If You Fall Behind on Weeks Challenge

[petelanger]

@Mitch123 you are correct, this question comes up frequently. There is no need to “fall behind” as the program is not linear. It is cyclical in structure. Sometimes they are more challenging than other times. You are not required to achieve a certain level of proficiency before moving on either; just do your best and mark complete. Tony does address this in the challenges, not every week but multiple times throughout the year he speaks to this topic.
Progress before perfection! Always keep moving onto the next challenge. It’s ok if you are only able to do a portion of it, perhaps only one measure. That is fine, still mark it complete all the same. There will be another take on the same skill and you might take it further on the next go!

[Mitch123]

Thanks so much.

[the-old-coach]

Mitch–

If you feel you’re not going to really have a lesson “down”- (with the next lesson bearing down you)- is to do just as Pete says…. give it a decent go, and then just move on.

BUT— if you’re only gonna give it a short few minutes…. the work you do do on the lesson needs to be very deliberate, accurate, and attentive….. and SLOW.

Your brain will pick it up and store it quite well— if you learn it slowly and accurately.

[Mitch123]

Thanks, had to leave town too for a couple of days to help my elderly in- laws move and trying to catch up seems impossible

[the-old-coach]

That’s one thing about TAC— it sometimes seems like it’s “bang-bang-bang-bang”— and maybe easy to feel like you’re “falling behind”.

But actually…….. you’re not.

I think it’s the “10-minutes-a-day” philosophy that makes it so. But I think the main thing is that the 10 minutes must be very focused. It’s commonly thought that our brain “likes” learning things in short chunks- (i.e.- 6, 10-minute chunks is better than 1, 60-minute session). The TAC method is certainly well thought-out and time-tested.

But again– my own thought is that your short, 10-minute sessions need to be well-planned and very accurate in nature (vs emphasizing “speed”).

Of course you can go longer, but don’t let your own expectations upon yourself make you think you are ever “behind”……. again….. you’re not.

[jorgemac]

While living on and surfing pretty much every day for 28 years in Hawaii, I had a old local teach me a great lesson. It was a beautiful early afternoon surf session over on the north shore of Oahu and there were only 3 or 4 of us out surfing. I had lived on Oahu for a couple of years and was determined to become a “surfer”. After riding a nice 4 foot wave and paddling back out the older local man turned and looked at me and said “you surf well but don’t look like you enjoy what you are doing. There is no flow to your style, learn to lighten up and enjoy what the wave brings to you”. That changed my approach to surfing and to other parts of my life’s journey.

It’s a good guitar teaching lesson to learn to lighten up and enjoy what you do. Take your small win’s and enjoy them. All of us can be our own worst enemy when we judge our personal guitar progress. If you are in a contest with your ego there is a good chance that you will never be able to lighten up and enjoy your guitar journey. Good luck with your guitar journey.

[the-old-coach]

Jorge–

Downright awesome advice there, my friend. A person’s own expectations is sometimes like a mirage– the goal keeps moving even as you make progress toward it.

You have stated a great perspective….. to lighten up! In fact, I’m going to write it onto paper and tape it to the top of the desk in my practice space so I can see it every practice. (It’s going right next to my hand-drawn Circle of Fifths diagram).

[Mitch123]

What a great story. Bet you’re a great surfer! Thanks for the reply

[petelanger]

Yes, slowing it down helps so much. Sometimes the pace is very intimidating and we feel we must match Tony’s pace and if we go slower we’re not doing it right! Nothing could be further from the truth! When we go slow, our brains can soak it in better and continue learning after we’ve stopped playing….Yes, your brain is even learning guitar while you are sleeping!

[jorgemac]

Thanks Coach and Pete. I am currently trying to work through 4 and a half Pages from the newest Acoustic Guitar magazine regarding triads. It is laid out like most of their teaching lessons of one lesson a week for 4 weeks. I usually rush through these things so I “Get Better” faster.

I am trying to force myself to limit the lesson to their teaching schedule and am on the 4th day of week one lesson one and can comfortable play this lesson with the metro nome at 65 BPM and not have to look at the written lesson page . Hope to reach 80 before the end of my 7 day restriction. I’ve told myself to lighten up and enjoy the heck out of the 4 lessons and maybe they will stick with me. Hope I can take my own advice.

[jorgemac]

Coach I like tht hand drawn idea of the circle of 5th’s that would be a great way to imprint it into your brain for easy transfer to your fingers. Any tips on drawing that out myself?

[the-old-coach]

Easy-peasy to find Circle of Fifths diagrams online. I just drew one out (with ONLY the major and minor (inner) circle. Taped it to my desk top so that it is ALWAYS directly visible when I’m playing. Easy to see what goes with what, and where they are in the chord family. Good stuff.

[jorgemac]

Got-cha, Being a guitar junky always looking for a new way to learn. I do have a chord wheel that taught me a lot, but the hands on approach of drawing it out would lock that stuff, deeper, into the grey matter. Thanks

[Mitch123]

Wow guys! Thank you so much for the advice. Seems like a great community here. I’ve wanted to play guitar since I was 11. I’ve always had artistic talent in visual arts. My parents and everyone used to say it was a God given talent since I was 4. At 11 I remember praying to God and asking to take my artistic talent and trade for music. I’m 57 now. Had a heart attack a couple of years ago. So it’s now or never kinda. Thanks again

[petelanger]

That’s quite a story! Mine is similar in some ways, but no heart attack. In fact I am enjoying fabulous health in my senior years which is a tremendous gift from the Lord! Also wanted to play at age 11 or so but simply didn’t ask my parents for lessons. I didn’t start until I was 63! I am also taking care of my aging mother (93) who has been under my roof for almost 20 years. The last few years have been rough as her health has been deteriorating. I’ve been to the ER with her about a dozen times.

[the-old-coach]

Wow, Pete! Yours is quite a story also. A story of love and dedication.

And real priorities.

But I bet it makes your guitar journey that much better. Maybe your “built-in dedication” is also a driving-force in learning and playing guitar. And maybe also– your “escape” to your own little world of enjoyment-sounds from your guitar.

• This reply was modified 1 day, 15 hours ago by  the-old-coach.

[petelanger]

@the-old-coach thanks! I am not deserving. I really could be serving her with a lot more joy and compassion. I’ve really got to dig deep to keep doing this. You are right, the guitar is very much a release and distraction from the life of being a caretaker.

[Aservire]

So much great advice here! Glad I read down through this thread… I can’t add any more so I’ll just say thanks!!!

[robmacbc]

Glad I found this convo! Thanks guys.
Here’s my question along the same lines…
I signed up last fall, but life and ends of life happened, so I didn’t get going until into the new year. I have been going as far back into my emails as I can, feeling like I have to do things in that order.

So, am I better off forgetting about back tracking knowing that it will all come back around? Your comments above lead me to believe I should just jump in at the current week, yes?
I have completed the 30 days to play and the 5 day challenge. and a weekly challenge from February

• This reply was modified 1 hour, 53 minutes ago by  robmacbc.