The Final Post...Someone Give Me a Kleenex

The time has come, you guys.

It's the end of the project.

(nobody say anything about how I'm going to continue these guitar shenanigans - it will ruin the moment)

(wails of sorrow from the studio audience)

(everyone is wearing black)

(it's super sad)

(Laurent is laid down to rest)

(more people cry)

(the sadness is overwhelming over here, folks)

(so anyway)

I'm not too sad about this end, because I'm going to keep playing guitar and trying to achieve a moderate level skill. That is my goal (I refuse to say New Years Resolution so shut your face), and I may or may not stick to it. Either way, I really like blogging, so I'm going to stick to it and blog about my menial life for the five or so people to whom I will whine "DIDJA READ MY BLOG" Barney-from-How-I-Met-Your-Mother-style. Oh, shoutout to the glorious Caitlyn Regan who told me today that she reads my blog!

The things that I learned from this project, if anything, include how to make a blog. I consider that much a success. Mr. Matthys told me that I lost points on my presentation a few days ago because I was self-deprecating and more or less said "I suck so enjoy". While I understand the need for self-confidence and not setting the audience up to expect disappointment, I also have a thing about honesty. A lot of people in that class are great guitarists. If I went up there and said "I'm playing guitar, prepare to have your mind BLOWN", they would all probably want me dead in a ditch someday for shaming the name of Laurent everywhere. It would be the most possible anticlimactic situation I could think of, considering my performance, which I personally feel like everyone will acknowledge was not good. I'm proud of myself, man! I may have little skill that I have achieved, but over this path I have learned a few things. I've learned how to play major chords, I've learned how much steel strings hurt on the finger region, I've learned how to meet new people (just carry around a really nice guitar and they'll all ask to play it), and I've learned a little something about self-confidence. I've also learned that I will probably never get into Wind Ensemble, but that's a flute problem. And I will get over it, I'm sure. And, you know, deny my fate by practicing for two hours every day until my mandible falls off. Because that's the kind of person that I am trying to be.

Either way, it's been fun. I'm off to England now (MLIA). But I'll be back, like the terminator. And I will master Laurent and all he has to offer. Besides, I would much rather keep him and learn him than give him back to Hannah, where he will sit in the corner and make her look worldly and exotic.

toodles, y'all.

Mouth Bleeding and Other Fun Topics

So, a lot has happened. And I feel very prepared for my Google presentation on Monday.

MONDAY, YOU ASK? Yes, presentations are due tomorrow for the lesser mortals, but not for me.

WHY, YOU ASK? Because I will be spending the next five or so days bleeding from my empty mouth sockets and eating chicken soup. Yes, dear viewer, tomorrow is the big day of my wisdom teeth removal. I may or may not be having a panic attack right now, but no matter.

Anyway, back to GUITAR.

I watched a YouTube video last week which taught me the chords for "Jingle Bells". They are easy (for normal people) and so I should have them mastered by my presentation day. I should clarify for Mr. Matthys's sake that if I was at school I would absolutely be prepared to go tomorrow, but since I won't be, I can use the extra time that isn't spent writhing in agony polishing my skills and having a final hurrah with Laurent.

I think my final presentation will be playing my two songs: Jingle Bells (with a Santa hat, of course) and This Land is Your Land (patriotism FTW). If I have time, I'll also share a PowerPoint presentation on my improvement and process, or just talk about it. I would like to emphasize for the court that I did not intend to be a champion guitarist for this project, I merely wanted to learn basic chords and a song or two. PROJECT COMPLETE, I THINK.

I'm planning on continuing into Semester Two with this project for band letter points and an A option. I really would like to get better at this instrument, it's cool and makes me look pretentious.

In other news, Blake and Co. finished their music video starring me. It is my new favorite video on the Internet, I wish I could be there tomorrow when we watch it in band. Here is the link. Make it viral. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd5ekiJGw1g
I would like to mention that I have no idea where Blake found several of the shots of me, which makes me more than a little scared. He also stalked my Facebook wall for baby pictures (BTW, Blake, I could have gotten you a much better one if you had actually asked me about it)
I WANT TO DO MORE OF THEIR VIDEOS RIGHT NOW THEY ARE SO PERFECT AAH.

So I'm done fangirling.

This has been a ride, guys. I'll keep posting as I continue into Crazy Guitar Fun 2.0: Revenge of Laurent (SECOND SEMESTER). If I don't post again until after my presentation, I just want to say I've had a great, if horribly stressful and finger-paining, time. I love blogging.

