The previous two weeks were pretty stale for me on the mandolin front. I got in two good days of practice in L.A., but that’s about it. It showed during my lesson with Taterbug on Tuesday. He had given me the assignment of creating my own solo to “When You Are Lonely” using some of the licks and ideas from our previous work – I didn’t really have anything to show for. I couldn’t even play the solo off the score very well.
Mike was very cool about it – there was no such smack down at all really. But he did want me to try again and bring something “to convince him” at the next lesson.
In truth this is what I needed. I needed more time with the piece and more time to practice. As I told Taterbug, I am just starting to get into the meat of the thing.
I got to jam a bit with my friend Keith this past weekend, and I sang “Blue Yodel #4″ for the first time. My solo was good, but I was surprised that my yodel was even better. I feel like my singing in general is improving.
So, I am pretty focused on coming to my next lesson with Taterbug. In the last couple of days I have been doing a lot of Getting Into Jazz Mandolin exercises, and the practicing “When You Are Lonely”. I also have been keeping up with Brad Davis.
The only thing missing is a jam – I really am itching to get to one. I can’t wait for Garland to start up again.
Filed under: Jam Reflections, Music & Mandolin Meditations, My Journal, Practice Session Notes , Taterbug
