So, not been so hot at keeping up to this over the past few days, here's what's happened...

Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday were spent practicing the same material I have been doing for a while now. I have however been filming improvisations based upon the material I have been looking at (I will put it up on here when I figure out a way that doesn't take hours on end) and this has brought up some things worth noting...

• Articulations: need to look at how I'm playing the notes. In particular I'm playing a lot of staccato, look at the length I hold notes for more. 
• Phrasing: I often carry on a phrase for a few notes too long. Also look at the impact of phrases, particularly with regards to rhythm and how different articulations change the feel.
• Always make sure the head is controlling the fingers.

On a general note I have been quite down on my playing over the past few days, again. I have a tendency to focus on the negatives. This in one regard is good as at least I know where my weaknesses lay, however it can make practicing daunting and an undesirable task. As I'm finding continually addressing my flaws can be a bit disheartening. Which is why it was quite nice today to stumble upon some old recordings of my playing from 2010, I could hear improvement in just about every aspect (facility, rhythm, note choice etc). This gave me heart and perspective. I'm practicing to improve, simple. However I may feel about my playing, is how I feel, I'm not sure I can change that. But if I practice objectively and honestly I can improve. Which is all I can do.

(Quite tired now so will write up today's practice tomorrow at some point)

Warm up
5 mins. Pumping Nylon exercises.

Scales/Arpeggios
25 mins. Maj, min, mel and harm through cycle of 5ths all over neck. Dom 7, maj 7, min 7 and min7b5 arpeggios. Major scale and melodic minor scale modes.

Rhythm/Time
1hr 10. Usual subdivision and broken meter stuff at 40 bpm and 60 bpm. Moved on through the '22 rhythms' section of the jerry bergonzi book as well. When I do this prior to improvising I feel I gain a lot more control rhythmically, think this comes from the broken meter stuff in particular.

Chops practice and Improvisation
1hr 30. Did the usual arpeggios with substitutions, could have concentrated a great deal better! Improvised a lot however after a while I grew unhappy with how I was playing, took a brake and came back to it and played much better.

Harmony
1hr. Continued study of triads over bass notes, enjoying this and it is opening up some new sounds to me. Making good progress on this front however to be able to use all this material freely will take a very long time I fear!

Tuesday

Usual warm up with scales and arpeggios.
Chops practice.
Despite my promise to get a lot done today I didn't! Oh well.

Wednesday

30 mins. Warm up, scales and arpeggios

1hr 30. Rhythm and time. Did the subdivision stuff at 40bpm and 60 bpm, note limitation stuff and '22 rhythms' from Jerry Bergonzi book. Really felt the benefit of this stuff today!

1hr. Chops practice and substitutions through Blue Bossa. Feel fluent with this now, more can be done still"

40 mins. Creative Practice. Imrovised with the diminished scale from the perspective of the four relevant dominant arpeggios. Like doing it from this perspective. Might say perspective a few more times...

1hr. Harmony. Studied from the triads over bass notes stuff from 'The Advancing Guitarist'. Want to use some of it as the basis for a composition.

Thursday

Busy day. Learnt a song by a metal band called Testament in the morning, standard fare E harmonic minor stuff. Mullets, leather and biblical references mandatory. Afternoon nipped on M1 down to Sheff to rehearse with Bridie, discussed that I should probably consider including our repertoire in my practice haha. Taught in the evening.

Saturday

Spent the daytime mainly with family then went out in the evening for a meal and a drink to celebrate a friend leaving to go live in Australia. I did practice on Saturday but I can't for the life of me remember what.

Sunday

Mainly spent bleary eyed and hungover. Had a jam with Danny B though writing some tunes which was good.

Today

Not felt 100% and have no motivation to practice. Teaching in the evening. Will practice like a fruit loop tomorrow to compensate!

Watched the documentary made on Bill Cuningham the other night, inspiring bloke.  

Today I practiced Mediterranean Sundance and sight reading. Was pleased with the sight reading after not doing much for such a long time. MS sounded fine and the interview/audition went well. I was particularly happy with some of the stuff I was doing in the right hand, must try and maintain this kind of disciplined approach with my right hand in all scenarios, gives me great control. Also felt well cool playing in a suit. It's the little things.

Thursday 10th of January
Yesterday was very busy when I could have done with it being quiet. Managed to get an hour and a half done on Mediterranean Sundance, as long as I hold my nerve today it should be ok. Back to the woodshed...

Right so today started off well enough...

Usual scales and arpeggios to start. (30 mins)

Harmony
2hrs. Worked through the inversion (drop 2 and drop 3) stuff in the advancing guitarist book. On a side note this is the best bit of literature I have come across for the guitar, I both love it and hate it. Every time I pick it up I feel, on one hand, enthused that I could study from it all day and also daunted by how much there is to be done.

I also looked at the symmetrical diminished scale stuff in the book, really getting to grips with this stuff now, I think.

Chops Practice
30 mins. Arpeggios and substitute arpeggios through Blue Bossa.

Then I got a phone call saying I've got an interview/audition on Friday. BALLS! Spent the next 2hrs practicing Mediterranean Sundance for a performance piece. It's sketchy as I haven't played it in ages but it will get there, hopefully.