In preparation of week 7, I focused on creating a final master score of both parts with finalized ideas for the improvised sections. With MuseScore, I was able to hear what my arrangement sounded like with both parts being played at the same time. I also had a practice buddy that allowed me to mute or highlight which part I wanted to play along with. Some of the difficulties I faced in practicing were moments in the music where I landed on a certain shape or chord. A shape like the octave in m.12 for example. I have to jump from 1st position, which is near the first fret, and shift towards 7th position while landing on that octave. With a similar challenge falling on m.3 & 4 where I take a roll that is maintained on the top three strings through multiple shifts starting at the 15th fret, moving to the 7th, and then falling on the 3rd.
While I enjoyed myself practicing Rideaux, I still continued to face struggles from Armellodie. I would find myself running into issues with all 3 strategies I brought up yesterday. If I implemented open tunings, I would change the fingerings for both A sections and take away room for the ideas that were added on the returning A section that implemented harmonics. If I incorporate tremolo, I didn't execute it well enough as it's a technique I have yet to familiarize myself with. And if I re-wrote it, the piece would come out sounding too different so I didn't like what I was coming up with.
As a rebellious move, I decided on choosing and starting a 3rd piece. I had been continuing to listen for a 3rd piece to add from my list and settled on one that I believed would compliment the guitar well. "Manifesto," from Solo Piano I. As I find myself stuck, I want to at least continue to work towards my final goal of one day creating a book of these arrangements in order to generate another form of income.
