Thanks, @Fiddlerman ,@damfino, and @CharlieStrings !!

Charliestrings-  I know what you mean, but it's not that hard to post here. LOL- see how nice everyone was to me ?

I have not practiced much over the last year- thought I was dying, it turns out I'm not.  I think I am back to feeling motivated again.

Minuet 2 was the hardest piece I have worked on so far- Minuet 3 seems like a piece of cake in comparison -  we shall see.  

BUT !!!   I got out my old sheets of music that I tried to play in the beginning-  I'll bet they are a bit easier now. :). 

I really want to work on something that I can play without the background- even if the sound is wired to my ear. Then I will know for sure what I sound like- but I am scared. 

Also- at the advice of a friend, I started recording my practice sessions- all of them (cuz u just never know. LOL)  For this recording, I was focusing on getting my fingers, my bow, and most of me in the video- which causes my posture to fade- must do something about that !

so- thanks, guys !  

Thanks, @Uzi 

Actually, playing like this is a double edge sword.  It is fun, that is why I do it- mostly, but I have found two things (at least) about it that might be harmful.

One- I am not really playing, but more playing along side. It's not creative as I am just trying to copy someone else's paper so to speak.

and, Two-  The music is keeping the tempo for me.  I probably haven't learned a darn thing about keeping time for myself in the whole three years.

I chose this method because I really want to play the beautiful music.  I am completely self taught- so.......... so far this has been my path.

I really want to learn something to play on my own.  That is a goal of mine.

 (congrats on your 3 years--)

awe....... shucks, @coolpinkone (CPO).

THANKS !

I really do believe that a lot of my practice choices reflect my personality directly. 

*rainbow connection

*theme from godfather

*etc.    

My selections tend to make me giggle. LOL

next up- actually smiling while playing-  (doubt it)

There is a new bird in the area. It used to be that the frogs laughed with me- now they laugh at me. The new bird however, was singing along with me today, and that made me laugh !

yes, @BillyG - I am enjoying the journey.  

The time of my life is confusing the crap out of me this year- apparently the title of this topic should be TWO years- not 3 !!  LOL

and on another note I ran into a video of crickets slowed down so much that they sounded like God's chorus- I don't really believe it.........., but it might be true

LOL- whatever it is, it's free for the taking !

Fiddlerman said

You want me to correct it for ya???  

wow- sure !  If you could do that, that would be cool- cuz as the years go by, I don't think my sense of time is going to get better- and changing it will help my memory for next year !  LOL

LOL !!  Thank you !  It's all fun...... so leaving evidence of it is cool !

I have lots of thoughts about my memories, but I forget......