[Carnelia]

Albert_d, that’s my weakest point too, so I made it my goal for this quarter. Was lucky to find two OTJs near me. They are pretty basic and lots of fun, worth a try!

[Carnelia]

Thank you!

[Carnelia]

I have a huge dreadnought (Taylor 310), which I need for playing with a group in a big room, and I make myself use it for daily practice because it’s so much harder to play – keeps me in shape for anything! (it also sounds wonderful) I’m a smallish female and getting my arms around it has been challenging – the classical position turned out to be the answer. I googled “women playing big guitars” and there are a lot of women who use this position with the headstock pretty high up, parallel to your ear roughly. Resting the guitar on your left leg, letting the big body drop between your legs, is a bit like sitting when you’re 9 months pregnant! Having a good firm regular chair has helped, no sofas. I have also found that 15-20 minutes of yoga a day, including lotus pose (or some variation), where you sit up straight and cross-legged for 10 minutes (build up gradually), has eliminated back/shoulder guitar-holding strain.

[Carnelia]

Oy, just realized you said JUNE and I had to clear my browsing history after that. So I don’t have a June link. Hoping someone else’s approach can help you out. Sorry!

[Carnelia]

I have had good luck by visiting my history. I just make sure during the time I’m away, I go once into the challenge and then when I get back and go to that page, the whole month will show up in my history via the menu on the left. I picked up a whole 3 weeks back in September that way after being out of town.

Here’s a link to the last lesson from November:

https://tonypolecastro.com/lessons/puckstopper-2/#0video_backing_track_vid1

I THINK (not sure) you might be able to access all the lessons from there. Will be interested to see if it works for more than just me.

[Carnelia]

Wow. For those of us with lousy visual memory, this is great. I’m giving it a “favorite”. Thank you!!!

[Carnelia]

Thank you, @PhilB and @Loraine! It is really helpful to hear your practice routine and know that things cycle around again. Will work on those ten minutes, not worrying about perfection, and letting it go at the end of the week. Not so easy! I really appreciate your taking the time to respond. Have a great week!

[Carnelia]

Thanks GerryB56! I am typically an all-over-the-map person so I can relate. But I was sold on Tony’s “consistency is the most important” theme – makes sense to me, and I’m getting too far along (read: old ;-)) to just drop it yet again! I tried using the whole journal the first half of the year, but over time I’ve wound up just using the “Prepare and Reflect” page. I print out three copies on paper (for the next three months), fill in the dates, and put in a big goal and Prepare-Plan smaller goals for the upcoming month. Then every day when I practice, I check off the date. It has really helped me stay on track. Good luck on your journey!

[Carnelia]

Thanks! Well I give credit to Tony and his journal for the goal setting and keeping. He really has the motivation thing down: 10 minutes a day, small wins, and that journal so you can see how you’re doing. And he’s right, just do it every day consistently, and you can’t help but learn and improve. Really glad to have been in the TAC family for a year!

[Carnelia]

Thank you@Kitman, very helpful! It sounds like you worked flatpicking into your 3-month goals. Will give it a try!

[Carnelia]

@Cadgirl and @Kitman, thank you!! Great places to start!

[Carnelia]

Thanks so much @Cadgirl and @Kitman, would love to know what songs you are working on that would be good starter crosspicking songs – and where you found them? Tab or sheet music/lyrics?

[Carnelia]

Thanks @PhilB! Nice to have your encouragement!