Getting Back Into It

Lucy:

  1. Add C page to your practice.
  2. Work on making sure your F chord is fretted correctly.
  3. Make sure to follow along with metronome and the song.
  4. Work on the idea of practicing in chunks.
  5. Keep working on focus.
  6. Make sure to play with finger tips.

Lauren:

  1. Keep working on barre chords.
  2. Keep working on eighth note strumming to the metronome, keep it smooth, focus on wrist twist. Make up chord progressions for this.
  3. Add in the next couple pages of sharp exercises and polish Aura Lee.
  4. Work on, "getting in the zone" for practice and playing.

Take Time to Save Time

Lucy:

  1. Keep working on the C and F chord page to keep them fresh. Try to focus on fretting so that all the notes sound, then on fretting the chords quicker and cleaner after that is in good shape (especially the F).
  2. Keep working on the A note page and B note pages. Make sure to fret the B with finger 2 and correctly so that the note sounds. When lifting finger 2 to play the open A, work on lifting it only enough for the A to sound without being muted.
  3. Try to work on the note exercises in chunks and get used to the idea of looping a chunk to get it down.
  4. Try to continue to increase the duration of general focus and stay on task as much as possible when practicing.
  5. Make sure the Ukulele is up in normal playing position and flat against the body as much as possible.

Lauren:

  1. Practice your C and D chords in four steps; 1 form the chord shape above the strings without touching with all fingers at the same height, 2 touch the fingers to the strings using that proper shape all at once, 3 apply pressure to fret the chord, 4 play the chord. Do this as slow as possible! You can't go too slow for this sort of exercise, but you can easily go too fast. (use this same technique for any other chords you're having trouble with)
  2. Remember that the goal of practice is quality, correct reps, not speed. Take time to save time!
  3. You might also practice your chords using just steps 1 and 2 from the previous exercise where you only form the chord above the strings, and then lightly touch down that shape onto the strings. You can use this technique to move between different chords as well to reinforce the feelings in your fingers for forming each shape and navigating between them.
  4. Practice eight note alternating strumming (up and down strokes) using your disneyland song chord progression C, D, Em, Am, Am7. Make sure your strums are even and count along to the metronome to solidify your timing. Eight note subdivision count: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &. 
  5. Polish up Red River Rock and Aura Lee with careful practice and a focus on musicality, then move on to the subsequent pages and go as far as you can.
  6. Continue to focus on keeping your mind out of the equation where it isn't needed, which is most of the time. Zone out and keep a peripheral focus on the things you work on.

Keep it Moving!

Lucy:

  1. Keep working on F and C chords on the Yellow Submarine page. Make sure the note are being held down and are ringing out correctly, especially for the F chord. Follow the exercises on the page while practicing to the metronome so you know when to change chords.
  2. Work on the A and B notes and related exercises. Again, make sure to be looking at and following along with the notes on the page while practicing. Make sure the B note is held with the correct finger and rings out correctly.

Lauren:

  1. Finish your song enough so that it starts and ends. Remember not to overthink it and focus on improving each bit within reason and moving on to keep momentum.

  2. Keep working on your barre chords and focus on your D chord as well (and any others you're having trouble with). Practice setting all fingers at once without fully fretting the notes and switching back and forth between sets of chords in the same manner before practicing actually fretting and strumming them.
  3. When fretting your chords, don't let individual fingers get finicky, separate from the pack too much, or line up in series rather than as one general motion.
  4. Remember to set all fingers before applying any pressure to actually fret the notes for your chords.
  5. Polish off the last two exercises from your old set of pages and then begin on the new set. Remember to set your finger and pick in place for the upcoming notes when possible, feel for those correspondences for greater confidence while navigating the fretboard either way as you play, and visualize what needs to happen (what finger, note, string) as you look ahead a note or two so you're prepared for what's to come.
  6. Once you've completed all of your chunks for any note exercise and can play the whole thing correctly, flip the page over and try to play from memory (still to the metronome).
  7. Similarly, try to work on your song without focusing on any notes or papers so much. Take your focus off the paper and back on to your song and the creative process, then make notes when you feel it's necessary, just don't refer to them habitually. 

