I started my revisit to playing the piano at the beginning of October last year.
At that time two of my friends were in the hospital. In my piano journal I mentioned the deep thoughts and how it might affect my “playing”. Three days later one of my friends passed away and I worried the other might join her. Outside of praying there was little I could do.
Birds sing. They just do. Creativity has to happen. Just because.
I think I started before October. But the journey back to the keys got serious then. I started keeping the piano journal then.
I remember trying to figure out how to start.
My friend and I were already working on bringing back our creative muses. She said I should make sure to say ‘play’ not ‘practice’. It has worked.
But when I started back I found I couldn’t play songs I memorized or at least conquered back when I was twelve.
It was embarrassing, depressing, in fact, to even think about some of the songs. And I had to have everyone in the house hide away while I played.
At first I would play for five minutes. My anxiety was so high.
I’d play far easier things or sight read what might be easy.
Early on I looked at the Shirley Temple Songbook and felt that there was no chance I’d get the rhythm. Modern rhythms, syncopation. Bane of my existence.
Well, I finally got brave and started hitting the Songbook.
Yeah, see the drawing at the top right of Early Bird? Mrs. Skinner drew that timing illustration for my 12 year old self. I’m getting it. Sort of 63 years later. Ta Da!
Still missing my Michele. But glad Yvensong is better.
Since the needle were empty it was time to start another set. Turkish cast on and toe increases finished.
Reading dragon is coming along.
Look who’s playing in the cat tree! Sammy. He’s a boy, by the way. Confirmed.
Isn’t he the cutest? We still can’t touch him he loves playing with the humans.0
Soon shots and fixing. But he seems healthy and adapting
See the line on the right? I only needed to cast off but I made a good on the left sock and spent the day tinking back the five rows of ribbing. Hopefully they’ll be done tomorrow.
I’ve begun to keep journals next to every activity. Some I do well keeping them up. Like the piano one. I write what I play, work on, and give myself a grade and suggestions for the next time I play it. I think it’s helping.
And I’ve started copying favorite pieces from books I had as a preteen. Now I can tape pages together so no annoying page-turning.
I was happy because I finally got caught up on the book reviews. But nope I finished another last night. Oh, well, I’ll get to it tomorrow or Thursday.
The most discouraging of my music fun is the progress on the violin. I guess I need to find a YouTube tutorial that addresses my screeching bowing. Too much resin? Not enough? Bad fingering? Who knows? I wish I had the money to get lessons on ally instruments.
I’m in love with these. Sadly, they are not my size. Hopefully, they will be finished after a bit of ankle then a cuff. Can’t wait to see the finished product!
Long leggings. I love the colors, but am not as excited doing these as actual socks.
These are ankle and cuff from being done. I hope I can finish these and the pinkies on top by the weekend.
Really, I’m more excited about actually finishing my laundry today. Oh. I still have a couple dishes in the sink. You’ll hear my Ta-Da before I go to bed.
After months and so many tinks, nearly remaking these several times over, I finally finished my Sneaker Socks. These will bring back all the memories of the wedding and Wisconsin. I brought these and the hat I just finished a couple of days ago. The hat was helpful as it was easier and didn’t need the concentration these socks took. I constantly made mistakes and had to find my way back.
So comfortable!
Low enough for sneakers.
I didn’t think I’d like that ribbing in the foot area, but it feels like a foot hug. I love it! I may add that to future socks.
I know I’ve shared the tutorials before but these have helped me a lot!
She has a three-part knit along.
I followed most of it. But the bind off was too hard for me. Instead I went with my fav, Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind off. Even that had to be tinked and redone a couple of times.
Working on my series: Haven.
Doodler (zendoodle.com)
Music major: voice and piano
Mom of four great adults
Reiki II practitioner
I have been on disability/retired for 10 years now from depression, anxiety and fibromyalgia.
Books, games, music, and life — filtered through the mind of a writer, drummer, and philosopher who thinks too deeply about all of it. If it moves something in your chest, I'm interested.
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