Derek's Diary
I get up very early so that I can have (hopefully) a couple of hours practice before breakfast without being interrupted. I try to do half an hour or usually more of warm ups, technical exercises and maybe some studies. I then usually have too many pieces that I am working on but I try to organise them into medium term and long term goals. I then try to allocate at least half an hour to either the current long term piece or to the medium term piece or if I have enough time both. I should really factor in another half hour for pieces I get sidetracked into playing (currently El Negrito by Lauro). I also like to spend a bit of time on my 'repertoire pieces so that I don't forget them altogether but I try to find some time later in the day for those plus my duet/ensemble pieces.
Current long term piece is Lob der Thranen by Schubert/Mertz. I only discovered these arrangements a couple of years ago so to be able to play anything by Schubert on the solo guitar would be wonderful. My medium term piece is an arrangement of Piazzola's Tango Final by Gary Ryan, I have an idea for a video I would like to do with it. My favourite of my repertoire pieces is Alba by Hans Haug so if I play in the concert it could be that one that I play.
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This is really ambitious, Derek! I could never work on that much all at once. And it's all such high-level music.
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Eric Phillips Hi Eric I'm sure you make more efficient use of your time after I've seen your efforts in the community challenges.
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Derek Absolutely fantastic, looks like your Practice Diary will be brimming with wonderful music! Glad that you decided to start your Diary and excited to follow along!!!
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Very interesting to hear you...this is exactly what happen to me about time management, medium and long term pieces, exercises, and repertoire ! all too much for 3 hours a day, usually my brain and hands can not longer.
Piazzolla is my Buenos Aires...very special for me. I don't play anything of him yet, but on my table is the partiture (score) of Verano Porteño from Baltasar Benitez, waiting for time . I am excited about hearing your Tango final in the future.
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Nora Torres-Nagel Thank you Nora. The Piazzola piece is from a set of 'easy' arrangements by Gary Ryan who I think teaches (or used to) at the Royal College of Music in London so not as hard as Verana Porteno I think.
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Impressive Derek, I should learn from you. My journey with the guitar is mostly learning and forgetting, can’t seem to be able to balance too many different puedes at the time. Now I am doing the concert pice plus one old study per week
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Emma I feel you, Emma, I feel you!
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