Week 2: Finding Momentum: Small Steps, Big Progress 
End of the Year Challenge: "Finish Strong!" 
As the year comes to a close, it's the perfect time to look back on your guitar journey, celebrate your progress, and set the stage for a powerful finish! Whether you've been steadily refining a piece all year, revisiting past favorites, or holding onto that "one day" project, now’s the time to bring it to life. Let’s wrap up this year with a final push, together!
Challenge Theme: Complete, Conquer, and Celebrate!
Goal:
Choose one guitar piece or project that has been on your list this year. This might be a piece you’ve been working on in lessons, something you’ve always wanted to learn but never started, or a performance you’d like to polish. Dedicate the final weeks of the year to bringing it to completion—whatever "finished" means for you!
Challenge Options:
Complete a Piece: If you’ve been working on a piece throughout the year, let’s aim to bring it to the finish line. Focus on refining tricky sections, memorizing it, or even recording it as a performance!
Start & Finish a New Piece: Is there a piece that’s been sitting on your "someday" list? Dive in! Start fresh, put in dedicated practice time, and see how far you can get by the end of the year.
Polish for Performance: Got a piece you can already play but want to perfect? Use this time to iron out the details and maybe even perform it for friends, family, or the tonebase community!
Challenge Guidelines:
Set Your Goals: Decide on the piece or project and set a few concrete goals (e.g., "play smoothly at tempo," "record a full video," or "memorize all sections").
Share Your Journey: Post your progress, questions, and reflections with the community! Let us know what you're working on, why you chose it, and any hurdles you’re overcoming.
Celebrate the Wins: At the end of the challenge, share your "finished" version! Whether it’s a recording, a progress update, or simply sharing your reflections, let’s celebrate together.
Dates:
This challenge runs from now until December 30th. Finish the year with a sense of accomplishment and the motivation to take on new pieces in the coming year!
Why Join?
This isn’t just about completing a piece; it’s about proving to yourself what you can achieve with focus and support. Join us for a fun, collaborative way to end the year on a high note. 
-
Another Marianne Vedral's gem I wanted to record before the end of the year... done!
-
Blaise Laflamme I've run out of superlatives. Bravo, you're second to none! Beautiful piece.
-
Nijwm Bwiswmuthiary Thank you Nijwm, that's a fun play!
-
Blaise Laflamme wow, what a beautiful tune , a real gem indeed, thank you for sharing!
-
Calin Lupa Thank you Calin, a short & sweet gem!
-
Blaise Laflamme Thank you for sharing this piece. It is clear that you really enjoy performing it! That makes it even more special for those of us in the audience.
-
Martha Kreipke Thank you Martha, that brought me a little energy in a cloudy and boring day (the recording day)!
-
Blaise Laflamme Very beautifuly performed and quite a nice little gem. Thanks for sharing and introducing us to this interesting composer. Not sure I will participate in this year end challenge, will have to see how the fingers are doing after being away from the guitar for two months. Still in Spain, returning on Dec 7th.
-
Blaise Laflamme Another gem beautifully performed, Blaise. I always marvel at the clarity and ease of your playing.
-
Dale Needles Thank you Dale, she's a very interesting composer! I hope you're doing well while traveling and also hope you enjoy it a lot. As for the challenge we certainly miss you but in any case I know you'll be back here as soon as you can... with some Carlevaro's music!!
-
Jack Stewart Thank you Jack, but in fact it's just because I practice my face to make it look easy!
-
-
Beautifully played.
-
Jacques farmer Thank you Jacques!
-
-
I am preparing to play a short set of 3 pieces for our local open mic in December
1. Ah, Robyn, Gentyl Robyn
from King Henry VIII Songbook (1518)
By William Cornysh, Jr. (1465-1523)
By Thierry Tisserand
3. Beautiful Promise
By Hirokazu Sato
Here are progress recordings of the first two pieces.
I have a lot of family obligations for the next 10 days and won't be playing much guitar. Work will continue on these, as well as my third piece the first week of December.
-
Martha Kreipke These two pieces are sounding great Martha and you manage to bring their own character very well! If I can share you a small constructive comment, try to keep the chords before a hand switch longer in the first one to improve the overall legato, but wow you're doing great!
-
Blaise Laflamme Thank you for listening and taking the time to comment. I heard the same thing - that I am clipping the notes before a shift. There are other spots where adjustments in articulation are worth trying.
This is my first recording of the Renaissance piece. Turning on the camera highlighted the areas where I don't have confidence in my playing and will benefit from repetition in practice. Recording and listening is so valuable for polishing a piece for performance!
-
Martha Kreipke You're totally right, recording provides a way to improve ourselves in an autonomous and simple way, this is a tool I wish I had 30 years ago!
-
Martha Kreipke These are wonderful pieces, Martha. You have a really good start on these pieces. Looking forward to your next posts on your repertoire for your concert.
I refreshed my memory of Ah, Robin (such a beautiful piece) with a YT search and found a beautiful version by a solo female singer using a loop pedal.
I really liked the Tisserand piece. I am only vaguely aware of him but will look into more of his works. I also really liked your dramatic flourish at the end of the piece.
-
Jack Stewart Thank you for sharing the video usng the loop pedal. What a great lesson for understanding and hearing voices in a score!
I really enjoy playing music by Tisserand. I just ordered a fourth book of his music. I appreciate that he writes for a wide range of technical ability. Even his easiest pieces have a lot of audience appeal.
-
