Musings Week 8, Going off course

I can pull back, not point as high into the wind. I don’t have to compose a new tune every week after all. I can take this week and work on arranging An HYMM, or the Carolan Wannabe, or Carolan Carol. I can change the course I set in December. I was to compose one tune each week and blog about the experience. The month of January when I set out was overwhelming. Trying to learn how to blog; and use the website; how to compose and manage the interface with the MIDI keyboard, the Finale notation program, the harp and the piano; participating in the Deborah Henson Conant (DHC) Blues Webinar; writing about the experience. My initial idea of spending 11 minutes a day writing and 40 minutes a day composing were far off the mark, as my entire day was consumed. Deborah suggested that I could pull back from the 1 tune a week idea, but I wanted to grit my teeth and soldier on. The protestant work ethic in me, wanted to grimly stay on course, and not give way to prevailing winds. But when you keep sailing too high into the wind, you don't make much progress; you fall back and change your direction so that you can get some headway. I don’t want to go off the course of composing 1 tune a week, but I am charting a different route for now. I have 4 good tunes/efforts for the first month. I did not have time or ability to perfect and polish them. So I can work on variations for An HYMM this week, and recall that I have also been composing tunes for the DHC Blues Webinar, which counts a bit towards my tune a week commitment. Changing direction is difficult for me, as it suggests something less, not following through. As if the original plan and course must be strictly followed, unless there is some justifiable reason not to proceed ( like a death in the family, or running agound).

COMMENTS

2/17/2016 08:28:02 am

Betsy: If it makes you feel any better I changed my course this week too, and the change has already led to new opportunities. I think goals are great, but getting stuck isn't, so as long as the goal is redefined with good reason it can be called progress. If the goal is redefined because we're being lazy that's another thing - but certainly not true of either of us! Soldier on, but in a new direction!

Alexandra I try to be skeptical, and that includes being skeptical of my ability to stick to a new course.....

2/18/2016 09:38:53 am

Kathy I heard a quote somewhere that sounds something like this: You have to begin moving forward. The direction may change, but if you don't start moving, you will never get anywhere. It sounds to me like you are doing exactly this. Moving forward, AND changing direction. Wonderful!

Alexandra yes, Kathy; let's hope forward, maybe not with the same speed...

2/19/2016 03:52:05 pm

DHC It's so interesting that you:

A. think the tunes need to be polished B. weren't considering the 'other tunes' you were working on as part of this project ... when, as I understand it, the goal of the project is to find the composer ... not the polisher ... not the perfected piece ... not the pristine intention ... but the experience of BEING a composer ... and how that composer's voice is discovered and expressed in anything and everything you do. Am I understanding your intent?