Jen

Mar 27: Almost

I almost didn’t play at all today.

1. My right arm hurts. A lot. And I can’t lift it over my guitar.

2. Sundays are always busy days for us.

But when we got back from my parent’s for dinner, I grabbed the tenor uke and played one song before we put the kids to bed.

And apparently I’m not holding ukuleles correctly with my left hand. I’m going to have to practise that.

Mar 28: Recovering

My arm and back still hurt a bit, so I didn’t play too long today.

I played my songs. It’s been two days since I played them. It was nice to get back to the routine.

Oh, and our publisher loved the theme for Assassins! Accidental Matchmakers that we recorded. So that’s the first part of our book trailer done!

Mar 29: Still going slow

I only played mountain king (bleh, did not do well), my 3 songs, and the French song today.

My arm hurts.

The songs sounded great though.

Also, I got some awesome news today, but I can’t share yet. Just be excited for me. 🙂

Mar 30: Learning app

I was able to get that extra note in mountain king 2/4 times, but the notes that followed it… Less often. Very frustrating. I’ll get there. It’s just frustrating at the moment.

I played my songs, including the theme at speed. I’m actually impressed with how much easier it is than I thought.

It’s like recording has taken the pressure off. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Mar 31: End of March

The end of March means I’ve been playing guitar for NINE months.

Seriously.

I think I’m in a pretty good place for nine months of playing. I wouldn’t say I’m advanced, but I definitely feel as though I’m beyond a beginner.

I just hope I haven’t picked up any bad habits. 😬

I did better at mountain king today. I’m getting there!

I played my songs. They make me happy.

Apr 1: Sore

I’m falling apart.

I don’t recommend growing older.

Lifting my arm to hold my guitar was very painful today.

I did not do well on mountain king. I failed it the first time.

I played my songs. They sounded the way I wanted them to. I’ve been focussing on volume control when using the pick, getting louder and softer depending on the mood. (Forte vs piano)

Mar 17: Hmm

My half grown out fingernails keep catching on the strings when I do finger picking for the theme. This makes me think that I should wait to do the recording until they’re fully grown in. Probably (hopefully?) next week.

I made numerous mistakes today in my songs, but not as many as yesterday.

Mar 18: No pick

I tried to play without the pick today. It went pretty well, tbh.

I tried to add the notes in mountain king that I wasn’t able to add before. It didn’t go well. Hilariously bad, actually. That’s okay. I knew it would be hard to add them, that’s why I’ve been skipping them.

The theme went well. I made some tiny mistakes. My fingernails are growing in nicely. Hopefully I won’t damage them before I can record next week.

It was so nice to be able to play my songs without the pick. It sounds so much nicer without it, IMHO.

Mar 19: Allergies

I don’t notice when I’m having a bad allergy day most of the time.

Unless I sing.

And omg I was all over the place today. I couldn’t get on pitch. I felt like my guitar was drastically out of tune (I tune it before playing every day, so it obviously wasn’t out of tune).

So yeah, that’s how my songs went today. 🙄

My theme practice went alright. I still need practice.

Mar 20: Decisions

I have decided that the ballad will be played with a pick rather than my fingernails. It sounds better and doesn’t destroy my nails.

But the other two are definitely not going to be played with a pick. It just sounds better.

I’m not making much progress on the song in the learning app, but I am being patient.

The first time I tried the theme today, I made mistakes on each part. But the second time, I didn’t notice any mistakes!

Mar 21: Spring

Did you know it’s spring now?

I thought it was still mid-February.

Struggling with the learning app song still. I think I’m going to try only playing one of the additional notes rather than both. Work up to it. I’ll see how that goes tomorrow.

I managed to get the theme on the third try. Still practicing.

My songs went pretty well today. Still having trouble singing thanks to allergies.

Mar 22: Old school

I had a bit of extra time after I finished playing my usual practice routine.

I had a lot of trouble today. My throat felt raw, so singing was rough. I kept getting distracted and losing my place in my songs. It was very frustrating.

The theme practice went well.

Then I decided I’d pull out the guitar book on Kobo that I bought a couple months ago. It has a bunch of songs that only use 3 chords: G, C, and D. They’re all old school songs from the sixties and seventies. I have several issues with this book. One, it appears to be a scan of the music and it is not scalable, so I cannot make the font size bigger. Two, the music and lyrics are blurry.