Stay groovy.
Love,
Isabel

I Siriusly Need a New Song

I am in a rut.

Today was Google Day 3.0, and I am actually posting in a timely manner.

I really just need to say that I have reached an obstacle in my learning. I like to call it, "WHATIDON'TKNOWHOWTHISISSOHARDRAGEQUIT"

In case that is too convuluted, I'll get to the gist: this "learning guitar thing" is REALLY hard. To the point of I have been playing the same four major chords for the last 3 weeks and don't know where or how or what to go from here.

So, today in band I got a rude awakening. Aparently, instead of grading everything super easily like he reportedly did last year, this year Mr. Matthys is actually going to grade projects based on how good they are in reality. Which makes me, ah, REALLY REALLY WORRIED.

It would be so sad if I failed band. BAND. WHO FAILS BAND.

But really, I'm super worried about this because I need new songs but every song I try isn't even attemptable because it's so difficult.

ANYWAY. THE GOOGLE DAY.
So, before I could continue my battle for glory with Laurent, I was swept away by Blake and his crew of poorly costumed misfits. I spent about [an unspecified amount of] minutes starring in their music video and listening to Blake give the repetetive direction "just look super creeped out". I am so looking foward to everybody appreciating my stellar acting skills in that video. I may or may not have laughed in every single take. Don't tell Mr. Steamrolling-director-I-should-be-playing-all-of-your-roles-I-can't-work-with-these-ameteurs a.k.a. Blake. I'm totally kidding, we're besties.

Anyway, once I was released/their camera died, I secluded myself to the special corner of the hall that probably has my butt imprinted in it by this point (the floor, obviously. Not the whole hall) and worked on the same old stuff. I basically spent the next hour in this spot, with occaisional helpful demonstrations and aid from various passersby. It appears everybody at LO can play the guitar except for me.

Basically, if I could just find a song, I wouldn't give up hope right now. Plus, I'm hoping I'll get brownie points for having super witty blog posts...maybe?

Mr. Mattys is awesome...

Ah well. Toodle-oo

Making Excuses

Not that I'm fishing here, but I really think Mr. Matthys would understand me not posting on my blog until Sunday afternoon. I was at school literally from 7:20 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. on Friday, and so as soon as I got home the only thing on my mind was defrosting my feet. Then, on Saturday, I was at school again all day, of course, for the second and third performances of Guys and Dolls. And then it was suddenly Sunday. I think I have a good excuse.

So anyway, on the Google Day (Friday), I sat in the hallway for basically the entire period. I tuned Laurent with a lot of difficulty and some help (I forgot who helped me). I then played some more of This Land Is Your Land, and it's getting so much easier. Except for that last chord, which still bothers me even though I was playing it correctly.  I seriously need some new songs, because patriotism is getting old and boring. I attempted to play through "Here Comes the Sun", but the chords changed too fast so I quickly gave up on that. Whoever told me that song was easy lied and should be boiled in oil. Just kidding. I'm just mad at them for having more talent than me.

After that, Blake and Co. came over to film me being violated some more, I'm sure (for their Google Project, context is important) but I was saved by the bell (quite literally).

 I'm learning more chords from my guitar Bible and it's going pretty well. My fingers still hurt, but slightly less so.

I also listened to the Musical Theatre class sing "Time Warp" and the boy's choir doing warm-ups. The hallway is a very musical place at eight in the morning.

Friends

I think I've had an epiphany.

Today I decided to befriend Laurent, instead of being terrified of him. We made friendship bracelets, signed a contract of friendship, and got down to business. (You should all be singing the Mulan song in your head right now)

And it was easier.
I said, It. Was. Easier.

OHMYGOD, YOU GUYS (Cue that song). I tackled my patriotism with "This Land Is Your Land" once again and it went SO much better. It's actually starting to sound like a song. I sound horrible of course, me and my little nonchoir second soprano self singing a song written for men and sounding like crap when it got out of my range, but that's okay because nobody judges your singing in band. I hope. The final chord still sounds funky to me- it doesn't sound like the end of the song. But that might be because I don't know how to harmonize.

In other news, Guys and Dolls opens this week. Everyone come and see it.

The 24 Hour Post

It has been less than 24 hours since Google Day 2.0, and I am POSTING.

Let's get down to it.

