Saturday March 31st 2007

Practiced today mainly just on the solo - had rehearsal for several hours for someones senior recital - it really took it out of me man, haha. It was good though - I'm praying that it goes well for us on Tuesday.

Friday March 30th 2007

Short practice today, just working through the solo. Trying to keep it fresh for Tuesday. Got a lot of rehearsals for different senior recitals - I way over committed myself - I really hope I never do this again.

Thursday March 29th 2007

Played my solo for Dave today in my lesson - He really encouraged me a lot - he felt better about it than I did, haha. I'm gonna keep at it - things are getting really busy right now and I'm fearful for my ability to really keep up with everything and to do well on top of all the other things htat have to be done - but alas, God is faithful and He will get me through.

Wednesday March 28th 2007

Again just working on the solo, have to show it to Dave. I'm really excited about it - the end is a little shaky and I'm just realy hoping to get it together before Tuesday.

Tuesday March 27th 2007

So today in practice I just mostly worked on my solo - its really come together. The accented 8ths excercises are coming along better as well - just working on being able to accent better with my left hand. The 52 is good, steady at 200 bpm and climbing. Awesome!

Monday March 26th 2007

Todays practice is one of the most disciplined practice times i've had in a long time - definitely an answer to prayer. I think the time crunch in my life is probably whats motivating me to really get down to business and to really not goof off so much in my practice times.

Im having trouble with the accented 8ths on the kit, my right hand lead stuff is fine, but the left hand lead doubles stuff is really killing me because i'm having trouble control the dynamics correctly. Its something i'm working on, hopefully by the grace of God it will come together quickly.

wes

Sunday March 25th 2007

Practice wasnt so hot today - I think i'm just to stressed out currently - I kept at it though, I hope it pays off in the end. I feel like i did the worst on my solo that I have since i started it - thats probably not true but its how I feel. Father help me to do well with this stuff and to get through it - these next few weeks are going to be incredibly trying I know. Help me to lean on your strength.

Wes

Saturday March 24th 2007

Practice today was really fun.
Admittedly I didnt really work on the stuff I should have mostly, but I just had a good time playing drums - and I think you need that every now and again. The impending business of the rest of my semester though does have me freaked out - im' not sure how i'm ever going ot get through it. God be with me as I try to get everything done.

Wes

Monday April 23rd, 2007

Shane recital was today. Good times. I really enjoyed playing with him. I really just tried to lay back and let him take it. It was a blast, and i had so much fun playing in that. I think, I hope there will be oppurtunities for us to play together more in the future. He's a blast to play with.

Thursday March 22nd 2007

Lesson today went really well I thought - I feel like I was finally really prepared for a lesson - lol, I don't usualyl feel prepared for most of mine. Dave helped me understand the rhythms i wasnt getting in my solo, and they make sene in my head now. Hes got me working on the accented 8ths exercises with added bass drum rhythms in it as well - its mentally challenging more than anyhting, I like it.

Awesome

Wednesday March 21st 2007

Practice today was good, just warmed up with the 52 at 200, I can really see a noticable improvement in my speed and agility - awesome! Worked on my solo, I can pretty well get through it all the way through with the exceptions of a few parts that are still hanging me up. Everything else seems to be coming together pretty nicely - Awesome!

Tuesday March 20th 2007

Practice tonight was alright. My right arm started hurting when I was doing the 52, don't know what thats about. I worked briefly on the rest of my stuff, i've gotta be up at 5 in the morning and I need some rest. God have mercy on me, and help me to make up for it tomorrow some how.

Wes

Monday March 19th 2007

Practice tonight was good.

I spent time warming up with the 52 at 200 bpm. then went through the accented 8ths at 150 then 180 bpm, then started working on putting them on the kit at 150bpm. After that I worked on my latin solo for performance seminar, having some trouble spots but hopefully i'll have it worked out by thursday. awesome! God is good.

Wes

Friday March 16th 2007

School was open today!

Right on time too, it was cold outside today.

I can't believe how much better control of my hands I feel like I have - practice went really well. I really was getting a lot done on my solo, and I'm getting really close to working the whole way throuhg it right now - how exciting!

Wes

Thursday March 15th 2007

School closed again today. sigh.

Never the less though, I got back out with my snare and practiced away. I spent some of the time goofing off and working on stuff tha tprobably won't ever prove useful, haha, but it was fun!

Wednesday March 14th 2007

School was closed again today.

Thats kind of aggrevating, but I just practiced for a couple hours out in the lot again. I'm really getting better at the accented 8ths exercise - I was pushing it up to aorund 185 today - my left hand traditional style is having a hard time pulling off the accents at faster speeds, but hopefully I'll get it together soon.

Saturday April 14th, 2007

Rehearsal again, followed by playing at centerpoint. I've never rehearsed so much in my life.

Tuesday March 13th 2007

Practiced out in the 'lot' again today. School was locked so I couldn't get inside to practice on a kit. Just worked on the accented 8ths some more - I'm finally starting to get it - i've got it worked up to 150bpm right now, and hopefully faster than that soon. Spent a couple hours out in the lot today, and it was a great practice time.

Monday March 12th 2007

Practiced in the parking lot today! It was the first beautiful day that we've had in a very long time so I took my snare drum outside and probably practiced for about 2.5 hours! I worked on the accented 8ths routines and some other hand exercises - some of hte most fun ive had playing in a very very long time.

Friday March 9th 2007

Worked on my Solo today, doing better with it - excited to see where it is at the end of Spring break. Working on accented 8ths, still have no clue - its a struggle for me right now, but Im going to keep at it. Awesome.

Thursday March 8th 2007

Lesson today was good, Dave gave me a lot of cool stuff to work on over spring break - this exercise Accented 8ths is really challenging me mentally and control-wise as well, I'm intimidated but also excited to have something that really challenges me like this. I hope that spring break will be a really good time to practice.

wes

Wednesday March 7th 2007

Practice time today was productive I feel, just working on the stuff dave has me doing right now - not doing so hot on the solo, I really need to spend more time on it more than anything, but everything else is coming along pretty well.

Wes

Tuesday March 6th 2007

Blah. I feel absolutely horrible. Tonights practice may or may not have been productive. I didn't practice an hour.. i feel horrible.

I ran through my solo a few times, did the 52 match grip, though i did see some improvement, and then called it a night. I need to rest or i'm not going ot make it through the rest of the week.

Wes

Monday March 5th 2007

Im quickly learning how poor my technique with my left hand match grip is. Trying to do the 52 match is near impossible at this point.. its very frustrating. The temptation is to go traditional since i know I can do it, but I have ot fight that urge.

The solo is comin along alright, just having to figure out the rhythms measure by measure.

Wes

Sunday March 4th 2007

Practice today was rough.

I was doing the 52 exercise with my left hand match, and i quickly realized how much my left hand still totally sucks. So thats frustrating, and I guess just something Im' going to have to really work at getting up to par.

As for the solo, its coming along pretty well I feel. Its challenging my reading chops which is good, but frustrating at times also.

Awesome.

Wes

Saturday March 3rd 2007

Todays practice was a lot of fun. I started getting really tired toward the end though - i think its probably because of the diet.

I'm working on a lot of new cool foot stuff, trying to find new ways to do the interdepence stuff to take a one step farther, so thats pretty awesome.

Working on Latin fantasy, its coming by practice and persistance, so .. yay! lol

Wes