11 months to go

January just ended and we're starting a new month.

How is your progress? Are you on track with your goals for this year? Or perhaps the days go by so fast that you haven't achieved anything that you planned for?

In order to stay on track with your goals in organ playing for the entire year, it's important to look at the progress you've made at the end of each month.

Some people find monthly reviews very beneficial. It's done by setting aside 10 minutes and writing down answers to the following questions:

1. What pieces have you completed mastering in organ playing during the last month? By mastering I mean to be ready to perform them in public.
2. What pieces have you made progress on?
3. What have you learned as a person?
4. What fitness and health challenges have you been facing?
5. What happened in your life? Big picture here, not too detailed.
6. What do you want to remember in the future from the last month that seems important to you now?
7. What are the dreams for the next month in organ playing and in life in general?

Do it while your memory of the past month is fresh. Then the process is quick and painless. The key is in writing it down, of course, not just thinking about it.

If you do this regularly at the start of each month, then you will gain enormous clarity where you can go next and your year-end review will be a breeze because you will only need to glance over at your monthly reviews.

PS Of course, keep yourself open to the freedom of spontaneity because often the best things happen to us when we least expect them.

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Ausra's Harmony Exercise:
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Practice the following cadence in Eb major. The chords: I-V43-I-IV6-I64-V-V42-I6 (see video example below):

Do you have a question about harmony for Ausra? You can reach her by email.

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Spiky and Pinky Play Duets 19