Mandolin Reflection #5

Am C G

------------------0--------------0-x-----------------------0-----------x-0-------------------3
----------0--------------0---------x----------3-----------------3-----x------------2---------
--------------2--------------2-----x----------------2--------------2--x----------------0----
-----5------------------------------x----0-----------------------------x---------0-------------



G

---------------3-----------------------3----------------3------------------0------------0
-----2-------------------2-------------------2---------------------0-----------0--------
----------0---------------------0------------------0--------------------2-----------2----
--------------------0--------------------------------------------5-------------------------



G Am C
----------------3------------3-------------------0--------------0--------------------0------------0
-------2------------2-------------------0-------------0--------------------3-------------3---------
-----------0------------0-------------------2--------------2--------------------2-------------2----
---0--------------------------------5-----------------------------------0----------------------------



Am G Am
---------------0---------------0------------------3-------------3-----------------0------------0
-------0-------------0--------------------2-----------2--------------------0----------0--------
-----------2--------------2-------------------0------------0-------------------2-----------2---
---5----------------------------------0---------------------------------5------------------------




C G Am
--------------0------------0------------------3-------------3------------------0
-------3------------3----------------2------------2------------------0---------
-----------2------------2-----------------0------------0-------------------2---
---0-----------------------------0-------------------------------5---------------


Repeat x 2, with harmony second time.


This is the tablature to a song that I composed on the mandolin (which has lyrics that I will not post). It has a fairly basic chord progression, essentially just Am, C, Am, G with some variation, but the plucking pattern is more complex. If you are at all familiar with reading tabs, you will understand; if not, what this says is basically to pluck the bottom string, pluck the third string from the bottom, pluck the second string from the bottom, pluck the last string. That pattern goes for each chord with a smooth transition. At the end of the first verse, the plucking turns into strumming in the same meter, which continues into the third verse; halfway through the third verse, the strumming slows and gets quieter, then turns into the plucking again. I don't know how to post recordings to my blog, but once I do I will. Composing this song was a lot of fun, and it's also brought me some new challenges. Right now I am working on a song built around two chords, but that uses plucking and variations on the chords. It's harder because I have to discover new things and new chords and new sound combinations, but it sounds beautiful so far.

Ballet Reflection # 9

I had missed ballet for the two weeks prior to this class due to a foot injury (tendonitis in my heel) so I was a bit rusty when I came back into class. I noticed that missing the two weeks had a slight impact on my performance: I wasn't as flexible at barre stretches, I got dizzy while doing the turns, etc. However, as the class went on I got back into the swing of things. We were doing a lot of jumping and running type moves. For example, some rather fancy footwork reminiscent of figure skating that involves a backwards shastee, a leap, and a turn in the air that lands in arabesque. I actually found that I did better on these more complex moves than I had when we first learned them the class before, so that was a relief. It was an exhausting class and I went home and slept like a log afterwards. I have discovered that I am quite good at fluid movements -- for example, the swan lake arms and the "ending" part, which involves swan lake arms, then tandue, put one leg behind you while raising one arm up in fifth position over your head and then bowing on one leg, all in one sweeping movement. This bodes well for my future ballet endeavors.

LIFE Reflection #2

I made plans with Barbara this weekend to play at the enxt open mic night for LIFE. It benefits the organization, and members of the group can perform as well. This is the first I've gotten to talk to Barbara about more I can do for LIFE, so I am excited to be able to do something that I love to do to help the organization. She is going to tell me the date soon.

Homemade for the Holidays #1

I am currently in the process of crocheting a hat for Homemade for the Holidays. I know that I said I would do 3 scarves, and I plan to. However, I have been wanting to learn how to crochet for a while now, and I thought that this is a good opportunity to do so, as hats are needed just as much as scarves in this program. It's a fairly complicated pattern, and it should make a warm thing for somebody to wear. I am almost finished with it and will be able to start with my new project, which will be a crocheted scarf with a different kind of crochet pattern. This gives me almost 1 thing to donate to the program, which brings me a third of the way to my goal (which I plan to surpass anyways).

