I may have solved my back problems today. Before I screwed my knee and lost 2 weeks of practice, I was getting frequent back pain from sitting in the same position for so many hours. I assumed it was my posture, but I couldn't find the source; I sit up straight in a relaxed, balanced position with minimal tension. I wound up switching positions (guitar on left leg vs. right leg) or standing every few minutes in order to manage the discomfort.
I got an info packet from LAMA on practice techniques today. There's not much I haven't already read on the topic, but I took note of their mention that a good posture shouldn't inhibit breathing. I used to swim avidly, and my lungs still seem abnormally efficient; I only require shallow, infrequent breaths while inactive. So I focused on drawing deep breaths while playing, and voila! Instant comfort. Time will tell whether this was a fluke, but I was already getting those old pains in my back in the last few days, and I saw a marked improvement today.
I had a funny idea today to use my heart as a metronome. It's obviously not a rock-solid tempo, but it would be an interesting exercise in bodily awareness while playing. The concept seems simple enough. I just need a heart monitor that beeps like those hospital machines, but it seems everything available just displays the heart rate without indication of every beat. No reports of musical applications appear on Google either. I sense another nerd project in my future.
I had my knee surgerized yesterday. Arthroscopic meniscectomy. I twisted my knee and popped something out of place 2 weeks ago and was on crutches and drugs until yesterday's surgery. I'm no longer on crutches. That, combined with Gramps's passing, is behind my recent lack of blog activity.
I practiced for 4 or 5 hours today, more than I've managed in a while. I am indeed rusty, and I need to finish my LAMA scholarship audition and application by June 6.
Now that I'm able to practice again, it's time to sharpen my chops back to where I was 2 weeks ago. I made significant progress today. I may only need another day or two. I'm mostly running scales (2-note-per-string pentatonics, 3-note-per-string diatonics) and arpeggios (maj7, 7, m7, m7b5) to do this. I'll shoot for a full 8-hour day tomorrow with a few hours dedicated to each audition piece and hopefully some sight reading as well.
My grandfather passed away on Tuesday. We called him "Gramps." He was a marine, the greatest man I'll ever know, and my best friend.
He died peacefully, surrounded by family. We celebrated his 90th birthday just three days prior. My birthday present to him was an arrangement and performance of the Marines' Hymn on acoustic guitar. I'm deeply saddened by his death, but overjoyed that I was able to play this for him on his birthday.
I made a recording of it today. The sound isn't great, but it's the best I can do with what I've got. The arrangement is based on Sammy Nestico's "Marines' Hymn Apotheosis" and borrows from popular military band arrangements.
Same speed as last time, but better sound running it through the computer. I've gained more confidence playing on this tune since take 2, although I botched a few parts above. I'm not 100% consistent with everything, but I just need 1 good take for the final. Nearly there.
And yes, that's the same shirt 3 days in a row. I only wear it for as long as it takes to record, so it's acceptable.
This is the end of the video progress series. The next one I post will be the final LAMA scholarship audition clip, hopefully next week, maybe later if I need more time. It's not officially due until June, but I want it out of the way so I can focus on other things.
My grandfather passed away on Tuesday. We called him "Gramps." He was a marine, the greatest man I'll ever know, and my best friend.