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.