Ahead of my lesson this weekend, I'm sharing my practice journal for Ashokan Farewell. I am getting to grips with the overall piece but want to make it sound smoother, and work on the dynamics as well as add in the pedal. Last lesson Benedict told me about subdivision and using the metronome I've been using the quavers setting when I practice to help me break down the bars and work on the timings.

Thank you to the student who recently pointed out that your progress dashboard (lesson notes) can sometimes be hard to find. If you would like a direct link to your progress dashboard sent to you (perhaps for you to write down or bookmark in your browser), just comment on this post. The current way to find your progress dashboard is to click on the classroom tab (this is where all resources are), click on support (this is where all the resources to improve your playing can be found), and then click on "progress dashboard". Checking and practicing from the notes is important for progress! It shows you, in a skill where there is an infinite number of things to improve on, what to prioritise. If there's anything else you're struggling to find, just let me know!

I've been trying to play Ashokan Farewell for so long and never seem to make any progress and put it away again each time. Today I picked it back up and am determined to get a grip of it this time. I'm going to write down my practice and slow it right down, breaking it into smaller sections. Does anyone else have a nemesis piece you are going to revisit this year and how are you going to tackle it?

Happy New Year, Circle members! 🎹 As we move into 2026, this community is officially becoming member-led. To start the year strong, this month’s challenge isn’t about how many scales you can play—it’s about how we support each other. The Challenge: Between now and the end of January, your goal is to complete these three community actions: 1. Share a "Practice Pearl": Make a post sharing one tiny thing that helped your practice this week (e.g., a specific lighting setup, a way you mark your sheet music, or a favourite warm-up stretch). 2. The "High Five": Find a post from a fellow member in the Progress & Wins section and leave an encouraging comment. 3. The "Curiosity Question": Ask one question in the General Discussion area—it could be about gear, a piece of music, or how others find time to practice. Why take part? When you share what you’re doing, you aren’t just "posting"—you’re teaching. Even if you’re a total beginner, your perspective might be exactly what another member needs to hear to feel less alone in their journey. To enter: Once you’ve done all three, comment "ALL SET" on this post! Let’s see how much collective wisdom we can build this month. 🌿

Welcome! This post is designed to help you navigate this community and get as much value as possible out of it. You will see that there are many of my posts up until about November 2025. I don't regularly post anymore, but I'm still active in this community in other ways! You will get out just as much as you put in, and here's how: - Post in the community if you have any questions. I check the community most days and will respond to help you. - If you're feeling generous, make a post to help others, comment on people's posts to answer their questions, and reply to people! Everyone has something of value to contribute, even if you are a beginner. - Check the Classroom tab for helpful digital content. If you want to see something added — big or small — post in the community, and it will happen! - Check the Calendar tab for group classes, workshops, and concerts. If you'd like to join any of these, click the event to see how. (Note: Sometimes, group classes will be cancelled if there is not enough interest. If you are intending on attending a session, you can fill in this 10-second form to ensure that doesn't happen: https://forms.gle/q86ozZUucEAXQwFA7) - For full details on all the ways you can learn--including one-on-one lessons, go to the classroom tab and click on "support". - Make sure you've downloaded the Skool app to keep up to date with this community. Go to the classroom tab > onboarding > Download the Skool app for more information! As you can see, this community is now really member-led! The content you get, the support I offer, and the posts you see are all shaped by you, your requests, and your contributions. I hope this will be a valuable resource for you, whether you're taking lessons or not!