New Year Music Goals
First of all, Happy New Year. Hope every one had a good time.
This story I want to start with the Buridan’s donkey. The story is about a donkey that wanted to eat and drink at the same time. He stood between the food on the right and the water on the left. Our hungry and thirsty donkey could not made a decision. Time passes and he died. Just because he didn’t make a decision.
It’s important to say that there wasn’t a right choice. Just needed to make a choice and go for it.
I speak with a lot of people who wants to start playing guitar. And they afraid to learn it the wrong way. They can’t choose a teacher. They can’t choose an instrument. In reality, it doesn’t meter. Start and find on the way what is wrong.
I myself fall into this pit when need to choose what to learn next. The repertoire is huge. I know that it will take time and a lot of effort to learn a new piece. The decision can’t be taken lightly. But in reality, it doesn’t matter what I decide. All classical pieces are very nice.
To escape the standing in the middle and not jumping from one theme to another. I decided to set some goals.
Record and publish 3 pieces
When you publish your playing you can’t take it back. It went away. It belongs to the listener. Meaning you need to play at your best.
A lot of times when I play. I make a mistake. I know what I should do next. The steps are:
- Stop at this passage until I know it right
- Play correctly a couple of times
- Play with a metronome
- Connect the passage with the rest of the piece.
don’t do it. I “kinda” play it and the melody exists only in my head. I know how it’s supposed to sound. So, I believe that I sound like I suppose to. The solution is simple: RECORD IT.
If I proud with what I did I’m not afraid of sharing it.
Remember the donkeys? they are so cute.
Decide on what pieces I will publish
If I will jump from one piece to another it’s the same as standing and not deciding at all. Luckily I made that decision. So, I need to stick to it. The sticking is the hard part. Even now when I write these lines I want to change to BWV 999 and to Gran Vals.
I decided on this 3 pieces:
- Capricho Arabe by Fransico Tarrega
- Lagrima, by Francisco Tarrega
- Study No 18 by mateo carcassi
How I chose them? I like how they sound. This way when I polish them I will not get bored. And again it doesn’t mean that I will play only those pieces. But those pieces will be my main line of work.
Time frame
I know what I want to do. I know how I measure it. now I need to set when I will do it. I need enough time to practice and prepare. But also I need to push myself.
I believe that the time frame till 1st of June is a real-time frame that will allow me to practice and polish the pieces. Learn how to record. It’s important to say that I didn’t record sound at all. I even don’t know what gear if any I need.
This is my main goals for the upcoming year in term of guitar playing. I want to believe that it will be quite fun to fulfill them. But also make more records and learn more interesting stuff in the upcoming year.
I will try to keep this blog and update it about the process and the learning experience that I will have.
I didn’t forget to set the goals for this blog. After all, it is a musical blog. One post in 2 weeks. I really hope I can make it.
Happy New Year
I also want to add the links to the pieces. Thanks to Bradford Werner, check his site: https://wernerguitareditions.com for posting them online for free:
Lagrima by Tarrega
https://www.thisisclassicalguitar.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Tarrega-Lagrima-Free.pdf
Capricho Arabe by Tarrega
https://www.thisisclassicalguitar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Tarrega-Capricho-Arabe-Free.pdf
