What are you New Year's Resolutions?

[mad dawg]

I just did several searches, and I can't believe that this annual question is not an active topic as of today.

I for one resolve to:
- practice each morning and evening
- begin work on learning a new tune/song/piece every week
- include theory work in my practice regimen each week
- buy a mandolin for learning/playing bluegrass
- not take work home with me
- do something original each and every day (a la Garden State)
- eat less beef and eat more fish & FFV
- use my home gym equipment for more than impromptou clothes hangers

[diamond ace]

1. practice 3 hours per day.
2. actually use the learning material i've wasted money on.
3. Buy a hogan mandolin! (the birthday special)

Happy new year everyone!http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[J. Mark Lane]

I have actually developed a very specific study plan for 2005 as my New Year's Resolution. It takes several pages of typing to describe, but in the nutshell:

- each month, a new project: one month, a new tune, the next month, a new arrangement of a tune I already know. I only play public domain tunes, with rare exceptions...fwiw

- each month (new tune or new arrangement) to include scale studies in the relevant scale, as well as work on rhythm, plus a research project on the history of the tune, plus a research project on a discography for the tune (and collecting as many recordings of it as possible).

- a specific regimen per day, that includes a minimum 1 1/2 hours per day, and an attempt to get 3 hours done per day; the time is broken down to maximize, with the assumption I may not get beyond the 1 1/2 (work through repertoire first, then work on difficult sections, then new piece/arrangement)

There's a lot more to it than this, but this is it in a nutshell. The idea is to increase my little repertoire (I do not foresee learning a tune a week, and am baffled than anyone can do that), while also working hard on execution. Instead of just learning a tune, I prefer to try to approach it as a "learn it backwards and forwards" kind of thing, so fewer tunes, more depth, hopefully.

FWIW, I also resolve to spend more time with my children, and to lose 15 lbs. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Mark

[jasona]

Last year it was to get over my fear of playing in front of other people--and I have come a long way with that.

This year I resolve to:

1) learn 25 new fiddle tunes
2) focus on rhythm, strumming, and chords
3) add arpeggios back into my daily practice routine, and start working on minor scales.
4) Nile's Bluegrass Up the Neck from cover to cover http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[John Flynn]

I don't really make resolutions, because they seem too much like rules made to be broken. Someone on the news threw out a stat(I don't know where they get this stuff!)that only 12% of New Year's resolutions are actually kept. I actually think that's high.

I am better with goals. Mine for the year are:
1. To finish learning the 150 fiddle tunes on my list of tunes to learn.
2. To improve my concentration when performing so I never "choke."
3. To have more fun than ever playing music with people I like.

[Milan Christi]

My only resolutions this year are mandolin-related:

a.) Aonzo Scales
b.) Arpeggios

Thanks Mandolin Cafe et. al. !

[mnosretep]

[1] Practice 2 hours per day
[2] Develop increased playing speed
[3] Participate in more jams

[Emmiemando]

Stop procrastinating on my loads of homework each day so that I can fit more mandolin in!

[mad dawg]

Darn you Emmie! By refreshing this topic, I was forced to look at my list of resolutions and see how many at which I've already failed. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

But at least I am practicing daily on my new (to me) pac-rim bluegrass mandolin! (Two out of eight after 25 days isn't too bad, right? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif )