99% practice, 1% theory

I have only one day left of my initial 63 days of tunes. This has been truly an altering experience. When I drew those first boxes, I wasn't sure how things would work - if I would get burnt out, if there would be days I'd be too tired or too busy - but it gave me a starting place, and what a run it's turned into! There's an underlying drive to play now. I suppose one might call it a habit, but I like to think of it more along the words of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. 99% Practice, 1% Theory.

Today I spent a vast majority playing. I woke up about 10, showered, then got down to business! Tunes until I made myself eat lunch, more tunes until I forced myself to stop to get the paperwork done for the AOSA workshop in August, then more tunes until I had to run a couple errands, then tunes in the park for an hour and a half. These days feel like I'm home. Like I'm where I'm supposed to be, playing. And when I'm not playing, tunes have been going constantly, on my computer, in my car. I'm looking forward to the day I can say I've actually listened to all of the Irish stuff on my computer (with varying degrees of interest and intensity). This is the calling of the True Believer.  I've gone through mini-phases like this, of playing and listening, but never so long and never so intense.  It's transforming.

So now I'm at a place I need to keep going.  Despite mom's disapproving look, my fiddle will go with me EVERYWHERE this summer, and will be played EVERYDAY without fail.  If it means I have to get up 20 minutes earlier than I might have otherwise (and that's a big thing!), I'll be getting up to play while others are showering in the hotel room.  I have this most fantastic momentum going, and I'm not going to quit for something as arbitrary as family travels.  Next question is: How many more days to add?  Off to draw another calendar to extend my current one!

Nerves

This last weekend saw my first attendance of the Minnesota Irish Music Weekend, hosted by the folks at the Center for Irish Music in St. Paul.  It's always a humbling experience to go out and play with new (and fantastic!) players.  It makes me remember what a beginner I still am.  One thing that quickly became apparent is how nervous I get playing in front of other people, particularly if I'm by myself, and particularly if they are strangers.

*Quick side note: I'm listening to the Irish playlist I made on randomize....a fiddle tune came on and I thought, this is nice, I should listen to this person more.  So I went to mark it; it's Jesse Smith, who was one of the fiddle teachers at MIM*

I have thought multiple times in the past about going out the park to play on occasion - I think this is something I ought to try to see if it will help me get over some of the nerves I face playing in front of others.  When I'm playing alone at home where no one is really listening, I feel like I'm solid on the tunes and sets I've been working on.  The instance I tried some of those sets, either down at CCC with Pete and everyone, or out in Minnesota, I get caught in the notes and flustered.  And since Cheyenne isn't exactly brimming with gig opportunities, it's something simple I will try, and see how it helps.