Journal+Part+One

I listened to this God of teaching named Mr. Freeeeebs who lectured about the restructuring of our curriculum. I had a stressful mind block, but worked it out over time after class.
 * February 8th**

I went over music theory basics and made it to scales. I used the remainder of the time to review notes of the treble clef and imprint them into my cerebral cortex, and a little bit of bass clef as well.
 * February 9th**

I drilled Ricci Adams exercises. Treble and Bass clef are now relatively easy to name notes on without mistakes. I also went over major key signatures and #s and bs
 * February 10th**

**Week of February the 13th-19th**

x Create Timeline + Listen to informational session with Julie. (30 min) x Drill note ID (10 min) x Theory (30 min) x Journal entry + pack-up (10 min) //Completed all objectives on time. Went over key signatures a bit, but I don't understand it to a satisfactory level. In addition I learned about chords today and went over chords using the Ricci Adams exercises. I can essential point out any chord's name if given half a minute, but IDing them without a keyboard and simply by site reading will be difficult. All in all, a good day.//
 * Monday, the 13th **
 * __Notes:__ **

**Tuesday, the 14th** x Listen to instructor (15 min) (-10 min) x Note ID with varying key signatures (10 min) x More theory (20 min) x Piano introduction (25 min) (+10 min) x Journal entry + pack-up (10 min) __**Notes**:__ I worked on my note ID with varying key signatures (getting fairly good with those) to start off. I delved into theory learning about chords and solidifying stuff learned from yesterday. I then took an adventure to the music library, unsuccessfully questing for the Holy Piano Book of Learning that would teach me how to play. Sam then went off to copy me some pages for me so I can go over playing w/o looking at the keyboard. I devoted a bit of the extra time to work on fingering.

x Instructor (15 min) (-10 min) x Note ID with varying key signatures (5 min) x Finger training (10 min) (+5 min) x Piano introduction (30 min) x Theory (15 min) x Journal entry + pack-up (10 min) __**Notes**:__ Not a particularly productive day, but not horrible. I worked on IDing keys with varying signatures. I reviewed theory a bit and went right into playing some basics from the piano book. I'm trying to be able to smoothly get up all the white keys with my right and left hand without losing rhythm. I am currently using logic to play my pianos sounds. I did get ahead of myself and began to play some chords just to get a feel for them. I found even the simpler pieces in the piano book to be a bit harder than I originally imagined them to be (damn you fingers, you don't do what I ask!). Besides that it was a fairly decent day.
 * Wednesday, the 15th **

( void ) Instructor (15 min) ( -15 ) x Note IDs (5 min) x Finger training (10 min) x Piano work (30 min) ( void ) Theory (15 min) ( -15 ) x Journal entry + pack-up (10 min) I followed the checklist as well as I could, being that I forgot my piano book today. I took a break from theory as my mind was not too interested and focused enough to do it to the standard I would have liked. In addition we hashed out some keyboard politics and had a good laugh about that hawt cheetuh skirt. I worked finger training to the point that I've master moving up the piano with my right hand, and close behind with the left. In addition, I worked on finding and playing all the chords on the piano.
 * Thursday, the 16th **
 * __Notes__ :**

**Friday, the 17th** x Instructor (10 min) x Finger training (5 min) x Piano work (25 min) x Journal entry + pack-up (10 min) __**Notes**__ : Went over finger training for the most part. I learned the 1234554321154535251545678181 sequence! Along with playing a couple short measures. I had a quick tangent off with Julie and Sam about tenors. Overall I would say this week has been very good. I can actually move my hand around the pianer now! My music theory has improved dramatically and I can now read music. There have been a couple unproductive moments, but besides that it's been a great week.

**Week of February 27th-March 2nd**

**Monday, the 27th** x Listen to instructor (25 min) x Build timeline (30 min) ( -5 min ) x Warm up routines (10 min) ( +5 min ) x Theory (10 min) x Journal + Cleanup (10 min) __Notes__ Fairly productive day. I built my timeline in a fairly hasty fashion as well as having extra time to do some piano work. I mainly worked on finger exercises, getting my dexterity to a better level. For the remainder of the working time, I drilled theory working on chords and a bit of note ID.

x Bus O'Theory (35 min) ( +5 min ) x Theory practice (5 min) x Hand Warm ups (5 min) ( +10 min ) x Chords Fingerings (10 min) x Site reading (20 min) ( -10 min ) x Journal + Cleanup (10 min) ( -5 min ) __Notes__ A decent day. The bus o'theory took longer than I wanted to and I didn't learn as much as I had hoped for but that's okay. I went off on a bit of a tangent with hand dexterity and chord fingerings that took collectively an extra 10 minutes, but site reading wasn't extremely time consuming. I think I will focus more on dexterity for the next few days, getting nimble before I really start site reading and doing real music.
 * Tuesday, the 28th **

**Wednesday, the 29th (Leap Year!)** Bus O'Theory (35 min) Hand Warm ups (5 min) Piano Warm ups (5 min) Pianer book (25 min) Chord fingerings (5 min) Journal + Cleanup (10 min) __ Notes __ Bus O'theory took the entire class. Learned a lot. Am not quite rhythmically cured, but hope to get better soon.

