Thoughts:
I didn't properly introduce the new gadget I started using yesterday. It's a Zoom H2 portable recorder that records wonderfully and allows one to hear the recording with ease immediately. It would seem like a small thing, but the thing is that recordings reveal the truth behind a performance. I've been playing way too long with way too little analysis of the quality of my playing.
Sight Reading:
4/4 time, level 3 @ 75
Fretboard Review:
Reviewed up to 6 frets. Decided to track progress:
63 correct, 3 incorrect (95%) @ in 2 minutes.
A little bit worse than yesterday.
Interval Review:
Big review of added cards. Added remaining ascending D to G string ascending, and then added all the G string to D string descending. I felt like I was on the home stretch of this interval review, so I decided to open up the whole list to check for any missing intervals. Indeed there were quite a lot, and it took me some time to find them and enter them in Anki.
Warm-up/Technique:
Finger-stretching exercise - 1st position.
Finally! Middle finger reached the 3rd fret!
String Walking exercise (Pumping Nylon pg. 37) with i,m eight @ 113 bpm
String Walking exercise with m, l with eight notes @ 88 bpm.
String-Jumping 1st string to 5th string, 2nd string to 6th string @ 85 bpm
Right-Hand Velocity (pg. 63) with sixteenth notes @ 109 bpm rest & free.
l, m @95 bpm rest & free
i, l @ 83 bpm
Synchronization Exercise (Pumping Nylon pg. 65) with i,m sixteenth notes 95 bpm.
l, m @ 83 bpm
Putting it all together p. 67 Exercise - recorded @ 78 with i, m and l, m. Solid.
Scale Rhythmic Variation p. 68 @ 97 bpm i, m
@ 80 bpm l, m - descending rest stroke was hard, so I decreased from yesterday's 89 bpm
Played etude @ 70 bpm with i, m
Speed Burst pg. 69 Exercise 1 @ 70 bpm with l, m
@109 with i, m
Rest and free
A - F
G @ 75 bpm i,m
Percussive Exercise
Played Nothin on You rhythm @ 84
Repertoire:
Just the Way You Are (Bruno Mars cover)
Practiced @ 80 bpm and recorded.
Noticed something interesting that Scott Tennant talked about - it is important to be selective when doing the barre because you can save considerable energy by only sounding the notes that need to be sounded (pg. 23 of Pumping Nylon) . Directly applicable to this piece: when I hit the first F chord on the 8th fret, I only need to hit the root, the Bb on the B string (which I hit with my 3rd finger), and the C on the high E string. That means my barre index finger only needs to hit 2 notes - the F on the A string and the C on the high E string. So, I can bar the 8th fret so that the middle part of my finger is arched and is relaxed.
Pica-Pica
Yesterday's post didn't provide any suggestions for what to work on, which isn't very productive.
Played to metronome on silent @ 85 bpm.
Estrellita
Deliberately made a mistake on the position jump in measures 9-10. Wow, that does the trick. Deliberately hitting C instead of C# will get my wrist used to the position of both, and mistakes should be avoided.
Samba Caribe
Part A measure 13-14 @ 59 bpm.
The movement of the RH wrist is integral here, I must not forget that. That movement is still not natural. Dropped to 54 bpm to practice the movement.
Na Gafieira Do Vidigal
Played beginning to part A @ 64 bpm and recorded.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Sight Reading:
Continued with 2/4 time signature, level 3, @ 75 bpm.
3/8 time, level 2 @ 75
4/4 time, level 3 @ 75 (not so easy either)
Definitely great practice, especially for looking ahead.
While I was doing the sight-reading exercises with the program, I remembered that last time I was in Japan, I played a taiko drum game in an arcade. I think the reason I remembered that is because that drumming was to music, and it was fun! Seems like this game doesn't exist for PC, but maybe I can find an emulator. Or maybe, I should just find a taiko group to drum with.
Fretboard Review:
Reviewed up to 6 frets. Decided to track progress:
87 correct, 2 incorrect (97%) @in 2 minutes.
Compare with tomorrow's.
Interval Review:
Big review of added cards. Added: couple of D - G ascending up to perfect 5th.
Warm-up/Technique:
Finger-stretching exercise - 1st position.
They're stretching a bit more. I can almost get to the 3rd fret with my index finger.
String Walking exercise (Pumping Nylon pg. 37) with i,m eight @ 113 bpm
String Walking exercise with m, l with eight notes @ 85 bpm.