Mandolin Reflection #4

Because I have some idea that I might like to be a musician later in life, I have been trying to become more familiar with the mandolin by composing simple songs on it. It's a lot of fun and I actually prefer it to composing on guitar, and more importantly it's been helpful with learning about chords and variations. Generally, I start with one chord as a base; for example, in a recent song, C. I then place one finger on a different fret on a different string, the effect of which is that it flows smoothly and that it creates a varied, but beautiful sound. It's really great because I have gotten to experiment with chords and picking, how to incorporate the two, moving beyond chords and different methods of playing, dissonance, and more things that are more sophisticated, musically. I will post the tablature for some of the songs I've written, or find a way to attach an audio file.

Mandolin Reflection #3

While waiting to sign up for lessons at Jack's Drum Shop again, I thought that I would continue to practice what I hard started in my 4 lessons so I don't get rusty. Recently, I've been working on strumming, which is a lot more difficult than it sounds. In order to pick/strum efficiently, one has to keep a consistent beat, but you will have to skip strums, depending on the song. It's very hard to stay to one pattern of picking when it's far easier and more natural to just strum when you have to and change up your pattern according to where you are in the song. It's hard to do, and it feels unnatural, but it's good form, and if I don't learn it, it will only hinder me later when I become more advanced.To practice this, I've been playing more songs from my lesson book and also learning chord songs. I figured it would be easier to start with chords songs, because that way I don't have to worry about which strings to pick in addition to worrying about strum pattern. The songs I've been practicing on are "The Captain and Hourglass" by Laura Marling, which has a fairly complex strumming pattern and only 3 chords (Em, G, and D), "Time on Your Side" by Emily Jane White, which has a strum pattern that is good to practice because it sounds inconsistent, so I have to be on my toes about when to strum but not hit the strings and has more complicated chords (C, G, Em, Dm, E, and a few others), and 'All My Lovin'" by the Beatles, which I already knew but have been practicing with because of its simple chord progression and fairly simple strum pattern. It doesn't feel entirely natural all the time, but I notice that if I just start by playing a consistent strum pattern and slowly start to drop strums in the right places, it starts to feel natural, and generally sounds better. I plan to continue practicing this way on my own, at least 10 minutes every other day.

Mandolin Reflection #2

I still need to sign up for Mandolin lessons at Jack's Drum shop again, but in the meantime I have been playing a lot independently. I thought that a good activity would be to use my mandolin lesson book to get more involved with the music theory aspects of mandolin, the more technical side. I started with practicing my scales, and learning the notes on each string. Once I felt comfortable playing scales, I began to learn songs from my lesson book that involved rapidly playing different notes, first on one string, then as the songs got more complicated, incorporating more strings. It's hard to move fast, because not only do I have to remember where to put my fingers, there are multiple strings I have to be switching between. Furthermore, the songs call for playing only one string at a time, which is very difficult to do, because I have to watch my form with the pick. However, I've definitely gotten more comfortable with that, and it shows in my guitar playing as well as my mandolin playing.

Ballet Reflection # 8

I came in late to this class, due to car troubles, but it was still a good class. We've been learning more steps with complex arm movements and turns, as well as a new barre stretch - fondue, "to melt". The newer things are becoming more complex with coordination of legs, arms, and stretching. It wasn't anything different, except for learning a few new moves. However, my teacher asked me after class if I would like to move up to the intermediate class in the beginning of the new semester, which is in January. She said she thought the class was moving to slow for me and that I had natural ability for ballet; so I guess that is a way of showing that I have been progressing in the class, since I've only been taking ballet for a month and a half or so. So in January I will be moving up to the intermediate level, rather than remaining in my beginner class for the next semester.