But I found a couple songs I know well enough that those issues don’t matter; Rock Around the Clock and Surfin’ USA.

So that was kind of fun.

Mar 11: Closer

Today’s practice went well. I’m definitely getting closer to recording the theme for Assassins! Accidental Matchmakers and I’m trying not to get too excited about that.

My thumbnail being too short to use as of yet is very frustrating. It means that the skin of my thumb is sore and the sound isn’t quite right (dull instead of vibrant).

On the plus side, I have been getting more confident with the pick. I do still prefer the sound from just my fingernails, but this is an acceptable substitute.

Mar 12: Figuring out bass line

Today was a little different. I did not do my learning app, or my first two songs.

Instead, I spent the bulk of my practice time playing the ballad because my husband @ericdesmarais and I were trying to figure out the bass line for it, and by extension, the theme for Assassins! Accidental Matchmakers.

I think we’ve got it, actually.

I couldn’t really hear it over the ballad, because if I don’t focus all my attention on what I’m doing, I mess up.

But when we switched to the theme, I could hear it.

It sounds great.

Of course, I can only hear the bass with the harmony or the bass with the melody because I can’t play the harmony and melody at the same time, but it sounded really nice with both of them.

I’m excited.

Oh, and my index fingernail needed to be cut super short, so at least now the finger picking sounds the same in both directions… I’m not too upset about that

Mar 14a: Belated. Oops

I forgot to write my post yesterday. I did play.

I did well.

I stood up to play my first two songs. Holding the pick and playing standing up is very different from sitting.

The theme gave me some trouble today.

Mar 14b: Preparing

I am feeling a little more prepared to record the theme.

Note to self: do not practice a lot before recording

Oh, and last night I got to see the cover for Assassins! Accidental Matchmakers.

I am so happy with it, you have no idea. I can’t wait to show you (although I do have to wait, I’m sorry).

Mar 15: Feeling good

I tried playing the theme immediately following the learning app songs. It went much better. My fingers weren’t as sore, so I wasn’t making as many mistakes.

I’ll keep this up for the next few days, and then I’ll be ready to record!

Meep!

I then played my songs. I’m very pleased with my rhythm progress. I’m sounding much more consistent, especially in the wedding song.

Mar 16: That did not go well

I don’t know what was up with me today. I missed so many notes in the learning app that I almost failed the song.

I struggled to get the finger picking for the theme.

I dropped the pick and messed up the rhythm so many times in my songs.

Bad day today. Hopefully tomorrow is better.

Mar 5: It’s my birthday!

I turned 37 today! I didn’t feel old, and then my arm started to hurt during my practice time.

I’m falling apart.

I played mountain king first. I feel like I’m so close to getting it.

I played my songs. Tried to play Get to Know You with the pick. It loses some of its wild abandon, the first time ever playing it, enthusiasm when played with the pick. So I think I’ll keep playing it without.

I didn’t bang my fingers against the strings at all today. I feel like I’m more consistent with the rhythms in both of my other songs, which is nice.

I fumbled the theme every time I tried it, until my fingers hurt too much to continue. I’m a little frustrated with that.

Mar 6: Uke too

It has been a very long time since I picked up a ukulele. So when my fingers and arm hurt after playing my regular practice today, but I still wanted to play some other songs, I grabbed the tenor uke and started playing.

I was surprised at how quickly the chords came back to me. That was really nice.

I played my songs and the theme. I only made one mistake each time I tried the theme. I’m encouraged by this. Hopefully I can record it over March Break.

Mar 7: Anxious

I played super well today. I only made minimal mistakes on my songs. It’s getting to the point where I feel like I could record, and that’s making me anxious.

On top of that, I made mistakes every time I attempted the theme. That, I need to record soon so my publisher can make the book trailer.

Meep

Mar 8: Bleh

I’m not feeling great today. I blame lack of sleep.

My voice was cracking when I was singing the wedding song. I blame allergies.

I practiced the theme several times. I didn’t make mistakes after the first time and I didn’t notice myself pausing between sections. So I’m happy with my practice session today if only because of that.