String-Jumping 1st string to 5th string, 2nd string to 6th string @ 85 bpm
Recorded using my new Zoom H-2 recorder. Ah, there's nothing to hide behind with recordin.
Right-Hand Velocity (pg. 63) with sixteenth notes @ 109 bpm rest & free.
l, m @95 bpm rest & free
i, l @ 79 bpm
Synchronization Exercise (Pumping Nylon pg. 65) with i,m sixteenth notes 95 bpm.
l, m @ 83 bpm
Putting it all together p. 67 Exercise - recorded @ 78 with i, m and l, m. Not perfect, so won't go faster.
Scale Rhythmic Variation p. 68 @ 94 bpm i, m
@ 89 bpm l, m
Played etude @ 80 bpm. Checked out recording. Plenty of mistakes - I'm just practicing playing mistakes like this.
Played @ 75. During the position switch, the A string sounds out if it not muted deliberately. Simultaneously, the RH wrist must shift in order to get an appropriate angle for the nails on the high E. This requires practicing at slower tempos. Took it down to 67 bpm. Played clean here
Speed Burst pg. 69 Exercise 1 @ 75 bpm with l, m
@109 with i, m
Rest and free
A - G.
Percussive Exercise
Played Nothin on You rhythm @ 85 bpm. Sounding better. Realized that I have a problem with economy of movement in the muted parts that sound like scratches. Instead of playing them with just the index fingers, I simulate a pick and play them with the whole wrist. The problem is that I need to hit a bass note with my thumb right after, and it makes it difficult to nail it after changing my whole wrist position. Played @ 80 bpm.
Repertoire:
Just the Way You Are (Bruno Mars cover)
Practiced @ 75 bpm and recorded. Sounds great.
Pica-Pica & Estrellita
Ah, how much one can find out from a recording. Played Pica-Pica @ 85 bpm with metronome on silent. Lots of small errors that add up to a lackluster performance (applicable to both pieces)
Samba Caribe
Part A measure 13-14 @ 59 bpm.
Played and recorded complete piece @ 59 bpm
Na Gafieira Do Vidigal
Focused on playing part A without mistakes - very difficult to do. Could only do twice in a row (aimed for 3 times). Started to get a bit burned out. Tomorrow, definitely aim for 3.
Continued with 2/4 time signature, level 3, @ 75 bpm.
3/8 time, level 2 @ 75
4/4 time, level 3 @ 75 (not so easy either)
Definitely great practice, especially for looking ahead.
While I was doing the sight-reading exercises with the program, I remembered that last time I was in Japan, I played a taiko drum game in an arcade. I think the reason I remembered that is because that drumming was to music, and it was fun! Seems like this game doesn't exist for PC, but maybe I can find an emulator. Or maybe, I should just find a taiko group to drum with.
Fretboard Review:
Reviewed up to 6 frets. Decided to track progress:
87 correct, 2 incorrect (97%) @in 2 minutes.
Compare with tomorrow's.
Interval Review:
Big review of added cards. Added: couple of D - G ascending up to perfect 5th.
Warm-up/Technique:
Finger-stretching exercise - 1st position.
They're stretching a bit more. I can almost get to the 3rd fret with my index finger.
String Walking exercise (Pumping Nylon pg. 37) with i,m eight @ 113 bpm
String Walking exercise with m, l with eight notes @ 85 bpm.
String-Jumping 1st string to 5th string, 2nd string to 6th string @ 85 bpm
Recorded using my new Zoom H-2 recorder. Ah, there's nothing to hide behind with recordin.
Right-Hand Velocity (pg. 63) with sixteenth notes @ 109 bpm rest & free.
l, m @95 bpm rest & free
i, l @ 79 bpm
Synchronization Exercise (Pumping Nylon pg. 65) with i,m sixteenth notes 95 bpm.
l, m @ 83 bpm
Putting it all together p. 67 Exercise - recorded @ 78 with i, m and l, m. Not perfect, so won't go faster.
Scale Rhythmic Variation p. 68 @ 94 bpm i, m
@ 89 bpm l, m
Played etude @ 80 bpm. Checked out recording. Plenty of mistakes - I'm just practicing playing mistakes like this.
Played @ 75. During the position switch, the A string sounds out if it not muted deliberately. Simultaneously, the RH wrist must shift in order to get an appropriate angle for the nails on the high E. This requires practicing at slower tempos. Took it down to 67 bpm. Played clean here
Speed Burst pg. 69 Exercise 1 @ 75 bpm with l, m
@109 with i, m
Rest and free
A - G.