**Thursday, the 1st** Hand warm ups (5 min) Piano Warm ups 5 min) Chord fingerings (5 min) Piano book (40 min) Song selection? (15 min) Theory (15 min) Journal + Cleanup (10 min) __ Notes __
 * Snow Day!**

Warm ups (5 min) Piano book (30 min) Theory (10 min) Journal + Cleanup (10 min) __Notes__
 * Friday, the 2nd **
 * Interview with Andrew Alden.**

The week kind of got hijacked. But all in all I think I learned a lot. My piano book should be coming in soon. I'm excited to get started.

**Week of March 5th-9th**

x Timeline building (25 min) x Hand Warm ups (5 min) x Piano Warm ups (5 min) x Pianer book (25 min) x Chord fingerings (5 min) x #12 (10 min) Journal + Cleanup (10 min) __Notes__ I need a lesson in hand positioning! Worked on the timeline, which those are coming out faster and more furious than ever. Learning to play with both hands (starting out with Jingle bells) in addition I am focusing on getting my dexterity up as well as getting my fingerings all right. Other than that I did a bit of work on #12 with Julie, getting ready for the prisms concert. Not a shabby day for a monday.
 * Monday, the 5th **

**Tuesday, the 6th** x #8 work-through (10 min) ( +15 min ) x Hand warm ups (5 min) x Piano Warm ups 5 min) x Chord fingerings (5 min) x Piano book/dexterity training (30 min) x Song selection? (15 min) Theory (15 min) ( -15 min ) x Journal + Cleanup (10 min) __ Notes __ Learned vocal technique! Went through jingle bells, learned mado kara mieru and other pieces. Currently learning to play with two hands at the same time (annoying, but very rewarding). Dexterity was also improved, although I did not get to theory today.

**Wednesday, the 7th** x Hand warm ups (5 min) x Piano warm ups (5 min) x Chords (10 min) x Theory (15 min) x Bus O'Lecture (45 min) x Journal + Cleanup (10 min) __Notes__ Good lecture, went through hanon exercises building a warm up as well as going through a teeny bit of theory and chords. This will also give me some stuff to do at home as well, which will be nice for practice.

**Thursday, the 8th** x Hand warm ups (5 min) x Piano warm ups (5 min) x Chords (5 min) x Theory (10 min) x Piano book (55 min) x Journal + Cleanup (10 min) __ Notes __ Good day all in all. I scrapped piano book work for hanon exercises and dexterity training. Getting to understand different keys is a bit hard, but I get the concepts and all. I spent a little time brushing up on my note identification as well so I can be a bit more musically fluent. Besides that I spent a considerable amount of time in and out of class working the piano to the point that by thumbs hurt.

**Friday, the 9th** x Piano warm ups (5 min) x Dexterity training (15 min) x Piano book (20 min) x Journal + Cleanup (10 min) __Notes__ Pretty easy day. Fingers still hurt! Went over Hanon one as my dexterity training (with two hands). Also attempted Mary Had a Little Lamd with two hands, (harder than I thought). I need to practice when I go home if I want to get much better though.

Very productive week. It wasn't hijacked which is also good, but between the Bus O'Warm-Up Lecture and the constant drilling I think I made some major progress in my ability to play piano and move around the piano efficiently. I was also a lot more focused on my schedule, leaving less time for screwing around and sticking to my objectives more thoroughly. Next week I hope to be fluently playing Hanon one with both hands as well as some simpler musical pieces. It may be time to start looking at some real music.
 * __Weekly Notes__ **


 * Week of March 12-16th **

**Monday, the 12th** xTimeline building (30 min) xPiano and hand warm-ups (10 min) xDexterity training (10 min) xSkill training + Site reading (20 min) xFree play (5 min) xJournal/cleanup (10 min) __Notes__ Productive day! Learned Hanon in the keys of D and G. In addition, I went over some choral pieces for skill practice and preparation for prisms (2 birds 1 stone. The timeline was a bit shorter to build than I thought it might be, giving me a lot of extra free play (which was awesome). My hands don't quite hurt, but they are a bit sore, so I might need to consider amping up the warm up a bit.

xPiano/hand warm-ups (10 min) xDexterity training (10 min) xSkill training (30 min) xTheory practice (15 min) (-5) xFree play (10 min) (+5) xJournal/cleanup (10 min) __ Notes __ Hands hurt, but a good day. Learned Hanon with both hands in almost all keys, reviewed choral pieces, and absolutely drilled dexterity. I also get key signatures now!!! I feel like I'm definitely improving and it might be time to pull out some real sheet music.
 * Tuesday, the 13th **

**Wednesday, the 14th** xPiano/hand warm-ups (10 min) xDexterity training (10 min) xBus O'Neil (30 min) xSkill training (25 min) xJournal/cleanup (10 min) __ Notes __ Blew my *$&%ing mind today with Mr Freeb's lecture on mathematics in music as well as the circle of 5ths. Though I maybe truly understand 20% of it at the moment, I hope to understand it a bit better. Hand positioning is the next big thing. I feel like if I can get that down I'll be really set to start playing some music.

**Thursday, the 15th** xPiano/hand warm-ups (10 min) xDexterity training (10 min) xTheory practice (10 min) xSkill training (20 min) xPiano book (20 min) xFree play (15 min) xJournal/cleanup (10 min) __Notes__ My main objective was to get better at fingerings and getting comfy with other keys, which is exactly what I did today, along with some more note ID to really get that grounded. I feel like I can stop with ID theory for awhile now that I have that down to intuition. I also got a good deal of free play in, which was all improv (and fun).

It was a very productive week! I am substantially better at fingerings and dexterity, which was my overall goal for the week. My theory is also substantially improved, along with site reading skills. Next week I will aim to further improve skills from this week as well as improving site reading.
 * __ Weekly Notes __**


 * Week of March 19th-23rd **

**Monday, 19th** x Schedule Building (30 min) x Hand + piano warm-ups (10 min) x Skill and dexterity training (20 min) x Chord work (5 min) x Free play (10 min) x Journal + cleanup (10 min) **__Notes__** Awesome day! Everything was done on time and thensome. Moved some wood, got to play on the really nice Yamaha piano. I'm feeling a lot stronger with dexterity, but I now know why people hate scales so much. Shouldn't be too hard though, just a matter of drilling. My improv is also getting better and I am finding that I am better able to put notes together without looking down. Site reading here we come.

**Tuesday, the 20th** x Hand + piano warm-ups (10 min) x Skill and dexterity training (15 min) Piano book (20 min) (-20 min) x Note name wrap-up (10 min) x Chord work (10 min) x Free play (10 min) x Journal + Cleanup (10 min) **__Notes__** Scales scales scales, X_X. I did not do piano book today, but instead looked at finding some sheet music. I found a piece I want to do, but I'm going to need to practice every day as well as use the Kodaly rhythm method. I am feeling a bit strong with everything and am confident I'll be able to go on to play sheet music with relative ease of reading (though perhaps not playing)

x Hand + piano warm-ups (10 min) x Skill and dexterity training (10 min) x Scales (20 min) x Piano book (20 min) x Free Play (15 min) x Journal + Cleanup (10 min) **__Notes__** A hard day to focus, had a couple tangents into free play when I shouldn't have, but I pulled through and went through my piano book and scales. Pretty much the same stuff as yesterday without the chord work and theory. My fingers I seem to have a disposition for an Irish jig. Anywho, decent day, but not great.
 * Wednesday, the 21st **

**Thursday, the 22nd** x Hand + piano warm-ups (10 min) x Skill and dexterity training (20 min) x Scales (15 min) x Piano book (20 min) x Free play (15 min) (-5 min) x Journal + Cleanup (10 min) Long day, but I finally have my C scales in good place (at least for the right hand). I played a bit of when the saints go marching in, but other than that it was mostly a drill day. I found myself taking a bit of time away from free play to finish nailing the scales. Besides that I didn't work on too much. I find sheet music is a bit hard to pick up still, but getting better! Sheet music soon to come.
 * __ Notes __**

x Hand + piano warm-ups (10 min) x Skill and dexterity training (10 min) x Scales (10 min) Free play (10 min) (-10 min) Journal + Cleanup (10 min) (-10 min) Went through my warm ups and dexterity training, but felt drained. Spent the rest of the period in the nurse's office.
 * Friday, the 23rd **
 * __Notes__ **

__ **Weekly Notes** __ I felt much stronger this week with dexterity, however, I would like to continue to drill my scales until fingering becomes second nature. Theory is wrapped up, and sheet music is on the radar to come. Next week I will continue scales and work on sheet music at home as I can, additionally I may move to other hanon exercises.


 * Week of March 26th-30th **

x 30 min- Schedule building x 10 min- Warm up x 10 min- Dexterity training x 15 min- Scales x 10 min- Free play x 05 min- Warm down x 10 min- Journal + Cleanup __ Notes __ Awesome day! Reformated the schedule, making it much easier to read. Added a warm down for today, but it doesn't work for me in my opinion (which may very well be wrong). I feel like the scale training paid off and I'm now playing C scales with both hands, not quite to two octaves, but am able to move to 4+ with the right hand and 2 with the left.
 * Monday, the 26th **

**Tuesday, the 27th** x 10 min- Warm up x 10 min- Dexterity training x 25 min- Scales of death x 20 min- Piano book 10 min- Free play (-10 min) x 10 min- Journal + Cleanup __ Notes __ Alright day, ran the drills, scales are being a bit annoying today, but dexterity training was running well. I played a bit of the Alma Mater (as it was in front of me and scrapped my free play to discuss sheet music with peers. Looks like I'm going to be in trouble getting the piece I want together, but we'll pull through.

**Wednesday, the 28th** 10 min- Warm up 10 min- Dexterity training 25 min- More scales of death 20 min- Piano book 10 min- Free play 10 min- Journal + Cleanup __Notes__

Midterms! __ Notes __
 * Thursday, the 29th **

**Friday, the 30th** 24hrs- Sleep __Notes__