Probably not a great idea to wash and polish car and have a marathon practice sesh all in one day. I'm starting to not be able to move my fingers.

So I figured out what I can't do on the harp, which is very quick, loud 3-1-2 turn-arounds, which rules out Tambourin and Rigaudon until my tennis elbow is better, and pushes recording and performing off to... sometime in the future. I was pretty depressed today, probably a combination of the weather and the above, and other things.

But! I just remembered I delivered Zarabanda to my engineer for final editing and prettifying, so that's something.

My tennis elbow has turned into a hand problem now, too. My elbow hurts less.

Trying to play Tambourin with my eyes closed to see if I can get better accuracy. It's sort of working.

Memorizing Fuga is easier than expected, but it goes out of my memory quickly.

I figured I'd do a little work on Pavane, since I pretty much already know it, and get that out of the way recording-wise, but I need to be organized about my work in order to undo the bad version of the chords in my hands that was cemented there in my younger days.

Rigaudon is actually close to ready to record, too.  It would be great to get all those out of the way, then I'd only have two pieces left, and whatever redo's I want.

I put the marking tape on my violin and got the strap configured so I can have hands-free.

Finally got that one line in Fuga. I was having problems with just two chords right next to each other, which would make me blow the rest of the line. Usually, I would practice the connection between the two chords, but this time I practiced from the second chord to the end, and from the beginning to the first chord. Then when I put it all together, it just magically happened.

Italian Pavane - another line learned. SO EASY.

And this is all despite taking a huge chunk out of my fingernail with a cutting knife last night. It grew enough today it didn't hurt too much this afternoon. It will probably be ok by tomorrow afternoon, but it will take probably a week before it gets back past past the quick.

Steam burned my finger today. Got a few measures of Italian Pavane learned before giving up in painful frustration.

It's one of those days where hands and arms are surprised I play the harp and my brain says, "What are all these STRINGS doing here?!?" Those days are better for learning, and learning slowly by creeping up on the goal speed instead of chaining. 

Three more measures learned in Fuga.

Also, when you get coconut splinters under your fingernail, it really hurts to do the "falling rain" effect with the backs of your fingernails.

Slammed my thumb at work today, and I'm using that as an excuse why I couldn't play trills in Rigaudon.

I also realized maybe part of the reason I can't focus is because I'm not writing a summary at the end of each practice sesh.

I am working towards polishing Tambourin and Rigaudon. I am doing that by playing each one until I make a mistake, working on the mistake, starting over from the beginning and hopefully going further the next time. Basically plowing through it.

I'm still working on Automne as a fun thing. It's almost done.

Sarabande, Giga, and Siciliano still need to be recorded.

I started Fuga and I think I'm going to hate it. I have to figure out how to play it so I like it.

I dropped a knife on my finger last night - not sure how that happened - and it's still gushing. I wasn't able to practice, really, but got my fingers warmed up enough to where they felt ok.

Siciliano REALLY needs the melody line brought out, and the mid-range quietened.

Gavotte - need to learn the additions I made.

Tambourin - continue work on trills.

My thumbs - now plural - have not healed enough yet for me to play as much as I want.  But I did manage to get most of Tambourin knocked out.  I have a feeling it's going to give me more problems than Siciliano.

Waiting for skin to grow back.

Callus peeled off thumb. Again. But manage to get first page of Siciliano completely done before it got too painful.

Blister.

Switched to working on website.

May have blisters, so only played an hour in order to save fingers for recording tomorrow. Hopefully I stopped in time.

Drilled Chaconne in prep for tomorrow.

Warmed up with (Inquietude).

Things that delayed my practice:
One light bulb in ceiling fixture burned out.  Got chair. Stood on chair to remove light covering. Went to wash dead bugs out of covering and get light bulb. Sighed at full sink of dishes. Did dishes before washing cover. Cover washed. Removed old light bulb, installed new light bulb.  Discarded empty light bulb packaging, put chair away.  Walked back into room, which was decidedly too bright.  Went and got chair, discarded packaging, and lesser wattage light bulb.  Removed cover, installed new bulb, replaced cover. Put away chair, discarded new packaging.  Walked back into room, other light bulb burned out.  Went and got chair and original bulb.  Removed light cover, removed old bulb, installed original higher wattage new bulb, replaced cover.  Put chair away and practiced in a too-bright room.  This is why I have trouble getting things done.

Practiced trouble spots on 1st two pages Chaconne. Need to do two more tomorrow.  Need to do at least 2 hours to reacquire endurance lost on vacation.

Went through Arabesque.

Third rt finger still hurts.

Figuring out sampling in audacity vs. fl studio.

Random pain in 3rd finger cut practice short.  Would like to list what I need to work on in detail.

Today was the first session of field recording/writing/playing with Audacity that I set up for myself.  Here's how it went:
- Turned on recorder yesterday to find batteries dead.
- Tried to record around the house with power plug.
- Spent 1 hour of part of hour set aside for both field recording and writing going to store for batteries.
- Sat down to write and spent most of time organizing all the little bits of paper I've written stuff on into one space.
- Downloaded sounds off my microphone.

My hand was doing much better until I started knitting. :/

Tried to record again today and was successful in not having background laundry/construction noise, but my fingers hurt so much I couldn't do very much. And whatever I did to my tendon by sleeping on it however is still hurting. Very disappointed.

However, was wondering about recording on four tracks with microphone and turning up back mics to get more room sound.

Really good practice today - was able to concentrate on chaining needed part of Chaconne and have success. Need to chain more tomorrow - section marked.  Stopped early because my fingers are STILL tender and I want to sew.  My fingers appear to be getting tougher, but not quickly.

Also started the process of getting permission to record copyrighted pieces for an album.  First step appears to be getting a mechanical license.  Actually, first step is finding out who owns the copyright, or where pieces are registered. It's confusing.

Ok, so maybe I have blisters on all my fingers.

I think I gave myself 3 blisters today. One for sure because it's visible, and possibly two more that are hidden deep under the skin.

Yesterday, I made a practice schedule out through the end of September 2014. Then I read that your learning time either expands or contracts to fill the time you've allotted yourself to learn  said thing. Based on that, I'm going to revise the schedule as I go along to try to push myself to get things done more quickly.

However, like today, when pushing myself I quickly see what my limits are. And they are short. Very, very short.

I need to work on trills with rt hand 1&2 exercises for Chaconne.