The Dan Thorpe Acoustic Academy
The 3-Step Plan For March 2022!
Here is a plan for the month of March to help you make wonderful progress over the next 31 days… (Click the highlighted links below to go to the relevant pages).
Step #1 – Learn the 12-bar blues arrangement OR choose a song to learn (10-20 minutes per day)
For the month of March, I recommend you learn either the:
- New 12-bar blues lesson here
- …Or you can learn either a strumming, fingerpicking, or riff song from here.
It may be tempting to learn lots but stick with one choice of either of the above and really go for it. If you do, by the end of March, you will see better results.
Step #2 – Do the 4-Minute Workout daily (4 minutes per day)
I want you to see noticeable results with both your technique/relaxation and strumming by the end of the month. This quick workout will help with both. Do it daily if possible.
Step #3 – Fill in all the holes in your playing (any extra time you have)
Once you have done steps 1-2 above, you may still have time to practice. Here you can refine a song you have previously worked on (elsewhere or with me) or you can go deeper with your fundamental technique…
- The In Focus course is the place to do this
- Of course, if you just want to have a bit of fun, try a two-minute challenge.
That’s it.
If you are busy, the shorter version of this plan may take just 14 minutes but if you have time you can do the above 3-steps for an hour or so (take short breaks though).
As I said last month, I will say again:
“Focus on the above in that exact order of priority”
- Focus. Forget everything else – as I say, forget hopping around on YouTube like Kylie kangaroo jumping from one video to the next. Even here in the DTAA, there are lots of options for videos to watch. It can be tempting to watch them all. Don’t. Stick to the plan and only when you have spare time (i.e. in step 3) should you browse about.
- This gets results – If you do focus, by the end of the month you will be able to play a wonderful blues piece or a classic song (step 1) and improve your technique (step 2), plus other additional bonus bits of progress (step 3). This will be a superb achievement.
Remember, as a Dan Thorpe Acoustic Academy member, you will get regular emails with me motivating you and keeping you accountable and focused on the above plan this month.
Leave a comment below or on any page with any questions or thoughts. I love to read them. Enjoy!
Hi, Dan, I am really enjoying this and believe I am making (slow..) progress. I have been working on the 3 strum patterns and can now play them with confidence, although I do get derailed occasionally and need to watch your videos again to remind myself… As you advised in an email I have set up a workbook and am making notes of everything I am doing. I am working on Knocking on Heaven’s door (a song I played already) and am impressed by how the addition of the strumming pattern has really made it sound much more like it… Read more »
Hi Marion, pleased to hear it. The occasional refresher is fine and after a while you won’t need to do this as much. Definitely sounds like it’s going the right way! Yeah, singing and strumming is hard at first. It does get easier for sure. If in doubt you can use the “goto” (d d d du) strum pattern for a while. It’s simple but can sound great with singing. Keep having fun and thanks for getting in touch. 🙂
Hi Dan, I am not a fan of Blues but I am working on 3 of your arrangement of finger style. I am pretty confident with Wayfaring Stranger; Sound of Silence is coming along and I am still working on Tom Dooley. I also downloaded Danny boy and will look at that in my spare time. Found a great arrangement of Morning has Broken that incorporates both picking and strumming. That one will have to wait though as I probably bit off more than I can chew right now. I put the 2 books you sent by my bedside to… Read more »
Hi Jerry, glad you are having fun. Learning the blues piece is not mandatory (but could be worth a little dabble maybe as part of step 3 in the plan – just to experience a bar or two but no pressure). Keep up with your main goals – great songs! Nice about the books too, haha. 🙂
Awesome material Dan!!! I’m looking forward to getting into a better routine this month and this will really help.
I’m still working on wayfaring stranger, so I’ll continue with that as well.
LOVE the motivation you provide for us!!!!
Cheers
Cheers, Logan. Pleased to hear it. It’s my pleasure, and hope you have a great month of March! Keep us posted with how you get on.
Sounds good to me Dan, looking forward to the challenges . The course and instructional videos are so inspiring.
Thanks, John. Super pleased to hear it and have fun with the lessons! 🙂