Percussive Exercise
Played Nothin on You rhythm @ 85 bpm. Sounding better. Realized that I have a problem with economy of movement in the muted parts that sound like scratches. Instead of playing them with just the index fingers, I simulate a pick and play them with the whole wrist. The problem is that I need to hit a bass note with my thumb right after, and it makes it difficult to nail it after changing my whole wrist position. Played @ 80 bpm.
Repertoire:
Just the Way You Are (Bruno Mars cover)
Practiced @ 75 bpm and recorded. Sounds great.
Pica-Pica & Estrellita
Ah, how much one can find out from a recording. Played Pica-Pica @ 85 bpm with metronome on silent. Lots of small errors that add up to a lackluster performance (applicable to both pieces)
Samba Caribe
Part A measure 13-14 @ 59 bpm.
Played and recorded complete piece @ 59 bpm
Na Gafieira Do Vidigal
Focused on playing part A without mistakes - very difficult to do. Could only do twice in a row (aimed for 3 times). Started to get a bit burned out. Tomorrow, definitely aim for 3.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Sight Reading:
Continued with 2/4 time signature, level 3, @ 75 bpm.
Also, 3/8 time, level 2 @ 75 and level 3 (quite challenging)
Fretboard Review:
Reviewed up to 6 frets.
Interval Review:
Big review of added cards. Added: couple of D - G ascending string cards
Warm-up/Technique:
Finger-stretching exercise - 1st position.
String Walking exercise (Pumping Nylon pg. 37) with i,m eight @ 110 bpm
String Walking exercise with m, l with eight notes @ 80 bpm
String-Jumping 1st string to 5th string, 2nd string to 6th string @ 85 bpm
Right-Hand Velocity (pg. 63) with sixteenth notes @ 109 bpm rest & free.
l, m @95 bpm rest & free
i, l @ 76 bpm
Synchronization Exercise (Pumping Nylon pg. 65) with i,m sixteenth notes 95 bpm.
l, m @ 83 bpm
Putting it all together p. 67 Exercise - m, l went from 86 bpm yesterday to 78 bpm today
@ 93 i, m - free and rest
Scale Rhythmic Variation p. 68 @ 94 bpm i, m
@ 86 bpm l, m
Played etude
Speed Burst pg. 69 Exercise 1.A @ 71 bpm
Rest and free
A - G. Increase tempo a bit tomorrow
Percussive Exercise
Played Nothin on You rhythm @ 85 bpm. Sounding better.
Repertoire:
Pica-Pica
Manageable tempo for this piece - 85 bpm. Next gig, I will bring the metronome up and put it on silent to cue me.
Estrellita
Nailed the position jump
Na Gafieira Do Vidigal
Worked on refining the parts that I've transcribed already (@ 77 bpm)
Just the Way You Are (Bruno Mars cover)
I pretty much got the arrangement down for guitar and voice for this tune.
Practiced @ 75 bpm. Target speed is around 105 bpm.
Once I can play at target speed, I'll search for a singer to play this piece with.
Samba Caribe
Bart A measure 12-13 arpeggio - played @ 60. Still hard. Tried increasing to 60, but couldn't pay without mistakes.
Part B measures 14-15 - couldn't play clearly above 55 bpm.
Continued with 2/4 time signature, level 3, @ 75 bpm.
Also, 3/8 time, level 2 @ 75 and level 3 (quite challenging)
Fretboard Review:
Reviewed up to 6 frets.
Interval Review:
Big review of added cards. Added: couple of D - G ascending string cards
Warm-up/Technique:
Finger-stretching exercise - 1st position.
String Walking exercise (Pumping Nylon pg. 37) with i,m eight @ 110 bpm
String Walking exercise with m, l with eight notes @ 80 bpm
String-Jumping 1st string to 5th string, 2nd string to 6th string @ 85 bpm
Right-Hand Velocity (pg. 63) with sixteenth notes @ 109 bpm rest & free.
l, m @95 bpm rest & free
i, l @ 76 bpm
Synchronization Exercise (Pumping Nylon pg. 65) with i,m sixteenth notes 95 bpm.
l, m @ 83 bpm
Putting it all together p. 67 Exercise - m, l went from 86 bpm yesterday to 78 bpm today
@ 93 i, m - free and rest
Scale Rhythmic Variation p. 68 @ 94 bpm i, m
@ 86 bpm l, m
Played etude
Speed Burst pg. 69 Exercise 1.A @ 71 bpm
Rest and free
A - G. Increase tempo a bit tomorrow
Percussive Exercise
Played Nothin on You rhythm @ 85 bpm. Sounding better.