So today started with me having to bring Laurent on the bus. Which sucks, by the way. I hate that stupid case, it's impossible to carry without looking ridiculous and hitting it against walls and stuff.

Anyway, I went to band and started messing about with some chords to warm up. I tuned Laurent (he wasn't that badly out of tune, surprisingly. Assuming, that is, that I actually successfully tuned him and didn't just make it worse). Then, Mr. Matthys filmed me playing an A chord. And laughed at me, which I think is a good sign. Look on his page for the video of me. That is, if he didn't cut me out of it, which I wouldn't blame him for doing.

After he walked away to film more talented and interesting people, I showed Emma my prowess over "This Land Is Your Land". She wasn't too impressed, probably because it sounded horrible. I then googled the piece to make sure I was playing the right chords. That didn't work very well, so I settled for asking Mr. Matthys what I was doing wrong, which he was very excited to tell me. Kidding, but it was helpful. Turns out I was pressing the strings (incorrect terminology for the win) with the wrong part of my finger and it's supposed to be done closer to the pad of the finger than the nail. Yay other places to put through extreme and permanent pain!

Then I spent about 15 minutes or so guest starring in Blake, Tony, and Darden's music video. It was scary. Here's the link to their project page. It isn't as cool as mine. http://translationkorealand.blogspot.com/

At the end of the period I recovered from the emotional torture Blake the steamrolling director put me through and lent Megan my guitar to use in her project (loltaylorswift)

Good day, guys. Also, my great pal Rachel whom I dearly love (and who I gave one of my two purple guitar picks to) said she'd give me the chords to some easy real music that isn't awkwardly patriotic. So that's exciting.

Bye, all seven million (or 2, as of last count) of my viewers!

At This Point, I Can At Least Be Patriotic

So yesterday, with a lot of help (hi, mommy), I successfully got through "This Land Is Your Land" (the first song my mom learned when she played). It was a remarkable accomplishment considering my innate guitar skillage. As far as legit music goes, it isn't difficult because the song is only three different chords and, quite handily, they are all on the same page of my chord book (aka Google Bible). It's still insanely difficult to switch my hand position all flowy and so there isn't an awkwardly long pause between the words "from" and "California". I sang along with myself when I played it (no doubt off-key), which totally made me feel like Taylor Swift.

In other news, for some reason I am finding it impossible to tune Laurent. Don't ask me why, my brain is refusing to comprehend the difference between flat and sharp. It's frustrating. RAWR.

This guitar thing is really hard and I am one million percent certain my fingers will be in need of amputation before the semester is out.

Improvement is on the very very distant horizon.

Google Day One = Not Success

So, the first google day was yesterday.

Biggest news of the hour: I still can't play guitar.

What a shockerooni.

So, I lug Laurent to school yesterday. Which, by the way, was a total pain because guitars are HARD to carry. Especially if you don't want to look like a tool, which no doubt I did, dragging Laurent around.

Then in class I spend the period learning chords. I learned a lot. And then proceeded to forget them, but that's why I have a book. I also figured out how to play individual notes, which is a whole lot easier because you just have to hold down one string. Using this technique, I successfully played Mary Had a Little Lamb in D major and Hot Cross Buns, also in D major.

And then my fingers hurt for the rest of the day. Yay guitar.

Hopeful improvement is on the horizon. Stay TUNED, y'all.

lolbandjoke

Happy Birthday To Me!

It's my sixteenth birthday, and I decided to put my birthday good luck omens to the test and take a crack at guitar.

Yes, for the first time.

No, I haven't been procrastinating. I've been fearing my inevitable doom. Because there is (there are?) only so many times that I can try something and fail absolutely positively miserably.

And then be screwed.

So, long story short, I put this off forever because it's scary to learn new things! Freaking terrifying, man! But today I prayed to Apollo (god of music, y'all) and set a course for my destiny with purple guitar pick in hand.

And then ten minutes later I hoisted my white flag and admitted defeat. This instrument is HARD. I'm talking ROCK-LIKE. It's just...mindblowingly challenging with the chords and the notes and I don't even know how to count frets or what note each fret makes and it's just no fun.

I have surrendered to the terror of Laurent for now. I'll play again tomorrow, on the Google day. Or, you know, I'll fail band. Which is seeming more and more likely by the second.

Just kidding.
But seriously. I'm dying here. Waaaaaaaaaaaaah :( :( :(
Also, my fingers are owie.

