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Thoughts on June: Wins, Wobbles, and Big Dreams

June’s almost in the rearview mirror, and what a ride it’s been at the piano! This month has dished out some serious highs, a few lows, and a whole lot of learning. With one week left, I’m ready to wrap it up strong and set the stage for an exciting July. Let’s dive into the good, the not-so-good, and what’s on the horizon.

June’s High Notes (and a Few Flat Ones)

This month was a whirlwind of progress and a few stumbles. Here’s what went down:

Big Wins: I nailed Pineapple Rag (or is it Pine Apple? Who knows!) not once, but twice in performance. It felt like a graduation ceremony for this sassy, syncopated gem—time to hang its diploma on the wall! I also kicked off a new weekend ritual: dusting off old pieces to keep them shiny and ready. Plus, I’m making serious headway on two new projects: America the Beautiful Rag (perfect for July 4 vibes) and a great G Blues Improvisation course from PWJ.

The Struggles: Mid-June, my daily Liszt practice hit a wall. Between pouring my heart into Pineapple Rag and just plain frustration, I lost steam. Liszt’s tricky passages are screaming for an in-person teacher to guide me. I had a fantastic 30-minute lesson with Rebecca Bogart (part of my Piano with Rebecca B membership), but I need more regular coaching to crack this nut. Without it, my motivation’s taken a nap. Oh, and the PWRB sight-reading challenge? I fell behind, thinking I’d catch up in a week… only to realize two weeks had slipped by. Oops. I’m hitting pause and waiting for next month’s challenge.

This Week’s Piano Playbook

With just one week left in June, I’m channeling my inner Rocky Balboa and focusing on these goals:

Liszt: I’ll keep this piece to make sure it doesn’t slip away, but I’m not going full focus until I find a teacher to tackle it with. For now, it’s like keeping a simmering pot on the stove—just enough to keep it warm.

America the Beautiful Rag: This is my star of the week! I’m aiming to polish it up for a July 4th video that’ll make you want to wave a sparkler. Picture me channeling some patriotic pizzazz into every note.

G Blues Improv: I’ve finished the course, but I’m diving back into the videos to practice the licks and runs.

Peeking Into July

July’s plans are still a bit like a song I haven’t quite written yet, but the melody’s taking shape. I’m itching to lean into improv and arranging, letting my creativity run wild instead of sticking strictly to sheet music. Or maybe I’ll stick with my usual mix—I’m keeping it flexible! Stay tuned for a full reveal next month when I share my game plan.

What’s your June been like? Got any favorite piano piece or creative goal you’re chasing? Drop a comment—I’d love to hear your story!

P.S. I wrote this entry but it sounded so much like the tech writing I did at work, so I asked Grok to make it catchier. I think it made it cheesier, but it also made me laugh, so I'm keeping it. I promise to write all of my future blog posts myself!

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