Repertoire:
Pica-Pica
Manageable tempo for this piece - 85 bpm. Next gig, I will bring the metronome up and put it on silent to cue me.
Estrellita
Nailed the position jump
Na Gafieira Do Vidigal
Worked on refining the parts that I've transcribed already (@ 77 bpm)
Just the Way You Are (Bruno Mars cover)
I pretty much got the arrangement down for guitar and voice for this tune.
Practiced @ 75 bpm. Target speed is around 105 bpm.
Once I can play at target speed, I'll search for a singer to play this piece with.
Samba Caribe
Bart A measure 12-13 arpeggio - played @ 60. Still hard. Tried increasing to 60, but couldn't pay without mistakes.
Part B measures 14-15 - couldn't play clearly above 55 bpm.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
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)
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)
Friday, February 11, 2011
Sight Reading:
Continued with 2/4 time signature, level 3, at but had to decrease tempo to 75 bpm. Really powerful stuff here, as I can feel being challenged by the program to look ahead a couple of beats. Noticed that I can do it well at this tempo only if I count out loud.
Fretboard Review:
Found cool guitar fretboard trainer. Decrease in response rate has already begun, with just 3 or 4 days of consistent practice about 5 minutes a day. Right, I've turned all the notes up to fret 6 on.
Interval Review:
Plenty of mistakes in the cards I added yesterday. I noticed when I picking out Bruno Mars' Just the Way You Are I was referring to the intervals automatically in my head. This in turn helped me better understand the music. This was precisely the idea of studying these intervals. It's paying off. Booyakusha!
Warm-up/Technique:
Finger-stretching exercise - 1st position. Fingers can stretch only 1 fret (from 1st to 2nd, etc) in the first position. Keep stretchin.
String Walking exercise (Pumping Nylon pg. 37) with i,m eight @ 110 bpm
String Walking exercise with m, l with eight notes @ 75 bpm (5 bpm slower than yesterday) - I filed my nails, and the nail on the ring figure, though protrudes ~4mm wasn't hooking the string
String-Jumping 1st string to 5th string, 2nd string to 6th string @ 83 bpm (same descending)
Progress everyday.
Right-Hand Velocity (pg. 63) with sixteenth notes @ 109 bpm rest & free.
l, m @93 bpm rest & free
i, l @ 73 bpm
Synchronization Exercise (Pumping Nylon pg. 65) with i,m sixteenth notes 92 bpm.
l, m @ 80 bpm
Putting it all together p. 67 Exercise - m, l went from 86 bpm yesterday to 75 bpm today
@ 90 i, m - free and rest
Scale Rhythmic Variation p. 68 @ 94 bpm
Played etude
Speed Burst pg. 69 Exercise 1.A @ 71 bpm
Rest and free
A. all
B. a - i
Percussive Exercise
Played Nothin on You rhythm @ 85 bpm. It's hard to get it clean!
Repertoire:
Estrellita & Pica-Pica
Played these tunes in the morning and enjoyed them.
Na Gafieira Do Vidigal
Practiced shift from brighter to mellow tone while going from Parts A to B.
I realized overall that many parts are not clean yet, and I should not go on to Transcribing further until I get this down well - so played from the beginning slowly (@ 77 bpm)
Samba Caribe
Bart A measure 12-13 arpeggio - played @ 55. Still hard. Tried increasing to 60, but couldn't pay without mistakes.
Part B measures 14-15 - Played at 68 bpm
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Fretboard Review:
Found cool guitar fretboard trainer. Decrease in response rate has already begun, with just 3 or 4 days of consistent practice about 5 minutes a day. Right, I've turned all the notes up to fret 6 on.
Interval Review:
Plenty of mistakes in the cards I added yesterday.
Sight Reading:
Found a cool app for sight-reading rhythms.
http://www.practicesightreading.com/create.php
Practiced 2/4 time signature, level 3, at 80 bpm. Pretty challenging.
Warm-up/Technique:
Finger-stretching exercise - 1st position. Fingers can stretch only 1 fret (from 1st to 2nd, etc) in the first position. Keep stretchin.
String Walking exercise (Pumping Nylon pg. 37) with i,m eight @ 110 bpm
String Walking exercise with m, l with eight notes @ 80 bpm
String-Jumping 1st string to 5th string, 2nd string to 6th string @ 80 bpm (same descending)
Progress everyday.
Right-Hand Velocity (pg. 63) with sixteenth notes @ 109 bpm rest & free.