All the Chords!

Lucy:

  1. Keep working on C and F chords, especially switching between the two.
  2. Focus on building from low to high on the F chord (lead off with middle finger, then pointer). Test the strings occasionally to reinforce how much pressure it takes to fret the notes well enough for them to ring correctly.
  3. Focus on focusing! Strive for deeper levels of concentration and longer durations of consistent effort.
  4. Try to follow along with the chord dashes to build and reinforce the ideas of measures, counting, strumming the right number of times for each chord, etc.
  5. Practice with the metronome as much as possible, making sure to bring attention to it if necessary.

Lauren:

  1. Keep working on your 5th and 6th string barre chords. Start on the 5th fret for each and gradually work them down to the correct position one half-step at a time, taking time to work on each position individually.
  2. Make sure to build your barre chords from low to high. Try to bundle your non-barring fingers into one set rather than thinking of them as individuals and trying to find the perfect seating for each, do it for all at once as much as possible. Set your fingers, then apply pressure when ready (avoids unnecessary energy expenditure and allows your fingers to shimmy into place).
  3. Try to find the right natural spots for your barring pointer to apply pressure for the required strings for each chord.
  4. Make some significant progress on your Disneyland song in some way. Try to improve aspects you aren't happy with, don't be too precious with the parts and don't be afraid to rewrite or retool as necessary. Songwriting should be fun! Fun or at least a release of the emotion you're expressing, try to tap into that vibe to keep rolling, avoid overthinking and second guessing negative feedback loops.
  5. Dig in to your last few book exercises. Take your time working to the metronome in chunks using the Rule of Five and any issues you may have should work themselves out without too much trouble.

Chords and Songs

Lucy:

  1. Keep practicing the C and F chords, focusing on trying to be able to switch between them fluidly to be able to play Yellow Submarine.
  2. Make sure she holds the ukulele in the right position as much as possible, flat against her body with the neck up, but not vertical.

Lauren:

  1. Keep working on your F (6th string) and B (5th string) barre chords. Make sure your pointer is flat when attempting your F chord.
  2. Keep working on your song. Make it as good as you can and don't worry about global quality judgements regarding it for now.
  3. Keep working on your single note pages, moving on to the new ones for the G string and beyond.

Learning and Writing Songs

Lucy:

  1. Keep working on tuning each practice, with the goal being to continue to increase speed, efficiency, and accuracy. She should pick the string with her right hand and use her left to adjust the tuning without moving the instrument out of the proper form location.
  2. Work on closing the gap between the F and C chords as laid out in the book (to the metronome).
  3. Work on Yellow submarine (singing as well if possible) if the C and F chord transitions come along well enough to allow.
  4. You guys can also play (and sing) the open notes to the metronome as we have before.

Lauren:

  1. Keep working on your disneyland song. You still need one more part, and to develop your new part you had last time as well. Shoot for chord progressions that end up going for an even number of measures most of the time. Work on making your vocal melodies more varied and including pauses and space to let them breathe.
  2. Work on your barre chords, F and Bb.
  3. Work on your single note pages, remembering to take extra time on the ones that give you trouble. That's where the progress will be.
  4. Sing loud, mouth open wide!

Making Good Progress

Lucy:

  1. Sing and play strings to metronome randomly. Increase difficulty.
  2. Work on C chord to metronome.
  3. Practice the C chord strum exercise with rests on different beats.
  4. Tuning. Try to break habit of following the string. 
  5. New book for Lucy (picture link works as well)

 

Lauren:

F Barre Chord

F Barre Chord

f-barre-chord-guitar-chord-chart.png
  1. Work on Disneyland song. Write another part of the song, different chords and melody.
  2. Sing loud with cartoony jaw opening.
  3. Work on single note exercises (in order).
  4. Work on 5th and 6th string barre chords (F and Bb).
  5. Try to keep fingers on the center of the tips with round finger shapes.