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Decisions Made!

After writing down my new "required" and "optional" lists for the lead sheet courses, I realized I'd literally done everything on the list for Lead Sheets Lesson 6. And I thought I had at least two more weeks to go before I'd be ready to move on.

So last night, instead of having a standard practice session on Lesson 6, I made this video, shared it with the PWJ group, and called it a day.

I also decided to axe the Danny Boy Challenge. The music is so beautiful, but the intermediate version doesn't feel challenging enough (hence my desire to "make it my own project"), and the advanced version ... well, I don't want to say it's too hard, because I could sit down and play it from the sheet music right now. But the concepts—extensions, alterations, etc.—are beyond what I'm learning now, and it just took too much mental energy to both play it and understand it (much less transpose it). This time next year I'll have a better handle on those more complex chords, so maybe I'll pick up the challenge next time it rolls around.

So that leaves me with exactly two projects for the last week of March:

  • After You've Gone
  • The advanced modulations course

"After You've Gone"

My main focus here is to get the main section up to speed—I'm practically there, it just needs some polishing at tempo—and to work on soloing. "Learn to solo" is probably more accurate. The concept isn't hard (just use the notes of the chord), but the chords change quickly, and it's hard to solo in the right hand when the left hand is jumping all over kingdom come. Will I finish this by the end of March? It all depends on how much practice time I get. But it's a possibility.

Advanced Modulations Course

I took the beginner modulations course last month and started the advanced course right after, but it got pushed to the back burner when Danny Boy came along. I have two lessons left in the advanced course, so I should easily be able to finish by the end of the month. One really cool thing: I didn't realize this course is part of the Analysis Track at PWJ, which I'm currently taking! And I should be on track to start the final jazz analysis course—Passing Chords and Reharmonization—in early April.

If all goes according to plan, I should have plenty of practice time over the next few days. I'll be visiting my mom this weekend, but I should still get some piano time before I leave Saturday and after I get back Sunday.

And then ... I'll seriously start thinking about my April goals.

For now, I'm glad I decided to finish Lesson 6 and drop Danny Boy. I feel so much less pressure, and I'm looking forward to starting Lesson 7 once "After You've Gone" and the modulations course are wrapped up.

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