Mar 9: Blast

My right thumbnail ripped yesterday. Not painfully or anything, just needed to be cut shorter than I usually do.

Which I didn’t realize until I tried to play today. I use that nail for finger-picking.

Needless to say, I will not be recording the theme until that nail grows back. I did very well in my practice though. I’m encouraged.

My husband thinks I played Get to Know You slower than usual. I wonder if I did, or if my strumming was off because of the thumbnail being shorter.

Who knows? I didn’t record myself so I can’t listen to it again.

Mar 10: Getting in my head

I think I’m getting in my head too much about this theme.

I messed up on every attempt I tried today. And each time, I got more and more stressed about it, making each successive try worse.

This bodes well. 🙄

I played my songs. Made silly mistakes.

Played all three learning app songs and did well on the first two but made silly mistakes in mountain king.

Bah.

Feb 27: Decent

I am overall pleased with my practice today. I got two gold stars on the Clair de Lune song in my learning app, but I made silly mistakes in the other two, which frustrates me.

My chords sounded strange in Get to Know You, which was weird, but they were fine for the others. I used the pick again and it went much better today than yesterday.

I also practiced the melody for the theme several times. Each time I made a different mistake, so that was very frustrating. I’ll get better.

Feb 28: That could’ve gone better

I didn’t have much time today, so I skipped the two songs that I already have gold stars on and went straight to mountain king.

Yeah, that could’ve gone better.

I played my songs, but not the French song. I used the pick for all but Get to Know You, because that one is different. It sounds weird with a pick.

I was actually able to control the volume a little bit better today with the pick. That was nice progress. But I feel like I need to get a pick with a better grip. I dropped it twice and it kept slipping around in my fingers.

And, of course, I practiced the Assassins! Accidental Matchmakers theme. It’s coming along. I think I messed up all but once, so once is an improvement.

Mar 1: Fumbling

I played the mountain king song. It went really well until I fumbled a note and then I was off by a beat. Bah.

My songs went well. I dropped the pick halfway through the ballad, so that was kinda hilarious.

I practiced the theme a bunch. I made mistakes on every part. Gah.

Mar 2: Feels good

I attempted the mountain king only today. I almost beat my high score. Only one mistake in the first part. I’m so close to getting a gold star! I’m very proud.

I then played my songs (using the pick) and they went super well. I’m really happy with my progress. I also played the French song.

I then practiced the theme and it… Went well? I didn’t make too many mistakes, if any. I’m very happy with today’s practice session.

Mar 3: Enthusiastic

I played all three learning app songs. I got gold stars on the first part of the mountain king!!!

I played my songs with the pick. They’re coming along nicely. I still don’t like the sound of the pick, but my fingernails appreciate not being filed down lol

And I practiced the theme melody. I’m still hesitating in between the sections, which I need to work on not doing.

Oh, and check out the cuteness of my son singing along with Get to Know You:

He doesn’t know all the words, but he knows enough that I know he’s singing along. He’s very enthusiastic. It’s so cute.

I just noticed that I’m wearing the shirt with the title of the book that this song appears in; Crushing It.

Nice.

Mar 4: Encouraging

I played mountain king. I did not beat my best score, or even get a gold star, but I still feel like I did well.

I played my songs and the French song. They all went well. I didn’t drop the pick today, so yay.

And I practiced the theme. I didn’t make any mistakes either time I did it, but I also can’t look up from the strings yet. Not that I expect to be able to do that, like, ever.

Getting close to being able to record it!

Meep!!

Feb 21: Ending. I think.

I made some silly mistakes in my learning app songs.

I found the chord trainer for the D chord (you have to play as many chords as you can before the time runs out). I did really well. I still need practice. I’m going to keep doing that.

I played my songs and the French song, and then I tried to figure out how to end the theme.

I think I figured it out. I’ll try it again tomorrow.

I also changed a chord in Get to Know You. Just one. From C to Cmaj7. It sounds so great, IMHO.

Feb 22: Pleased

I am pretty pleased with how my practice went today.

