Early rise at 6.15, well, early for my standards. Today I'm less bothered with 4 hours sleep than with sleeping too much! I walk home. My mother is just getting ready for work and my father is still asleep. Morning sitting exercise.
In the morning I go the dentist. There's a little problem, as the gum is obstructing the access to part of tooth that needs treatment, so the gum has to be cut, using some little tool I haven't seen before. Ouch! After this I go to get the haircut, keep it simple this time - just short! 12mm length, no scissors, just using the electric machine. Ah, feel much better for it now.
I spend the rest of the afternoon at home, with my dad.
In the evening we have a guitar meeting with Marcin in Konfederatów Barskich flat. Here's the report:
We arrive early, have a cup of tea and begin on time.
20.00-20.40 Sitting.
Tuning.
20.55 - Callisthenics:
Marcin calls for the 1st primary practice. We decide to work on 1234 permutation when ascending the fretboard, until 12th fret, and then it's mirror 4321 permutation when descending.
Metronome at 60. Work at different speeds, changing it after every ascencion-descencion:
Quarter notes
8th notes
8th notes triplets (add the count of 4 bars of 4 with this one)
16th notes
Move to the right hand: 4th Primary:
Metronome at 65.
Begin with an empty A string. Half notes, quarter notes. Move to an E string.
Then we work on the following patterns, practicing in quarter notes.
AEEE
DEEE
GEEE
Practice these carefuly, without looking at the hand. We find the last one particularly challenging - 2 strings skip. We play series of them, repeating each of them 8 times, then 4 times, 2 times and finally play the following pattern:
AEEE DEEE GEEE DEEE
Gradually build up the speed: quarter notes -> eight notes -> sixteenth notes.
Add 3 chords in g minor. It moves towards music.
21.55 Break. We are full of energy after this session. For me the question comes up: how to manage this?
22.20 - Repertoire:
Introduce
28 bars.
Getting familiar with the positions of the chords first. We already know three of them from the previous session. Play with the thumb.
We gradually learn the chord progression (form), we count the bar numbers & look at the fingerings. When this is memorized move to the right hand:
Metronome at 65
Begin with 8 bass notes. We count & name them.
Add empty E string on the offbeat. Establish this picking pattern.
We apply the chords and practice the piece, counting 28 bars of 8. At one point we move to what is possible - just count the bars numbers.
Move on, and work in one position to establish the complete picking pattern.
Then we extend it to all bars. At the end we play it without the metronome (with 2nd guitar part). Honourably.
There is a sense of accomplishment after this diligent practice, while being aware there's a lot of work ahead on this piece.
23.20 - The meeting completes.
It was a good and intense practice. Clearly a new beginning! Now Marcin has to quickly leave for the last 23.35 bus. I walk with him to the bus stop.
-------
Strong end of the week for me. Some stuff to be done before I hit the bed. It's 1.17 am now
