Here is a list of the reasons I didn't really practice today: I'm having an off day, I have an unusual headache, my thumb joint hurt, my harp is buzzing (A-NNOY-ING), it's too nice a day to be inside.

I started Impromptu-Caprice today. It's something I've been wanting to learn for years and kept thinking "someday". Today is someday, so I made a practice plan. It's not going to take the place of what I'm currently working on or other pieces I have planned, rather it's going to lurk in the background with much lower priority. I think it will take about a year to learn properly.

Both my thumb joints have become increasingly achy.

Checked off two more lines in Zarabanda review. One line each yesterday and today.

My entire rt hand is kind of achy now, instead of just the thumb joint. And it's traveling up into my arm, so I'm going to go slap the old heating pad on it and read.

I managed to get the 2nd piece corrected (I think) in Two Pieces for Harp.

I played Folk Song II in it's entirety, with no mistakes at half speed. This is a doozy. And I seem to be in such a funk that I wasn't even having my usual fun playing it. But it was nice to achieve the half speed.

Recorded Folk Song II to give a listen. Not bad, but need to practice with quarter notes so I can get proper beats.

Marked up and recorded 1st song in Two Pieces for Harp by Flagello. So far, it's not intriguing me too much. And there are a ton of errors in pedal markings and rhythms.

I got some good work done on Folk Song II - I just needed to focus, something which I can't always do. Trouble spots worked on and almost worked out so I can sort of play it at half speed.

Folk Song I is ready for recording at half speed. I kind of think I already know where the trouble spots are, though.

I stopped playing because my rt thumb joint was killing me.

I've been posting practice notes mentally, which I guess is a good thing. It shows I'm paying attention and remembering what I'm doing in my practice sessions?

Last Saturday, I sliced my thumb while washing dishes. Thankfully, it didn't go too deep due to calluses, but I took a day off.

I think I may have successfully recorded the song I wrote, plus LGR. I just need to get the mental energy to analyze and process them.

And I need to check when I started LGR here because I didn't write it down on my practice sheet. Something else to remember for next time. ETA: July 2012. So almost a year. Darn.

Recording The Drive didn't quite go as planned, due both to outside noises, and noises inside the piece that don't belong there. So it needs a skosh more work.

Looking Glass River I thought was close to being ready to record, until, that is, I tried to record it. I get so self conscious when I'm recording that everything falls apart. I've probably said before, but I guess I should record more often during my practice sessions.

Read through (Mirage) by Salzedo, just because I love some of the chords in it, and didn't feel like getting up from the harp just quite yet.

Now I can play LGR again. WTH?


Scanned and printed out some pages to avoid page turns.

One more line of Folk Song 1.

Folk Song 2 needs work to get up to 50, but I needed a break from it.

My song I wrote is to the point where I need to do a detailed trawl to make sure both hands are playing precisely together.

LGR - I think this is one of the ones I give up on, or just play it as well as I can and call it done.

Folk Song #2 - 2nd page checked off

Folk Song #1 - at this point my concentration and stamina ran out.

Um. I did stuff? I checked things off lists.

I've definitely made progress with LGR and noticeably with Folk Song 2. Oh, and the piece I wrote.

Only got in 1.5 hours today. But I consider that to be better than the 5 I told myself was the minimum.

Got some good work done, I think.

LGR - pg3 mid 80s.

Zarabanda shouldn't take too much work. FLW.

Folk Song2 needs spot work at 80.

I made notes on The Drive, which I can't remember now, but are safely written on the actual music. Something about dynamics and making sure both hands are playing at the same time. So nothing new.

I made up charts for the next two pieces so I have something to alternate with Folk Song 2 and LGR. I'm going to be starting on Folk Song 1 and Zarabanda (again).

LGR third page is better now.  Should be able to start working on it again. Maybe not tomorrow, but Sunday.

LGR - I did go back to square one, and the first page seems to be pretty solid. The second page seems to be relatively solid. But the last page is still troublesome - like I've never learned it/seen it/played it before.

Folk Song 2 is so much fun to play. It's like the abandon I had when I used to bang on the piano before I knew how to play, but is absolutely gorgeous. It's almost all up to ♩=80. It was apparently originally for flute and harp and there are three. Also, I'm not sure if I want to play it at the recommended speed, both because I don't think I can physically do some of the things in the piece and I've listened to it sped up, and I can't hear all the beautiful notes - they need to have some space.

It took me two  h o u r s  to put finger markings in my song in Finale.

I haven't been feeling the need to keep track of my progress here as I have a list next to my harp and am checking things off there.

I have one of those blisters (or something) that doesn't stop hurting with playing, so no practicing today.

LGR - Based on how far back this has slid, I think I need to start my "campaign" all over again. The other solution "Practiceopedia" recommended was to leave it alone for a while, but I think that's what the problem is - it's got challenging areas that need regular maintenance (not necessarily constant).

Berceuse - I keep wanting to type this, but I'm done with it!

Folk Song 2 - A couple more lines done. I really don't know how this is supposed to be played at ♩ =100.

The song I wrote which I will need to name at some point - How did I write something I can't play?

Trying to learn the piece I wrote, which I guess I need to name. There are some tricky turn-arounds.

LGR - Chaining last 2 lines. Got one measure done. Not sure what to do about the rest of the piece.

Folk Song 2 - two more lines learned with dynamics.