I did the learning app first. I got 3 gold stars on one part of Clair de Lune, which was a pleasant surprise. I almost beat my top score for the mountain king song. Then I played the chord trainer twice to work on hitting the D chord, with no problems. I think I’ll do it one more day, but I’m satisfied that I’m hitting the chord properly now.

Then I played my songs. I’m getting better at remembering the Cmaj7 in Get to Know You. I know I said I wasn’t going to change anything in that song, but I really like how this chord sounds, so I’m not going to be too much of a stickler in this case. It’s just one chord.

I’m thinking of rearranging one verse and one chorus at the end of the ballad. Currently the verse feels like it’s in the right place based on the lyrics, but structurally it needs to move. I’m conflicted. Tomorrow I’m going to try playing it in the moved position and see whether I like it.

Then I fiddled with the theme. I changed the ending chord for the harmony and I like it. I think I’ve figured it out, for the most part. I sent my chicken scratches off to my music mentor to see what he thinks. He’s going to laugh at how I chose to write it down, I know it. 🤣

Feb 23: Repetition

I played the learning app songs first, as usual. I do them first because my tuner is in the same app, and if it’s already out, I might as well use it, right?

I also played the chord trainer a couple times and did very well with it, so I’m going to stop it in the future.

Then I played my songs. I tried switching the location of the verse in the ballad and I think I like it. I’ll try it again tomorrow just to be sure, and then I’ll have to change it in the book.

I also worked on the theme, getting used to the melody, repeating it over and over.

I heard from my music mentor yesterday. He said I’m on the right track. He also said that it was easier to start with a melody and add harmony afterwards, but whoever said I did things easily?? I want the harmony specifically because it’s the chord progression from the chorus of the ballad.

Feb 24: Feeling Good

I only did mountain king on the learning app. I almost got a high score. I’m almost feeling like my fingers are moving faster than required. Considering the first time I played this, I barely made it through the first part, it was so fast, this is excellent progress.

I played my songs and the French song. I feel like I’m almost at the point in the wedding song where I feel comfortable recording it.

I also want to record the chorus from the ballad.

I’m thinking of joining Tiktok. Is that weird? It’s just that there’s a big presence of authors on it and I feel like it would be beneficial. Thoughts?

I also practiced the theme melody. It needs work. That’s ok. I’ll get there. I have time.

Feb 25: Song challenge

There was a new song challenge in my learning app today, so I gave it a shot. I forgot how annoying the learning app is for chords. I did decently, but not as good as if it were a melody line.

I practiced the songs I’m working on. I did very well. No gold stars, but I was happy with them.

I then played my songs, which went well, other than forgetting where I was a couple times. I’m getting complacent.

I did not play the French song, but I did practice the theme several times. I definitely need the practice.

Feb 26: Not well

Today’s practice did not go well. Sigh.

I stumbled over the learning app songs.

My fingers decided to hurt, so I used the pick. That put my rhythms off because I’m not used to using the pick. My chords were ok, at least.

I recorded the harmony and melody (separately) for the theme for the book trailer and sent it off to my publisher to see what he thinks. He’s happy, so I’m just going to keep working on it because I’m still making mistakes.

Then I tried listening to the French song through YouTube while I played it at the same time. Apparently my voice goes sharp when I try to imitate the female singer. Sigh.

Feb 15: Learning app

I’m really glad I didn’t pay for the upgraded learning app, but wow are the free songs ever great.

I’m super impressed at how much quicker my fingers are moving already.

I played my songs and the French song. My voice cracked a couple times. My rhythms are getting better, imho.

I still haven’t come up with the theme for Assassins! Accidental Matchmakers. I’m trying not to stress about it.

Feb 16: Bleh

Today’s practice was not the best. Not the worst either, but not the best.

I fumbled over silly things in all 3 learning app songs.

I messed up chords in all 3 of my songs.

But the rhythms seemed to be good?

And I think I’ve figured out what I want to do for Kennedy’s theme for Assassins! Accidental Matchmakers. I’m going to come up with a chord progression for the background and a melody line for the foreground and record them both and overlap them. Since I don’t have lyrics, the melody line will work as the lyrics.

Now I just have to write them…

Feb 17: Stress

So stress is not a good thing when I’m trying to do my learning app. I did not do very well today. I kept making mistakes. Ridiculous ones that shouldn’t have happened.

