Water

Here's link to a new recording: http://www.4shared.com/file/108500506/4f140c59/Water.html

It's good idea to turn the volume up, as it's not very loud.

24th May 2009

I came up with the groovy riff + 3 chords progressions that could potentially form a basis of a piece. But it will have to wait until I get the electric, and others to play it with ...

23rd May 2009

Today I record the third piece I commited to write and record: Water.

Paweł helps to record it, we use his gear.

I didn't get much practice in the last few days, and it's pretty obvious in my playing, also many tension from the last week are still in my body.

But there you go. I go for 3 takes and eventually chose the second one. Now the question is how to convert the Cubase file into mp3/wav. For now we are unable to do it on Paweł's PC.

Once the mp3 file is ready I will post the link to it.

And be careful here - this guy is totally serious!

Practice last week

The pattern this week:

Feet: LRRR
Hands: LRRLR

Count:

- 4 bars of 5
- 5 bars of 4

Basic form + 3 variations.
Reversed form + 3 variations.

So 8 patterns altogether.

Monday:

Hectic day, no practice.

Tuesday:

15 minutes. I'm exhausted. The basic form is too much today.

Wednesday:


Basic form + variation 1.

My mind is cooked after another draining day, so i treat it gently, relax.

Thursday

10 minutes.

Variations 1 & 2

Friday:

Basic form variation 3.

Then go through reversed basic form with its all variations. Complete this week's exercise.

My attention frees up today, and more is possible. I think it's also due to the fact that today was the last day of challenging week at the school, and consequently - a release.

* * * * * * *

Now a week off from the Project. We'll be back on the 1st June for the final two weeks of work with Alain P.

21th May

Short guitar time in the evening. I'm tired & dozy.

The new piece is nearly ready. I'll record it this weekend.

20th May

I had some short, but quality time with guitar today.

Vater developed in a new different direction. Being out of its way helped.

19th May

Another day when there's no time for guitar... Well, that's how it goes sometimes.

19th May

A hectic week, this one. I will post one weekly notes on Saturday.

Less asleep

One straight hour of 2nd Primary work.

Challenging & grounding, it woke me up to a certain degree (less asleep that is)

Play

I have noticed a different quality in my play recently. Something is definitely different, but I can't quite put my name on it.

One thing is sure: I do enjoy it.

Not reliable

Work on the 3rd variation today. Although I discharged it with both ways of counting at some point, it's not something reliable. I couldn't repeat the basic form + other 3 variations just like that, there's no certainty here.

I paid attention to the softness of the feet, and the efortlessness and sense of calm did spread.

End of the week. Back to the exercise on Monday.

Water

I enjoyed playing today. And the new piece Water continues to develop in its own natural speed. I'm going to record it next week.

In the park

Last night I dropped the practice (DoA & guitar). I was in a negative state and felt it's inappropriate. Instead I addressed my emotional state.

And today I used the time gap I had in the city centre and practiced outside in the park. Lovely surroundings, many parents & children around.

And how was it? Well, nobody gave me strange looks, children didn't cry or run away, so it was quite alright.

Work on the current exercise (2nd variation)

Yes to evening play

Anchor exercise for 15 minutes, then play.

I was distracted during time with guitar in the afternoon.

Guitar time after evening exercise was peaceful though, very supportive time to work on the new piece indeed.

End-gaining muscles

During practicing today I noticed that as far as my body is concerned, my belly muscles are at the centre of end gaining, at least on that level I am aware of.

So today I look at this reaction.

-------

Establish the basic form & 1st variation of the exercise. In order to maintain the pattern flowing I have to be attentive to its every beat. Most distracting to being attentive today were recurring thoughts & on-going inner analysis.

Late evening practice

Continue to work on 3 against 5 pattern. Every limb is involved in tapping here.

Pay attention to the softness, or its lack in the feet, as recommended.

Yesterday I realized that the movement of the feet can work using the same principle as the movement of the right hand when striking the string (The Principle of Release) So there is no doing here. I don't do tap the foot, just allow the tension necessary for the foot to be above the floor to release.

It's late and I'm less attentive than earlier during the day and than I would wish to be. Go through the basic form without counting, then just work on individual patterns:

Feet in 5, count of 5 bars of 3.
Feet in 3, count of 3 bars of 5.
Hands in 5, count of 5 bars of 3.
Hands in 3, count of 3 bars of 5.

Double speed.

E minor

45 minutes today:

C-harmonic minor, play through some Bach pieces & continue to work on a new piece. It begins in e minor...

10th May 2009

Practice Day with Marek:

SESSION 1:

2nd Primary:

Metronome at 60BPM.

We begin with giving part of attention to our right hand.

Accented & alternate picking. From whole notes to 16th notes.

Stay with 16th notes. We work on the exercise of skipping every 4th note of the bar. Then every 3rd, 2nd & 1st. We count.

During practice and at the end of it we come back to the right hand and pay attention to it.

45 minutes.

*** 15 MINUTES BREAK ***

SESSION 2:

We acknowledge certain fellow GC students.

Gradually approach Tremolo Picking Pattern.

Begin with 8 bass notes.

Then add E string on the off-beat.

Basing on this we gradually extend the number of bars of the 28 Bars piece.

We practice with & without counting in the following speeds: 62 - 52 - 72 - 40 - 80

Reach 20 bars, stop here.

45 minutes.

SESSION 3:

Division of Attention without guitars.

4th Primary:

Slowly and gradually build up to the following pattern:

GEEE DEEE AEEE DEEE

And then extend it to the complete 28 Bars picking pattern.

Play through all the piece.

75 minutes.

SESSION 4:

1st Primary.

Some approaches to practice 24 Permutations.

Extend 4th Primary exercise to Aspiration, and play solos on top of them. Then play around arpeggio part of Be Here, with solos & more spontaneous play.

We complete at 19:55

55 minutes.

10th May 2009

25 minutes practice with Marek.

We establish the pattern in the feet: Left Right.

Then add the count of 3 and the pattern in the hands: Left Right Right.

So it's 2 against 3.

This is impossible, so we establish what is possible and take it from there.

We keep going with the feet & counting and establish what is possible with hands: tapping 'Left' on count of '1'.

Once this is established add 'Right' on count of '2'.

When it's too much, we take step back and come back to what is possible, and then take it from there again. The Principle guides us...

We establish the complete pattern, let go of counting, and let the pattern integrate into the body.

We end with intention, and give our Attention to the sounds outside ... and then beyond those sounds ...

Inner talk

The current exercise I'm working on requires 5 beats attention span.

The first variation of the basic form the pattern fell into place straightaway, and when going through the cycle for the second time I said to myself something like: 'hmm, this never happened before', being bit impressed with myself. My voluntary attention got lost and engaged in the automatic considering at that point, and it's easy to guess that the pattern fell apart very quickly.

I spend few minutes at the end of the practice sending good wishes to somebody in need.