thanks, Dianna
I have a question about Etude 19. Is there a reason we only barre the first 3 strings on fret 7 rather than all 4 strings? I am in the habit of barring all 4….in this case if I barre all 4 then I do not have to move the barre fingers until I move the whole thing down a 1/2 step to fret 6. Is that acceptable? I’m actually finding it more difficult to barre just the 3 strings.
@Rockclass101 and @Andrew, Wow what an amazing surprise….I don’t usually win things! Thank-you so much! I can’t wait to play it.
Thank-you leb397 for all of your support within this community♥️