I did better when playing my songs, at least, but I missed the Fmaj7 chord when I was trying to get into it from the D chord.

I really need to work on the D chords. Maybe I’ll go back to the learning app and redo the D chord songs.

Feb 18: Melodies

I have come to the conclusion that writing a melody is really hard.

I have the harmony. I’m using the chorus from the ballad, but without the capo and much slower. I thought that was fitting.

I practiced the learning app songs (went much better than yesterday) and my songs (also much better) and the French song.

Feb 19: Potential

I did very well on my learning app songs today. I even got 3 stars on two parts of the mountain king song!

I played my songs, but not the French song.

And then I tried to figure out a melody for Kennedy’s theme. I’m told it currently sounds too country. I’m going to have to fix that. Not sure how? But it has potential.

Feb 20: Accompaniment

I played my learning app songs today. The quickness of the mountain king song is getting more manageable, which is nice.

Then I played my songs. I tried recording myself playing the harmony (chords) for the theme and then playing the melody with my recording. It didn’t work very well. I played the harmony too fast for the melody and I was getting very frustrated.

Then my husband picked up his ukulele and played the harmony for me. It’s so much easier when someone is playing with you.

So I’m going to keep practicing both the harmony and the melody and try to figure out how to end it because it doesn’t really sound like it ends.

Oh, and my kids wanted to help, so we took out the mini uke and the bass uke and gave those to the kids. Very discordant and made it hard to work on our music, but they were so happy to all be making music together. Hopefully they’ll let us work on it alone some time later this week.

Feb 9: I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I’M DOING

I played the 3 songs from the learning app. I passed the second part of the mountain king song!!!! I only got one star, but I passed!

And then my daughter said, “you’re not very good at this.”

Ouch, child. You’re supposed to be encouraging, not mean.

Then I played my 3 songs and the French song. I felt like my voice was better today, so that was nice. And I only stumbled over the French words once, which is a vast improvement.

Then I tried to figure out Kennedy’s theme. This is where I have no idea what I’m doing. I played around with different chords, but I couldn’t really get the rhythm to change, so I need to figure this out.

I’ve got some time. It’s only mid-February and my publisher won’t have time to work on my book trailer until April, but yeesh I have a lot of work to do to figure this out.

Feb 10: Omg

I managed to get through the entire mountain king song!! Only (2, 1, 1) stars on it, but I completed it!!!

I also played my three songs and the French song. They all make me so happy.

Still trying to figure out Kennedy’s theme. No clue what I’m doing. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Feb 11: Slow and steady

I played the 3 learning app songs again. I messed up the first time I tried mountain king, but I got it the second time.

Then I played my 3 songs. I didn’t have time for the French one. I paid close attention to the rhythms for them and I think I’m more consistent, which is nice.

Also, my voice didn’t crack today. I wish I knew what the difference was.

Feb 12: Listening

Today, my daughter’s school board had a virtual presentation of a whole variety of African instruments by a Black musician.

We learned about how the instruments were made and listened to some incredible music. He’s been playing these instruments for so long that he doesn’t know what age he started learning them. His father made the kora that he played many songs for us on (my favourite was the love song).

I also really liked the sound of the balaphon (the precursor to the xylophone).

I was hoping I would also get some idea of how to write Kennedy’s theme, but I kinda forgot about that.

Feb 13: Thoughts

I managed to get through the learning app songs. It took me two attempts to get through the mountain king though.

I then played my three songs. No time for the French song.

But I had a thought while I was playing the ballad; I could use the chorus from the ballad as a motif in Kennedy’s theme.

I’m going to think about that a little longer.

Feb 14: Valentine’s

We don’t really do anything for Valentine’s Day. We gave the kids matching Raya pyjamas and bought each other popcorn.

I played the learning app songs. I passed them all. I got two stars on the mountain king song, which I’m very pleased about. Slowly but surely I’m getting there.

I played my three songs. I’m feeling much more confident with them. Not at concert-level, but perhaps I’ll record the wedding song later this week, if I have time.

I also played the French song for the first time in something like 4 days. It went pretty well, but I stumbled over the words a couple times and was off by half a beat in the middle section, which was weird.