Mandolin Reflection #1

I have been trying my best to use my mandolin wherever I can, so that I can get used to playing it and become better through experience. I guess that my first "performance" was in history class, when I used the mandolin to make up a song to make my history project. My group and I wanted to have something that would distinguish our presentation on the Communist Party of Germany from the rest of the presentations, to do something that would be fun but still informative. We chose to do the song to the tune of "All My Lovin'" by the Beetles, and I wrote new lyrics that would actually fit in with the German communist views ("seize the factories and means of production, etc. etc.). There is a video of it on YouTube, and I actually think it went pretty well. It was a fairly simple chord progression, just the notes Am, D, G, Em in various combinations of being played. The first line was a bit on the rough side - I played the wrong chord, and that threw us for a second; but once we recovered, the rest of the song went perfectly, really. It got better as it progressed, and the transitions were smoother. But all the same, I think that it was pretty decent considering I had been playing for less than 2 months when it was filmed. Here is a link:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLgkbsPz3Ek

I think that especially after the first verse, the mandolin sounds quite good. I had a consistent strumming pattern and the chords were well-played, and played correctly. I think it was a good way to do a "first performance", even if it was only in front of my history class. It also taught me the importance of preparing well in advance, because if I hadn't, then I think that I would have messed up the chords out of nervousness. It's good to know for future performances I might do, such as ones at the open mic nights.

Ballet Reflection #6

This week's ballet was the most exhausting ballet has been so far, but definitely the most rewarding. It was a lot of energy; we were running around the whole class and doing very aerobic moves. In did all of my barre stretches with my foot on the higher barre, parallel to about my shoulders, without much discomfort, something I certainly would not have been able to do when I first started. I also managed to improve my arabesques. Arabesque is hard, because your back has to be bent at a difficult angle - your leg is extended straight out behind you, but your chest has to be as if you are standing up straight, all while balancing on one leg. It is uncomfortable, but my posture has definitely improved in that. I also noticed that I am much, much better at balancing. I find it very easy to balance on my tiptoes in fifth position, with our without my arms out, whereas a month ago I was not able to balance on my toes at all. I noticed further my better balance when we did our turns, which I feel like I finally nailed this week. I was able to spin rapidly across the floor on my toes in a straight line, with good flow and form and without getting dizzy and falling down. I have been almost able to do this for several weeks, but I feel like I finally really got it this week. This has also improved my turns en passe, which are more difficult because you have to lift one leg off the ground and bring it so it is touching your knee (creating a "4" shape with your legs), all while balancing on tiptoe and spinning smoothly and repeatedly. Doing my turns to the left is still hard, but I feel like I have turns to the right almost perfect. This week I noticed a huge improvement in more than just ability to do the moves, but in the way that my body moves and works to make the moves easier.

LIFE Reflection #1

My first experience working with Barbara Oliver for L.I.F.E. was helping her film and edit clips. We started by interviewing a woman who lives in the LIFE apartments, a recently married handicapped woman, about her garden. Barbara knew how to use the camera better, so she did most of the filming and had me work as a guide to the woman, to lead her in the direction she was supposed to go, and to prompt her with questions. I used the camera several times, something that I have never attempted to do before. We also went into her house and interviewed/filmed about her home, what she did, her hobbies, etc. Afterwards, we went to Barbara's office and uploaded the clips onto the computer. The biggest part of making the movie, I found, was not the filming (although that was time consuming, as we went to about 3 different locations and had to do re-takes, but deciding what clips to use. We ended up with about 15 clips for what would ultimately be about a minute-long video. Barbara and I debated for a while about which ones to use; I found that I had to really think about what would be most effective in a short video to help the cause of LIFE, and which clips were most informative, and then the ways in which they should be put together. We decided on some of the clips, but we weren't able to start editing the video and putting it together because the software she normally uses was not working. However, next time we plan to continue with editing and even more filming. I found that this was a really good experience. I honestly was not expecting to enjoy myself, but I genuinely liked learning to use the camera and looking for the right lighting and composition for video clips (as I like art, it plays to my interests and strengths), and I liked trying to pick which clips were the best to put together for a really effective video. I also found that I was very impressed with the woman that we were interviewing. I've never really spent a long amount of time with a handicapped person outside of middle school, and I was really amazed by how she handled herself. She was definitely struggling, but I really liked talking to her and seeing the way she lived. It was really quite inspiring to see how she works to live, not limited by any kind of handicap. I will hopefully be seeing Barbara soon, and we will continue this work.

