Thoughts:
Played at an open mic yesterday at Flying Cat coffee shop. I was quite nervous. Started off with Pica-Pica too fast. Consequently, I realized this and then messed up a couple of the arpeggio parts. The open mic MC's, a guy and a girl heavy on circus sideshows even began dancing to Pica-Pica, which I appreciated tremendously. Just about when I was appreciating it, I messed up the rhythm.

I recovered in Estrellita and played it with feeling. Here too, though, I found something to be nervous about - namely nailing the large position jump. I messed it up the first time, but then convinced myself that I would nail it, and I did!

I must say that given what I thought was a mediocre performance, my mind began playing tricks on me. Given how long I've been practicing these pieces, I really about the errors, as opposed to considering them merely as valuable information. So I blew the significance of the performance out of proportion.

Went back to Klickstein and re-read Evaluating Your Progress on page 202.
Performance Evaluation Tool:
1. Note three aspects of the performance that went well
a. In Estrellita, I was able to convey the spirit of the tune and I could feel the audience absorbing it
b. I played mostly without looking at the guitar
c. I didn't show my frustration with errors, just kept on chugging along (in most of the errors, I didn't lose the rhythm either, save for the one described above)
d. I ended Estrellita in a dramatic fashion

2. Note three or more things that you'd like to improve before your next performance
a. Starting Pica-Pica at a comfortable tempo
b. Not worrying about the position change in Estrellita
c. Conveying more of the feeling of Pica-Pica, as opposed to focusing on the technical parts of the song

3. Determine the reasons for your successes
a. I playe Estrellita in an expressive manner, so the brain is used to those thought patterns
b. I mostly practice without looking at the guitar
c. Sight-reading / error practice

4. Action plans to achieve improvements
a. Practice playing Pica-Pica at manageable tempos. Determine what that tempo is.
b. Practice the position change in Estrellita daily. Develop confidence in it, and then forget about it.
c. Practice conveying Pica-Pica's feel.
d. Practice maintaining rhythm in a piece despite errors

Some other insight gleaned from Klickstein's book:
- one must shun error analysis while playing and focus on playing music
- one must remember that listeners ignore errors
- showmanship comes from being who you are (p. 179)