It's Not Cheating, It's Taking the Easy Way Out

This guitar stuff keeps getting so much more exciting! Maybe I'll actually play it sometime! :)

But in all seriousness, I am so pumped right now.

In the latest news, I abandoned my idea to take Laurent to school to tune him when, last night, my mother was playing him and snapped a string (chord? Wire? What's the official term?). So, since it was her fault and all, she took it to the Guitar Doctor for me today while I was at school and got him all fixed up with a new string/chord/wire/whatever. The doctor also tuned him...so I don't have to. That's not really cheating, is it?

In addition, she also bought me not one, but TWO beautiful guitar picks so I can have pretty accessories to make me look more pro. Shoutout to Mommy for being AWESOME!! <3

Also, today at my voice lesson my teacher leant me her Beatles book AND a book on how to play chords! Yay!

I am SO READY TO START!!!
WAHOO!
LET'S
GET
EXCITED

OMG LOOK AT ALL MY NEW COOL STUFF

So That Plan Failed

Since I know everyone is DYING to hear more about my guitar-ing adventures, I'll bring Y'ALL up to date (all seven million people who read this blog, ha ha).

This morning, I asked Mr. Matthys if I could borrow a tuner. Despite my pleas and highly ineffective and probably very emotionally damaging begging, he was resistant. Since I have no inner tuning device to speak of, and am probably very tone deaf, I will have to rethink phase one.

Unfortunately for me, phase two will probably result in me bringing my guitar (let's call him Laurent- pronounced LAH - RAHHHHNT in a pretentious French accent) to school to use the tuner under Matthys's watchful and mistrusting supervision. One would think that if one trusted other one to be a DA (possibly the most dangerous and emotionally stimulating responsibility in band- involves stacking chairs and photocopying), one would trust one to borrow a tuner, but I guess not (I'm totally kidding Mr. Matthys please don't fail me)

So, I will plan on bringing LAH-RAHHHNT to school next A Day (Thursday?), to tune this bro. And then, well....the real fun begins!

All Instrumented Up and Nowhere to Go

So, in the latest of GREAT news, I have concluded to take the boring way out, and teach myself how to play the guitar. My voice teacher has a book of Beatles songs for guitar, so maybe for my final project I'll play one and sing along, if I don't die of crippling performance anxiety under the fear of singing in front of crowds of millions (or forty).
And, as if today couldn't POSSIBLY get better, I am now in possession of my cousin's borrowed guitar, having obtained under the threat of "if you break it I'll kill you or, like, whatever". So my next step is to obtain a practice book (library/Mr. Matthys's extensive music collection) after I have figured out how to tune the thing, as I'm fairly certain it has sat in the corner of Hannah's room for the last six months, casting an air of worldliness and feminine mystique.
Happy Sunday, everybody! :D

SO FULL OF EXCITEMENT!

Trombone Failures and Time Wasting

Today was the first google day in band! Yippee!
So for me and my lack of creativity, this meant sitting around writing ideas and trying to look musical and intelligent. (For obvious reasons, this failed miserably)
Today, I accomplished basically nothing, which is why this blog has no title. I wrote a big fat list of some ideas that I could do, some suggestions from other people, and a lot of drawings of stars to satisfy my doodly brain.
Some results from today's brainstorming included:

• learn to play an instrument
• compile a musical history of famous pieces from different time periods, from [INSERT YEAR HERE] to current day.
• make a music video (seems to be the standby - unfortunately for my lack of talent in the video-editing department, this is probably not an option)
• make instruments out of household appliances and play a band chant or song on them
• blow into glass bottles containing different amounts of water (to have different notes) and play a song. I don't think I can do this because of the lack of glass bottles in my house that I would be willing to use. As most nonalcoholic beverages seem to come in plastic these days, I would have a difficult time finding bottles.

By the end of the day, my best ideas are EITHER to (a) learn to play one of the band chants on three-five different instruments or (b) master either guitar or harmonica.
I also spent about 20 minutes trying to figure out the melody of the How I Met Your Mother theme song. Time well spent.
In addition, I spent a while trying to understand the basics of trombone (shoutout to Blake for letting me borrow his!) with the aid of a tuner. This resulted in a big ole pile of frustration because first position can apparantly result in EVERY NOTE OF THE GOSHDARN SCALE, which is super irritating and means I have a crappy embouchure. Ah well, failed that.

All in all, not the best day. Hopefully will have more luck starting soon!