Becoming a Better Musician…
Next blog entry in this series can be found here.
I don’t typically post personal blog entries on my blog, as evidenced by the fact that I didn’t have a category by that title until now, so I hope you’ll forgive me for posting this one.
For the last 4 years or so I’ve been keeping busy with work and family. So much so that I haven’t made time to play the guitar and was too wise to try while the kids slept (anyone who’s ever seen a 3am child induced evil eye will understand what I mean). Now that my kids are sleeping better, it’s time to break out the 6 string again.
I have an admission to make though: I don’t remember lyrics. Ever. Not popular camp fire songs, not even Oh Canada. To make it even more embarrassing, I don’t remember the words to songs that I’ve written myself, including my wedding song (though to be fair, I can make my way through more than half of it from memory).
So, how can I fix this? Practice of course, but how can I make sure that I follow through with the practice? This blog, and the subsequent ones are my attempt. If it doesn’t work, this is going to be, gulp, awkward.
As a disclaimer, I have played before. It’s just been a while since I’ve done so at a level I’m happy with. I play guitar and I sing. Since I was paid 50 bucks once to play at a bar, I guess you can say that I’ve even done so professionally. But even then I was never able to do it without my idiot sheets in front of me.
So, here goes…
I pledge to post a recording of myself playing a song from memory once a week for the next 5 weeks.
First song will be posted by midnight on November 5th, 2009 and will be “I don’t want to grow up” by Tom Waits. I chose that one because I like it and I’d really like to know the words by heart.
If you don’t know the song have a look, and you’re welcome in advance:
So, tune in next week for this weeks exciting conclusion…
Edit: My friend Bill Love just sent me the following picture as a joke, but it might just be the perfect mnemonic for me! I can “see” the picture in my mind and follow along with it! Thanks Bill! It’s my desktop background for the rest of the week.
Very cool! I have the same problem, except in my case it’s exacerbated by a lack of talent and a slight fear of performing in front of other people. Other than that, I’m fine!
Q: Someone on twitter asked if I’d be streaming it.
A: I don’t own a video camera, so nope. I’ll just be recording it and uploading it. Technically I could cheat, but anyone who knows me knows I wouldn’t do that.
I am thrilled to see you are taking the time for your music. I would love another christmas song.
It started like
It’s Christmas time what a wonderful?????
I have the copy of Beautiful Rose.
Keep practising because you know your Dad’s guitar will be waiting for you so you can continue to play with you son when he gets older.
Practice and enjoy
@Ma My mom reads my blog!? wtf lol
Just trying to play it now. Why didn’t I pick “All together now by the beatles”? Oh yeah, it sucks.
Great idea Allain. I have the same problem and was hoping you’d have a magic bullet … do this and you’ll remember lyrics in 5 minutes. Dang.
Perhaps your magic bullet is to not give yourself the choice and do it publicly so that the fear failure/peer pressure keeps you motivated.
We (i.e. you, me and Bill) should jam again … last time was really fun. Rock on!