The guitar is an instrument that I really like in terms of what kind of music can be made from it and the level of fun that I derive from it. I initially picked it up in seventh or eighth grade but gradually decreased playing it from almost daily to on random occasions. With the help of CAS, I decided to pick it up again and improve on it by learning and playing more regularly, and try to play songs that I enjoy to help stay interested. This was done mostly through only mediums such as websites and YouTube videos, along with notes that I had from past classes.
LO 1 – I identified my strengths and weaknesses through my experience in playing the guitar. I was also aided by my guitar teacher, who helped me to identify my desire to play, but also my weakness in terms of the inability to stick to constant practice. Furthermore, the concept of barre chords was also another of my weaknesses, which is a specific technique used in guitar.
LO 2 – I developed new skills and knowledge through my guitar classes and home-based practice such as new chords and techniques such as palm-muting and vibrato. A few things were challenging initially, such as remembering the F chord and a few #(sharp) chords, but I overcame that over time through hours of practice.
LO 3 – I was able to organise myself by creating a plan for my practice and also joining a guitar class, where I went 4 days a week. I also had to base my schedule around that class, and shift coursework to properly manage time through calendar apps on my phone.
LO 4 – Perserverence was necessary for me as this took me more than 2 months to improve in, as is the case with any instrument. Consistently practising was important, and even when I didn’t feel like it, I practiced for 30 mins daily.
This experience helped me to improve as a person by improving my perseverance and in turn developing me as more balanced, and also made me an inquirer as I tried to learn more and try more techniques. This also helped me to foster creativity by creating my own progressions and helped me develop a skill that I will surely enjoy in the future.
