Jan 16: Audience again
I wasn’t going to play today. My back was in more pain than usual today.
And then I got to my parent’s house and was like… You know what? I’ll play for a bit.
So I borrowed my dad’s full-size, tuned it, and then played my songs. I also tried playing Mirabel’s miracle song from Encanto. I also played La Da Dee by Cody Simpson, just to get it stuck in my husband’s head. 😈 Mwahahaha!
Jan 17: Short
I had ten minutes to play today.
I played my songs (on my guitar) and wow, one day away from my thin, metal strings REALLY makes a difference. My fingers hurt.
After that, I only had time for one more song, and my daughter requested Kiss the Girl.
Well, technically, she first requested my new song.
I told her I needed at least twenty minutes to write the music for it.
I would say that’s a joke, but that’s how long it took for me to write the music for my second song.
Jan 18: Frustrating
Sometimes it feels like I’ve stalled; like I’ve hit the limit of what I can learn by myself.
Today was one of those days.
I played my songs, made mistakes, got frustrated.
Not a great day today.
Jan 19: Song stuck in my head
I have had a song stuck in my head since yesterday. It stayed with me even in my dreams.
Wanna know what song it is? 😈
It’s ok. I won’t tell you, no, no, no.
So I played La Da Dee to try to get it out of my head.
Spoilers: it didn’t work.
I also played my songs. I made a couple mistakes. I think I should record myself soon so that I can listen to the strum rhythms better and make sure that they’re actually doing what I want them to do.
My husband checked my posture while I was standing, and I’m doing it right! Well, most people seem to have the guitar slightly lower (like an inch) on their torso, but we decided that most of those musicians are shorter than I am.
Jan 20: Challenge!
My learning app had new challenges posted today. I did the chord and melody ones (lower level) and omg I did so well!? I didn’t even have to look at my hand when I changed chords! I felt so good about that.
Then I played the usual Sugar Plum Fairy song and I got gold stars on the middle part!!! First time I succeeded at that!! I’m so proud of myself!
I played my songs once each, trying to listen to the rhythms.
I’ve decided that the first song, Get to Know You, isn’t supposed to have a proper rhythm. I mean, the character wrote the lyrics in half an hour and didn’t even write music, he’s just kinda playing what feels right in the moment. So the chorus has a catchy rhythm, but the verse is a mess, exactly the way it should be.
However, the wedding song has had his music teacher critique it, both the lyrics and the music, and he’s been practicing it for two months, so the rhythm has to work properly and sound right. Fortunately, I have a lot of time to perfect it.
Today was a good day. I felt like I improved.
Jan 21: Attempt
I tried really hard to listen to my rhythms in the wedding song. I think I need to play all the verses one after the other so that I can make sure that my rhythms are the same, because I feel like I’m forgetting it when I play the chorus. I have been consistent over the days with how I play the rhythm for the bridge, so I’m pleased about that.
I also attempted We Don’t Talk About Bruno for the first time. For a song that has been in my head for weeks, I’m shocked that I don’t know the rhythms better. It was a real struggle (other than Dolores’ and Isabela’s parts, for some reason?)
I noticed a huge improvement in my speed and finger placement for the chords in La Da Dee.
Overall, considering I had a short practice today, I’m encouraged by my progress.