Good going, BobbyK!  BTW, see my post about that incredible looper deal if you don't have one.  (I have no affiliation with TC or Sweetwater, just appreciation).

Posted by: @bobkarstens

I want to operationalize the Practice Log idea since it's evident that clear goals are the best way to supercharge progress in any domain: practicing with more intention and discipline,

 

Bob, welcome aboard and welcome, new « practice logger ». Thank you for your introduction, I read your text with great pleasure. Your enthusiasm comes across.

I’m really looking forward to December 23rd to hear the Christmas song and later - when an opportunity arises for you - to hear Robert’s new blues solo in C.

From my personal experience I would highly recommend, if you could share a video with us because then you will also get very, very valuable tips from Robert and Clayton, tips that will expand your horizons and improve your practice.

Don’t try to be perfect, just enjoy your recording 😊. We are all patient listeners and viewers and know what it means to make a recording.

And we are all the more pleased about every new recording.

Enjoy learning and playing,

Birgit

Posted by: @bluesiline

Don’t try to be perfect, just enjoy your recording 😊. We are all patient listeners and viewers and know what it means to make a recording.

And we are all the more pleased about every new recording.

Enjoy learning and playing,

Birgit

Word!

Great to hear this!

I also recommend recording yourself often (and reviewing it), and take pride in what sounds good, as well as identify areas that need improvement (and work on those). This process helps you focus your practice time, and it can also boost motivation.

@clayton I bought a Ditto+ thanks for the tip.  I had an old digitech and can't wait to try this new one. 

Here's a dress rehearsal for the Christmas Song.  Lots of stuff to work on like, bends, timing, technique, etc!  Thanks for the encouragement.  
Do students post video?  Mine was way too big a file so I just sent audio - besides it was a bad hair day anyway! 

@bluesiline Thanks for the encouragement, Birgit!  

@bobkarstens Wow that sound great! The easy listening on Sunday morning has arrived here in Holland. Started with your great song. Thanks for sharing your Christmas song! 😀 

@bobkarstens I hope you grabbed that Ditto+ during the 50% sale, I saw it went back up to full price the other day.  In either event, enjoy, Bob, loopers provide such instant feedback and inspiration.  Happy Holidays!

@bobkarstens Most excellent playing, BK; and sharing to MGA is an amazing inspiration to other members.  You captured the relaxing safe at home holiday vibe that the song evokes.  Nice surfing on that wave.

@bobkarstens What a successful dress rehearsal, Bob. I think, it’s not easy to play the song because of the timing and the phrasing of the melody. But you really got used to that and you put a lot of emotions on the strings 👍. That’s great. And I can hear that you enjoy your playing.

Like André and Clayton, I’m really happy that you shared your recording with us. So we can learn from each other.

Regarding the publication of a video: you can easily upload your video on your Youtube account, publish as « unlisted » and share the link in your practice log.

Birgit

Wow, that sounds so great! It's not easy to play this, and you find fantastic. It really helps to sing along with the melody, to get the phrasing in your head.

Here's where I am with the Christmas Song.  I may do yet another version with better audio and no dropout.  Honestly this is the first song I've ever tried to actually learn note for note and keep time moving through the chords.  Next I want to learn the chord progression. 

I'm at this point thoroughly sick of this beautiful song which has become an earworm!  That's what I get for practicing over and over.  I can see how getting a good steady clean touch/tone is so hard but Robert makes it look easy.  Staying in time feels possible but elusive.  

I always have a hard time sticking to the way it is "supposed" to be played and digressing and improvising and twiddling around jazzy style which can become mannered and boring pretty quickly.  Especially from an amateur but I have to start where I'm at. 

Merry Christmas@!  

Posted by: @bobkarstens

I'm at this point thoroughly sick of this beautiful song which has become an earworm!  That's what I get for practicing over and over. 

Very Well Done, Bob!  I know what you mean about the earworm effect, but that's the indicator that you have the material under your skin and grafted onto your DNA.

You, Sir, are taking all the right steps to be a better musician with time in the wood shed, recording and sharing.  Cheers!

Oh, and nice shirt, I climbed Going to the Sun Road on my bicycle in August on a cycling tour of Glacier, the high plains, and into the Beartooth Mountains on top of Yellowstone.  

Merry Christmas!