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@janaq1 I got the inspiration from Matt in his most recent lesson about playing like a pro. He talks about practising and playing in different surroundings and also allowing just one recording of yourself (as it would be when playing before an audience). I found it strangely freeing – @Andrew is so supportive of whatever we do, and he’s not demanding perfection. We demand that of ourselves. I hope you’ll give it a try!
Thanks, Andrew, for another interesting challenge. I hope you’re enjoying a well-deserved break!
@The_Bumble_Bard: I can’t imagine what instrument some might consider a detestable sound that adds a layer of pain – don’t tell me you also play the bagpipes! (Which I happen to enjoy listening to, btw, if played well.)I’ve always loved the beautiful melody of Spanish Romance, and since I’ve been wanting to add more expression to my playing, that’s a perfect piece. And I like the vibrato technique that Steven describes.
Execution: Learn and memorize the fingering.
Application: Practise every day, focusing on vibrato, rubato, and dynamics.
Evaluation: Record myself once a week.Added personal challenge: Once I’ve practised a million times or two, it’s first take only for the final recording.
Everyone’s entries were great this month, and I can only echo @The_Bumble_Bard’s positive comments. But I do have to mention one entrant in particular:
@abster: You are a remarkable player! One day I expect to be taking lessons from you.@The_Bumble_Bard What a lovely thing to do, taking the time to comment on each entry. You are so positive and encouraging, and that comes through every time you post on the forums. Thank you.
I understand your reluctance to sing in front of everyone – I’ve always had trouble letting my voice ring out when others are listening. Why do we feel so vulnerable that way? You have a beautiful singing voice, and I hope we’ll hear more of it. And maybe you’ve inspired others to sing as well. (Great idea to start by letting the puppets do the singing, btw.)
Sorry you’ve had so much to deal with this year, and I’m not alone in hoping that things pick up for you from now on. Take care, my dear.
I’ve been meaning to ask: are there any members who have entered all 100 challenges?
@gi_gi_ Thanks. I’m drawn to the finger picking and rhythms of the Flamenco arrangements, and when I heard someone playing La Gitanita a few months ago, I had to put it on my Someday List.
@marianne No one would know you found that piece challenging — as always, you played it easily and with elegance. That’s another piece I’m adding to my list.
@leb397 Nice, and did you find it less stressful to just go with a few takes instead of dozens of tries?
@leslieb I like how you smile throughout your submissions. I find myself scowling with concentration — never a good look!@mickan88 Lovely performance and setting! I was going to play that beautiful piece this month, but found I couldn’t sustain all the barring enough to really practise.
@johanna2509 It’s strangely freeing to allow yourself only one take, isn’t it? But hard to do, even though we know the harsh criticism comes only from ourselves.
@The_Bumble_Bard I can just hear it: “The cop said he understood, so how come he gave me the ticket blues? Don’t he know it’s Mother’s Day?”Here’s my submission for July – I like how La Gitanita works on a low G. I gave myself another challenge this month, in addition to being outside in a different town. As a recovering but often-lapsing Perfectionist, I decided that one take and one take only would have to do for this recording – normally I’m trying 20 or 25 times to get something without any hiccups. So here it is, hiccups and all.
Thanks, @Andrew, for the link to the video about playing behind the beat. I have a feeling it’s easier said than done!
So enjoying everyone’s great submissions, with all the outdoor settings (complete with bugs), including a camper van and a moving vehicle (is that a first for this forum?)
I’m finding inspiration in everyone’s playing – again, I’m so grateful this.
@Andrew: could you explain what’s meant by playing “behind the beat”? Thanks.
Thanks, @andrew and @The_Bumble_Bard. I didn’t mean to come across so harsh – I should have included a few smiley faces along with the comment, “At least I kept the beat!” Of course I’m my own worst critic, but I came to the conclusion that there will probably be songs along the way where my brain and fingers just don’t click, and at that point I just have to do the best I can.
I’m so fortunate to live right next to Crown land in British Columbia, meaning it’s owned by the government and can’t be developed. So I go out every day and hug a few trees, take in the silence, and just marvel at nature. I’ll choose a different forest background next month.
Speaking of which, I’m looking forward to the challenges you give us for July, Andrew. You always have something for everyone.
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OMG, this is as painful to watch as it was to play (even my patient audience members seemed to agree). I picked this song because I thought it would be easy enough to learn after being away for a few weeks, but I can’t even blame travel for this – nor can I blame the outdoor setting in my Back Forty, because this is how it has felt all the way through: choppy, rough, and a total slog. Sorry, Andrew, your nice little piece deserves better, but I’ve run out of time and patience.
@The_Bumble_Bard: Well done, girl! You took on not just one aspect of playing that has frightened you, but a whole bunch of challenges, and you made it through the song just beautifully. Andrew has such a talent for adding little touches to his arrangements that seem innocuous at first, then I realize they’re there to help us learn something new, and there were a lot of those in that piece. (Nice touch with the eye-tapping too!)
I find strumming easier to learn and play, but I prefer the challenge of finger-picking – there’s so much more to think about, and the fingers have to have dexterity to move around the fretboard. Also, I prefer the finger-picked arrangements – I like to think they give a classical guitar feel to the songs, not that I have any pretensions about my own playing!
@johanna2509: Well done, playing right the way through, outside and with cold fingers! (I didn’t do so well when, last winter, I forgot my gloves and arrived at a little do our ukulele group was playing for a group of seniors. I had agreed to play a solo – my first ever – and my fingers ended up being tangled all over each other.) I just watched Matt’s lesson on practising in uncomfortable situations, so you’ve inspired me to record my next challenge somewhere outside.