January 2023 Live Lesson - "Songbird" by Christine McVie (Fleetwood Mac) (Patreon)

{$5+ Patron-only post -> now available for all Patrons}

Aloha, Patrons!

I'll see you Thursday, January 19th at 2:30pm Hawaii Time / 4:30pm Pacific Time for our monthly Live Lesson.  If you click on the video above, you’ll see a countdown for your time zone. (Find all Patron events on our Patron Google calendar). If you can't join in live, the recording will be available to replay on YouTube at your convenience. Instructions for joining via YouTube are below.

Tune in here: https://youtu.be/HY3vjMWoQs4 

This month's Live Lesson: "Songbird" by Christine McVie (Fleetwood Mac)

"Songbird" is a beautiful song by Christine McVie, who played keyboard and wrote many songs as a member of Fleetwood Mac. When she passed away last month, I shared a video of this song, featuring Kalei Gamiao and Corey Fujimoto, as a tribute to Christine's life and legacy. I received a lot of requests to learn this song.  Watch it here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/songbird-tribute-75461982

I'll teach this arrangement, which is in a different (lower) key than the original song.  For reference, here's the original piano version, and here's a phenomenal version by Eva Cassidy.  These are both in different keys than my arrangement, but pretty easy to transpose if you wish to do so.

You can play this song more simply without the starred chords, and with simple downstrums.  The serene, minimalism of this song allows for you to express it however you like.

Please look for the orange PDF link below - the PDF should download immediately when you click on it.

*NEW: Open Mic - Submit a Video, Share your Progress*

I'd like to invite you all to practice this song and record a short video to share.  I find that when you have a goal of sharing your song, you'll practice a little bit harder, and with more specificity.  This is not a competition - your goal is to do your best, for whatever level you are at.  Honest expression is more important than perfection.

Here's how to submit:

• record our lesson song (a verse or short section is fine, doesn't need to be full song)
• upload to your own platform of choice (some options: your own YouTube channel, sharable drive like Google or Box or Dropbox, shareable photo album like Google photos or iCloud)
• post the link to the video in the comments on this post (don't worry if the link doesn't work, I'll copy and paste it)
• I'll watch as many videos as I can, and I may show your video in class (if you're opposed to this, please say that in the video).
• one video per person per month

Look forward to seeing your videos!  Over time, it will be cool to track your progress from month to month. This is a new experiment, open to your ideas of how to make the sharing easier.

Join our pre-lesson Zoom Social

If you're free before the lesson begins and would like to meet and chat with other Patrons on Zoom, join me before class for a Zoom Social from 2pm to 2:25pm Hawaii Time.  (We'll end the Zoom before the lesson, and still go to YouTube for the lesson).

Click here to go to the Zoom Social, or use Meeting ID: 876 1498 3301, Passcode: aloha.

Please comment if you're planning to join the Zoom Social, or you're interested in helping out with more Zoom Socials in the future.  Hope to see you there!

A note about our monthly Live Lessons

My goal is to teach and arrange a lesson that is interesting for all levels. I will walk through the lesson by starting with beginner-level strumming, and gradually layer on more challenging options for advanced players.

I encourage you to play at your level, and embrace your own pace of incrementally leveling up. You can re-watch the lesson as many times as you like. Grasp the basics on the first go-round, and each time you review, you'll pick up new tips and techniques. You can use this method to become a better student and better learner - by building more awareness and more patience. :)

How to Watch Live

1. Click on this direct link to the lesson: https://youtu.be/HY3vjMWoQs4

For those who are new, please note this is a private link, intended for Patrons only.

2. Log in to YouTube to join the live chat, and please say hello!  I can't see that you're watching unless you chat.  If you have trouble using chat on a mobile device/ tablet, you may want to try on a desktop or laptop browser.

3. Feel free to post your questions to me, or to the community.

How to Watch Later

1. Watch the video linked above (it's the same as the live link).

2. Feel free to post your comments and questions below.

Is this your first Live Lesson?  Check out these Tips for Live Lessons from Patron Mark Pierce: https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-guest-for-23871916

Thanks. I look forward to seeing you online!

xo cynthia

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See all previous Live Lessons