Ballet Reflection #5

This Monday was my first class in two weeks, and none of the other students showed up, so I had a pricate class. It was very nice, because the teacher was able to focus on fine-tuning some smaller things that might need work; for example, she helped me with my plies in fifth position and my arabesques. She taught me some new steps (the names of which I cannot remember), and I notice that they are getting significantly harder. The steps she taught me were reminiscent of figure skating, which I took for several years when I was younger. I noticed that I have improved a lot on my shenae turns, staying in a straight line as I twirl and not getting too dizzy. I also have become much more flexible; I can go down further in a split than I have ever been able to before, and I started doing my barre stretches with my foot on the taller barre. It was an exhausting class, because I was working consistently and the teacher was focusing on me getting things exactly right. I am still seeing a lot of progress in my ballet.

Ballet Reflection #4

As the weeks go by, the difficulty of what I learn in ballet goes up and up. I am amazed that this is only my fourth lesson, because every week we seem to progress into more and more complex steps. This class I noticed that my shenae turns are getting much better; I don't end up so dizzy, and I move across the floor in a far more straight line. I also notice that I am much more flexible when we do our stretches against the bar, and my leg will move much further up. Today we started to make the basic things more complicated; for example, adding plies into some of the moves, and speeding up our frappes. We also learned some new and more complex footwork. It was hard to keep up with, but I almost take that as a god thing because it shows that I am attaining a level of greater difficulty. My legs have been sore ever since the lesson, and my arms as well; I have been much better at holding my arms the right way, which is an exhausting thing to do. All in all, I am excited that we are doing so many new, complicated things, and I am definitely getting stronger and more flexible.

Ballet Reflection #3

My ballet class the other night was mostly review of what we had learned in the previous two classes. There was a new person in the class, so the other student and I aren't getting as much individual attention, but I know the basics well enough now that I am confident I will be fine. The warm ups and basics come very naturally to me now - plies and piques and arabesques feel very normal to me now, as well as things that are tricky at first, such as foot positioning. For example, in first position the feet are together at the heels and pointed away from each other at an angle. At first this felt quite abnormal, but now it feels normal to start in that position and then to return to it after my foot has been moving around. Essentially, the simple things have become pretty automatic. I have also noticed that I am improving on the other things we learned, like jumping in arabesque, balancing, and the various twirls I have been taught. I was not at all tired at the end of the class, but I did feel relaxed and well-exercised, like I had a good workout. I am ready for the physical intensity go up, I think, because I have definitely built up strength in my legs and improved my balance. Between classes I have been practicing my positions and other steps, so I am improving quickly.

Ballet Reflection #2

In this week's class, we continued to progress very quickly. The beginning of the lesson was dedicated to reviewing some of the things we had learned before, basics such as positions and plies, arabesques, and stretches, etc. The next three-quarters of the lesson was spent learning more complicated steps and moves. For example, we learned how to leap in arabesque and different complicated spins, as well as improving our positioning and footwork. I was surprised by how easily the harder things from last week came to me when I tried them again, and also at how easily I was able to pick up the more complicated steps this time. I also tired less easily in this class, possibly partially because I practiced during the week. I think that I am making good progress in ballet, and am looking forward to the next class.

Ballet Reflection #1

Monday was my first ballet class at the conservatory, and I thought it went really well for a first lesson. There is only one other woman in the class, with whom I get along, so the teacher is able to really focus on how we are doing compared to in a larger class. We learned a lot for the first day, probably more than 10 or 15 different things: I don't remember all the names, but there were first position and plies, second position and plies, deep plies, ballet stretches, arabesques and piques, among many other things. It was a lot to take in for a first lesson, and by the end of it my legs were quite sore (but in a good way). The two person class is moving quite quickly since there are so few of us and we are both picking it up quickly. There isn't much to say, except that I learned a lot of things, far more than I would expect for the first lesson, and managed to work up a sweat. I have been practicing my balance and different moves since Monday, and I am quite excited for my next lesson.