Goals

[doublestop]

We all have personal goals in our lives.....I am wondering what the board members' mandolin related goals may be.

I'll start, my most important goal is to be able to improvise efficiently.

[jmkatcher]

Tremolo.

[doublestop]

Good one, I guess I should have placed that ahead of my improvisation. I've never really mastered it. I think men are better at it than women. Not including Marilyn Mair of course!

[fatt-dad]

Selling mandolins to folks that are looking and settling down to just a few that I can continue to learn on. Learning more tunes to be more flexible when playing with others. Figuring how to use the pentatonic scales to improvise effectivelly. Using chords in rhythm more effectivelly.

f-d

[jose250]

As a newbie playing (less than two months), I kinda set small, short goals (usually one week goals) like begin to learn a new song, get better on ones I'm learning, and I usually pick another chord to attempt to incorporate in to my already attrocious attempt at chord playing and ###### strumming (someday I may get rhythm). And I also try to get a little more accurate with my aonzo sp?? scales.

There is an ultimate goal, though. It's to be able to be out campin' with my buddies with a cooler of beer and sit around the campfire and keep up with them in jammin'. I wanna be able to enjoy every minute of it and not worry so much about how to play as I just play. I guess I just want to be able to find my own groove, ya know?

Wherever that takes, from there, who cares. I'll still have a smile on my face the whole time.

[jose250]

wherever that takes me from there (not only can't I play mando, I can't type, either)....:D

[John Flynn]

1. Continuing to have even more fun playing with, and for, more people.
2. Learning and recording (just for myself) a list of about 150 tunes that I have charted out for myself. I know about half of them. I still need to start on the recording.
3. Ear training. I am coming to believe that the ultimate limit of what you can play is not in what you can do with your fingers, it is in what you can hear. If you can really, really hear something, you hands can eventually figure out how to play it.

[Thessalus]

I think jose250 summarized perfectly the goals of all us newbies.
I guess my ultimate goal is to be able to get the same satisfaction (in a technical, emotional and creative level) out of the mandolin as I get from my guitar.
That being said, my goal for the next few weeks will be to be able to remain calm while I am waiting for a new bridge.
The next goal will be to adjust it properly. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[recklessmando]

suck less

[Doug Edwards]

Staying IN TIME. I always want to rush solos.

[ira]

altering rythmic patterns
learning more theory so that i can find other chord voicings
double stop/2 course tremolos
split string - sounds so cool!
better tone on faster solos

[Kevin K]

Ira,
Have you any details on split string technique? It does sound cool.

[fatt-dad]

Oh yeah, and to play like Danny Roberts (that is a great albumn).

f-d

[nobleheart]

1) master at least 5 Bach compositions.
2) Record a Tribute to Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Harold Arlan.
3) Play Little wing from start to finish on emando.

[keymandoguy]

Making it to play mandolin in the angel band in heaven. Hope somebody leaves a door open so I can sneak in ? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[man doh]

I like this topic.

My goal is to make it to the 4th grade.

I always thought of my mandolin learning like being in school. Right now I'm A 30 year old third grader in mandolin years. Not playing another instrument before the mandolin its just like learning the 3 R's (Reading, Writing, Arithmetic) I love that saying. Soon or later you will be grown up enough that you can converse and communicate with people. And some are better than others.

I also just bought an old tape recorder the best $6 I ever spent. Tape the lead and play backup has been a big help to playing rhythm and timing.

[csstanley]

I desire to at least learn a new song a week.
Work on my rhythm strumming.
And work on training my ear. I believe this is key to laying any instrument, having a good ear.
I also want to work on my family as musicians, a family band. A family that plays and prays together, stays together. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Ken Sager]

My goals -- at least my top three, anyway -- all of which can be done with a mandolin in hand.
#3 Be kind, friendly, and fun-loving at all times
#2 Be more creative, rather than reactionary
#1 Have no goal, just be with what is

Joy to all,
Ken

[luckylarue]

To master songs outside the fiddle-tune/Bluegrass genres (not that I've mastered these yet - just want to expand the repetoire).

Learn 2-3 classical, jazz, and choro pieces.

Be a better singer! The key to good Bluegrass. (imo)

[giverin]

To win the mando competition at winfield http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[mandodebbie]

Mandodebbie'd Mandogoals:
1. Actually jam with members of the Manitoba Oldtyme and Bluegrass Society I joined two weeks ago, taking that they meet officially only four times a year. So, that means I have contact members to see if there are any other jams I can attend in the mean time. Hey, where's my newsletter, pals?
2. Learn to play double stops more efficiently, like the pros.
3. Learn lots of chords. And figure out where they all can be used in different songs.
4. Play for more people and have more fun. Spread the wealth! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

Mastering the instrument and its art. Earl Scruggs truly mastered his instrument. Some would say Jethro Burns and Monroe did the same. If i could be one who people say, " Mike had really mastered that instrument".

Technique would not be a problem and playing it would be truly enjoyable and no flaws. Thats my goal that maybe will be succededed.

Then again everyone should have a goal like that floatin in there brains somewhere.

[reindoggy]

I'd love have more of those magic moments where what I play and what I meant to play are the same thing. However, I'd settle for those (rare)times when I have no idea what I just played but the audience thinks it was intentionally brilliant and soulful. Since every mistake is an oppportunity for creative improvisation, play like you really mean it.

[Jack Roberts]

All six Bach Cello Suites. And to acquire a Coombe Mandola to play them on.

[Keith Miller]

Making it to play mandolin in the angel band in heaven. Hope somebody leaves a door open so I can sneak in ?
Keymandoguy, check under the mat, you'll find the key http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif