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keryxWe've been doing so many "and then you go upside down! and balance in the air!" things the past couple of months that a week off where I still continually practice has me thinking my arms are like uber-tough. I remember last Tuesday I actually couldn't keep my arms up to play the harp for more than 10 minutes once I got back from CST.
So, first. Tuesday night growaspine: still kinda kicking the ass on technique (RPT 8-9), and seeing a little improvement in strength. Of two sets, the second was like a 7 RPE and a 3 RPD; the first was a bit more uncomfortable. The extra discomfort was kindo of interesting - I think the notch up in strength meant moving beyond where I normally do? It felt weird but not totally painful. I think I could have done a third set, but I'd been playing with MILLS! With my 10LB CLUBS! And I did not die. Of course, I only did FIVE. The play was fun.
I am starting to hear keys, I think. I really really thought that "Northwest Passage" must be in Dmaj, and it totally is. Also, I didn't realise this, but Ray Poole has been teaching me Nashville Numbering. Which is also what harmonica players do, kinda. Anyhow, I tuned the harp in D, and I could strum little chords using the numbers along with my own singing (hearing melody and reproducing it on any non-vocal instrument is still way hard). Not like a huge accomplishment. But. I feel so so so good about it. And I know my Johnny Cash/Ben Jonson song by heart, enough to also get playful with its harmony. I had never thought about the why or the mood of harmony when I was wee.
Tonight we started doing a set formation transition (relearning seductive but easy,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
riotkat and arovd, minus the fat entrance), tried to dance fast to a song in 3/4 (disastrous - check it out: sucking together!), and we had musicians and dancers working together again. Good good times. I love when the noobs get daring. I also tried showing everyone the Water Pot and Sununda, but... um, I think my feeling that they are goofy is expressed in my dancing. There was a definite "must we?" vibe in the receipt of said steps by all other dancers. But we came up with a rocking new move called the Little Teapot. That'd be the Water Pot, but with tipping over and pouring out. Bad. Ass.
So, first. Tuesday night growaspine: still kinda kicking the ass on technique (RPT 8-9), and seeing a little improvement in strength. Of two sets, the second was like a 7 RPE and a 3 RPD; the first was a bit more uncomfortable. The extra discomfort was kindo of interesting - I think the notch up in strength meant moving beyond where I normally do? It felt weird but not totally painful. I think I could have done a third set, but I'd been playing with MILLS! With my 10LB CLUBS! And I did not die. Of course, I only did FIVE. The play was fun.
I am starting to hear keys, I think. I really really thought that "Northwest Passage" must be in Dmaj, and it totally is. Also, I didn't realise this, but Ray Poole has been teaching me Nashville Numbering. Which is also what harmonica players do, kinda. Anyhow, I tuned the harp in D, and I could strum little chords using the numbers along with my own singing (hearing melody and reproducing it on any non-vocal instrument is still way hard). Not like a huge accomplishment. But. I feel so so so good about it. And I know my Johnny Cash/Ben Jonson song by heart, enough to also get playful with its harmony. I had never thought about the why or the mood of harmony when I was wee.
Tonight we started doing a set formation transition (relearning seductive but easy,
riotkat and arovd, minus the fat entrance), tried to dance fast to a song in 3/4 (disastrous - check it out: sucking together!), and we had musicians and dancers working together again. Good good times. I love when the noobs get daring. I also tried showing everyone the Water Pot and Sununda, but... um, I think my feeling that they are goofy is expressed in my dancing. There was a definite "must we?" vibe in the receipt of said steps by all other dancers. But we came up with a rocking new move called the Little Teapot. That'd be the Water Pot, but with tipping over and pouring out. Bad. Ass.