This feels like my speed limit now
l, m @93 bpm rest & free
i, l @ 71 bpm
Synchronization Exercise (Pumping Nylon pg. 65) with i,m sixteenth notes 89 bpm.
l, m @ 80 bpm. 5 bpm slower than yesterday, but I played on all the strings (I suspect yesterday it sounded good only on the higher strings) it was solid
Putting it all together p. 67 Exercise - m, l went from 86 bpm yesterday to 73 bpm today (focused on rest stroke - proper angle for the middle and ring finger is tricky)
@ 90 i, m - free and rest
Scale Rhythmic Variation p. 68 @ 94 bpm
Played etude from yesterday
Speed Burst pg. 69 Exercise 1.A @ 71 bpm
A. i - a
a - i
B. a - i
Percussive Exercise
Played Nothin on You rhythm @ 85 bpm
Repertoire:
Estrellita & Pica-Pica
Played these tunes in the morning and enjoyed them.
Na Gafieira Do Vidigal
I have thought about this before, but like many other projects abandoned it. Playing this piece this morning, however, I noticed that Part A sounds bright and should be played closer to the bridge, while the part that follows it needs a mellower sound and should be player over the soundhole. My coordination for shifting the wrist is lacking.
Went onwards in part D, but got stuck on chord in measure D6. Continue tomorrow.
Samba Caribe
Bart A measure 12-13 arpeggio - played @ 55. Gettin better.
Part B measures 14-15 - Played at 65 bpm
Found cool guitar fretboard trainer. Decrease in response rate has already begun, with just 3 or 4 days of consistent practice about 5 minutes a day. Right, I've turned all the notes up to fret 6 on.
Interval Review:
Plenty of mistakes in the cards I added yesterday.
Sight Reading:
Found a cool app for sight-reading rhythms.
http://www.practicesightreading.com/create.php
Practiced 2/4 time signature, level 3, at 80 bpm. Pretty challenging.
Warm-up/Technique:
Finger-stretching exercise - 1st position. Fingers can stretch only 1 fret (from 1st to 2nd, etc) in the first position. Keep stretchin.
String Walking exercise (Pumping Nylon pg. 37) with i,m eight @ 110 bpm
String Walking exercise with m, l with eight notes @ 80 bpm
String-Jumping 1st string to 5th string, 2nd string to 6th string @ 80 bpm (same descending)
Progress everyday.
Right-Hand Velocity (pg. 63) with sixteenth notes @ 109 bpm rest & free.
This feels like my speed limit now
l, m @93 bpm rest & free
i, l @ 71 bpm
Synchronization Exercise (Pumping Nylon pg. 65) with i,m sixteenth notes 89 bpm.
l, m @ 80 bpm. 5 bpm slower than yesterday, but I played on all the strings (I suspect yesterday it sounded good only on the higher strings) it was solid
Putting it all together p. 67 Exercise - m, l went from 86 bpm yesterday to 73 bpm today (focused on rest stroke - proper angle for the middle and ring finger is tricky)
@ 90 i, m - free and rest
Scale Rhythmic Variation p. 68 @ 94 bpm
Played etude from yesterday
Speed Burst pg. 69 Exercise 1.A @ 71 bpm
A. i - a
a - i
B. a - i
Percussive Exercise
Played Nothin on You rhythm @ 85 bpm
Repertoire:
Estrellita & Pica-Pica
Played these tunes in the morning and enjoyed them.
Na Gafieira Do Vidigal
I have thought about this before, but like many other projects abandoned it. Playing this piece this morning, however, I noticed that Part A sounds bright and should be played closer to the bridge, while the part that follows it needs a mellower sound and should be player over the soundhole. My coordination for shifting the wrist is lacking.
Went onwards in part D, but got stuck on chord in measure D6. Continue tomorrow.
Samba Caribe
Bart A measure 12-13 arpeggio - played @ 55. Gettin better.
Part B measures 14-15 - Played at 65 bpm
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Interval Review:
As evidenced by quicker response time to cards compared to yesterday, brain's gradually incorporating these new intervals. I just added some missing B-A string descending cards (per and augmented 4th)
Warm-up/Technique:
Finger-stretching exercise - 1st position. Fingers can stretch only 1 fet in the first position. Keep stretchin.
String Walking exercise (Pumping Nylon pg. 37) with i,m eight @ 108 bpm
String Walking exercise with m, l with eight notes @ 74 bpm
String-Jumping 1st string to 5th string, 2nd string to 6th string @ 75 bpm (same descending)
Getting better ! :)
Right-Hand Velocity (pg. 63) with sixteenth notes @ 109 bpm rest & free.
l, m @90 bpm rest & free (only 2 bpm faster than yesterday, but this is a marathon....)
i, l @ 68 bpm
Synchronization Exercise (Pumping Nylon pg. 65) with i,m sixteenth notes 93 bpm. Something seems off - it doesn't sound perfect.... I noticed that the pinky's still rising quite high.
l, m @ 85 bpm. This went solid.
Putting it all together p. 67 Exercise - steady @ 86 l, m. Both rest and free (free stroke is harder)
@ 90 i, m - free and rest
Scale Rhythmic Variation p. 68 @ 92 bpm
Made up a little etude that takes these rhythmic variations and incorporates string jumping as well as position shifts. The combination makes it difficult. Definitely highlights a gap in my playing
Speed Burst pg. 69 Exercise 1.A @ 68bpm
i - a
a - i
Percussive Exercise
Played Nothin on You rhythm @ 85 bpm
Repertoire:
Estrellita & Pica-Pica
I got the sense that I play better when I'm able to move around. Conversely, when I'm in front the computer, I tend to look at myself being recorded, and then get self-conscious. My brain diverts its attention to that, and I then tend to make mistakes. So, I made a video where I just put the camera on, but then played as if I was playing more myself, enjoying the music and trying to convey the emotion.
Na Gafieira Do Vidigal
Played at around 90% of target speed and transcribed the next measure of Part C. This the first real piece I've played which utilizes the 13th position - and how beautiful it is. The contrast from the low bass notes to this melody high up top is heavenly.
Samba Caribe
Bart A measure 12-13 arpeggio - played @ 50
Part B measures 14-15 - Played at 65 bpm. Just within the span of a couple of days, the fingers have gotten used to this unusual A chord fingers, and I am now able to increase the speed gradually. Bam!
In this video, I played at 65 bpm, and so of course I messed up the chord in measure 13 of Part A.
As evidenced by quicker response time to cards compared to yesterday, brain's gradually incorporating these new intervals. I just added some missing B-A string descending cards (per and augmented 4th)
Warm-up/Technique:
Finger-stretching exercise - 1st position. Fingers can stretch only 1 fet in the first position. Keep stretchin.
String Walking exercise (Pumping Nylon pg. 37) with i,m eight @ 108 bpm
String Walking exercise with m, l with eight notes @ 74 bpm
String-Jumping 1st string to 5th string, 2nd string to 6th string @ 75 bpm (same descending)
Getting better ! :)
Right-Hand Velocity (pg. 63) with sixteenth notes @ 109 bpm rest & free.
l, m @90 bpm rest & free (only 2 bpm faster than yesterday, but this is a marathon....)
i, l @ 68 bpm
Synchronization Exercise (Pumping Nylon pg. 65) with i,m sixteenth notes 93 bpm. Something seems off - it doesn't sound perfect.... I noticed that the pinky's still rising quite high.
l, m @ 85 bpm. This went solid.
Putting it all together p. 67 Exercise - steady @ 86 l, m. Both rest and free (free stroke is harder)
@ 90 i, m - free and rest
Scale Rhythmic Variation p. 68 @ 92 bpm
Made up a little etude that takes these rhythmic variations and incorporates string jumping as well as position shifts. The combination makes it difficult. Definitely highlights a gap in my playing
Speed Burst pg. 69 Exercise 1.A @ 68bpm
i - a
a - i
Percussive Exercise
Played Nothin on You rhythm @ 85 bpm
Repertoire:
Estrellita & Pica-Pica
I got the sense that I play better when I'm able to move around. Conversely, when I'm in front the computer, I tend to look at myself being recorded, and then get self-conscious. My brain diverts its attention to that, and I then tend to make mistakes. So, I made a video where I just put the camera on, but then played as if I was playing more myself, enjoying the music and trying to convey the emotion.
Na Gafieira Do Vidigal
Played at around 90% of target speed and transcribed the next measure of Part C. This the first real piece I've played which utilizes the 13th position - and how beautiful it is. The contrast from the low bass notes to this melody high up top is heavenly.
Samba Caribe
Bart A measure 12-13 arpeggio - played @ 50
Part B measures 14-15 - Played at 65 bpm. Just within the span of a couple of days, the fingers have gotten used to this unusual A chord fingers, and I am now able to increase the speed gradually. Bam!
In this video, I played at 65 bpm, and so of course I messed up the chord in measure 13 of Part A.
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