In the early fall I was dragging.  I had a hard time adjusting back to a non-recital practice format and Jon got tougher with me, demanding I work more on my hand positions and he also stopped writing out the chords coming at me.

A good thing that happened was my move out of my isolation to begin playing in a duo.  I have written about this new dimension to my push out of myself.  Sue is the head of her high school music department and began taking lessons with Jon when students showed an interest in classical guitar.  She was courageous, beginning an instrument along with her students and staying just a bit ahead of them.

When we began playing together we were both shy about playing together and as Jon maintains everyone comes with their strengths.  I agree. I think I bring my passion for the sound and the parts I’ve been playing allow me to do that.  Sue is on it with notes and the technique.  Both of us enjoy the experience and see a good reason to spend this time together.

After a longer than usual break, we came to our lesson yesterday more timid than usual.  It took most of the hour to really get comfortable again.  We are planning to start weekly lessons soon.  Jon was good.  We found our way through a piece we usually nail and Jon then patiently took us from the end backward,  line by line, section by section. Then the tougher piece and where I have been working on some of my tough parts, I was at a loss to be able to concentrate in front of someone other than Jon or Tuvia.

So I’m loving this and my sound is really taking off.  I am more in control of the beautiful piece of wood, I work on.

Since last April and my hard work preparing for my friend-based recital, I’ve had a hard time getting and staying in a new groove.  It’s been hard to get up the energy to practice and to do it for any length of time.  Life has been getting in the way and I haven’t stopped it.

My lesson schedule hasn’t been regular and that’s made my motivation even harder.  But somehow I do know I am getting better. My hands are following my head more and the sound just seems to get better.  I realized too, after my last lesson, that keeping my nails cut just right is critical.  I was playing with nails that were too long and they got in the way of the sound and finger movement.  After a good trim, wow, what a difference?  And the last few days were wonderful, even away from home with my older guitar.  I feel renewed. And on Friday I am moving to enlarging my playing challenges.  My teacher Jon and I will be joined by one of his other students, Sue, a very successful music teacher at a local high school.  Can you imagine how nervous I will be on Friday as I drive there for our first session.   I usually fake the counting of rests or figuring out notes on the high and low ends of the scale.  Oh well.  A new learning and growing adventure.

And life moves on…How wonderful!  You have that great moment that you’ve planned and worked for and it happens, it feels good and then what?  Then it’s the next day and up early you wonder, what’s next?  Life moves you on.  The sunshine blazes in the livingroom, the computer is filled with emails to answer, pieces of word that need attention, the Today Show plays, the coffee perks, exercise, time for exercise and the guitar calls…get back here.  Let’s move beyond together.

I’m ready for the next challenge!  What’s out there?

B K

As we close down the day watching the Sopranos for as much as Tuvia can stomach, we are both floating.  We shared this experience.  Sure, I was playing but it’s been an interesting collaboration.  I had my buddy Betsy cater the event and Tuvia really took over as she set up and left.

Jon arrived and we were able to just run thru our duet and that got me focused, although I was ready to just stop after we finished.  On my own it was lonely, tough.  I started strong and felt great but into the second line of the piece my left hand did its best to separate from the rest of BK machine and it started it shaking routine, but the head, my head, help on tight and even though the group could have been watching the hand I was challenged to move from chord to chord, note to note to create the most beautiful sound I could and more than not I did.  I lost it on that piece, my center, just as I was rounding third base and I held on for dear life repeating, to get back  and I did.  The other pieces moved.  The last one was a great finish and I am resolved that there will be many more efforts a public sharing…forget about a RECITAL.  I want to just share a piece, a part of a piece for friends. My resolution.  I want that hand to stop shaking it it won’t if I don’t play more in my expanded audience of the world.

I so love playing my guitar.  I love the learning…