Today I practiced "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (pages 152-3) for an hour. I've definitely improved on it. And with that, happy Thanksgiving.

—Nicholas

Yesterday I practiced "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (pages 152-3) for forty minutes. I was right in my prediction that it would be much easier to learn than "Laura" (pages 150-1).

—Nicholas

This week, I decided what I'm going to play for my final. I decided that I'm going to play the Star-Spangled Banner. I have been practicing a few minutes each day, and it is a little challenging but with practice I think I will be able to play it in time for the final.

I have missed the past couple of classes due to a death in the family. While I was home I worked on various songs through sheet music and I'm slowly gaining speed! Thankfully...

Today I practiced for about half an hour on "Laura" (pages 150-1). I am finding it very difficult. I'll just leave it at that.

—Nicholas

This week I've been looking for a song to play for the final, but I could not find one in the book that I found interesting. Is there anywhere else I could look to get a song that is on my level that would be appropriate to play for the final?

I have been going in to practice about two more times a week on top of class because I am trying out this new piece that I really want to be able to master. It was very difficult at first but I am finally getting the hang of it and actually now incorporating my voice as a play as well. The song I'm playing is "Say Something" by a Great Big World.

Today I finally managed to play "Amazing Grace" (page 142-3) without any mistakes! That took way too long. What is also taking me too long is learning to play "Over the Rainbow" (page 144-5) properly. Those overlapping pedals give me a lot of trouble.

I sat in front of the keyboard for an hour, but some of that time was spent goofing off, so I'm guessing I practiced for around forty minutes or so.

—Nicholas